You’ve been told time and time again that you don’t need to wash your hair everyday. In fact, second day hair is considered a good thing for curly girls—washing your hair too often can lead to scalp dryness, dandruff, and breakage.
If your New Year’s resolution is to get in shape, you might feel conflicted. How can you keep your hair clean and healthy through constant, sweaty workouts? Try these tips and you’ll see improvement!
Try a high ponytail or bun
These hairstyles keep the majority of your hair sweat-free, particularly for those with long hair. If your roots are greasy after a workout, you can concentrate any cleansing efforts on your scalp instead of washing your entire head of hair.
MORE: Curly Haircare for your Cardio
Wrap your hair
To keep your hair dry during workout, use a cotton scarf or headband—they will also help to keep your hair out of your face. Motions Global Ambassador Ursula Stephen recommends applying a moisturizing product such as Motions Hydrate My Curls Pudding prior to working out and then wrapping a cotton scarf around the head, leaving the top exposed. The cotton will help to soak up the sweat and the pudding will keep your hair refreshed and moisturized so it doesn’t frizz out. For long hair Stephen suggests pin-curling medium sized sections of your hair and covering it with a silk scarf during a workout. Once finished, comb out and style.
Use a dry shampoo
This water-free cleansing method is great if you’re in a rush or if you don’t want to wash your hair daily. Simply sprinkle or spray the dry shampoo on your roots, wait for about a minute, and then rub out the powder. The dry shampoo will absorb excess oils and leave your hair looking shiny and bouncy! Check out Tresemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo. If you have blonde hair, you can use baby powder as an alternative.
MORE: The Dish on Dry Shampoos
Prepare your hair with a leave-in conditioner
Leave-in conditioners are both a great way to keep your hair moisturized and they will keep your hair smelling fresh after a workout. One of my new favorites is Bumble and Bumble leave in (rinse out) conditioner.
Don’t get your hair styled before a workout
If you’re planning on going to the salon, schedule your workouts accordingly. Switch it up—do a high-intensity workout right before your trip to the salon, and save the Pilates and yoga for the first few days after your salon visit.
Try a Wig
Wigs can really help to keep hair moisturized and conditioned too! Motions Global Ambassador Ursula Stephen recommends getting one that mimics your own natural hairstyle and wear it on days that you exercise. Wigs are also a great way to spare your hair from the damages of heat styling which is typically amped up during the winter months.
MORE: Curly hair and exercise: How fit women make it work
January 13th, 2013 at 9:24 am
For the headband, I would go with a fabric that wicks away moisture instead of cotton. Buff makes a good product. http://www.buffusa.com/sports
January 14th, 2013 at 3:19 am
My main hair vs. fitness challenge is how to get my hair looking good again after it’s been squished under a bike helmet… Anyone have any tips for that? The combination of sweating plus being squished flat under the helmet always leaves it really flat on top.
January 14th, 2013 at 5:13 pm
@Miss Lynx I HATE helmet hair, and as a curly girl we have it SO much worse. I have 3a/3b curls and the best advice I can give is just to use your fingers at the root and lift. Also a light scrunch up there brings back 80% of the life in my hair. I know that’s so “duh obvious” but it’s all I’ve got. Hope I helped!