Spinoff: Exercisers, Please Share Pre/Post Work-Out Hair Regimens

[Lady Esquire]

After reading the thread about black women citing hair as an impediment to working out,(http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=221615 ), I figured this was a great time to start a new thread to get maintenance ideas.

I have read that a lot of women wash immediately afterwards, some lightly spritz their scalp with something, or pat their scalp dry. What are you doing, before and after workouts? I am particularly interested to hear from women who wear their hair out often. Do you pin curl it, tightly wrap it or bun it? Please share products as well.

 

[unalteredone]

When i'm wearing my hair out, i put my hair into a ponytail or pigtails with one of those goody No-Dent hair elastics and work out. I usually bobby pin the front back or to the side. My hair washing doesn't revolve around my workout schedule. Whenever i feel like i want to or need to wash, i do. Usually about once a week, or once ever 5 days. But i mostly do weightlifting, so i'm not sweating as much as i would doing cardio or something like that.

 

[Lady Esquire]

When you're done, how do you wear it?
Thanks for responding. I'm about to get serious with the workouts again, and interested in all sorts of tips.

 

[vainღ♥♡jane]

bumping...​

 

[sapphire74]

Here's a video talking about Exercise and Hair that might help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jUstFDZ4RY

 

[PeanutButterandHoney]

How do you wear your hair?

I bun 90% of the time so I just keep it in my bun and KIM. When I get home, I apply some oil/water/condish to my edges, a lil gel and brush and apply my silk scarf for 30-45 minutes.

 

[Solitude]

Pre-LHCF I always relaxed every 6-8 weeks and wore my hair down daily. I have also always been very active, usually running. I simply wrapped my hair and let it air dry before taking the wrap down after workouts.

Post-LHCF, if I am freshly relaxed, I do the same thing- wrap it or pincurl during workouts and let it air-dry before taking it down.

During stretches, I put my hair in a bun, ponytail when working out, then afterwards, I co-wash and put my hair back in a bun. If I am wearing my hair straight during a stretch, I add some type of oil (actually, products with mineral oil work better) on my newgrowth to prevent reversion, then wrap and workout, etc.

Hair doesn't stop me from working out, but I do think that freshly relaxed hair (for me) is easier to deal with when it comes to workouts.

 

[Austro-Afrikana]

I normally do strenuos exercise, where i sweat a lot, on wash days; twice a week. On every other day i do yoga and/or pilates so that i don't sweat as much. I can't handle sweating my hair out and not washing it, nor can i handle not exercising, so this is my compromise. :-D
I will usually just tie my hair back in a bun or do a few plaits and throw a hair net on.

 

[MrsHdrLe]

I'm interested too. I just put braids in to manage b/c my mostly natural (about 15% texlaxed) hair does not like any water anywhere near it unless I'll be bunning. What I hate is when I pay $70 to get it done and I don't/can't work out again for at least a week to preserve the style AND I gain like 5lbs that week. It's a vicious cycle.

 

[prospurr4]

What are you doing, before and after workouts? I am particularly interested to hear from women who wear their hair out often. Do you pin curl it, tightly wrap it or bun it? Please share products as well.

I exercise 3-4 times a week, in the evenings, and wash once per week. Well, my hairstyle depends on where I am during my texlax stretch. From touchup to 6 weeks post, I wear buns/updos during the week until washday, then I wear my hair down for a couple of days until my weekly workout cycle begins again.

From 7 weeks to 13 weeks post, I wear spiral sets. I pincurl before the workout and cover my hair with a thin net, followed by a scarf. After the workout, I allow my hair to airdry. The only product I use is 99% Aloe Vera Gel for my edges.

I wish you success with your workout routine.

 

[Lady Esquire]

I exercise 3-4 times a week, in the evenings, and wash once per week. Well, my hairstyle depends on where I am during my texlax stretch. From touchup to 6 weeks post, I wear buns/updos during the week until washday, then I wear my hair down for a couple of days until my weekly workout cycle begins again.

From 7 weeks to 13 weeks post, I wear spiral sets. I pincurl before the workout and cover my hair with a thin net, followed by a scarf. After the workout, I allow my hair to airdry. The only product I use is 99% Aloe Vera Gel for my edges.

I wish you success with your workout routine.

Thanks! I am mentally ready to go back to my regular routine. I like your spirals. I tried it once or twice and need to learn to perfect it.

 

[Black Hoya Chick]

i just throw my hair up into a messy bun and then cowash after. i usually exercise at a time when i knw i can wash right after. so mostly at night or a day when i am not going out.

 

[Lady Esquire]

My hair washing doesn't revolve around my workout schedule. Whenever i feel like i want to or need to wash, i do.

I agree with this.

How do you wear your hair?

I bun 90% of the time so I just keep it in my bun and KIM. When I get home, I apply some oil/water/condish to my edges, a lil gel and brush and apply my silk scarf for 30-45 minutes.

ZeeOl'Lady, I did the same thing. But I am sick to death of buns and curious on what some of the other ladies are doing. I am thinking of incorporating my Caruso Steam Rollers back into heavy rotation.

 

[unalteredone]

When you're done, how do you wear it?
Thanks for responding. I'm about to get serious with the workouts again, and interested in all sorts of tips.

(If i had flatironed my hair)When i'm done, i'll wear it straight, if it held up well enough. If not, i'll bun it, or caruso it, or wash it.... it really depends on where i need to be and whether or not i have dents from the ponytail holder.

Most of the time i'm bunning/protective styling so i dont worry about working out too much.

 

[vainღ♥♡jane]

I'm interested too. I just put braids in to manage b/c my mostly natural (about 15% texlaxed) hair does not like any water anywhere near it unless I'll be bunning. What I hate is when I pay $70 to get it done and I don't/can't work out again for at least a week to preserve the style AND I gain like 5lbs that week. It's a vicious cycle.

dang i don't think a hairstyle is worth an extra 5lbs. i would have to find something different. ​

 

[NappyMD]

Is this just a relaxed head thread? Cause my natural hair loves water - twist, wash n go, etc. So I try to cowash every other day and when not cowashing I spritz with rosewater. However, I'm in twist extensions right now and trying not to get them too fuzzy so I am using the rosewater and Hawaiian silky or braid spray to stretch me to 1-2 x a week (wanted once a week but have been sweating extra as I up the ante). I did find a workout scarf that absorbs sweat and keeps my head cool at sally's. Might help!

 

[AshMoBev]

Love this thread! Got some great tips! thanx ladies!

 

[Lady Esquire]

dang i don't think a hairstyle is worth an extra 5lbs. i would have to find something different. ​

Yep. I agree.

Is this just a relaxed head thread? So I try to cowash every other day and when not cowashing I spritz with rosewater. I am using the rosewater and Hawaiian silky or braid spray to stretch me to 1-2 x a week.... did find a workout scarf that absorbs sweat and keeps my head cool at sally's. Might help!

No, definitely not. Please, by all means, share your wisdom. Tips from naturals and relaxed heads alike are much appreciated.

The rosewate spritz and workout scarf are good tips. I just bought Hawaiian Silky spray a few days ago, and it is extremely moisturizing!

Love this thread! Got some great tips! thanx ladies!

Right?! Thanks ladies.

 

[MummysGirl]

I work out at least 5 days a week...

I put my hair up in a ponytail while I work out, take it down once done... take a shower, apply moisturising spritz generously, seal with shea butter mix and leave hair down to airdry, held back with a headband or scarf (used as a headband). I pin it up when completely dry.

On days I want to cowash after my workout, I either prepoo or DC before my workout, cowash out prepoo or DC and follow my steps described above.

 

[taraglam2]

I work out 4 days a week (MON - THU) On Friday is when I shampoo, deep condition and rollerset. I wear my hair out on SAT / SUN --- on MON since I know that is a "workout" day I wear my hair up in a ponytail or loose bun or something like that. After I work out I apply NTM Silk Touch Leave-in Cream or Keracare Conditioning Creme Hairdress to my hair and put on a doo rag or silk scarf. If I just can NOT stand my hair immediately after working out I will do a co-wash and wear a wash-n-go style.

 

[NappyMD]

Oh yeah, and I love to put my dc on while working out. I think all the heat really helps it penetrate

 

[ceebee3]

I work out at home in the morning. My hair still has my pincurls and the scarf from the previous night. After I'm done dressing, I take the scarf off and go. I don't have any problems with my hair and exercise. I wash once a week, twice if I have free time during the week.

 

[pinkdot's blog]

Is there anyone out there who is natural that wears their hair strait that works out? How do you maintain it? How much does it revert back? I've always wanted to know. Thanks in advance...

 

[Optimus_Prime]

I go to the gym 6 days a week. On at least 5 of those days, I do a long cardio session, and when I do a strenuous weight session I sweat a lot too. I can't stand to leave my hair unwashed because my head will itch when the sweat dries. I wear a bun and a headband when I exercise, and I cowash when I get home. I still dc at least 1x per week, I just pick whichever day I have enough free time post-workout.

 

[PeanutButterandHoney]

I agree with this.



ZeeOl'Lady, I did the same thing. But I am sick to death of buns and curious on what some of the other ladies are doing. I am thinking of incorporating my Caruso Steam Rollers back into heavy rotation.

Lady, I DO understand. This is why I am DC'ing now and will be straightening tonight.

The negative about me is that I workout 6 days a week AND about 4 of those six I work out outside in the Florida heat. The buns help, but the sun, salt and sweat is damaging. I got rained on for two days in a row, so I am sure that doesn't help either. Plus, I swim on top of that.

Anyway, when I straighten, I just put it in a really lose bun/"white girl" pony tail and one of those thick head bands to absorb the sweat from my hairline. The pony tail is as high on my head as possible to prevent my ends and other hair but my hairline from getting wet. By the time I get home and have my post-workout snack, my edges are dried semi. I then wrap it and don't unwrap until it is dry. To expedite that process, I wrap it really tight and don't put on my scarf but one of those black mesh things (can't think of the name) so that it allows my hair to breathe and dry. HTH honey.

Good luck on your workout. You will find that working out will help your hair growing process.

 

[Highly Favored8]

I work out Mon.-Fri. in the early hours of the day. I power walk and the other days I tone up my hips and thighs. I bun my hair post relax-and I wear a sweat scarf that works wonders for me. Also, if I roller set my hair I wear my hair net and I just power walk for the week or two. I do no toning of my hips and thighs. That is the only thing.