SOUL CAP
Ladies: hands up how many times you’ve worn a swimming cap that b a r e l y fits? I, like many of us, am embracing my natural hair. But with that comes challenges I didn’t experience having relaxed hair, and one of those is getting a water-tight swim cap that protects my 4c hair in all its (extremely thick!) glory.
If you can relate, then SOUL CAP is for you. With a range of swimming caps and towels for afro hair, you’ll be sure to find one that fits so well you won’t leave home without it.
Who are the founders of SOUL CAP, and when was the business formed?
“We’re Michael and Toks, and we’ve been best friends for nearly twenty years. Since 2017 when SOUL CAP was born, we’ve been more than just best friends - we’re business partners.”
What was the inspiration behind the brand?
“Neither of us grew up learning how to swim, so we began adult swimming lessons together. At the pool, we met a woman with afro hair who struggled with the size of her swimming cap. And that got us thinking: why aren’t there more products for people blessed with voluminous hair?
With these hair types in mind, we started to design the first SOUL CAP – an extra-large swimming cap created for swimmers who struggle with their hair.
We’ve now shipped more than 30,000 of our swimming caps to customers all over the world and have also developed an extra gentle Microfibre Hair Towel for anti-frizz and anti-breakage whilst drying.”
Any examples of client testimonials for SOUL CAP you can share?
“Finally, a cap that stays on & doesn’t leak! With thick afro hair that’s often in braids, the cap fits perfectly & is much thicker than usual caps”
- Faith, US
“Just love this cap, it keeps my hair absolutely dry (I have long dreadlocks) & I can swim front crawl now which I haven’t for ages!”
- Ginger, UK
“Perfect swim cap for my little girl’s long hair. Reduces the trouble of hair washing after lessons! Fits well with no leakage”
- Praveen, US
Do you also offer a children’s collection?
“We do – our SOUL CAP JR range is designed for children and comes in both medium and large, as well as a selection of colours (black, blue, green and burgundy). The caps are very popular and praised amongst parents as our material is also less snagging and pulling on hair, meaning less drama at swim time.”
What’s next for SOUL CAP?
“We’ve worked very closely with our GB Swimmer Brand Partner and Olympic 2021 hopeful, Alice Dearing, who is the first Black woman to swim for Britain at her level. Together, we have campaigned to dispel the myths surrounding Black people and swimming and improve inclusivity in the sport through our social media campaign #BlackGirlsDontSwim, which has been featured in The Voice and Refinery29.
Alongside this, we are fighting for general inclusivity in the sport. We shine a light on the benefits of swimming for children with conditions such as autism, or ADHD, open up the conversation surrounding body image issues, and we continuously investigate other areas of accessibility to the sport through our SOUL CAP articles.”
