Swim caps are essential to swimmers mostly because they reduce drag while swimming.
They help to keep the hair dry and protected from chlorine as best as possible, and also keep a swimmer's hair from distracting them during a swimming session.
In
a swim competition, any form of drag slows down a swimmer and that could result
in the swimmer losing the race, and a swim cap allows the swimmer's body to be more
aerodynamic and sleek underwater as it gets rid of any added drag that is
caused by air.
Shaving
off the body is something swimmers do before getting in a pool for a race, this
has the same effect as a swim cap as it is done to reduce drag as much as
possible.
People see some swimmers who have no hair on their heads yet they still wear a swim cap, it seems strange since there is no hair to cause drag or get in the way of their swimming activity.
So why do swimmers with shaved heads wear swim caps?
Lets find out.
Why Do Swimmers With Shaved Heads Wear Swim Caps?
There
are a few reasons why swimmers with shaved heads wear swim caps.
The
main reason why many swimmers with shaved heads would decide to wear a swim cap
is to protect their scalp from chemicals in the water.
Another reason is some pools require every swimmer to wear a swim cap before getting in the pool whether the swimmer has any hair or not.
It is a rule that every
swimmer at these particular pools has to follow including the swimmers with
shaved heads.
Swimmers
with shaved heads also wear swim caps as a way of showing unity and team
spirit.
Swim caps also provide warmth on the scalp when in cool water.
Even with the
regulating of pool temperature swimmers still get cold so the swim cap helps to
keep the scalp warm.
Swim caps help to distinguish one swimmer from another in an open water swimming.
For
the safety of every swimmer in such swimming competition emergency personnel
have to be able to spot a swimmer in distress and provide aid.
Does Swimming With Shaved Hair Make You Swim Faster?
yes, it
has been recorded that when a swimmer in a swimming competition shaves all the
hair on their body and covers that of their head with a swim cap they are
likely to swim faster than they used to before shaving.
Reduction of body drag through shaving was taught as a season-long training program in some colleges.
Now it has become something every professional swimmer does
before getting in the pool for a race.
Importance Of Swim Caps
Swim caps can not completely keep the hair of a swimmer dry, but it sure reduces how wet it becomes as very little water is all that gets in.
It also keeps the forehead smooth and free to secure a spot for a
pair of swim goggles.
With
only a little water getting into the hair of a swimmer thanks to a swim cap, it
significantly reduces the amount of chlorine that gets to the hair and the
damage that occurs to the hair from the chlorine.
Swim
caps also help to increase the visibility of a swimmer, and reduce the amount
of hair that gets into the pool's filtration system which causes for better
hygiene in the pool.
From time swim caps have been used to protect hairstyles, and also to complete the outfit of a swimmer.
It was a necessity for every swimsuit to have a swim cap
at a point as it became a fashion element, this was mostly the case for women.
However, as swimming became more aggressive and competitive, and swimmers noticed that the swim caps allowed them to eliminate drag when allowed them to swim faster.
Swim caps were adopted properly as a means to get rid of drag while increasing
every second of their lap times.
Conclusion
Since
chlorine can be harmful to the scalp by drying out the skin on the scalp, it is
best to wear a swim cap as it helps to significantly reduce the effects of the
chemical.
I
have listed a few reasons with benefits as to why a swimmer with a shaved head
would wear a swim cap despite having no hair.
These reasons are why you often see professional swimmers
with shaved heads in a race wearing swim caps even without having a strand of
hair on their heads.
0 Comments