6 Best Extra Large Swim Cap 2024 For Dreadlocks, Braids, Afros & Long Hair

Have you got dreadlocks, long braids, an afro or super long hair? Then you’ll know how easy it is to despair when it comes to finding swim caps that actually fit.

Most swim caps are so tight fitting that people with long hair have no chance of getting it all in.

That means you either resort to swimming without a cap, which can damage your hair, or not going swimming at all. We don’t think it’s fair that anyone should have to miss out on their exercise or having fun in the pool, no matter what hairstyle they have.

That’s why we’ve picked out six of the best extra large swimming caps out there. Whether you have an afro, braids, dreadlocks or just super long hair, you’ll find something that suits you here.

The Biggest And Best Dreadlock Swimming Caps

We’ll kick off with the largest of our swim caps (use that link if you’re outside the USA and the below links don’t show suitable caps for you). If you have an afro or slightly shorter hair, no fear, we’ve got a whole bunch of products that suit you.

But for now, we’re showcasing the best caps out there for people who have super long dreads or braids, and need some serious protection before they dive in the water.

This is the Lock Journey swim cap in Jumbo size. This cap is especially designed for people with 24 inches or more of hair.

So if you’ve 2 feet of hair or more, this could be the right cap for you. The 100% silicone cap is much larger than usual swimming caps, and even bigger than the XL caps you usually find on the market.

So if you’ve been growing your locks for years, or you’ve opted for the longest braided style known to man, then this will probably be one of the very few caps out there able to keep your hair dry and chlorine-free.

Here it’s pictured in black, but you can also pick from purple, blue, or green, if you prefer.

This is the Swim On Extra Large swim cap, and it’s also super sized. Wanna know just how big it is? Check out what these Amazon reviewers had to say:

“My daughters have large heads and thick hair worn in locs, but these caps dwarfed their heads.”

“I brought this for my mom. Her dreads are 37″ long and this fit her perfectly.”

Suffice to say this swim cap will only be right for you if your hair falls way down your back! You can pick from two colors – blue or wine.

If you fancy a splash of color and you’ve got plenty of hair to bundle up in your cap, Lahtak’s Extra Large Swimming Cap might be your top choice. Pick from Rose Quartz (pictured), Strawberry Red, Lime Yellow or Black.

One reviewer says, “Marge Simpson could put her beehive in this with room to spare!”

Dreadlock And Braids Swim Caps For Medium Length Hair

This is an Olympian Athletics swimming cap, designed for long hair. While it won’t be able to take the bulk of thick, long locs, it looks like it performs well with medium-length styles, or long sleek styles without bulk.

The product description mentions: There is plenty of space in our swim caps to protect even the “Rapunzels” of the world.

You can pick from pink, blue, or black (pictured).

We already featured the XL swim cap from Swim On, suitable for those with a whole bunch of hair. But if you’re looking for something a bit smaller, you could opt for this, the Large version.

Choose from colors Black (pictured), Blueberry, or Wine.

We’ve picked our final cap, the Swimtastic, mostly because of the colors – we love the pink, the purple, and the royal blue, but you can also pick black. This is a perfect swim cap if you need slightly more room than a normal cap but not as much as the other options on this list.

Do You Really Need To Protect Your Dreadlocks When Swimming?

It depends.

We wish we could give a straight answer, but it really depends on the situation. For example, you can swim in the pool or the sea with dreadlocks, and they won’t be harmed, necessarily.

BUT…

The aftercare is pretty intense. For one thing, you’ll have to wash the whole length of your hair, to make sure you get all the chlorine or the seawater out.