Swimming pool cap: characteristics, rules for choosing and wearing
In addition to glasses, a bathing suit and a towel, a special headdress is required to visit the pool. The choice of a hat should be thoughtful, as there is a wide range of models on the market.
Characteristic
In most public pools, visitors must wear a cap. If this information is not spelled out in the requirements, then it is still better to go to such an institution in a special headdress. Today there is a huge assortment of swimming caps that are perfectly stretchable and fit comfortably on the head.
With the help of this swimming accessory, the following functions are performed:
- prevents hair from clogging the filter element of the pool;
- the swimmer's scalp is protected from the negative effects of water with chlorine (in the absence of a bathing accessory, the hair becomes prone to falling out, brittle, and loses its shine);
- prevents liquid from entering the ear canals;
- reduced resistance that can occur during swimming;
- the main volume of hair is protected from getting wet;
- preventing strands from getting into the eyes, as well as their entanglement in glasses;
- heat transfer decreases;
- individuality and original style are emphasized.
This accessory is also useful during a trip to the sea, as he is able to protect curls from the harmful effects of sea salt... In a swimming hat, the head does not sweat and does not freeze, and is also completely protected from ultraviolet radiation.
Materials and colors
Nowadays, people who want to buy a swimming cap can get confused at the moment of making a choice.The thing is that This headgear can be either waterproof or water-permeable, with Velcro or with ears.
The assortment of these accessories for the pool pleases the eye and a wide range of colors. Girls, for example, can buy a waterproof hat with flowers, roses and others. But for men there are both funny options and restrained ones, for example, white disposable hats. Many guys and girls like funny hats with cartoon characters or voluminous figures.
Silicone
Silicone pool caps are considered the most popular today. The demand for an accessory is associated with its elasticity, hypoallergenicity, ease of use and care, and durability. Consumers can choose an individual version of this headdress, as color and design solutions are presented in a wide range. The cost of silicone caps is low. The only drawback of such a bathing accessory is that they are unpleasant to the touch.
Silicone hats are very easy to put on, as they are characterized by elasticity. There is no discomfort while wearing this accessory. To ensure a secure fit, the silicone headpiece has bulges at the edges.
This type of cap is recommended for professional swimming in the pool, as it does not fold or wrinkle. Since silicone has the ability to tighten the head, when buying products, it is better to give preference to a not too tight size.
Latex
The latex and rubber hats used for swimming in the pool are very inexpensive. But they have much more disadvantages:
- fragility;
- complicated procedure for putting on and taking off;
- lack of comfort during use, which is expressed in adhesion to the scalp;
- the need for additional treatment with talcum powder to prevent sticking;
- the ability to cause allergic manifestations.
From textiles
Textile or knitted swimming caps are made of synthetic material. It can be either lycra or polyester. The advantages of this headgear include the following:
- no compression of the head;
- the accessory does not create difficulties during putting on and taking off;
- excellent fixation of the scalp;
- affordable cost;
- lack of electrification of the strands.
Among the negative characteristics of this type of swimming accessories are water permeability, that is hair not protected from the negative effects of water.
Another disadvantage of the textile cap is the high resistance during swimming. It is best to use such accessories not for swimming, but for water aerobics.
Combined
Bathing caps that are made of textiles, but the top is silicone, are called combined. There is only one drawback of such models - this is their high cost.
The following features are considered the advantages of the accessory:
- elasticity;
- ease of wearing;
- gentle effect on the scalp;
- ease of putting on, taking off;
- ease of care;
- good strength and waterproofness;
Combined swimwear is considered to be quite practical and comfortable to wear. If a swimmer can afford such an accessory, then it will serve him for a long time and delight him with his quality.
Dimensions (edit)
Pool caps are available for children and adults. Adult accessories have larger sizes than children's ones, but you should know that the size of this headgear may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Bulky swimming caps can always be found in the modern sports goods market. They come in a variety of colors to help swimmers look stylish. The manufacturers who produce bathing caps have also taken care of children who love to swim.Children's accessories have a smaller volume and do not squeeze the head of young swimmers.
There are also professional varieties of swimming caps with high hydrodynamic properties... They are the best option for speed swimming, since they are characterized by full compliance with the anatomy of the human head.
Girls with long hair can buy a bathing hat, equipped with extra volume. Such accessories reliably protect long strands, and they do not interfere with the lady's swim.
Selection Tips
A bath and shower cap is available at a sporting goods store. All other attributes for such training are also sold there. To prevent the hair from getting wet during bathing, the girl, as well as the young man it is worth choosing the right accessory for swimming in the outdoor pool... Experts recommend trying on a bathing hat right on the spot and staying in it for at least 3-5 minutes in order to understand how comfortable it is. If your swim accessory is uncomfortable, choose something else.
For ladies with long hair, there are special hats on sale in which you can carry out water procedures without wetting the strands. Such products are made with an elongated back part, in which the girl must place her curls. However, it must be remembered that such models are not too streamlined, so it will not be very convenient to engage in sports swimming in them.
Bald men, on the other hand, do not need a swimming cap as a whole. However, if you want to emphasize the image and make it stylish, you can choose some unusual model.
When choosing a swimming hat, it is worth considering the following points:
- material of manufacture;
- price;
- color scheme, design solution.
The cheapest option for bathing accessories is considered latex models. However, it is worth knowing that they are difficult to put on the head due to poor stretching. Also, latex caps are short-lived and can be easily torn. In addition, such an accessory can cause an allergic reaction.
A silicone bathing headgear is much more expensive than the previous one, however, such a purchase would be a worthwhile investment. This accessory does not cause allergic reactions, it can be easily put on and off, it also does not create difficulties in cleaning. On sale there are both seamless options and with seams. A wide selection of colors cannot fail to please consumers.
A cloth headdress has a considerable cost, which is practically not justified. I use this cap for swimming in the pool, do not rely on the protection of the scalp, which will get wet anyway. The most expensive type of swimming accessory is the combined one. This comfortable and practical product is perfectly worn, does not create difficulties when leaving, taking off, putting on.
Modern pool caps have a beautiful appearance, they have various images, volumetric details. Many manufacturers sell collections in a single color scheme. For example, a swimsuit and a hat may be sold together and have the same color.
But babies who are engaged in the pool from birth should not buy a hat. but immediately after the procedures, they need to put on a cap to avoid hypothermia.
A beautiful and interesting bathing accessory will help your child swim in the pool with pleasure and feeling confident. According to consumers, children who have original swimming hats are more likely to attend training sessions. It is preferable that young swimmers choose their own hats, guided by their own taste.
If the child has curly or too voluminous hair, then it is recommended for him to purchase the smallest adult product.
The main selection criteria:
- a swimming hat should hide the hair on the head;
- the accessory must hide the ears to prevent water from entering them;
- the product must be quickly put on and off;
- the cap should be characterized by tight edges, good elasticity;
- wearing this product may not cause allergic reactions in humans.
Wearing and care rules
Before you start wearing a swimming cap all the time, learn how to put it on correctly. If the hat is made of latex, then the process of putting it on can be painful for both a child and an adult. If you experience any inconvenience while putting on the product, you can ruin your mood before sports training. In the case of silicone accessories, there are practically no problems with putting on and taking off.
If the swimmer has dry, clean, and electrified hair, dampen it a little.
Long curls need to be collected in a bun using an elastic band, since the hair clip can damage the accessory. If you have earrings, it is recommended to remove them.
It is worth sticking two hands into the headdress and stretching it. After that, the head must be inserted between the palms. The pool cap is pushed over the head, and the palms sliding downward are gradually lowered until the ears are covered with a hat. Next, the hat should be carefully straightened in all directions, checking for the presence of dropped curls. If the latter are available, then they should be laid under the hat and smoothed.
Adults should teach their children how to put on and take off swimming accessories correctly. Also, parents should control the constant putting on of this headgear before swimming. It is better to dampen the product a little before putting it on. To remove the cap, it is enough to pull it off the head with special care. Wherein it is worth pulling off one of the edges of the product and pulling it off.
The care of this swim accessory depends on the material of manufacture. But some general rules still exist:
- after each use, the cap should be rinsed with running cold water;
- after washing, the headdress must be dried flat without direct sunlight;
- the pool cap must not be allowed to come into contact with sharp objects such as hairpins or earrings;
- if the product is damaged, and there is even a tiny hole, it must be replaced with a new one.
Latex products should be treated with talcum powder after drying. Users leave the most negative feedback about such models. Swimmers note their impracticality and short lifespan. People who like comfort can go to the pool in fabric accessories, and they are also preferred by the parents of young athletes. The most popular are silicone and combination swim caps, as they are durable and safe.
How to choose a swimming cap, see below.