by Stephen Bate

Created on: September 17, 2008   Last Updated: September 30, 2008

I do not feel that swim caps actually keep the hair dry, and I'm not sure that they really should do or be expected to. Their design and their whole point is aimed at other things rather than dryness.

Part of the whole point of wearing a swim cap is to allow the hair to be safely tucked away so that it does not get in the eyes or in the way of any other swimmers who may be close by. There is also a hygiene issue, and it is surely better to keep a potentially insanitary or free falling item out of the water and safely stored away.

Another major reason for wearing a swim cap is for technique and aerodynamics. The cap gives the head a smooth, even surface and is very much like a smooth "bullet" passing through the water. It is much less aerodynamic, and therefore much less effective, to have free flowing hair, or the uneven surface of any human head, to be your primary point of impact for the water as you swim. Too much hair or long hair can cause enough interference for there to be a significant effect.

A swim cap, in this way, is also an aid to learning. The lack of turbulence or interference that having a smooth surface brings actually allows the water to flow more evenly over the whole stroke. A smoother surface, and a smoother stroke, is much more efficient in trying to achieve maximum performance from the stroke, so it is much easier to teach the effective use and cadence of the stroke if the surface in which it is being taught is as turbulence free as possible. A learner who is also having to battle against their own "wave" will find the stroke more of an effort and will be slightly less inclined to learn.

Accordingly, swim caps are not there to keep the hair dry, but as an aid to swimming, both as a learner and as an efficient swimmer.

We should not really expect them to keep the hair dry either. Modern caps allow the head to breathe. Gone are the days of the tight fitting, uncomfortable caps of the past. This breathability also means that the caps are porous, so they will never be able to keep the hair dry.

Finally, why should we want to keep our hair dry. Nothing beats the feeling of immersing yourself in the water and returning to "nature". Part of that is the feeling a being wet! I say, enjoy it! We need to be mindful of the hygiene issues involved, and therefore of the need to wear a cap, but do not expect to deprive yourself of the joy of being wet!

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