If you love the gym but hate the dryness it tends to cause to your hair, then you’ve come to the right place! I’ve done my research into why this happens and how to fix it, and here’s what I found.
Your hair may be dry after you exercise due to your sweat. Sweat clogs your pores if it dries on your scalp as it mixes with bacteria, thus irritating and drying out your scalp and hair. Also, if you don’t wash your hair after exercising, sweat can weaken your hair strand. To avoid this, wear a sweat-resistant band on your head when exercising.
Keep reading to find out steps you can take to fix your dry hair as a result of exercise, as well as how you can prevent this from happening in the future!
How To Fix Dry Hair After Exercise
The best way to fix dry hair after exercising is to first get the sweat out of your hair; your hair can be sweaty but still dry, so ensure that you wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo and apply a leave-in conditioner. If you exercise every day, try using a dry shampoo between wash days as washing your hair every day will dry it out more.
While most of your dry hair woes can be resolved by simply following some good pre-gym habits, there are steps you can take to do some damage control if your hair is already dry! Here they are below:
Step 01. Co-Wash Your Hair.
First things first, you’ll need to get that sweat out of your hair, and fast! Use a good clarifying shampoo to remove any dirt and excess build-up of dirt and oils, then finish with a good sulfate-free conditioner to add back a bit of moisture.
The combination of the clarifying shampoo removing the build-up and the conditioner adding back moisture should have your hair looking and feeling soft and smooth again.
Step 02. Use a good hair oil.
If your hair is still feeling slightly on the dry side, you may want to add a few drops of natural moisturizing oils to your hair.
Be careful to only add the oils to your ends, as it could be overkill on your roots and result in you having a super-oily scalp (unless you have serious dandruff or a flakey scalp, then you can use oil on your roots to help soothe it).
I recommend Jojoba Oil by Baja Basics for the best results!
Step 03. Use a leave-in conditioner.
Alternatively, you can invest in a good leave-in conditioner to help alleviate your dry hair symptoms. This method is usually foolproof and will take the least amount of effort to get right.
I recommend leaving the product in for 30-45 minutes, however, you can leave it overnight if your hair is super dry (although this may cause unwanted build-up if your leave-in moisturizer is very strong).
To be on the safe side, always check the directions on the back of the product. It should tell you how long you can safely leave the product in your hair.
My latest all-time favorite is the Redken One United All-In-One Leave-In Conditioner, as it actually doubles as a leave-in conditioner and a heat protector spray! This means your hair will be moisturized as well as protected from the damaging effect of heat-styling tools.
Step 04. Use a good anti-frizz product.
With dry hair usually comes frizz, and this is definitely an unsightly duo! Dry and frizzy hair is a pretty common post-gym symptom, so my best advice is to use a good anti-frizz product on your hair.
I recommend John Frieda Frizz Ease Extra Strength Serum for the best results!
Step 05. Let it Air-Dry.
Lastly, if your hair is feeling dry and brittle, be kind to it! The last thing your poor hair needs is a searing hot straightening iron and blow-dryer after it has already been under strain.
Once you have followed the above steps, opt for letting your hair dry naturally. While it may not be perfectly straight when it dries, you’ll feel the difference in softness almost instantly!
You can always braid your hair or tie it in a loose plait while it’s wet. As it dries into that pattern, your hair will have some soft, beachy waves.
How To Prevent Dry Hair After Exercise
The easiest way to prevent dry hair after exercising is to apply a dry shampoo like the OGX Extra Strength Refresh & Restore + Coconut Miracle Oil to your hair before you begin your workout and invest in a sweat-resistant headband. These headbands are designed to limit your sweating whilst also keeping your hair dry whilst you exercise.
Keep reading to find out what other tips and tricks you can use to prevent your hair from drying out after your workout!
Step 01. Minimize the amount sweat sitting in your hair.
The number one way to prevent dry hair after an exercise is to minimize the amount of sweat your hair is exposed to from the beginning! You can wear a cotton headband to absorb any excess sweat, and this will also protect your scalp.
I also advise that you get yourself some clips and pins to prevent any ends from becoming loose as you move about and getting stuck to the sweat around your hairline and face.
In terms of styling, I always recommend tying your hair up into a bun, or even better, into braids. This will keep your hair out of your face and will prevent excess loose hair from brushing against your neck and shoulders and soaking up sweat.
Step 02. Add dry shampoo before you start working out.
One useful little trick I learned is to spray some dry shampoo on your hair before your workout (just make sure your hair is completely dry, or it could cake your hair up into a disaster).
Spraying dry shampoo to your hair before you exercise will help it soak up any excess sweat, preventing your hair from drying out due to the salty sweat.
Step 03. Do a conditioner rinse after working out.
Shampoo can be very drying to your hair, especially post-workout. My favorite tried-and-tested trick is to dilute some sulfate-free conditioner in a spray bottle with a little bit of cool, clean water.
Simply spray this mixture to your hair post-workout (pay special attention to the scalp area), leave it in for about 5-10 minutes, and then rinse your hair out in the shower with cool water.
Next, you can mix some conditioner, water, and oil into a spray bottle and use that as your leave-in conditioner. Simply leave this in until you get home, and rinse it out again after about 45 minutes.
I recommend Nioxin Scalp Therapy Conditioner for the best results!
Step 04. Sit under a hooded dryer, then apply a leave-in.
Another option you can choose is to take a hand-held dryer with a diffuser attachment (you should bring one with you) to dry your hair post-workout. This method is ideal for ladies who have plans after the gym and aren’t too keen on rocking the wet, slicked-back look.
Before you dry your hair, apply a leave-in conditioner after you rinse it. Then, take your hair-dryer and gently blow-dry your hair on a low heat setting.
Once dry, you should immediately notice that your hair feels and looks a lot softer and moisturized, compared to if you had chance washed your hair normally with shampoo and conditioner straight after the workout and blasted it with a high-heat on a normal hairdryer.
*insert article about dry hair after blow-drying once it is published.
Step 05. Refrain from washing hair after every gym session.
Despite what many people say, it really is unnecessary to wash your hair after every single workout. Imagine if you exercised daily, your hair would be a wreak!
Even if you are doing heavy cardio, you really shouldn’t be washing your hair more than 2-3 times per week. So, you may be wondering how exactly are you going to get rid of that sweat build-up post-workout?
Well, you simply need to give your hair a quick rinse after every gym session and in between washes! This will wash out the excess sweat that could cause dryness, but will also not dry your hair our further due to stripping your hair of its natural oils. It’s a win-win!
Final Thoughts
There’s absolutely no reason why you can’t have a fantastic body as well as healthy, silky hair! If you follow the tips listed above, you should be able to create a healthy balance between your fitness requirements and your hair needs without either one taking a hit.