Our individual lifestyles help us determine how much time we have to put into our hair each week. If you avidly work out, how often you work out per week and the intensity level of your workout will help you determine how often your hair needs to be cleansed to properly remove products, sweat and debris from your hair. Contrary to popular belief, you can be physically active and have natural hair. Listed below are three tips for working out in your natural hair:
Aishia wearing her Buff. A buff can be purchased directly from their website by visiting buffusa.com.
Tip #1: Cover Your Hair or Put It in a Puff
During physical activity, it’s easy for your hair to get into your face or become dripped in sweat depending on the intensity level of your workout. Aishia, co-founder of Black Girl Curls, cycles or walks several times a week. She highly recommends covering your hair with a Buff, which is a long tube made from a breathable and moisture-wicking microfiber. If you choose to not opt for a buff, you can also put your hair into a puff. A buff or puff will ensure your hair is conveniently tucked away during the course of your workout and not in the way.
Tip #2: Shampoo Your Hair if It Gets Itchy
We often get questions on how to remedy an itchy scalp. Due to the level of physical activity, the products we use to set our hair and the amount of sweat we may have can all contribute to an itchy scalp. If this happens, we highly recommend cleansing your hair to remove product buildup, sweat and debris from the hair. How often you cleanse your hair will be dependent upon your individual lifestyle, however we typically recommend that naturals cleanse and condition their hair with shampoo every 5-7 days.
Tip #3: Set Realistic Expectations for Your Natural Hair
It’s super important that you set realistic expectations for your hair when it comes to working out. Although it’s possible to still rock fly curls while being physically active, don’t become discouraged if you realize you’re having to cleanse and re-style your hair more frequently or you have more frizz as the days pass.
“I go to the gym 5-6 days per week. Sometimes I use an acrylic clip to tie my hair back and other times I just let it live. This is a 7 day old wash and go. Embrace the curls and frizz!” – Heather, SeeSomeCurls Subscriber
Have fun with your hair and enjoy those days where your hair decides to do what it wants! Remember, it’s just hair and once you set realistic expectations for your hair, your weekly routine will become much easier in knowing what to expect.
Want more tips like these tailored towards your individual lifestyle? In the SeeSomeCurls Visual Library, we help troubleshoot other naturalistas individual workout routines and provide specific shampoo recommendations and much more! Learn more here.