Swim hats and baldness

Dr Bolouswki

I am completely bald. Shave my head every day. I swim most mornings in the same Gym for the last two years.

I used to wear a cap out of habit, but then noticed that I felt cooler (less hot) without it. After leaving it in my bag for a few weeks (it's a plastic hat) it kind of developed a rough texture, so I jsut stopped wearing it.

I got asked this morning to put a hat on when I was swimming. I asked what the rule was for, and they said "You know, hair and stuff" - I pointed out I had none - they said "It's the rules".

While I don't hugely mind wearing a hat, it's the stupidity of it that bothers me.

I would understand that hats are for

keeping hair out of the pool, it's filters, etc.
keeping long hair out of peoples faces, limbs etc and thus avoiding accidents
minimising contamination from sand, shampoo, other "hygiene" considerations that hair causes

erm - that's it.

Other than perhaps the pool managment ending up in arguments about degrees of baldness ("I'm mostly bald" "my hair is very short" "my hair is clean") is there any reason why a completely bald person should be asked to wear a cap?

I guess I gotta go buy one now, I just find it silly. Anyone experienced this or have an opinion?

AndonHandon

Dr Bolouswki wrote: »

I am completely bald. Shave my head every day. I swim most mornings in the same Gym for the last two years.

I used to wear a cap out of habit, but then noticed that I felt cooler (less hot) without it. After leaving it in my bag for a few weeks (it's a plastic hat) it kind of developed a rough texture, so I jsut stopped wearing it.

I got asked this morning to put a hat on when I was swimming. I asked what the rule was for, and they said "You know, hair and stuff" - I pointed out I had none - they said "It's the rules".

While I don't hugely mind wearing a hat, it's the stupidity of it that bothers me.

I would understand that hats are for

keeping hair out of the pool, it's filters, etc.
keeping long hair out of peoples faces, limbs etc and thus avoiding accidents
minimising contamination from sand, shampoo, other "hygiene" considerations that hair causes

erm - that's it.

Other than perhaps the pool managment ending up in arguments about degrees of baldness ("I'm mostly bald" "my hair is very short" "my hair is clean") is there any reason why a completely bald person should be asked to wear a cap?

I guess I gotta go buy one now, I just find it silly. Anyone experienced this or have an opinion?

But it's the rules!

Ridiculous stance by whoever said that.I would call them up on it.

username123

Dr Bolouswki wrote: »

is there any reason why a completely bald person should be asked to wear a cap?

Cos you cant have one rule for one person and a different rule for everyone else.

Mind you, if its hair they are worried about perhaps we should all wear wet suits because there are plenty of hirsute individuals who use my local pool.

Beards are a free for all as well.

Dr Bolouswki

username123 wrote: »

Cos you cant have one rule for one person and a different rule for everyone else.

I recognise the ease of this stance for them indeed - I guess my point is that you can! There is no magical rulebook in the sky that this position comes from. The rule could easily be "hair must be covered by a swimcap". The "rule" is there for a reason, and that reason doesn't apply to bald people.

Kurt Godel

I agree with you 100% OP, its a stupid jobsworth rule. Being similarly blessed with a shiney domed skull, I've left pools where told I have to wear a cap- thankfully my local pool recognizes the futility of insisting on a cap for bald headed hairy-chesters.

Since so much reporting on baldness is about finding a "cure" for it as though it was an infliction, maybe tell them your rights are being infringed (groan!) under the Disabilities Act?;) Ultimately though, their pool, their rules, but I'd find another pool if management insisted on the letter rather than the spirit of the law.

username123

Dr Bolouswki wrote: »

I recognise the ease of this stance for them indeed - I guess my point is that you can! There is no magical rulebook in the sky that this position comes from. The rule could easily be "hair must be covered by a swimcap". The "rule" is there for a reason, and that reason doesn't apply to bald people.

In your situation I would grow a full ZZtop style beard and then arrive and put my swim hat on