Let’s Get Physical: How Workouts Affect Your Hair

Regular physical activity has been proven to be good for the health, however it might not be so great for your hair. When you workout, especially outdoors, you expose your hair to heat, dirt and sweat. These three things keep your hair from looking its healthy best. But of course, this does not mean that you should not exercise at all. Being fit is important, but so is looking fab! Here are a few tips on how you can be both:

• Hats off. Working out with your hair under a hat locks in moisture and leaves your hair wet. If you always put a hat on for regular workouts, it can cause friction on your hairline which can then lead to hair breakage. A better option is to put on hair accessories like headbands that are made of good quality materials like satin, organic cotton or organdy. These keep your hair away from your face while still allowing your hair to breathe. If you are worried about the sun, choose areas where you can enjoy the shade provided by trees or simply do your workouts indoors.
• Style it. Seek advice from a trusted hair care professional or your favorite hairstylist about what hairstyle will perfectly complement your lifestyle—this includes your workout regimen. Schedule an appointment with her on the last day of your workout week so that she can see your hair at its worst. With the perfect cut, you no longer have to worry about hair damage even with the most vigorous workouts.
• Straight Up. If you have straight hair, you can choose from a wide variety of hair accessories to keep your hair up. You can put it in a ponytail and add hair clips to keep shorter strands from falling. You can also use a lightweight elastic headband to keep your hair away from your face.
• Pin up, Girl. If you have curly hair, you can try pinning it up whenever you work-out. Leave the pins in place until your scalp dries to help strengthen your curls.
• Move it Around. If you always have your hair up in a ponytail when you workout, try moving the position of the ponytail around. Keeping it at the same spot will cause your hair stress and eventually lead to breakage. Choose hair accessories that will stay put without snagging at your hair.

Believe it or not, hair accessories can be your workout buddies! Headbands, hairclips and ponytail holders can help keep your hair healthy just as you work to make your body healthy! Aside from that, you will be getting fit while looking fabulous. On a final note, don’t fight your hair! Some people tend to believe that their hair needs to be completely perfect all the time. Or they stress out so much over getting a style that is contrary to the natural growth of their hair. But it’s all about making a few adjustments to make your hair work for you. With strenuous activities like working out, your hair might curl up afterwards. Simply use a hair product to enhance and manage your curls and go with it. On the other hand, if your falls flat after a workout, simply try a volumizing product to create the lift you're looking for.