The Best Swim Caps To Keep Your Hair Dry

Whether you’re an avid swimmer who competes in competition or someone who enjoys the occasional dip in the water, a swim cap can be a useful piece of swimming equipment to own.

Swim caps are one of the more essential items for swimmers if they want to protect their hair. They are designed to prevent the water from getting to your hair as you swim, no matter the speed. They stop your hair from getting too wet, twisted, or tangled.

They also protect the hair from chlorine damage and improve performance.

However, finding a good swim cap to keep hair dry can be tricky. There is an overwhelming number of options to choose from. Luckily for you, we’re here to help! We’ve done the research and compiled a list of the best swim caps to keep your hair dry available on the market.

In this article, you’ll find a small review of each one and a buyer’s guide to help you make the best choice. Also, if you are of African descent, or considering buying a swim cap for someone of African descent, we encourage you to also review our guide of the best swim caps for black hair as well!

Read our reviews below if you want to find the best swim cap for you!

1. Speedo Unisex-Adult Swim Cap

Next up, we have a solid choice from Speedo. Speedo’s unisex-adult swim cap offers swimmers the best of both worlds with a cap that is both affordable and highly effective.

If you seek a premium swim cap but don’t want to break the bank, this could be the best option for you.

Made from 100% silicone and latex-free, this swim cap will effectively keep your hair dry and protected from chlorine as you swim, whether that be leisurely or in competition.

While keeping hair dry is the cap’s biggest draw, its comfort is also much appreciated.

Thanks to an inner micro grid texture, the cap provides more comfort and stretch. This reduces the chance of the cap pulling or snagging your hair.

This interior texture also keeps the cap firmly in place as you swim.

Available in a wide range of colors, making it much easier for other swimmers and lifeguards to see you coming, our favorite thing about this Speedo swim cap is its contoured shape, which reduces drag to increase hydrodynamic performance.

Pros:

• Great Color Options – You have 12 vibrant colors to choose from.
• Affordably Priced – This cap is very fairly priced.
• Improved Performance – The caps contour helps to improve hydrodynamic performance.

Cons:

• No Child Sizes – Unfortunately, this swim cap isn’t available in child sizes.

2. Aegend Silicone Swim Cap

While Speedo might sit at the top of the swimming gear market, Aegend is also one of the leading brands and their silicone swim cap for men and women is arguably the best budget-friendly swim cap on the market.

Despite being much cheaper than its competitors, the Aegend silicone swim cap hasn’t made any compromises when it comes to quality.

Featuring a 100% premium silicone build, the cap is durable and reliable, with there being no risks of tearing. The material is also skin-friendly.

When we reviewed this cap, we were most pleased with its adaptability.

Thanks to the cap’s excellent elasticity, both men and women with short or long hair can easily place the cap over their head, whilst not having to worry about it falling off.

The caps added cushioning around the ear contact points is also a neat touch.

Protecting hair from bacteria and potentially harmful chemicals like chlorine or baquacil, this cap also has a unique water-drop texture that adds to its sleek appearance.

Pros:

• Affordable – You’ll struggle to find a more affordable swim cap, of which you get 2 with one order.
• Adaptable – The Aegend swim cap works with all lengths of hair.
• Durable – Made from premium silicone, this cap is made to last.

Cons:

• Not 100% Waterproof – Your hair might not stay 100% dry.

3. Alepo Kids Swim Cap

The Alepo kids swim cap is the perfect option on this list if you need a reliable swim cap for your child.

Available in two sizes, both of which offer great elasticity to fit any length of hair, finding the swim cap that fits your child is easy.

One size of the cap fits children aged 3 to 8, and the other fits those from ages 8 to 15.

In terms of design, this swim cap, like the others on our list so far, is made out of 100% high-quality, environmentally friendly silicone. This gives the cap durability, elasticity, and plenty of comfort.

The cap can also be easily stretched to fit a child without tearing or any deformation.

Easy to put on and take off without snagging hair, another great thing about this cap is its ear protection.

The cap has a 3D ergonomic ear design that not only protects your child’s ears but also keeps them protected from the water’s bacteria and chlorine.

We love how the cap also comes with a free set of ear plugs and a nose clip.

Pros:

• Perfect For Kids – This swim cap is ideal for your young swimmer.
• Ear Protection Included – Alepo’s swim cap also protects ears from bacteria and chlorine.
• Comfortable – The cap is designed to not snag or pull hair as you swim, put it on, or take it off.

Cons:

• No Adult Sizes – It would be nice if this swim cap was available in adult sizes too.

Also available at: Aleposhop.com

4. Zone3 Neoprene Swim Cap

The next swim cap on our list is more expensive than the others we have looked at so far, but if you enjoy open water swimming and triathlons it’s easily your best choice.

An official sponsor of the USA Triathlon, Zone3 has created an effective neoprene cap that gives swimmers extra warmth and durability as they swim through colder waters. They have done this by making the cap much thicker.

Aside from keeping swimmers warmer and of course keeping hair dry, this swimming cap also provides comfort.

This is especially important for those swimming for longer durations in competition as you don’t want to stop to readjust your cap.

To guarantee even more comfort, Zone3 has equipped its cap with a velcro strap. This velcro strap makes it easier for swimmers to fit the cap to their dimensions and also swim with a less tight fit.

Coming in three different colors, we were quite surprised to find that, despite its thickness, the cap still reduces drag and improves hydrodynamic performance, making it perfect for racing.

Pros:

• Suited To Open Water Swimming – This cap is perfect for open water swimming.
• Adjustable – Zone3’s swim cap will fit you perfectly.
• Vibrant – Available in bright colors, safety personnel at races will clearly see you at all times.

Cons:

• Only 3 Sizes Available – There are only three sizes to choose from.

Also available at: Us.zone3.com

5. Keary Extra Large Swim Cap For Voluminous Hair

The final swim cap on our list is better suited to be the swim cap for swimmers who have long voluminous hair, braids, or dreadlocks.

While this swim cap to keep hair dry might not be ideal for competitive swimming if you want to keep your long hair protected when leisurely swimming, this is by far the best option for you.

Accommodating a wide range of hairstyles from afros and dreadlocks, to curls and braids, this spacious cap won’t only keep your hair dry and protected, but it will also ensure your lovely hair isn’t snagged or pulled when you take the cap off.

To ensure swimmer comfort, this swim cap has been designed to be super-elastic.

This keeps your head comfortable, while also making it much easier to put the cap on. Squeezing the air out of the cap is all it then takes to secure the cap in place and create the perfect seal.

Keary’s swim cap also comes with ear protection to prevent any dirt or bacteria from entering your ears.

Other good features include quick-drying, anti-slip protection, wrinkle-free, and an odorless design.

Pros:

• Perfect For Voluminous Hair – This swim cap suits braids, dreadlocks, and afros.
• Durable – The Keary swim cap is made to last.
• Great Value For Money – This swim cap is available at a great price.

Cons:

• Not For Competitive Use – You wouldn’t want to use this cap in competitive racing.

Our Buyer’s Guide

Now you know more about the options available to you when it comes to swim caps to keep your hair dry, it’s time to start thinking about what you need to take into account when trying to find the best swim cap.

To help you out, we’ve put together this short buyer’s guide. In this buyer’s guide, you’ll find the most important factors you need to consider and why they are important.

Make sure you think about each factor carefully before making a final decision.

Your Hair

One of the most important things to think about when looking for a swim cap is your hair.

The reason for this is pretty simple, if you have really long hair and buy a cap that’s designed for short hair, you’ll quickly find the cap hurting your hair when you put it on and your hair getting wet.

Therefore, you should always look at what types of hair the swim cap suits.

Luckily, most swim caps suit most types of hair. However, there are others that are more specialized.

Durability

To consistently keep your hair dry as you swim, you need to find a swim cap that will last. The best way to find a swim cap that will last a lifetime is to take a closer look at the materials it’s made out of.

Generally speaking, a swim cap made out of premium silicone or neoprene is your best option. These types of swim caps are made to last and resist tearing and deformation.

Type Of Swimming

You also need to think about the type of swimming you plan on doing.

If you race competitively in open water, the chances are you’re going to want a different cap from someone who visits their local pool every so often without the intent of regularly using the pool for aquatic exercise.

Love to workout in your swimming pool? Checkout the top underwater treadmills to mix it up while still enjoying the water!

Open water swimmers might also want a thicker cap that keeps their heads warmer in cold conditions.

With this in mind, read product descriptions carefully to identify the caps that suit your style of swimming.

Adjustability

Finally, you also need to take the caps adjustability into account. A rigid cap can hurt as you force it on as it will pull and twist your hair.

What you need to look out for is a cap that offers good elasticity.

Caps that offer good elasticity are easier to stretch over your head. This reduces the chance of any pulling or snagging.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our team’s answers to the most common FAQs we get around swim caps that help keep your hair dry below!

Can My Swim Cap Cause Hair Loss?

No, your hair cap can’t cause hair loss. While your swim cap will pull on your hair from time to time, there is no scientific evidence to suggest there’s any correlation between hair loss and swim caps.

How Do You Clean A Swim Cap?

Cleaning a swim cap is pretty straightforward. Simply rinse the cap out with clean, fresh water and leave it out to dry.

You can also sprinkle some talcum powder in the cap to stop it from sticking to itself as it dries.

Do Swim Caps Keep Hair 100% Dry?

Unfortunately, no, there aren’t any swim caps on the market that can guarantee 100% dryness for your hair at all times.

However, they do offer the best possible performance in comparison to any other swim product on the market. Also, check out our post on why swimmers often wear two swim caps here.

Enjoy Your New Swim Cap That Helps Keep Your Hair Dry!

There you have it, 5 of the best swim caps currently available on the market.

Swimming caps are a useful piece of swimming equipment to own, no matter what level of swimming you take part in.

Whether you compete in triathlons or simply take your children to the nearest pool, a swim cap will keep your hair dry, protect it from chemicals, keep your head warm, and help you swim faster.

While it can be hard to find the best swim cap due to an oversaturated market, the 5 options on our list are a great place to start.

There is an option on our list for everyone, so be sure to take a close look at each cap we have suggested.

You can then narrow your options down to find the swim cap that keeps your hair dry, as well as suits your needs and requirements best.