Do you really have to wash after every workout?
- Thread starter swalker31
- Start date
naturalgurl
New Member
It's what you're comfortable with and the "stink" factor. If it smells, wash if not it can make it one more day. Sweat is a natural thing and not a chemical so I don't think it would hurt your hair to skip one or two days of washing, just my opinion. Also, how much sweat too, but it really goes back to the stink factor...
Cassandra1975
New Member
You could probably still do 2x per week. When I work out, I sweat like a pig and it looks like someone has poured a cup of water over my head. It depends on what I'm going to do with my hair the next day. I prefer to co-wash, but I have a feeling that as my hair gets longer, I won't want to be bothered.
When I had it like my siggy pic, I was not co-washing after every work out. It would have been too frizzy.
When I had it like my siggy pic, I was not co-washing after every work out. It would have been too frizzy.
I don't...and I've been working out consistently for years, 2-4 days a week. I sweat moderately during my workouts, but there's not a "stink factor" to contend with, like Naturalgurl mentioned.
And the sweat doesn't seem to be hurting my hair, so I just wash once a week.
And the sweat doesn't seem to be hurting my hair, so I just wash once a week.I work out 5 days a week for 75 minutes and I wash once a week. Im not very sweaty and my hair never stinks. Im relaxed and wear my hair straight. After I work out, if I have somewhere to go like school or work, I sit under the Pibbs for 3-5 mins and my hair looks great afterward, esp if its in pincurls!!!
longhairdreamzz
New Member
If I work out, I usually try to wash at least a day or two after.
princessdi
Active Member
I would say you don't have to wash (meaning shampoo), but rinsing after every wash would be a good idea. I lost a lot of hair from not doing that one summer. I think the sweat dried out my hair and it began to severly break. Rinse.
TexturedTresses
Well-Known Member
i used to work out a lot before my haircare journey and only washed my hair once a week. it never stunk. it was hard to hold a style though. i didn't notice any adverse effects, but i never paid much attention to my hair and would not have known if anything bad was going on. i have a friend who works out a lot and washes her hair once a week, i've never smelled her hair, but she thinks that the sweating thinned out her hair because it dried out. her hair looks beautiful and healthy to me.
eta: i sweat a lot btw, she said she sweats a lot too.
eta: i sweat a lot btw, she said she sweats a lot too.
Cassandra1975
New Member
When I had my relaxer/short cut and I was working out 3x a week, I did rinse after every workout. I think my hairdresser told me that I at least needed to rinse the salt out. I would rinse, then put in leave in conditioner and wrap it, and go to bed (I worked out in the afternoons/evenings).
I can do that now, it just means I will have to do more with my hair in the evenings.
Chameleonchick
Well-Known Member
Yeah I work out every day and I do sweat but it doesn't stink. Lately I have only needed to wash once a week I may do a cowash in between if I feel like it.
mahogany_horizons
Active Member
I WORK OUT 5 days a week, for at least 30 minutes to an hour a day. i jog at a brisk pace for 30 minutes, uphill, ON THE TREADMIL.
I sweat very hard doing this, and get heart rates in the 190's to 200 area, to paint a picture.
So I normally wear my hair in a bun throughout the week. As far as my hair mainteance goes, in terms of washing, I wash my hair twice a week, with shampoo, lathering twice. Any later than that, and as someone else mentioned, my hair starts to sweat. My scalp would be sour, and becuase I have sensitve scalp, and serriboric dermatitus, my scalp would be itchy.
SOOO THUSS, I wash every 3 to 4 days...once with baby shampoo, the other time with medicated shampoo for my dandruff. Hope this helps.
I think it depends on whether you have a problem scalp, scalp that will start to smell quickly, or not...some of the ladies don't have this problem, and they can go longer than me
I sweat very hard doing this, and get heart rates in the 190's to 200 area, to paint a picture.
So I normally wear my hair in a bun throughout the week. As far as my hair mainteance goes, in terms of washing, I wash my hair twice a week, with shampoo, lathering twice. Any later than that, and as someone else mentioned, my hair starts to sweat. My scalp would be sour, and becuase I have sensitve scalp, and serriboric dermatitus, my scalp would be itchy.
SOOO THUSS, I wash every 3 to 4 days...once with baby shampoo, the other time with medicated shampoo for my dandruff. Hope this helps.
I think it depends on whether you have a problem scalp, scalp that will start to smell quickly, or not...some of the ladies don't have this problem, and they can go longer than me
Divine Inspiration
Well-Known Member
I think twice/week is fine with a 4 day/week workout regimen. I workout 3-4 days/week and I poo/DC 1x/week with no problems. Just be sure to keep your NG moisturized by DCing regularly and/or using a moisturizer before the workout.
SimpleKomplexity
New Member
When I was working out 5 times a week I just had my same regimen of cowashing on wednesday and washing on saturday. I don't sweat much though. It's up to you and what your body tells you to do.
fivetimestwo
New Member
ITA
I had been wondering why I hadn't been seeing any retention and it took me until about 2 months ago to figure out that perhaps it was the sweat left in my hair post-workout. I have since started cowashing after every workout (yes, that means at least 5x week) and my hair is thanking me for it. I sweat mostly in my scalp, so it may be beneficial for me, but it may not be for someone who doesn't sweat much. 
Curlee_lurker
LA face/low class booty
I don't exercise anymore. 
But when I was going 5-6x a week I had to wash daily. I'm oily and my hair needs to be washed frequently under normal circumstances. In my normal sedentary lifestyle by day 2 I'm itchy and after day 3 I'm smelly. I'm not a sweater in the least bit, but I'd be in my spin class scratching and looking a mess and trying to look cute scratching on the elliptical. My scalp craves water.
But when I was going 5-6x a week I had to wash daily. I'm oily and my hair needs to be washed frequently under normal circumstances. In my normal sedentary lifestyle by day 2 I'm itchy and after day 3 I'm smelly. I'm not a sweater in the least bit, but I'd be in my spin class scratching and looking a mess and trying to look cute scratching on the elliptical. My scalp craves water.
DaDragonPrincess
Well-Known Member
No, if thats the case then I need to wash my hair everyday,lol. But its whatever works for you, I voted "Stick To My Regular Regimen".
Light Elements Revitalizing Mist by Aveda works wonders for me after I work out.
I spray my hair at the roots, comb through a bit, wrap it up- silk scarf it while I shower and get dressed, and it refreshes my hair. (the wrapping keeps it from getting curly when i'm wearing my hair straight)
it also works as a mid-week refresher. use it the same way, applied before bed. when you wake up its pretty close to washing without washing. I wouldn't use it to go longer than a week without washing, though.
I spray my hair at the roots, comb through a bit, wrap it up- silk scarf it while I shower and get dressed, and it refreshes my hair. (the wrapping keeps it from getting curly when i'm wearing my hair straight)
it also works as a mid-week refresher. use it the same way, applied before bed. when you wake up its pretty close to washing without washing. I wouldn't use it to go longer than a week without washing, though.
Last edited:
DaDragonPrincess
Well-Known Member
Light Elements Revitalizing Mist by Aveda works wonders for me after I work out.
I spray my hair at the roots, comb through a bit, wrap it up- silk scarf it while I shower and get dressed, and it refreshes my hair. (the wrapping keeps it from getting curly when i'm wearing my hair straight)
it also works as a mid-week refresher. use it the same way, applied before bed. when you wake up its pretty close to washing without washing. I wouldn't use it to go longer than a week without washing, though.
Oh wow,thanks, is it good? I'm gone to try this after YOGA ,haha
Ivy Santolina
New Member
I co-sign on the rinsing after every workout recommendation. Rinsing the salt from your scalp will prevent your follicles from getting clogged. I would quickly rinse my hair after every workout or every other workout. It depended on activity. After an intense aerobic workout I would rinse, but after a light workout or yoga rinsing wasn't necessary.
moonglowdiva
New Member
I really believe it depends on how much you sweat. I am not a sweater so I just stick to my reggie in the winter but in the summer I will add a cowash to the reggie. I workout 3 x per week. I always take the classes with burns lots of calories and I also wear a bandana to absorb
SmartyPants
New Member
I stick to my normal regimen... but... but... but.... my normal regimen is co-wash on Mondays and Wednesdays and poo-wash on Saturdays so I am washing 3x's a week anyway.
LaidBak
New Member
I keep my relaxed hair up off my neck when I work out. I put it up in a loose ponytail (or 2) so my scalp can breath but my ends stay dry. That way any scalp sweat evaporates almost immediately and my ends don't touch my sweaty neck (yuck!). Basically, IMO, if you can keep your hair dry during the workout than there is no need to wash or rinse it afterward.
locabouthair
Well-Known Member
I exercised 3x in one weeks and I didnt wash my hair more than once a week. I dont sweat like that, when I exercise. They says it's good to wash out the sweat from the hair because the salt in it can dry the hair out. But if you dont sweat much like myself, I dont think it's necessary.
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