If you have natural, curly, or kinky hair, chances are you have a frustrated relationship with exercise. When you put time and money into your hair, the last thing you want to do is ruin it with 30 minutes of excessive sweat- and if you only wash your hair once a week, how on earth are you supposed to work out several times a week?!
According to a 2014 study, 45% of African American women avoid exercise because of their hair. Don't get us wrong- there are so many naturals who do work out and stay healthy! But sadly, there are many others who struggle to exercise sufficiently.
Exercise is essential in preventing heart disease and other illnesses, regulating weight, and other aspects of life including sleep, mood, memory, strength, and energy levels. If you were ever on a sports team or went through a season of exercising frequently, you’ll remember feeling better and happier on a daily basis when you exercised regularly.
Also, did you know that the health of your hair correlates with the health of your body? So exercise is actually good for your hair in the long run! Natural hair absolutely should not prevent you from experiencing all these benefits of exercise, but we also know that sweat and excessive washing can damage natural curls.
You don’t have to be a body builder or run 20 miles a week to stay healthy, but doctors recommend 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week to maintain your health. That’s a little less than an hour, three times a week. Does 150 minutes a week sound unattainable? Here are our tips and guidance for exercising with natural hair.
1. Do put your hair up.
Try a bun, ponytail, or pineapple to keep your curls off your face and neck, which will reduce contact with sweat and sweat overall. You can also try a low-manipulation protective style (such as twists, cornrows, or braids using your natural hair) and leave it in for the week until you're ready to wash your hair.
2. Don’t be afraid of sweat!
With the right exercise and washing routine to keep your hair both clean and moisturized, you don’t need to hold yourself back from a good workout. Go ahead and give your workout your all, and we'll tell you more about how to maintain your hair and prevent buildup from sweat.
3. Do optimize for cooler environments if sweat and frizz continue to be a problem.
If you live in a warm climate, work out early in the morning or in the evenings when it’s cooler, or turn the heat down in your house while you lift weights. If that's not an option, you can use a fan to keep you cool while you work out inside, or you pick light-weight workout clothes that don't trap heat.
4. Don’t tie your headband or scarf too tight.
While satin protects your hair from breakage, it can increase and trap sweat if you overdo it. Let your scalp breath!
5. That said, Do use a satin-lined scarf or headband.
This will prevent your edges from getting frizzy. Satin will reduce friction and breakage during your workout. Just remember to keep it loose.
6. Don’t touch your hair or take out your scarf/headband until your hair is dry.
Taking it down while it’s still wet will increase frizz. You can use the cool setting on a blow dryer to speed up this process!
7. Do refresh and clean your scalp and hair.
Remember we said we'd tell you how to manage sweat and keep your hair clean? Use a co-wash or essential oils if your hair feels dirty or sweaty in-between workouts. Many naturals who work out frequently opt to shampoo once a week and co-wash mid-week. Use a moisturizer or leave-in conditioner every day to prevent dryness and breakage. Once you get your workout routine in place, experiment with how often you shampoo and co-wash to find a balance that makes your hair feel happy.
8. Don’t shampoo your hair after every workout.
Sweat already dries out your hair, and using shampoo in addition will remove natural oils from your hair and dry it out even more. When you do shampoo, use a sulfate free shampoo like NaturAll Club's Cleansing Avocado Shampoo that will clean your hair without stripping moisture.
9. Do make a schedule and stick to it.
A schedule will help you coordinate your hair and workout schedules. If you plan ahead, you won’t have to make a choice between caring for your health and your hair.
10. Don’t forget to drink water and eat well.
Not only does this keep your hair healthy, but healthy foods and sufficient water will make your workouts more effective and help you get stronger.
11. Do deep condition every two weeks.
A deep conditioning routine is essential to replenish your hair with moisture and protect it from damage and sweat. Our Avocado Deep Conditioners are especially formulated to protect and repair dry, damaged, or dull hair with natural nutrients and moisture. Check our our selection here.
12. Don’t get discouraged or sacrifice your health for your hair.
You’ll feel better as you get used to a coordinated routine that makes you look and feel your best. If you're looking for similar tips but a little more explanation and details, check out this more detailed guide to exercise and curly hair!
