Gym Hair care Routine
Melanin Queen Edition
We all know that hair care is one of the most important routines for us as ladies. We also know that upkeep and maintenance can be very expensive, time consuming and altogether tiring. It is therefore no secret that the introduction of some sort of physical activity may increase the frequency of your wash days, change of hairstyle and overall hair treatment. All things considered most of us would definitely say “Aint nobody got time for that”. With increasing fitness trends and obvious social media pressure however, we find ourselves longing for that summer body and eventually getting involved in some sort of exercise to achieve the fitness goals that we want and to attain overall wellness. So, if you are looking for an efficient hair care routine before considering workouts or are already working out and want to upgrade your hair care routine, you’re on the right page. Stick with me as we uncover some tips and tricks to the ultimate gym hair care.
Have a Vision
Determine the condition of your scalp prior to starting exercise and layout clear fitness goals for yourself.
1. Don’t just jump into any hair care routine Sasha! It is important to determine your fitness goals and therefore align them with the appropriate hair care regimen you decide to follow. Are you aiming to
· Lose weight
· Gain muscle
· Tone up or just
· Stay in shape
A clear goal will provide the general idea of the category of workouts you will be doing and how your hair care can then align with your ultimate goal. Primarily the more intense the workout is, the more of a sweat you will work up and probably the more maintenance you will need to do. The opposite is true. The less vigorous your exercise is the less of a sweat you will work up meaning less hair maintenance. This can however vary from individual to individual as we are all different. Some people don’t sweat much whilst others do. For heavy sweaters minimum movement could trigger the sweating process because it is the best way to expel the heat and cool down the body.
Scheduling
Once you have determined your goals write up a schedule to group the periods of intense workouts and low impact workouts. This will help you know when your hair will need the most attention. It will also help you to know the best products to use, for example medium intensity trainings sometimes may need you to apply only a dry shampoo and not worry about the rest of the washing.
2. It is important to determine the condition of your hair and your scalp prior to any workout. Is your scalp more prone to dandruff? Do you have any scalp issues such as fungi, yeast infections etc. By determining this you will avoid the worsening of any of these situations or you will be able to maintain a healthy scalp before the introduction of excess sweat.
Is Sweat so bad? Well Yes and No.
Believe it or not sweat actually aids in opening the pores on the scalp and growing your hair out. It can also increase the natural oils on your scalp which are also healthy for the hair but in excess and without proper upkeep can definitively make you a health hazard. The fungi (Malassezia) feeds on those excess oils and if not washed it can cause dandruff, scaling and funky odors and that is the last thing we want.
Well, what if I don’t want to continuously wash my hair? Choose a gym friendly hairstyle and utilize cleansing products. You could try protective hairstyle such as:
· Box braids
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· Cornrows
· Flat twist
· Faux locs
It is recommended to tie these styles up to get them out of the way as well as ensure your comfort whilst exercising.
Try and stay away from:
· Natural hair (avoid shrinkage)
· Relaxed hair
You could also opt for the lace fronts and Glue less wigs. These can easily be taken off and washed during a convenient time for you.
Maintenance of your chosen hairstyle is very important. Protective hairstyles can be washed here and there however they tend to frizz badly after. For this you can use anti frizz products such as the Cantu anti frizz argan oil, pure Brazilian anti frizz serum, Nubi anti frizz hair serum etc. The other option is to try some dry shampoos and home remedies for cleaning the scalp and removing oils from the scalp.
Budget friendly alternatives to clean the scalp:
· Baby powder
· Apple cider vinegar
· Corn starch
· Baking soda
Essentially after completing your workout make sure that your hair gets as much air as possible by untying it from its up do position and then cleansing your scalp. You will be able to keep your hairstyle for quite a while and enjoy your workouts as well. Above all. Find what works for you. Your hair shouldn’t stop you from getting a sweat in and doing all the exercises you love.
By Vongai Mataswa.
References:
Tanus A, Oliveira CCC, Villarreal DJV, Sanchez FAV, Dias MFRG. Black women’s hair: the main scalp dermatoses and aesthetic practices in women of African ethnicity. An Bras Dermatol. 2015; 90: 450–465.
