I’m a guy with really long hair (down to my shoulders) and I’m planning to start swimming at my local 24 HR Fitness pool. I’m wondering what the pool etiquette is for people with long hair – should I wear a swim cap, or is it okay to just tie it up? Not sure what most people do in these settings, and I don’t want to stand out or accidentally mess up the pool filters or anything. Any advice from regulars or other long-haired swimmers would be awesome
Yes, wear a cap! It can be silicone or fabric. It keeps your hair out of the way and helps maintain the pool’s hygiene. Happy swimming!
London said:
Yes, wear a cap! It can be silicone or fabric. It keeps your hair out of the way and helps maintain the pool’s hygiene. Happy swimming!
Absolutely! Besides etiquette, having long hair in the water can be a nuisance. Definitely cap it.
For the love of all things holy, please wear a swim cap. Detangling hair after a swim is a nightmare! We all deal with enough random stuff in the pool as it is.
Luca said:
For the love of all things holy, please wear a swim cap. Detangling hair after a swim is a nightmare! We all deal with enough random stuff in the pool as it is.
Ew, band-aids are the worst!
Luca said:
For the love of all things holy, please wear a swim cap. Detangling hair after a swim is a nightmare! We all deal with enough random stuff in the pool as it is.
I cringe every time I see them at the bottom of the pool. It gets worse! One time at my local pool, I swam for about 45 minutes before I noticed something swimming near the light. They said the filter had been malfunctioning…never went back!
@Vic
Sounds like a nightmare! Watching water boatmen swim laps in your lane? I can’t even!
Luca said:
@Vic
Sounds like a nightmare! Watching water boatmen swim laps in your lane? I can’t even!
Seriously! And not to mention how gross it is to see people jump in without rinsing off first.
Seriously, please wear a cap. It’s really unpleasant to have someone else’s hair wrapped around you while you’re swimming.
Weston said:
Seriously, please wear a cap. It’s really unpleasant to have someone else’s hair wrapped around you while you’re swimming.
That just made me gag. Not as bad as a rogue band-aid, but so close.
@Kingsley
Once, I caught a panty liner while swimming… sent an angry email after that. Disgusting!
Weston said:
@Kingsley
Once, I caught a panty liner while swimming… sent an angry email after that. Disgusting!
Absolutely disgusting!
Dustin said:
Definitely wear a cap not just for hygiene, but chlorine can ruin your hair over time. A silicone or latex cap protects it.
True! Rinse your hair and apply a bit of conditioner before putting your cap on to prevent chlorine damage.
@Delfina
Please don’t! That just adds more gunk to the water.
Dustin said:
Definitely wear a cap not just for hygiene, but chlorine can ruin your hair over time. A silicone or latex cap protects it.
Water will seep in anyway; that’s not the main purpose of the cap.
As a woman with long hair, I wet my hair with fresh water before putting my cap on. It keeps the chlorine from soaking in.
Look into products that protect your hair. I’ve just started using Aquaguard and an anti-chlorine shampoo.
@Raven
You need a long-hair swim cap.
@Raven
Exactly. Use a loose ponytail, get your hair wet, and then slide on the cap.
Long hair doesn’t fare well in the pool because of chlorine damage without a cap. That’s one reason I prefer open water.