Working up a sweat is killing my relaxer! Help!

last25
last25 Posts: 83
edited September 21 in Fitness and Exercise
Okay, so I LOVE working out. I love it! But I do not like what it is doing to my hair :/ I work out 6 days a week and I am currently on the Insanity program. I am having a lot of fun but I hate how damp my hair is after every workout!! I don't mind sweating but it's ruining my hair. A relaxer is supposed to last a good 6 weeks maybe more if you take good care of your hair but mine barely makes it to 4 weeks with all the sweating I do when I work out.

Currently, I am washing my hair twice a week to avoid drying it out (which would be the case if I washed it everyday) but what the heck it's already drying out from all the sweat equity. And I cannot find a deep conditioner or a leave in conditioner to save my life. So my question is what do ya'll do about the hair?? Especially African American women with relaxed hair... Do you wash it every day? Deep condition? Leave in condition? Is there a certain way I can wrap it or wear it to minimize the amount of damage done by sweating? Help!!

Replies

  • norbel_shumon
    norbel_shumon Posts: 41
    I hear ya! I give up! I am getting braids put in tomorrow, this way I can co-wash after workouts. Try searching for this topic on Youtube, there are allot of videos on the subject!!!!
  • last25
    last25 Posts: 83
    Right? How frustrating to want to do something great for your body but it's ruining your hair!! Good idea about the search on YouTube, I'll give it a shot. Thanks :)
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    The problems of others makes you happy for the problems of my own:wink:

    It never occured to me to be thankful I can wash and condition my hair twice a day if I need to :ohwell: Thanks for some new perspective!!

    BTW keep up the good work! I hear insanity is .............uh..............well InSanE so good for you!!!:drinker:
  • last25
    last25 Posts: 83
    The problems of others makes you happy for the problems of my own:wink:

    It never occured to me to be thankful I can wash and condition my hair twice a day if I need to :ohwell: Thanks for some new perspective!!

    BTW keep up the good work! I hear insanity is .............uh..............well InSanE so good for you!!!:drinker:

    Lol. Very true.

    Glad I can offer you new perspective on hair care :wink: It's a pain not being able to wash your hair everyday b/c it will dry out and become brittle. But well what can you do right? You make the best with what you've got...

    Thanks I will. It is INSANE! I feel like I've been run over by a truck the next morning but I also feel stronger and can endure cardio workouts longer. Cheers!
  • AA216
    AA216 Posts: 1
    Oh gosh girl... I was just doing a search to see if I was the only one... I'm currently also doing Insanity workout, and just took out my boxbraids this morning... Had a nice deep condition, and got a nice glue-in weave...

    I did my insanity work out afterwards, and MY ROOTS!!! Oh man!!! *sigh*

    LOL... Just know you're not alone...

    Even though it's killing my hair, I only co wash 1x a week. and wash every other week... I definitely think braids is a good way to go until the workout is completed... A good deep condition... I simply use shea butter and castor oil, coconut oil... on wet hair... Wrap in a plastic cap and sit for at elast 30 min.. rinse, and thatll leave your hair super moisturized and strong... I def dont advise washing your hair with shampoo 2x a week... It'll be a lot... Maybe 1x a week, with a nice deep condition before hand... idk

    Tell me, are you wearing a weave, or is your hair simply going along for the ride???

    And good luck with your workout... I'm only at the end of my first week...

    AA
  • fitafterkids
    fitafterkids Posts: 5 Member
    i ve the same problem as you,i run almost 6 days a week and my hair is a damp mess when i finish... i was my hair twice a week too,but atimes i wash three times but not actualy washng. i read this hair article once that talked about a conditioning wash,which is washing or rinsing your hair with only a conditioner but giving it a good scrub too. i thought nah! wont work,but when i tried it,i love it!!! i even do it to my kids hair atimes (they are of mixed race so theeir hair is softer n finier than mine) give it a try...
  • ProjectTae
    ProjectTae Posts: 434 Member
    I hear ya! I give up! I am getting braids put in tomorrow, this way I can co-wash after workouts. Try searching for this topic on Youtube, there are allot of videos on the subject!!!!

    Yep look at my prof pic :)
  • Kari089
    Kari089 Posts: 109 Member
    I have very curly, unruly hair..I also shouldn't be washing it daily but in this heat and working out leaves my head feeling disgusting. It would be impossible for me to straighten it and think it would last more than a day. I just had to learn to go natural and embrace my hair texture. I don't use shampoo every day but I do rinse it and use conditioner only.

    I can recommend the Loreal Intense repair (intense nutrition masque for dry hair). I use it once a week, just leave it on my hair for 5 mins or longer (usually while I shave my body, wash my face etc) and my hair is sooo silky smooth and hydrated afterwards. You can also use natural hydrating masks on your hair-such as mixing avocado with olive oil and leaving that on your hair for about an hour. I've been making a mask of honey and conditioner and I have noticed my hair seems more naturally relaxed afterwards. It even feels thicker. The honey though can make your hair lighter so if you do use it, just know this can happen.

    I stopped using any hair dyes and contact heat on my hair besides the blow dryer and my hair is thicker and stronger now. This is were embracing your natural hair comes in though. I used to straighten it (even relaxed it a few times) trying to control the curl..in the end it was just too much effort.

    But if you really want to go that route, have you heard of the Brazilian blow out? It's all the craze at the moment, or so I hear. Maybe that's something that can help you a bit longer. No idea. But perhaps worth looking into. Good luck and keep on sweatin'!
    :)
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I'm not African Amreican, but an Aussie with thick, wavy hair that has a tendency to frizz. It used to be pretty long but I got sick of it in the summer and had it cut short - now I'm happy with the look but my neck is too cold now it's winter!

    My solution to minimise the frizz is to rinse the sweat out each day after my run, but only to use shampoo once a week.
    Moroccan oil has been a winner for me to give my hair a bit of gloss and smoothness between washes.

    I don't know if this is relevant or helpful for you - but good luck with finding a solution that lets you keep exercising and looking gorgeous too :)
  • Maryam4eva
    Maryam4eva Posts: 33 Member
    I hear ya! I give up! I am getting braids put in tomorrow, this way I can co-wash after workouts. Try searching for this topic on Youtube, there are allot of videos on the subject!!!!

    Yep look at my prof pic :)
  • LoriLL79
    LoriLL79 Posts: 11 Member
    All power to ya for still trying to keep your hair relaxed. I got so tired of the fight that I've gone natural. Now I can co-wash as often as I want and I don't feel like I'm fighting the dryness as much. If going natural is not your thing then I suggest braids, twist, or a sow in weave. I'm sure one of these options will save your sanity. Good luck.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    go natural but then again that's my advice for all black girls hair problems :laugh:
  • MMarvelous
    MMarvelous Posts: 1,067 Member
    I still get relaxers and have a short hair cut. I only wash my hair weekly. Then twice a week I use wrapping lotion and maybe gel to get my hair to lay straight in the back. I also workout after work and on the weekends. I am not a week morning workout type unless I'm not going to work LOL. I also wear the Save My Do head wraps.
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