Shower caps are easy to find at most drug stores and beauty supply stores.
You can buy packs of disposable ear covers online or at beauty supply stores. These are also perfect for keeping your ears dye-free when you’re changing your hair color.
If your cap isn’t large enough to cover your ears, try to buy a full-coverage cap that has elongated sides made to go over your ears. You can buy swim caps online or from any superstore that sells swimsuits and swim accessories. Some gyms or activewear shops may also sell them.
Look for a headband made from 100% neoprene for the best protection and fit. You can buy swimming headbands online or from swimwear specialty shops. Make sure the band is wide enough at the sides to cover your ears entirely.
The petroleum jelly will repel moisture from the cotton ball so none gets in your ear canal. Once you’ve showered, take out the cotton balls and throw them away.
If you notice any cracks in the putty, don’t try to remold it, just use a fresh pair. To take the plugs out, push your ear upward from the backside of your ear and then pull down on your earlobe. Keep doing this until the putty has loosened up enough for you to take it out. You can use the same pair of silicone earplugs for up to 2 weeks as long as they stay in good condition (i. e. , no cracks or crumbliness around the edges). If you have an ear infection or if you’re recovering from surgery, talk to your doctor before using ear putty.
Of course, this will only work if you don’t plan to wash your hair.
Avoid using rough, itchy towels because they may irritate the sensitive skin on your ears.
It may help to gently bob your head up and down. If the water is really in there, bend your head all the way down (like you’re touching your toes) so you’re upside down until you feel it move around in your ear. Then, lift your torso to be parallel to the ground and turn your head to the side to drain it out. You can also lie down on your side with the water-laden ear facing down.
These simple movements help move your Eustachian tubes around, which can dislodge any stubborn droplets of water.
Don’t use a high heat setting because your ear will get hot very quickly!
The alcohol and vinegar mixture will help dry out your ear canal and prevent infections, like swimmer’s ear. If you prefer, you can use an over-the-counter ear drop solution, like Swim-Ear, Auro-Dri, or Debrox. Before adding this solution to your ear, dry the outside of your ear as much as possible with a towel or hair dryer on a low-heat setting.
If you already have an ear infection and these symptoms get worse or don’t go away, call your doctor.
