Long Hair and Exercise

e_v_v

Being a female is so hard at times.

I have pretty long hair--about to the middle of my back--and can't stand it during workouts. I love it too much to cut it off, and so does my husband, so that's not an option. The problem is that in a pony tail, it gets all tangled up when I do high-intensity exercise. It doesn't stay in a bun when I do most exercises (especially "Insanity" DVD's) because the bouncing and gravity just makes it fall out, and braids stick to my neck and get caught in my sweaty armpits. Just being honest. Do any females (or males, for that matter) have any hair advice for how to keep my hair off of my skin and out of my face? Pics of styles would be very helpful!

SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage

Ahhh, armpit ponytail. Long-hair problems
I use silicone hair elastics from Scunci (not the thin crappy ones). They are basically like a regular hair elastic but made of silicone. I put my hair in a high pony with one elastic, then use another one to put it into a bun. Then I use a headband from SparklySoul (they don't fall out, even in bootcamp).
international.boots.com/en/Scunci-2mm-Silicone-Elastics-20-pack_1190506/
sparklysoul.com/

jemhh

Wouldn't braiding it prevent tangles?

concordancia

Braids, always braids. A single braid down the back or pigtail braids on the side, but I do love my braids.

My hair is currently around my bra strap, and I can actually tie it in one big knot for a few minutes of activity, but braids, braids braids.

faithsstaircase

This sounds funny, but it works. I used to do It all the time when my hair was long.

Take a sock you don't have a match for and cut off the toe, and roll it into a donut shape (or buy a hair donut). Slide it over your ponytail, spread your ponytail out over it and cinch it with a thick or silicone hair tie. It will stay in place for your whole workout and it looks cute.

e_v_v

jemhh wrote: »

Wouldn't braiding it prevent tangles?

The braiding prevents tangles, but it still gets stuck in my armpits and sports bra.

ASKyle

Make your bun more secure with bobby pins, spray or additional hair ties.

As a former ballerina I am a pro at making a rock solid bun. Lol.

RespectTheKitty

I can never understand those women I see working out with their long hair completely down... I mean, would it get in the way and get all sweaty and gross? But then again, I don't see these women actually sweating.... maybe I'm the only one who sweats so darn much. I have to wear my hair up AND have a sweatband around my head!

concordancia

ebrass73 wrote: »

jemhh wrote: »

Wouldn't braiding it prevent tangles?

The braiding prevents tangles, but it still gets stuck in my armpits and sports bra.

Have you tried pinning up your braid? Not only will you be comfortable for your workout, but you can look like Heidi.

I have also looped up my braids. That is, I make a braid, then bring the end up to the beginning and put an elastic around to hold it in the loop.

dubird

I use a big barrette to twist it up and pin it back off my shoulders, something like these: http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=226606&catid=335590&aid=338666&aparam=226606&kpid=226606&CAWELAID=120142990000005591&CAGPSPN=pla

Shells918

I put mine in a high ponytail and then clip it into place with a jaw clip kind of like this but higher and tighter.

williams969

I have mid back length hair, too. And it's heavy, so a simple high pony will just slide down my head. Braids!!! I braid a high pony and do the loop trick. I have also been known to just wear a doo rag over a simple bun. It's an ugly look on me, lol, but I'm working out to work out.

smcrimmon84

SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »

Ahhh, armpit ponytail. Long-hair problems
I use silicone hair elastics from Scunci (not the thin crappy ones). They are basically like a regular hair elastic but made of silicone. I put my hair in a high pony with one elastic, then use another one to put it into a bun. Then I use a headband from SparklySoul (they don't fall out, even in bootcamp).

This! Silicone hair tie for pony, another for bun, and a headband! lol

Brithicks

I do pigtail french braids and then loop them at the bottom. they are then only about shoulder length. If I'm doing something that will really drench me, I braid from the bottom up and tie into messy pigtail buns so no hair goes on my neck. I also use the silicone elastics so they don't slip out.

lkpducky

Scunci makes various sizes of hair clips - my hair is just below my bra line and I twist it up, then use several clips at any place where hair is going to sneak out. I also have each clip through the head hair as well as the bun hair.
http://www.amazon.com/Scunci-Effortless-Beauty-Thick-18-Count/dp/B0045HYPIM

This lasts through several miles of running.

CyeRyn

I know your pain. My hair is to my hips and I *just* cut 5 inches off a month ago. Ive been threatening to cut it off too but I just kind of deal with it. Im terrible at making buns, Ive tried. Or the bun makes it awkward when doing mat work. I might try some of the suggestions posted here. Sorry my response isnt helpful.

MommyL2015

A braid or a bun, or a braid in a bun! I have long straight hair and it is certainly annoying in the summer or while trying to do any type of exersize or even housework, but I love braids. I put gel in it and put it up wet so that when it dries, especially on the top of my head, I don't get frizzy flyaways and it stays looking smooth most of the day.

rainbowbow

My hair is very very long. My hair is so long in fact that i have to pull it up everytime i go to the bathroom and keep it off my back in the shower otherwise it falls into my buttcrack. i also have to hold it out of the way when i pull my pants up or it gets caught in the waist of pants/skirts.

Don't get me started on how i have to treat it before i sleep so that it doesn't strangle me at night....

Anyways, part of having long hair means making these changes and sacrifices each and every day. Learning to adapt to the situations of long hair is necessary if you don't want it to drive you insane (to the point of getting a pixy cut).

For workouts like lifting weights i always put it in a very low ponytail.


This allows me to lay flat on my back without my hair/knot/scrunchy being in a ball on the back of my head. it also keeps my hair out of my face and that's good enough for me.

Now if i'm doing something like jumping? I wear a baseball cap! I put my hair in a "bun" by making a low ponytail as before and halfway through on the last pull through. I have a flat, long, loop shape. Then i take it and fold it on top of my head before putting my cap on. This keeps ALL of my hair pulled into the cap with no issues.

i personally dont recommend braids as i stated above they create a bump on your head. They also whip you, get whispy, etc.

kshama2001

When I was in the military, I French-braided my hair and pinned the braid to my head. Every day.

aleencarraec

My hair goes down to the top of my rear. I braid it straight down the back, then loop it up and hold it with a ponytail at the base of my neck. The braid rests about 6 few inches below my shoulders, and it doesn't hurt when running. Also, doesn't damage the hair, nor does it tangle, nor does it give you a headache (unless you make your bread too tight.). I know the struggle.

aleencarraec

ebrass73 wrote: »

jemhh wrote: »

Wouldn't braiding it prevent tangles?

The braiding prevents tangles, but it still gets stuck in my armpits and sports bra.

Read what I put before this. If you loop it up once (bring bottom of braid to base of neck, place ponytail there to hold braid in loop), it wont swing into your armpits. I promise.

danacondah

BRAIDS! The only thing I have found that works for me... long hair down to my middle/low back... is I put my hair in a ponytail. Tie it. And THEN I braid the ponytail and tie it again at the bottom. The ponytail prevents my hair from getting all nappy and tangly right at the base of my hairline... and the braid prevents the rest from getting tangled. Goodluck! #LongHairDontCare

Asher_Ethan

Braids and sometimes I use only a sweat band to keep my hair out of my face.

arditarose

Put it in a REAL bun. Like a ballerina. When I need to get serious I do it that way. I even use one of those bun rolls, bobby pin that sucker in, hair spry. It doesn't go anywhere.

pomegranatecloud

Braided ponytail.

Sixtine79

A tight half pony tail, then a braid. And a sweat band (Sweaty Bands are awesome).

IILikeToMoveItMoveIt

My hair is about 3 ft long, (bottom of my but) and I put it in a really high pony tail (so I can use the bench without having to steady my head) and then braid it down. Sometimes, I'll wrap that bottom bit of hair around the braid and put a tie around it. It keeps the tail from being "grabby" but it makes it kind of pendulous. I mostly do that for swimming though. I've also done the braided pony tail knot thing. Play with styles and see what works best for you. I also find that sweat pretty much keeps my fly aways and bangs slicked back...eew, I know...I sweat a lot!

nojuicejustjin

My hair is almost by my butt at this point. I either do a high ponytail then braid or tie it in a ponytail then use another hair tie to do a bun and clip it in place. Depends on the activity but the bun normally works best for me while running swimming or lifting weights. I have thick hair so this has proved the most effective for me

jetskisimpson

I have super long hair, I'm 5'4" and my hair is right above my ankles, I use of sport head band as a ponytail holder (super thick to boot) and do a super high pony I leave enough slack in holder to pull hair about 1/4 thru (like to do a floppy bun) then I take the last loop of holder and go around the floppy part, then wrap the tail (which is still bout mid back) around the floppy then I anchor it with Bobby pins. I use regular pins and roller pins like from old school rollers. I run, do hi intensity and weight lifting and it stays firm. Hope it helps. Good luck!

ElizabethOakes2

When I was much younger, my hair was down to my waist and I was a jazz dancer. For rehearsal I had a three braid system- Two side braids that tied to a bigger central braid, held in place with three hair ties. I wish we'd had the awesome silicon ones back then, because those stay put, even in the pool.

LKArgh

Used to have long hair for many years and the most convenient hairstyle for workouts was a very high pony tail. Plus a sweat band.
I went recently from to a pixie cut and I have to say that the feeling after years and years of very long is really liberating. Especially during workouts.