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Original poster

Looking for a Swim hat that doesn't pull my hair

32 replies

SoftPillowAllNight · 02/09/2023 10:50

I swim regularly and always use a swim hat, I'm beginning to sense that this is causing my hairline to recede a bit. Has anyone come across swim hats that don't pull the front of your hairline? Years ago I had one which was made of wetsuit material - and had a Velcro strap - can't remember where it was from. Anyone have any similar experience and ideas on how to stop this happening?

OP posts:
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Original poster
SoftPillowAllNight · 27/09/2023 16:34

Learnt about this protective product from another thread:

https://www.philipkingsley.co.uk/swimcap-75ml.html?gadsource=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpc-oBhCGARIsAH6ote-z1L8yzN2-KdWnKz469e3bd0Wkh-84cqymLYllNl6ZWaoRQwzGCYaAlhzEALwwwcB

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Taylorscat · 25/09/2023 19:30

I can vouch for there being no movement of the pace cap. The latex one rose up and up until I basically had a pillow of air sitting on top my head. Also no head squeezing with the pace cap, I barely knew I had it on.

CMOTDibbler · 25/09/2023 14:40

@MagpiePi (wanna ratonnastick? ) no, it stays firmly in place with no wandering off. I can swim head down for hours in the lake without an issue but show my head a silicone or latex hat (honourable mention to the Swim Secure bubble hat which is an exception) and I'm pulling it down every 20 minutes at least no matter what I do

MagpiePi · 25/09/2023 14:36

@CMOTDibbler (sausage inna bun!)

Do those pace caps ride up during a swim?

I have always used silicone ones and it irritates the bejeesus out of me that I have to keep stopping to pull them down after about 40 minutes. Plus I think it makes me look daft when they're all half off and pointy.

WhatapityWapiti · 25/09/2023 14:28

saveforthat · 13/09/2023 19:15

You really shouldn't put conditioner or oil on your hair before going in a public pool. I hate getting a mouthful of someone else's toiletries.

Yes, I was just thinking that, especially with a Lycra hat on top that won’t really stop it getting into the water. That’s not nice at all and most pools ask that you shower before getting in so that cosmetics (and dirt of course) don’t get into the water.

I do wear a Lycra hat, and recommend them, but with clean hair underneath.

CMOTDibbler · 25/09/2023 14:23

@Taylorscat glad you like it. My first one was fluorescent yellow to wear open water swimming, and the difference for me was night and day with no pinging off my head, so then I had to find the indoor equivalent

Taylorscat · 25/09/2023 14:02

@CMOTDibbler thank you for the suggestion of a pace cap, I used it today and it was so much more comfortable !

saveforthat · 13/09/2023 19:15

You really shouldn't put conditioner or oil on your hair before going in a public pool. I hate getting a mouthful of someone else's toiletries.

Original poster
SoftPillowAllNight · 13/09/2023 19:11

@CMOTDibbler - thank you

@Taylorscat - do update us on how it goes!

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Taylorscat · 13/09/2023 06:23

I’ve ordered a pace cap and have some coconut oil so going to give them both a try. Just replaced my 10 (!) year old goggles too so I’m going to feel like a new woman in the pool 😁.

CMOTDibbler · 12/09/2023 20:45

It is PU coated fabric. So fabrics on the outside and then rubbery on the outside

Original poster
SoftPillowAllNight · 12/09/2023 20:00

CMOTDibbler · 12/09/2023 09:05

Pace caps are your friend. They don't pull at all and are much more comfortable. I have one like this Speedo pace cap

Thank you, what material is this please? Can't tell from the pictures whether it's fabric or silicone or rubber.

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Cheeesus · 12/09/2023 09:08

Something like this, and make sure you pull it quite far down so it’s not on your hairline?

https://amzn.to/48cknkP

Original poster
SoftPillowAllNight · 12/09/2023 08:57

I use coconut oil. It's quite greasy so needs a good shampoo to get out post swim. Any oil would work equally well so go with whatever feels easy for you.

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Taylorscat · 12/09/2023 06:59

@SoftPillowAllNight thank you, I might try that. What oil do you use ?

Original poster
SoftPillowAllNight · 12/09/2023 06:49

I oil my hair at home before heading to the pool. I don't wet it as such but it's saturated so doesn't take in chlorine water.

If I wet it then I do so at the showers by the pool.

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Taylorscat · 12/09/2023 06:34

Sorry if this is a dim question but when do you do all the wet hair / conditioner thing? I put my hat on in the cubicle as I think I look ridiculous trying to get it on! There are some (quite yucky) showers in the changing room and also some by the pool. I use the ones by the pool before I get in but would feel a bit self conscious wetting hair and sticking on conditioner and hat there. If I did it in the changing room I’d feel that I’d also need to shower by the pool, although I suppose as I’d be obviously wet maybe I don’t need to. Or do you do the hair thing at home and just go into the building with conditioner slathered hair?

such a simple thing but my brain cannot figure this out !!

Original poster
SoftPillowAllNight · 03/09/2023 21:04

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads - I was looking for the fabric name! Thanks

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IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 03/09/2023 18:46

If you Google "Lycra fabric swimming hat", there are lots of options other than Decathlon. I like the zoggs ones.

I also have a neoprene cap, but it's too warm for swimming indoors.

Original poster
SoftPillowAllNight · 03/09/2023 15:51

@GuinevereOfTheRoyalCourt - thanks for this - some good ideas I can try

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GuinevereOfTheRoyalCourt · 03/09/2023 13:12

Latex swimming hats are terrible for your hair and they also squeeze too tight so they give me headaches, so I never wear them. You want either fabric or silicon. I wear fabric in a heated swimming pool as silicon is too warm - but silicon is great in colder open water.

Putting conditioner on helps protect your hair, but you'll find that silicon hats will probably slip off, so I'm guessing that this might also be an issue with latex. A lot of the ladies at my pool will double hat for this reason - conditioner + fabric hat + latex/silicon hat

Original poster
SoftPillowAllNight · 02/09/2023 14:50

@WheelySquirrel - your hairdresser is quite right. I also tend to oil my hair before swimming, so it's already saturated with oil and can't absorb too much chlorine. Over the years I think my hair has not been too badly impacted by swimming and I have no greys yet. However this receding hairline is quite worrying

OP posts:
Original poster
SoftPillowAllNight · 02/09/2023 14:44

@Rainallnight - I'm 46, very much in the throes of peri and hanging on by a thread with help from HRT😅

Is this hairline another joy of peri?

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Rainallnight · 02/09/2023 12:27

Agree with the Decathlon fabric one.

what age are you, OP? My hairline has really taken a hit with perimenopause 😞

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