Try these strategies so you can workout and still keep your hair looking beautiful.
Work up a sweat on wash day
Instead of skipping workouts, plan them around your hair schedule. If you usually shampoo your hair on Saturday afternoon, make sure you plan a work out for Saturday morning. Get another workout in a few days later, but opt for exercises that won't "sweat your hair out" like strength training or yoga. Always use a scarf or wide headband to absorb sweat from your scalp while you exercise and be sure you put your hair up if it's long enough for a loose ponytail.
Use hair products that prevent frizz
Frizz fighting products reinforce your hair so it won't frizz out at the first sign of moisture. They protect the outer layers of your strands to keep sweat from ruining your ends and they give your style hold so it will last through your workout and beyond.
Explore new hairstyles
If you need a more rigorous workout schedule, you may need to start practicing new hairstyles. Too much heat is damaging to your hair so if you workout more than twice per week you shouldn't reach for the blow dryer or flat iron every time. Experiment with styling products and hair accessories so you can wash your hair and wear a heat-free style. Check out the Hair Liberty DIY section for style ideas and tutorials.
Try Co-Washing
You can also try washing your hair with conditioner, also known as "co-washing". After you get off the treadmill, thoroughly rinse your hair and apply conditioner instead of shampoo. Enough residue should be removed so that your scalp and hair feel refreshed. Check out How to Co-Wash for more instructions. You can wash your hair with conditioner multiple times each week. If co-washing leaves your scalp itchy or your hair stringy, stick with shampoo.
It has always been a struggle trying to keep good-looking hair through regular workouts. I have been co-washing and using these tips.
I was hoping to learn something new from the article but I was dissapointed. We need real practical advice re: working out and black hair.
I wear a short style and have tried my best to stay away from relaxer's which is almost impossible with my workout routine. I refuse to be in hair bondage and skip working out. I use a no rinse shampoo (used by NASA) after each workout but, I tend to sweat out my perm often.
Hi AllThings,
I'm sorry you didn't find what you were looking for. There's not one answer that can solve this dilemma for everyone. If the only style you wear is short and straight, your options are limited. Rigorous exercise causes sweat and sweat/water makes curls revert. It's impossible to leave the gym with stick straight hair if you are working out a few times a week. If you sweat, you need to at least co-wash and you shouldn't use direct heat.
That's why the only practical solution, in my view, is to look at different styling choices. If your hair is not long enough to pin up, try a headband or other hair accessory. I can't really give you more style ideas without knowing what you mean by "short style".
The tools on this website should help you explore different ways to work with your hair and find other styles that you are comfortable with. If there was a more clear cut answer, I would definitely share it with you.