How to Avoid Hair Problems When Working Out

Hair can suffer extreme damage from regular workout sessions, hairstylists point out, especially if we don’t pay more attention to it than we would under normal circumstances. So, instead of looking and feeling gorgeous, we could end up with just looking gorgeous from the neck down because of dull, brittle hair or, even worse, an oily scalp. Luckily, there are ways to prevent both these catastrophes, as stylists say for Shape magazine.

Hitting the gym with a ponytail is the simplest way to keep hair from touching our face as we’re working out or generally getting in the way. What happens in this case is that the hair stands to suffer greatly from the elastic band that keeps it in place, because it’s too tight and all those movements will undoubtedly cause friction on the hair, which, in turn, leads to tearing. This is just one way in which hair is damaged while working out and, as it happens, also the simplest to avoid by buying a soft, fabric-covered band and applying treatment masks in between workout sessions to prevent further fraying.

Another problem that we may have to deal with when working out is excessively oily or dry hair, as one leads to the other. Sweating profusely leads to oily hair, while showering after a workout can cause excessive dryness, stylists say. As Eugene Toye, a stylist at the Rita Hazan salon in New York City, explains, both conditions can be prevented by using a dry shampoo instead of a regular one after working out. “It’s the perfect post-workout cleanser because it sops up oil. And since you brush it out, it won’t aggravate a dry scalp like a daily shampoo might.” Toye tells Shape.

Also useful is remembering we’re never to use the shampoo in the gym shower because it is specifically designed for extra-oily hair, Toye says. “Even at upscale facilities, it’s pretty harsh, since it’s meant to deep clean sweaty heads.” the stylist says, adding that it’s best if we bring our own shampoo from home.

In order to combat dryness, we should work the shampoo lather from the ends towards the scalp, leaving a “buffer zone” from the scalp of about half an inch, to allow for the production of oil. If oily hair is what troubles us the most, then we should massage the shampoo into the scalp, at the roots, letting it work for about a minute before rinsing, Shape further explains.