It’s good that you’re crushing your fitness goals, hitting the gym consistently, pounding the pavement, or mastering those yoga poses daily. But let’s be real: while your body thanks you, your hair might not. So, how to take care of your hair when working out every day without sacrificing your hard-earned progress? After all, you shouldn’t have to choose between a healthy body and healthy hair. With the right routine and products, you can sweat smart and maintain your fabulous locks.
The Sweat Factor: Learning Its Impact on Your Hair
First things first, let’s understand why daily sweat can be a challenge for your hair and scalp, especially in the South African climate.
Sweat is more than just water; it’s a mix of salts, urea, and lactic acid. While essential for cooling your body, it can lead to a few scalp issues. A buildup of sweat, oil, and product can clog pores, irritate your scalp, and hinder hair growth. This moist, warm environment is also a breeding ground for bacteria, which often results in an unpleasant smell and other scalp concerns.
As sweat evaporates on your strands, it can unfortunately strip away much-needed moisture, leaving your locks dry, brittle, and notoriously prone to frizz—a particular headache in our often humid conditions. Do you have relaxed hair? This dryness can be even more pronounced, raising the risk of breakage. And let’s not forget the salt in sweat, which can crystallise on your hair, making it rough and dull.
Pre-Workout Prep: Your First Line of Defence
As the saying goes, prevention is always better than cure. So, a little pre-workout planning truly goes a long way! The goal here is simple: minimise friction, keep hair off your sweaty skin, and reduce tangles.
So, first up, consider working out with protective hairstyles like braids—cornrows, French braids, or even simple plaits that can tuck your hair away from excessive sweat exposure and movement. A sleek, high bun can also work wonders, though, for less tension on your hairline, a looser, lower bun might be preferred. If a ponytail is your go-to, remember to keep it loose to prevent breakage from tight elastics, and try to vary its position daily. Beyond styling, breathable, moisture-wicking headbands or satin-lined scarves are a must-wear for absorbing sweat at the hairline, keeping pesky flyaways at bay, and preventing unnecessary hair friction.
Apart from preparing with protective hairstyles, give your hair a little love with strategic product application. A light leave-in conditioner is especially great for dry, coily, or relaxed hair, creating a protective barrier against sweat and helping to retain moisture. For top-notch hair hydration and defence, we at Everything Hair recommend the Deep Muk Leave-In Conditioner because of its intensive properties. You can also apply a small amount of light oil, like jojoba or argan, to your ends to seal in moisture and get extra protection against the drying effects of sweat.
Post-Workout Power-Up: How to Maintain Hair After a Workout
Now, for the crucial recovery phase: hair care after exercise. This is where many often go wrong, leading to recurring hair woes, so let us give you some useful tips.
Immediate Post-Workout Steps
As soon as you’re done, give your hair some air! First, remove your headband or scarf to let your scalp breathe and cool down. Then, gently blot your scalp and hairline with a clean, soft towel (microfibre is excellent) to absorb excess sweat. Keep in mind: blot, don’t rub, as vigorous rubbing can cause unwanted frizz and damage.
Cleansing Routines: Should You Wash Your Hair After Working Out?
This is a million-dollar question, and the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. It truly depends on your hair type, how much you sweat, and how often you work out. If you have excessively oily hair or sweat profusely, a daily full wash might, indeed, be necessary. In this case, always use a sulphate-free shampoo to avoid stripping your hair’s natural oils. Also, focus your attention on thoroughly cleansing your scalp before conditioning your ends. For a thorough yet gentle cleanse after a sweaty session, grab the Biosense Repair Shampoo 300ml from Everything Hair. It is an excellent choice for repairing and strengthening while effectively cleansing.
How about a co-wash or conditioner-only wash? It can help many, especially those with dry, curly, or relaxed hair who work out daily. This method gently cleanses the hair with conditioner, effectively removing sweat and light buildup without stripping vital moisture. It’s a reliable way to refresh your hair between full shampoo days. For lighter workouts or quick refreshes when a full wash isn’t in the cards, dry shampoo is a good alternative. This product can absorb excess oil and neutralise odour; simply apply it to your roots, let it sit for a few minutes, and then massage in or brush out. Just remember, this is a temporary fix, not a substitute for washing. For effective hair care after the gym, a quick dry shampoo application can be perfect if you’re on the go. For instance, REF Dry Shampoo 200ml can absorb excess oil and get rid of odours.
Moisturising & Sealing
What to do after cleansing? It’s the perfect time to replenish your hair’s moisture! Follow up with a leave-in conditioner or hair milk, applying it to damp hair and focusing on the mid-lengths and ends. Then, seal in that moisture with a light hair oil to achieve soft, shiny locks. Check out our range of argan oil hair products for a lightweight option that won’t weigh your hair down.
Gentle Drying
Whenever possible, allow your hair to air dry to minimise heat damage. If you must blow-dry, always use the coolest setting and a heat protectant. And, again, remember, avoid rough towel-drying your hair, as this can cause frizz and breakage.
General Hair Health Tips for Daily Exercisers
Beyond your pre- and post-workout hair care routine, remember these fundamental tips for overall hair health. Hydrate from within by drinking plenty of water—it’s beneficial for your body and your hair. Fuel your body with a balanced diet rich in nutrients that support healthy hair growth. Regular trims are also important to keep split ends at bay, preventing them from travelling up the hair shaft. Most importantly, listen to your hair: pay attention to how it feels. If it’s unusually dry or oily, don’t hesitate to adjust your product usage or washing frequency accordingly.
Embrace Your Active Lifestyle (and Healthy Hair!)
Working out every day is an incredible commitment to your well-being, and your hair doesn’t have to suffer for it. By integrating these simple pre-workout and post-workout strategies, you’ll master how to maintain hair after a workout and keep your locks vibrant, healthy, and happy.
