Dealing with long hair after working out

Noreenmarie1234
Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,492 Member
edited December 3 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi, I work out pretty much every day which causes me to wash my hair every day and wear it up. I sweat A LOT (dripping) so my hair gets pretty wet and gross. My hair has been looking really damaged lately from all the washing. I don't use shampoo every day (usually only 2-3 times a week other days I just use conditioner, dont wash it, or rinse it).

What do you guys do? Have you found anything that works to keep your hair looking great? I sometimes don't want to wash it after a workout, but I have to go to work/class and look presentable. I can't just throw it up because it looks matted, sweaty and gross. I have very very fine, dry hair. Wondering if anyone has any tips!

Replies

  • sammyliftsandeats
    sammyliftsandeats Posts: 2,421 Member
    What about wearing a headband to mop up some of the sweat so you are not as drippy? And then using a towel/dry shampoo to get your hair looking presentable without having to shampoo all the time. Maybe spritz in a leave in conditioner as well.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Try drying it with a hair dryer then using dry shampoo. That may help. My daughter has fine hair and dry shampoo helps with her.
  • trudiebamford
    trudiebamford Posts: 88 Member
    I gave up, and had it cut into a long bob.
  • Noreenmarie1234
    Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,492 Member
    samanthaluangphixay wrote: »
    What about wearing a headband to mop up some of the sweat so you are not as drippy? And then using a towel/dry shampoo to get your hair looking presentable without having to shampoo all the time. Maybe spritz in a leave in conditioner as well.

    I do wear one of those thick sports headbands. Dry shampoo is a good idea, I've never used it.
  • Noreenmarie1234
    Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,492 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    Try drying it with a hair dryer then using dry shampoo. That may help. My daughter has fine hair and dry shampoo helps with her.

    Thanks I am going to give the dry shampoo a try.
  • Noreenmarie1234
    Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,492 Member
    trudiebamford wrote: »
    I gave up, and had it cut into a long bob.

    LOL I've been tempted to think about going really short just so I don't have to deal with it
  • B4Rachael
    B4Rachael Posts: 155 Member
    I use Ogx Coconut Milk anti-breakage serum

    https://ogxbeauty.com/hair/coconut-milk/anti-breakage-serum/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ogx-nonbrand&utm_term=coconut%20milk%20anti%20breakage
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    edited September 2016
    I either air dry/blow dry on cool and dry shampoo, Conditioner wash. I have been diluting my shampoo for a few years as my strands are on the fine side, plus I am between a 1c-2a, so the above works well for me. I've recently gone from waist length to shoulder length hair, though...

    How do you do your hair up to work out? I usually go the bun on top of the head route (now it's just a ponytail as my hair is shorter).

    How often do you use a moisturizing hair treatment?
  • linarex
    linarex Posts: 10 Member
    I like Batiste dry shampoo. I really try to keep it off my face and neck during the workouts now, which is much easier with shorter hair. The dry shampoo really helps.
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    I sometimes leave my hair in a bun to shower, but rinse around the hair line and into the scalp, but not the length. I let it down to air dry while getting dressed and coffee, then use some dry shampoo(not your mother's works well for me) then style. I use mostly cheaper shampoos and conditioners. My hair is fine and does well with suave extra moisturizing or vo5. Sometimes I use organics or nature's gate.
  • shellyld2016
    shellyld2016 Posts: 288 Member
    I have to about every day too. I use good shampoo and conditioner , not the super cheap stuff. I am big on leave in conditioner too.
  • selina884
    selina884 Posts: 826 Member
    Wash every other day and use dry shampoo in between.

    Thats all you can do really.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    edited September 2016
    I suggest you change your shampoo/conditioner to pureology (the purple one). Do a hair mask once a week. And with our hairtype i've found dry-shampoo to not work well.

    I have the same hair type as you and it's also long (i think).

    _DSC4127_zpsgfdzpzzx.jpg

    here's what i do:
    If i workout, I rinse my hair with cold water massaging my scalp. Apply conditioner to everything below the ears.
    Twice a week I shampoo the hair completely.
    Once a week I deep condition.
    Work out in and go to sleep in one big or two braids. Keep this hair away from the scalp (so tie them downward).
    If i can't shower after I hit the gym and have to go, I blast my scalp with the blowdryer (cold) and then the braids with hot. I undo the braids and have soft waves.

    P.S. I've cut off 8 inches from my hair since this picture, it's now hip length. My recommendation is to always always always trim your hair every few months so you don't experience breakage.

    P.S.S. Pureology is sulfate free, vegan, and literally the best shampoo/conditioner i've ever tried. And i have tried almost every salon and expensive brand out there. You only need a quarter sized amount to condition long hair! So it lasts a long time. I think sometimes you can purchase it on sale, but man, i cannot recommend this product enough!
  • BodyByBex
    BodyByBex Posts: 3,685 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    I suggest you change your shampoo/conditioner to pureology (the purple one). Do a hair mask once a week. And with our hairtype i've found dry-shampoo to not work well.

    I have the same hair type as you and it's also long (i think).

    _DSC4127_zpsgfdzpzzx.jpg

    here's what i do:
    If i workout, I rinse my hair with cold water massaging my scalp. Apply conditioner to everything below the ears.
    Twice a week I shampoo the hair completely.
    Once a week I deep condition.
    Work out in and go to sleep in one big or two braids. Keep this hair away from the scalp (so tie them downward).
    If i can't shower after I hit the gym and have to go, I blast my scalp with the blowdryer (cold) and then the braids with hot. I undo the braids and have soft waves.

    P.S. I've cut off 8 inches from my hair since this picture, it's now hip length. My recommendation is to always always always trim your hair every few months so you don't experience breakage.

    P.S.S. Pureology is sulfate free, vegan, and literally the best shampoo/conditioner i've ever tried. And i have tried almost every salon and expensive brand out there. You only need a quarter sized amount to condition long hair! So it lasts a long time. I think sometimes you can purchase it on sale, but man, i cannot recommend this product enough!

    Gorgeous hair.

    I couldn't deal with mine so I cut it super short. Plus it was just too dang hot in Texas...
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,701 Member
    edited September 2016
    Here's mine .... I wear it in a braid when I exercise or clean house or do anything where it might get in the way. Then I just take it out of the braid, and it goes all wavy.

    This was taken a couple years ago when I was a little overweight ... I've lost a bit of weight since then and my hair is even longer than that now. I haven't had it cut in over a year.

    As for how I care for it in general ... I shampoo it 5 or 6 days a week and condition everything below about my shoulders every time. If the ends feel particularly dry, I use a spray-and-leave conditioner. I have one at work and one at home.

    14956106566_5c733b56b6.jpg
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    I condition to get the sweat out...it's not as damaging as shampoo and will still get hair and scalp clean, just leave it in for a few minutes before rinsing.
  • Michael190lbs
    Michael190lbs Posts: 1,510 Member
    although you woman look fantastic I shave my head with a number 2 every Sunday can't imagine what its like to have all that hair I know its a lot of work. One of my favorite woman with a shaved head
    qsgid5vpd1l7.jpg
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    Here's mine .... I wear it in a braid when I exercise or clean house or do anything where it might get in the way. Then I just take it out of the braid, and it goes all wavy.

    This is the way to do it ladies and gentlemen :)
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,701 Member
    Michael190lbs wrote: »
    although you woman look fantastic I shave my head with a number 2 every Sunday can't imagine what its like to have all that hair I know its a lot of work.

    I actually found it to be more work when it was shorter. I have just enough natural wave to be really annoying so when it was short, I was forever curling and straightening and gelling and moussing and fussing with it to try to get it to do what I wanted it to do.

    Now it's just so easy by comparison.

    I think about cutting it now and then, but I think I'd have to go really, really short to attain the same level of ease.

  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    Mine has been as long as thigh, but recently cut it to about hip. It is difficult to find a comfortable style that stays through high-impact (like kickboxing). A braid whips me and is annoyingly in the way, a bun falls out about 20 min into the workout. I love linzi clips, but they seem to have been discontinued. I guess I'm lucky that cheap products work for me. I don't skip washes too much because it has led to a scalp fungus. It is very humid where I live.
  • NaturalNancy
    NaturalNancy Posts: 1,093 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    Try drying it with a hair dryer then using dry shampoo. That may help. My daughter has fine hair and dry shampoo helps with her.

    This
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    I always use a leave in conditioner. I use a gentle argan oil shampoo and conditioner, and then a heavy leave-in as my hair is coarse, very wavy, and dry. I wash every other day because I use Rogaine and more than two days build up of that is just gross. X( Plus the workout sweat. Trim ends whenever you see splits or it starts looking janky.
  • Joanna2012B
    Joanna2012B Posts: 1,448 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    Machka9 wrote: »
    Here's mine .... I wear it in a braid when I exercise or clean house or do anything where it might get in the way. Then I just take it out of the braid, and it goes all wavy.

    This is the way to do it ladies and gentlemen :)

    That is the way I do it. I was told it was easier on your hair and have less breakage with a braid than a pony tail. I like the way it looks after too!!!
  • peleroja
    peleroja Posts: 3,979 Member
    Joanna2012B wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    Machka9 wrote: »
    Here's mine .... I wear it in a braid when I exercise or clean house or do anything where it might get in the way. Then I just take it out of the braid, and it goes all wavy.

    This is the way to do it ladies and gentlemen :)

    That is the way I do it. I was told it was easier on your hair and have less breakage with a braid than a pony tail. I like the way it looks after too!!!

    My hair is only moderately long (more like waist than hip) but I can't do this at all as it's very straight naturally, so I just end up with a couple weird, sad bends, no nice waves at all.

    I just do a high ponytail for the gym and a loose bun on top of my head any other time I need it out of the way, unless I'm wearing a hat or helmet, then it goes in two braids and I just have to wet it immediately after I take them out if I don't want it to look ridiculous.

    I like dry shampoo after workouts as well, but if it gets really sweaty than a good rinse at least is necessary, preferably with conditioner in the ends. Amd I do use a lot of those serum/oil kinda things (argan or whatever, I just buy drugstore stuff) on the bottom half while it's wet to keep it feeling healthy and not all dried out.
  • sam1053
    sam1053 Posts: 43 Member
    I have the same problem. I finally cut my hair into a semi-long inverted bob. I put coconut oil on the ends after I wash it. Not too much or it will look greasy, just a little bit and its not noticeable.
  • jessiefrancine
    jessiefrancine Posts: 271 Member
    I agree with the dry shampoo whenever possible. Just make sure your hair is dry first (with a blow dryer on low or cool), because if you spray dry shampoo into wet hair you get gross results.
  • charis2979
    charis2979 Posts: 38 Member
    Have you tried Co-Washing? There are co-washes out there (basically conditioner wash) that do not have the harsh sulfates in them that strip out your natural oils from your hair. I have used the "As I Am" brand from Sally's for years and love it. You might have to do a clarifying wash every now and again, but I would usually only have to do that about once a month. It would really depend on what other products you use in your hair.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    edited September 2016
    I do the conditioner wash thing when it really gets out of hand, but I'm afraid I don't have any other helpful advice. I had very long hair (covering the butt long) and finally caved in last month and snipped it in half for this very reason. It's still long but much more manageable. I just couldn't deal with all the care it needed after exercise. Unfortunately, you need to come up with some kind of care routine and be willing to keep it up like some described above. I too have my hair in a braid, but one problem with that is that since you sweat a lot like I do and if your hair is as long as mine was the braid can get pretty heavy causing headaches on longer workouts.
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