Hair care and exercise

hkristine1
hkristine1 Posts: 950 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I'm not entirely sure this is the right section in the forums for this, but oh well... My hair stylist says I should only be washing my hair 3-4x per week. That seems to be fine when I don't exercise daily, but now that I am upping my workouts from 3 days per week to 5-6. I just can't see myself NOT washing my hair after I have gotten my sweat on! If I do that, though, I'm washing my hair way more often than I am "supposed" to. Do any of you have any techniques to suggest for keeping your hair not gross after you work out?
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Replies

  • sympha01
    sympha01 Posts: 942 Member
    Bumping to see others' replies, but I'll tell you what I do. I workout every day, but only only shampoo my hair 1X per week (I sweat a lot, but my hair and skin both tend to dryness, so I don't have much of a grease problem except sometimes on that last day of the week).

    2X per week I rinse it with the aid of a conditioner. The other days I just blow dry it (focussing on the roots) on a low setting.
  • Stripeness
    Stripeness Posts: 511 Member
    Some people swear by dry shampoo - in fact, it's quite popular right now. I don't use it, but have heard great things. Maybe if you search "dry shampoo" in this forum, you'll find some of the other threads on this subject, btw. (No snarkiness intended "search" here is dodgy.)

    Personally, I work out w/my hair in a ponytail and if I get really sweaty-headed, hold the ponytail out of the water & let the shower wash my scalp. So far, so good! This also keeps me from going back to work with wet hair after a lunchtime workout.
  • MorgueBabe
    MorgueBabe Posts: 1,188 Member
    Dry Shampoo
    I like LIke lulu Organics and Paul Mitchell Express Dry Wash.
    I wash my hair once a week.

    Put the dry shampoo in the night; that way in the morning it's all nice and rubbed in.
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    I pull my hair up and back pretty tight. It allows the scalp to breath and you don't get your hair as sweaty.
  • lisalsd1
    lisalsd1 Posts: 1,519 Member
    I use shampoo every other day (so 3-4 times a week). I condition everyday though. I usually workout 5-6 days a week. I DO get pretty sweaty. So the days I don't shampoo, I do rinse my hair with water and just condition the back.

    This has made a HUGE difference for me. Shampooing my hair everyday was drying it out. My hair doesn't feel oily or nasty at all with the reduced shampooing.
  • kaned_ferret
    kaned_ferret Posts: 618 Member
    I'm actually surprised at the recommendation of washing hair 3-4x per week, that's actually quite high! I only wash my hair every 1-2 weeks, but like someone else said, I have a dry scalp, never get oily hair at all - if i washed it that regularly I would have a severely disagreeable scalp! I also would do the odd CO (conditioner only) wash if needed. Generally, i don't really sweat on my head even when working out hard, i guess I'm lucky with that. If I had to wash my hair that regularly it would be forever wet (I only let it air dry naturally and it takes up to a day or more to dry!) and i'd probably hack it all off again lol :smile:
  • ElyseL1
    ElyseL1 Posts: 504 Member
    I have oily hair bc its very fine. I just wash it every day after my workout out and leaving it down. However I also use a high quality shampoo so im not putting tons of product in my hair. Putting your hair up is worse than washing it.
  • robinxhope
    robinxhope Posts: 125 Member
    My routine:
    Wash 3x per week
    Rinse out sweat otherwise
    Curl hair on day 2 or three post wash
    dry shampoo for styling
    backcomb roots for styling
    tight hairstyles (french braids, buns, ponies) and headband/hat for greasy days

    Hope that helps :)
  • Tabitha_Faye
    Tabitha_Faye Posts: 131
    Herbal Essences just came out with a conditioner that you use in place of shampooing your hair everyday. It's called Herbal Essences Naked Cleansing Conditioner. It makes your hair feel clean, without the damaging effects of shampoo. Plus, it's paraben-free! :) If it makes your hair feel too oily, just use some dry shampoo to soak up the excess oil.
  • magnolia_ah
    magnolia_ah Posts: 161 Member
    use conditioner and apply olive oil for hair mask ...once a week
  • FitWitBrit
    FitWitBrit Posts: 21 Member
    I love dry shampoo! A great trick is to blow dry the sweaty roots, and then add the dry shampoo a few inches away from your head. Let it sit a bit and then brush it out. It cleans your hair and adds a great volume. I like treseme but I use the cheap suave too and both a great and have a nice smell.
  • Mlkmaid
    Mlkmaid Posts: 356 Member
    I have somewhat oily hair and wash every day anyway and always have. I have stick straight, fine, thin hair and it's matted flat to my head if I don't. I can't believe there are people on this thread who only wash their hair every couple of weeks. I hate to think what I'd look like!
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    I have somewhat oily hair and wash every day anyway and always have. I have stick straight, fine, thin hair and it's matted flat to my head if I don't. I can't believe there are people on this thread who only wash their hair every couple of weeks. I hate to think what I'd look like!

    I have somewhat oily hair too...and straight hair...although mine is opposite, very thick and somewhat coarse. I also have to wash my hair every day or I just do not feel clean. Obviously right now (pic) I have super short hair...but I've had everything from this short to shoulder- and waist-length and nothing has ever changed. I could probably count on two hands the number of days I've skipped washing my hair since I was a teenager and I am 37.

    OTOH my mom washes her dry, curly, super thick hair weekly if that and she always looks & smells perfectly clean.
  • lisalsd1
    lisalsd1 Posts: 1,519 Member
    So here's a question for people who only shampoo once a week or less...in total seriousness, doesn't your hair start to smell like food?

    I didn't was my hair for 3 or 4 days (I had just colored it and read to go a couple of days without washing). My hair smelled like every dinner I had cooked for those days. The tofu curry night was especially pungent.
  • CTcutie
    CTcutie Posts: 649 Member
    I also cannot stand the small of dirty hair/scalp... I use Dove dry shampoo mainly, but I tried 3 other brands as well (my hair is past my shoulders, fine, but plentiful). I sometimes skip the in-shower shampoo if my scalp feels dry, but seriously had difficulty adjusting to working out enough to get sweaty and dealing with my hair. I get SO many compliments on my second day hair (sometimes I curl it, sometimes I let it be with it's bad self), I've come to expect it, lol! So as long as I have a dry shampoo I like, it's all good.
  • SweeDecadence92
    SweeDecadence92 Posts: 218 Member
    Water rinse.
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
    I try to wash my hair every other day. I time it so that I wash on my cardio days, and go without on my lifting days since I rarely get sweaty when I'm lifting.
  • EmilyJackCO
    EmilyJackCO Posts: 621 Member
    I pull my hair up and back pretty tight. It allows the scalp to breath and you don't get your hair as sweaty.

    ^^^^^ This. My hair is really long, past the middle of my back. I throw it up in a big bun on top of my head and go to town (that also keeps it out of the way of the bar & bench - see profile pic). I sweat like a mofo, but because it's all up out of the way, it doesn't cause an issue. I still only wash mine once or twice a week, depending on what I have going on. I find that dry shampoo helps, but it can be pricey. Baby powder works just as well and is uber cheap. I also may rinse it and condition it instead as well.

    All that being said - long hair is a royal pain in the *kitten*. It can be hot, a pain to manage, and almost always in the way, but it's only a few hours a week. The care I put into it the rest of the week helps too. I brush it often, I use as little hair spray as possible, and I use high-end products for the most part. Though, I am having to watch expenditures and have fallen in love with the Organix line of stuff.
  • dumb_blondes_rock
    dumb_blondes_rock Posts: 1,568 Member
    < hairstylist for 6 yrs...

    You can wash your hair, just dont use shampoo. Water is usually hard in most places, so the water does a fine job of rinsing offnthe sweat. If your hair gets dry from the hard water, use hair oil on your ends to keep them hydrated. I like merakesh oil. I also use a dry shampoo from tigi, its in a black can. Also, switch to a low sulfate/sulfate free shampoo, it will make your color last longer and keep your hair softer.

    When washing hair, shampoo roots only, don't shampoo all of your hair. And when using conditioner, dont apply any on your roots, apply to the ends and mid- hair only. Rinse hair with cool water when done, it seals cuticles of hair.
  • AngelRobbie
    AngelRobbie Posts: 153 Member
    Bump! I wanna read all this later! I just wash my hair everyday..
  • Stripeness
    Stripeness Posts: 511 Member
    So here's a question for people who only shampoo once a week or less...in total seriousness, doesn't your hair start to smell like food?

    I didn't was my hair for 3 or 4 days (I had just colored it and read to go a couple of days without washing). My hair smelled like every dinner I had cooked for those days. The tofu curry night was especially pungent.

    That's really funny - I just cooked a huge batch of curry tonight. And yep, I'll be washing my hair when I shower tonight!

    Unless I'm cooking something *particularly* strong-smelling, then no, it's not an issue. A lot of my cooking is Asian, Mexican, or Italian, and for whatever reason, I don't notice the smells lingering in the house like curries. Oh, and bacon. If there is mass bacon-cooking, there must be hair-washing.

    That said, I've got thick curly hair that goes past my shoulders. Tends to be dry, so gotta take care of it. When it's short? All bets are off & it really doesn't matter how often it gets washed or if conditioner's used.
  • loriemn
    loriemn Posts: 292 Member
    I wash my hair usually twice a day,,my job requires it or I would smell like a big wet dog,,(groomer) I use Paul Mitchell and John Frieda products..dont have any problems with dry hair or scalp..I do use about once a week a product called "pepi" its show conditioner made for horses,,yes I use it on my horses also but was so impressed with it on them I tried it on myself,,but only use it overnight when I am staying home because it looks greasy on humans until you wash it out,but it smells amazing and works really well.
  • ktied
    ktied Posts: 137 Member
    I wash my hair about once every week or two weeks. No i dont have a problem with odors....Not that Ive noticed or anyoones told me!!! I do however rinse it thoroughly every day.
  • vagabondgoddess
    vagabondgoddess Posts: 38 Member
    I have fine hair sorta curls but mostly straight. The curls/spirals are gentle. I have to wash my hair everyday or it looks greasy. I have blonde hair so literally on the second day it will start turning brown and greasy. Gross! Actually my hair can start greasing up after about 8 hrs.
  • dumb_blondes_rock
    dumb_blondes_rock Posts: 1,568 Member
    A little fyi...the sebaceous glands(oil producing glands) in your scalp will over react if you wash your hair too often, making your scalp oilier than it normally would be. Same with the face. Try washing it every other day at first, then try every two days. I wash mine about every 4 days or so, sometimes once a week
  • melb_alex
    melb_alex Posts: 1,154 Member
    During the week I wear my hair straight but as I gym 5-6 times a week it does lose the straightened look so i wash it only max twice a week (sometimes only once) and put curls in it so it doesn't look too unwashed.

    I wear a plait or pony tail mid height at gym

    If I am desperate I will use Dry Shampoo or simply rinse my hair with cold water.
  • cassy_runs
    cassy_runs Posts: 94
    For those who use dry shampoo, can anyone recommend a dry shampoo that won't give dark hair a grayish, powdery look? I've tried several dry shampoos from low-end to higher-end and it always makes my hair look powdery. My hair is a dark brown color with a bit of red highlighted throughout.
  • wilsoje74
    wilsoje74 Posts: 1,720 Member
    My hair doesn't really get sweaty??? I just put it up. I wash about 2-3x per week
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    I have about butt-length hair (should i call it hip length? eh, whatever) and this is what i do.

    I shampoo 3 times per week (about every 3 days) and i wash with just water on the days i don't shampoo. I invested in a boar bristle brush to move the sebum (yummy hair oils from your scalp) from root to tip of my hair. I also add some coconut oil to the tips of my hair every now and then when they are feeling dry.

    I avoid all kinds of heat on my hair, although it does look super badass straightened or curled.

    After a few weeks my hair went from being greasy to just leveling out with oil and dryness.

    Oh yeah, and the shampoo and conditioner i use is pureology (sulfate free) and it is absolutely wonderful. :)
  • Josalinn
    Josalinn Posts: 1,066 Member
    I wash my Hair 2x a week, Monday and Friday. I Zumba MWF.I keep my hair in a french braid and while i work out and even though its a little gross on Wednesday right after Zumba it is fine after it dries. If I still feel a little bleh, I spritz it with some body splash or water.

    I have A LOT of hair (and still growing!) so I wash it only twice a week so that the natural oils have a chance to get to the tips. Also I take a supplement that has a lot of biotin in it on a daily basis to keep my hair healthy.

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