Sports and hair care: how these can really go together!
- 16 min reading time
Tight ponytails, stiff hair from pool water, or half a can of hairspray in your hair. The eternal struggle of working out and taking care of your hair is real. Staying fit is super important, that keeps your hair at its healthiest! But that workout, with that tight ponytail, well… that’s not exactly ideal. And how annoying is it when you feel like going for a run but don’t have time or don’t want to wash your hair?
Don’t worry, help is nearby. Time for tips & tricks about sports and hair care!
Adjusting your hair routine
Sports come with, you guessed it, sweat. It’s just part of it. During an intense workout, your scalp also sweats, resulting in damp and greasy hair. Sweat consists of body waste and salt, which makes your hair dry and stiff if you let it dry in your hair. In short, you don’t want to leave sweat in your hair for too long and want to wash your hair after exercising. But if you are a dedicated athlete who sweats at least three times a week, this is a bit more difficult. It’s not good to cleanse your hair that often. But you still want to keep your hair nice and clean. Again, the struggle is real.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to still have clean and nicely smelling hair, even if you are an avid athlete.
Tip 1: Use a gentle shampoo
Are you used to washing your hair after every workout and prefer not to change that? Then we recommend that you at least use a gentle shampoo. A gentle shampoo is better suited for daily use because it contains fewer ‘aggressive’ cleansers. A cleansing shampoo removes dirt, styling residues, and oils from your hair, but using it too often can strip your hair of good oils, making it dry. Gentle shampoos usually do not contain sulfates or parabens. You could also alternate between the gentle shampoo and the ‘regular’ shampoo.
For a gentle shampoo, we recommend the Maria Nila line. These products are 100% vegan, free from harmful ingredients like sulfates and parabens, cruelty-free, and they protect your hair color. Are you a curly-haired person who follows the CG method? Then take a look at the KeraCare Hydrating Detangling Sulfate-Free Shampoo, a wonderfully gentle shampoo! For men, we recommend the Redken Brews Men’s Daily Shampoo, which cleans your hair gently and does not dry it out!
Tip 2: Planning is key
Do you have a hair routine where you want to wash your hair a maximum of 1-2 times a week but exercise more often? Once you have your weekly schedule ready, you can immediately start planning your hair routine. For example, choose to only rinse your hair with water during the least intense workout. Still planning after sports? Then do a co-wash. Co-what? This means you only wash your hair with conditioner (conditioner-wash). Apply conditioner only to your ends (not on the scalp) to still get that nice scent. For heavier workouts, you can wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner.
If you have curly hair, you can choose the Leave-In Conditioner from KeraCare. This is also CG-proof. Or use the KIS KeraGlide Detangler, we get many comments that it smells wonderful! Are you fine with everything and only rinse your hair with water after showering? You could also spray a refreshing hairspray in your hair, for example the L’Oréal SE Vitamino Color 10in1. This cares for your ends and also smells great. For men, we recommend the Sebastian Smoother Conditioner, which has a refreshing scent.
Tip 3: Blow-dry your hair after sports
What can dry (greasy) hair better than a hairdryer? Grab the hairdryer if your hair is still wet from sweat. Your hair will then dry a bit less greasy.
Handy hairdos for during sports
Of course, you can do more to keep your hair sweat- and grease-free during sports. Or well… more manageable faster. That brings us to tips 4 and 5:
Tip 4: Dry Spray is your very best friend
In tip 5, we describe some hairdos that are great to wear during and after your sports session. For these hairstyles, dry shampoo is an absolute must. Dry shampoo absorbs moisture. Suppose you have your hair in boxer-braids, braid, or bun before sports, then spray dry shampoo beforehand into your hair. This way, sweat is already absorbed during sports, amazing right? Done with sports? Gently pat your hair dry and spray dry shampoo in your hair again. You can’t fix your hair faster!
We have selected two types of dry shampoo sprays for you. For example, you could use the Schwarzkopf Osis+ Refresh Dust.
Keep in mind, dry shampoo is not the most nourishing product for your hair. It can make your hair a bit dry. So don’t use it for days in a row and make sure to alternate it well with shampoo and conditioner :)
Tip 5: Sportproof hairstyles
To prevent sweat spread, sportproof hairstyles are a must. And you also look amazing! Here are some ideas:
Bun - The higher the bun, the better! This way, dry shampoo can be easily applied around the hairline. And it keeps your hair lengths and ends cleaner because no sweat from your neck or shoulders gets in. Win-win!
Boxer-braids - With boxer-braids, your hair is braided into two braids. This looks super cool and sporty. And it’s also fun to keep wearing after sports. So braid tightly, spray dry shampoo in your hair after sports, and you can keep rocking the braids.
Ponytail - A ponytail is just as handy. Just use a hair tie without metal, as the metal piece damages your hair. To prevent sweat from getting into your hair lengths or ends, you can also braid your ponytail to make it shorter.
Braid - A braid is always a good choice. It looks nice, casual, keeps your hair together, and can be braided tightly.
Sweat-free (dry) hair after sports
Do you want to take it a step further? Then check out this step-by-step plan on how to come out of the fight after sports as sweat-free as possible. But first, a tip:
Tip 6: Use sweatbands
Yep, back to how it used to be! A sweatband around your head absorbs sweat so less sweat gets into your hair. Better to prevent than… right?
- Choose one of the hairstyles we mentioned above
- Spray some dry shampoo in your hair so it can start working during sports
- Wear a sweatband for absolute absorption
- Done with sports? Optionally use a hairdryer to dry your hair or pat your hair dry
- Spray dry shampoo in your hair again and that’s it!
Hair Care vs. Styling Products
You can’t just choose boxer braids or a braid for every sport. For example, gymnastics creates the most beautiful hairstyles. Or a tight bun under the cap when horseback riding. Of course, all of this needs to stay perfectly in place. We have listed the strongest styling products:
Hairspray - Your hair needs to stay perfectly styled and a hairspray must be up to the task! We have selected two hairsprays with mega strong hold that will undoubtedly keep your hair in place! For example, the L’Oréal Infinium Pure 6 Extra Strong Hairspray is an excellent choice, it provides immediate hold, leaves a brilliant shine, and has no stiff effect. As a Curly Girl, we recommend the REF Extreme Spray 525 , this extreme hold spray is 100% vegan and free of parabens and silicones, but it does contain quinoa protein. For men, we recommend the Fudge Membrane Gas, which has a high fixation factor and a lovely unisex scent.
Mousse - Do you always style your hair with mousse? Then you might want to try this one: Indola Setting Strong Mousse. This mousse provides strong and long-lasting hold. As a Curly Girl, you could use the Design Essentials Enhancing Mousse, for good hold and a soft, natural look!
Gel - A gel cannot be left out, of course. Go for the Schwarzkopf Osis+ Rock Hard Strong Glue for extreme fixation and maximum hold. As a Curly Girl, you can create a sleek hairdo with the More Shaper. For the men among us, you could use the Goldwell Lagoom Gel , which has an extreme hold factor and keeps your hairstyle in shape all day long.
Of course, you also have to get these products out of your hair again. This brings us to the next tip:
Tip 7: Use the right hair care products
Of course, you also want to get these styling products out of your hair and jump into bed feeling fresh in the evening. We have selected some nice and good products for you:
Men - Men who, for example, often use gel are used to it; you need a good shampoo to wash these styling residues out of your hair. For men, we recommend the TIGI Clean Up Daily Shampoo . When using a shampoo, your hair cuticles open to absorb the product as well as possible. So always use a conditioner to close the cuticles again. This prevents frizz and helps your hair get damaged less quickly! So after the TIGI Shampoo, use the TIGI Clean Up Conditioner. For stubborn dirt and greasiness, we recommend the Reuzel Scrub Shampoo , especially aimed at greasy hair.
For the ladies - Redken Diamond Oil gently removes styling residues from your hair. First, use the Redken All Soft Shampoo to wash away all impurities from your hair. As we just explained for the men, always use a conditioner after shampoo. In this case, the Redken Diamond Oil Conditioner.
For the Curly Girls - build-ups are definitely not what you want! You want to keep your hair as natural as possible and only use the necessary nourishing ingredients. As a shampoo, you could use the KeraCare 1st Lather Shampoo. It’s CG-approved and a deep-cleansing shampoo that effectively washes away dirt and styling product residues from your hair. Then use a nice Leave-In Conditioner. It makes your hair nice and soft and repairs damaged hair.
Hair Care vs. External Influences
It’s not just styling products your hair has to deal with during sports. Chlorine, sea salt water, and/or outdoor sports can be just as tough on your hair! We’ll explain how you can keep your hair healthy in these conditions:
Hair vs. Chlorine
Swimming is super fun, healthy, and an awesome sport! If you take a fresh dip now and then, chlorine won’t have much effect on your hair. But if you’re a dedicated athlete who’s regularly in the water, chlorine can damage your hair. Chlorine removes natural oils from your hair, resulting in porous and brittle hair. A dry scalp, dry and rough hair are likely familiar 'ailments' if you swim a lot. And we haven’t even mentioned the greenish tint blondes get. Time for some tips and tricks!
- Rinse, rinse, rinse. Your hair is like a sponge and quickly absorbs moisture. Make sure to rinse your hair first with tap water. Because there is already clean water in your hair, it will absorb less chlorine.
- Apply conditioner to your hair before you go swimming (on damp hair). This hydrates your hair and closes your hair cuticles, so your hair absorbs less chlorinated water. For example, choose this leave-in: Kis KeraShield Leave-in. This leave-in focuses on closing your hair cuticles and thus protecting your hair well. For colored hair, you can use the Schwarzkopf Bonacure Color Freeze Conditioner . This 'freezes' the color pigments deep in the hair structure. Do this only if you are not using a swim cap, as it can slip off.
- Speaking of swim caps... maybe not so sexy, but very effective!
- Rinse your hair well with clean water immediately after swimming and apply conditioner again. The conditioner provides your hair with natural oils and moisture.
- Keep your hair out of the water with a high bun.
Nutrition and hydration are super important for your hair if it comes into contact with chlorine a lot. Our team recommends the Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Duo , which consists of a shampoo and conditioner. We are big fans of this set: it hydrates your hair, is free of sulfates, parabens, and silicones, is ideal for dry/brittle hair, is vegan, and intensely softens your hair. Colored hair needs special care, so use the Redken Acidic Color Gloss Duo. This is a gentle, non-stripping formula that protects your hair from color fading. For men, we recommend the American Crew Daily Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner for good hydration, elasticity, and a beautiful shine. This shampoo and conditioner improve moisture balance and make your hair stronger.
Hair vs. Sea salt water
How we can enjoy the wavy beach looks created by sea salt. Unfortunately, there is one downside: sea salt dries out your hair. This makes your hair porous and it breaks more easily. Oil is the solution for dry hair. The Maria Nila True Soft Argan Oil is truly per-fect. This oil is very suitable for dry and porous hair, it makes your hair stronger and even makes the driest hair shine again. Use the other Maria Nila products to cleanse your hair (shampoo and conditioner) or choose one of the products mentioned above (in hair vs. chlorine). As a Curly Girl, you could use a nourishing mask, for example the Umberto Giannini Curly Jelly Intensive De-Frizz Treatment Mask. This mask is suitable for all curl types. It deeply hydrates your hair, fights frizz and gives a defined curl. A wonderful mask to use after a day at sea!
Moreover, the tips mentioned against chlorine also help against the effects of seawater.
Hair vs. Outdoor sports
A large part of sports take place outdoors. Outdoor athletes have probably experienced it before: the sun suddenly shines, you forget to apply sunscreen and... your outfit sticks to your body and your head(scalp) is sunburned. Oops! Did you know that the sun, or UV rays, damages your hair just as much as your skin? A little sunshine is very good for your hair, but excessive sun exposure causes your hair to become dry, resulting in split ends. In addition, sun rays cause dull color and frizzy hair. Moreover, your scalp can also take a serious hit once it is sunburned. In short, you don’t want any of this! Check out the tips here to prevent it:
- As an athlete, you probably already do this, but a bun or braid helps minimize sun exposure.
- Hydrate your hair extra, especially if you do a lot of sports in the summer or on sunny days. This prevents dry hair and split ends. So use a mask more often than you’re used to.
- Use special hair products against the sun; these can protect your hair from UV rays.
You might wonder: why isn’t regular shampoo, conditioner, or treatment enough? That’s due to several factors. The hair care contains UV filters that protect your hair from the UV rays present in sunlight. This prevents, for example, the fading of your hair color. Moreover, these products often contain oils that nourish your locks extra. This hair care also often contains antioxidants. These antioxidants ensure that the cells of your hair are protected and damaged cells are repaired. Products specially made for use in the sun usually also provide extra hydration and have the property to bind moisture from the environment. Finally, these products often contain silicones.
In short, if you do a lot of outdoor sports, hair care that protects your hair from the sun is an absolute must! Our team recommends the Schwarzkopf Bonacure Sun Protect line. This line is specially developed for protecting, cleansing, and caring before and after sun exposure. They create a kind of shield for your hair. For a loose spray, we recommend the Sebastian Re Shaper Spray . This spray is specially designed to provide your hair with long-lasting hold while also being easy to re-style. This hairspray also offers protection against frizz, moisture, and UV rays. Your must-have during an intense workout!
Let us know if you want more information about hair care during sports. If you have any questions about the blog, feel free to contact us. You can call us during office hours and always send an email. This can be sent to info@haarspullen.nl, we always try to respond as quickly as possible, sometimes even outside office hours! We wish you lots of fun shopping at Haarspullen.nl ♡
