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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to expect there to be some hairdrying facilities for school children in swimming pool after lessons?

84 replies

alison222 · 14/09/2011 16:35

My DD has waist length hair. She has just had her first lesson at school today at the local pool. I had given her some money for the hairdryers but she came home at 3.15 today with hair still very wet and told me that they were in the "school" changing rooms which don't have hairdryers or hand dryers in the toilet area either. The hat she was wearing does not keep her hair from being drenched. She had it plaited up ( as per school regs - tied up hair) There was only one female assistant ( both year teachers are male) and they all have to stay together so she can supervise.
Come mid winter I don't want DD with dripping hair all day.

What would you do?

OP posts:
Tommy · 14/09/2011 18:24

I second a woolly hat for afterwards although I do think you are being completely unreasonable expectimg there to be hairdryers

DownbytheRiverside · 14/09/2011 18:25

We have a lot of girls in our school with very long hair they towel dry after swimming.
It's a time factor more than anything else, and H&S would mean that using their own hairdryers would definitely not be an option.

worraliberty · 14/09/2011 18:28

Give her a second towel and teach her how to wrap her hair in a turban

That way it can be drying while she's getting dress (after she's put her over the head stuff on)

It'll still be wet obviously, but not dripping.

worraliberty · 14/09/2011 18:29

*dressed

complexnumber · 14/09/2011 18:36

Why not cut her hair?

(leggsit behind the sofa)

Tortington · 14/09/2011 18:40

the kid wont die or anything.

i have always had long hair even as a child, and i didn't die after swimming lessons with wet hair - i dont think i even owned a hairdryer until i got married

i think most childrn can towel dry their hair and put it in a pony tail - where it will mostly dry with the air at 8 years old

perhaps your not giving her enough credit

GetAwayFromHerYouBitch · 14/09/2011 18:42

I think that if she wants hair this length then she has to look after it.

Original poster
alison222 · 14/09/2011 19:11

Complex - You can come out from behind the sofa Grin

I do wish people would read my answers

SHE WORE A FLIPPIN HAT IT WAS USELESS HER HAIR WAS SOGGY.

LESSONS ARE AT 9.30 in the morning.

I HAVE TRIED MYSELF WHEN I TOOK HER TO LESSONS AT ALL SORTS OF WAYS TO GET HER HAIR IN THE HAT AND KEEP IT DRY and failed miserably.

OK so maybe a bun - I had a thing years ago that was a long strip with a hole in it and held in by wire that you put your pony tail in and pulled it out the the ends, wrapped it up, twisted the ends in and made a bun. DD has broken it and I can't find a replacement.

Any ideas for one of these? I am sure she could learn to do that with her hair.

OP posts:
hellhasnofury · 14/09/2011 19:14

Daft question time...is it a silicone hat or a latex one and is it going on the right way round?

Original poster
alison222 · 14/09/2011 19:18

like this but in the UK is what I'm looking for

OP posts:
Original poster
alison222 · 14/09/2011 19:28

Hellhasnofury - I don't know what it is made of - It came from the swim school. I guess its on the right way round as you put it on so the writing is the right way round on it.

Does what its made of make a difference? Are silicon ones more expensive cos if they are I bet its latex if they give them away.

OP posts:
tyler80 · 14/09/2011 19:30

alison222 I wouldn't count on being able to find a swim hat that keeps hair dry, they don't work ime. I used to swim competitively and everyone wore hats, girls and boys, nobody had dry hair at the end of a session.

hellhasnofury · 14/09/2011 19:30

My DD is a swimmer and yes it does make a difference what it's made of. Silicone hats are thicker and keep hair drier. The crease on the hat should run front to back not ear to ear.

youarekidding · 14/09/2011 19:36

alison222

I have a swim cap I bought in Spain (can't use pool without one) - it's like material and so stretches better and kept my hair really dry. It's also a much better shape for a head.

I could send it to you if you want? I don't use it.

spiderpig8 · 14/09/2011 19:37

'AIBU to expect there to be some hairdrying facilities for school children in swimming pool after lessons?'

There are.They are called towels.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 14/09/2011 19:44

"She is only 8 for heavens sake and has masses of fine long hair" - in that case I'm with complexnumber - if he hair's too long for her to manage independently in situations like this (what if she went away overnight to a friends/with Brownies for example?) then it's too long imo.

YABU to expect the pool and the teachers to have the facilities and time to sort out all of the girls hair after swimming

minipie · 14/09/2011 20:27

Ebay seems to have quite a few of that kind of thing, alison, try a search for "bun maker twist tool".

AbigailS · 14/09/2011 21:09

Was your daughter's hair wet from the pool or from the shower afterwards? We have to really remind our children not to take their swimming hat off until after they've had their ten second rinse down poolside or they do end up with soaking hair.
I understand your frustration, but towel drying is the only option. The swimming run is complex and time consuming enough without adding hairdriers into the equation. Just think how long your daughter needs, then times it by about 8 for all the girls (and a few more for the long haired boys).

LaWeasel · 14/09/2011 21:28

I'm sure you know YABU by now, but I vote for giving her a shorter haircut over winter so she has a better chance of towel drying it properly, teaching her how to do her hair up into 2 plaits (one on either side) afterwards will keep her hair reasonably out the way.

Bestb411pm · 14/09/2011 21:32

No idea if this would work but it might be worth testing.

Get your daughter to practice twisting her pony tail into a bun, cut up a cheapy swimming cap into a square and fasten it over the bun with a hair band - then put a cap over the lot and cross your fingers!

If she's got a cap over the lot of it, it's not like anyone would see, and if it looks like proper swimming hat material it'll just look like it's meant to be used like that.

NorfolkBroad · 14/09/2011 21:55

I put my daughters hair in a bun for swimming so that she can get it under her cap and when she comes out she hasn't got wet plaits hanging down her back. It is a bit cold and uncomfortable but it does soon dry.

TarquinGyrfalcon · 14/09/2011 22:12

AbigailS - I was just going to post the same thing. Unless I remind them my class automatically remove their caps as they get into the showers and then end up with soaking hair.

MayDayChild · 14/09/2011 22:28

My DD has a turban at home for hairwashing and they are fab. I put it on and leave for five mins before drying. It goes on from forehead, twist and goes up with a big button. Avon do them or they are all over eBay for £5 max
Practise this at home. At swimming she should use this first and keep on whilst getting dressed. they are a microfibre cloth and suck up water. She could use this even with plaits in.

JsOtherHalf · 14/09/2011 22:37

Ebay have the sort of thing you were talking about - with fabric and wire to make a bun?

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sponge-Magic-Bun-Clip-Princess-Head-Deco-Hair-Twist-BLK-/330588324729?pt=Women_s_Accessories_UK&hash=item4cf8998379

SexualHarrassmentPandaPop · 15/09/2011 00:45

I've seen those bun wrap things in Claires Accessories and possibly Boots as well.