Once a person starts following a legitimate haircare regime — thereby casting aside the 3-in-1 soaps and beginning to do actual product and ingredient research — one of the first tools to be acquired is a shower cap.
At its’ simplest definition, shower caps are a large plastic or fabric coating to put over one’s hair while showering. Despite the painfully obvious definition, shower caps provide a host of benefits outside of the shower: helping with conditioning, using while sleeping, and reducing breakage of hair follicles to name a few.
We have done a deep dive into various industry resources to provide an ultimate guide to shower caps. Read on to have your most pertinent questions answered.
Types Of Shower Caps
On the market today, shower caps can be separated into two distinct groups: disposable and longer-lasting varieties.
Disposable Shower Caps
Disposable shower caps are usually made from plastic and can be found in large packs of 10, 20, or even 100. Found in most hotels across the country, these are ideal for anyone needing a shower cap while traveling, or those that prefer single-use caps.
The main downside of disposable shower caps is that they have a tendency to be very flimsy, and may not provide adequate support for longer or thicker hairstyles.
Long-Lasting Shower Caps
On the other hand, longer-lasting shower caps are intended to be kept for an extended period of time. These are made from different fabrics such as nylon and even silk, and are often printed with various designs to fit anyone’s visual taste. These can be top-of-the-line, costing anywhere from five to even 40 dollars and above.
Buying a longer-lasting shower cap requires periodic washing to make sure the cap stays clean. Haircare products can easily rub off and transfer to a cap, and can result in unpleasant odors and even harmful bacteria growth that can pass on to the hair and scalp.
Washing A Shower Cap
There are two main ways of washing a shower cap, and your preferred method should be dependent on the material of the cap as well as the cleaning materials that you have on hand.
The first method, and the easiest, is machine washing.
It is important to check the label to make sure the cap is machine washable, but if it is, running it on a gentle wash with non-toxic or other less-harsh chemicals — perhaps with some towels to prevent ripping or tearing — is adequate for cleaning.
The second method is to wash by hand.
Filling a bucket with white vinegar, allowing the fully-submerged shower cap to soak for 15-20 minutes, and then scrubbing with dish soap will do the trick for cleaning.
Whichever method you choose, make sure to hang dry the shower cap. N