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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:
minipie · 02/09/2023 10:51

Decathlon has ones made of swimsuit material which aren’t tight and pull-y like the rubber ones. They don’t keep your hair dry though, just out of the way.

Wittow · 02/09/2023 10:53

It's like my mission in life to find one that actually keeps your hair dry as my colour fades terribly when i swim regularly 🙄

WheelySquirrel · 02/09/2023 10:56

Agree with the Decathlon recommendation - good for kids too as they’re so much easier to put on.

@Wittow My hairdresser recommended rinsing hair beforehand as wet hair absorbs less chlorine apparently and/or putting conditioner on under a swim hat as a protective layer.

lljkk · 02/09/2023 11:05

Cloth hats keep hair out of way not dry. Cloth is a lot more comfy.
I've wondered if I had a receding hairline too, interesting connection. I swim a lot (with hat).

Original poster
SoftPillowAllNight · 02/09/2023 11:18

Thank you all. I don't need my hair to stay dry (it never does with any hat anyway). I'll look at the decathlon option. Does it make your head cool/cold though as I seem to have a sensitive scalp and if I didn't use a hat my head gets cold as I dunk in and out of water.

I just thought about the hairline thing recently when I saw an unflattering photo of me Confused

OP posts:
itsgettingweird · 02/09/2023 11:44

minipie · 02/09/2023 10:51

Decathlon has ones made of swimsuit material which aren’t tight and pull-y like the rubber ones. They don’t keep your hair dry though, just out of the way.

I came on to suggest the same!

BogRollBOGOF · 02/09/2023 12:08

I have a Decathlon one, and it is great for hair out of the way in indoor swimming.

I still wear the silicon Speedo for outdoors if I need to keep the wind off.

Decathlon do have a light, neoprene bonnet too.

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 😞

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?

OP posts:
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:
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 · 03/09/2023 15:51

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

OP posts:
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 21:04

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

OP posts:
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 · 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.

OP posts:
Taylorscat · 12/09/2023 06:59

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

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.

OP posts:
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 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.

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 12/09/2023 20:45

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

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 😁.

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

@CMOTDibbler - thank you

@Taylorscat - do update us on how it goes!

OP posts:
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.