If you think the only use for a shower cap is to keep your hair dry in the shower, Posey Broomhall—founder of Melbourne’s iconic Harpo Hair salons and haircare accessories brand Bompies—is about to change your mind. She might even change your hair routine for good.
“I’ve been a hairdresser for over a decade,” Posey says, settling in like someone who’s about to spill a very well-kept beauty secret. “And the number one thing I tell my clients? Wear a shower cap—not just any shower cap, but a good one.” And she means as often as possible (except when you’re washing your tresses). “It’s the easiest way to make your blow wave last longer and keep your hair healthier,” she explains.
It’s a revelation. In ten years of beauty writing, I’ve never heard a stylist say that. I mean, I’ve heard of wearing a shower cap if you don’t want to get your hair wet, of course, but this advice goes WAY beyond that.
Here’s why it matters: “As soon as your hair sees moisture or even steam—even from the shower—it drops,” Posey explains. “And that means you’re tempted to reach for the curling wand or the straightener again. The more heat you use, the more damage you cause. The goal is to only use heat tools right after you wash your hair, not every day in between.”
The solution? Enter Bompies—Posey’s line of vintage-inspired, 100% waterproof shower caps made in Melbourne. “They’re not like those plasticky, moldy-smelling caps you find at the chemist,” she laughs. “Ours are made from raincoat-grade fabric, so they never smell, they’re machine washable, and they last for years.”
And Posey has a confession to make: “I still use my first sample from ten years ago.”
Posey says Bompies shower caps aren’t just about dryness, they’re about oil control too. She explains it with a towel analogy: “When you dry a towel in the sun, it feels fresh. But if you let it dry in the bathroom, it feels damp and grimy faster. Hair’s the same—if you let steam get to it, it produces more oil at the roots. Keeping it completely dry extends your style and slows down oil build-up.”
The design itself is thoughtful: elastic only from ear to ear behind the head, so you don’t get a tell-tale forehead dent; a roomy fit to protect volume; and a construction that’s built to last. “They’re beautiful, vintage-looking—not something you’ll be embarrassed to leave hanging in the bathroom.”
Posey’s also expanded the range to include microfibre towel wraps that remove 80% of moisture in 15 minutes (“less heat styling or drying required”), and soft makeup headbands that keep moisturisers and masks out of your hairline—and they’re even comfortable enough to sleep in, to stop your skincare from migrating upwards in the night.
But it all started in her own salon. “I’d do a beautiful blow wave for a client, and the next week they’d say, ‘It didn’t last.’ I’d ask, ‘Did you wear a shower cap?’ and the answer was always no. I couldn’t find one I’d recommend, so my husband and I designed our own. It was meant to be a side hustle, but it’s become the thing I’m known for!” she laughs.
These days, Posey wears her own blow wave for up to five days at a time, with a Bompies cap as her secret weapon. “I do my hair twice a week, that’s it,” she says. “My clients think it’s magic, but really, it’s just about protection. A shower cap is the most underrated beauty tool out there.”
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
