Many a black woman throughout history has shunned a swimming pool or a workout routine because she didn’t want to “sweat her style out” or get her hair wet. But what if you want to be healthy? Exercising is a must. If you want to work out without messing up that perfect coif, try these tips:
Wrap it Up
For short to medium hair, wrap a cotton or silk scarf around your hair. You don’t have to cover your entire head. While you can always place a cotton bandana over your head and knot it at the nape of your neck, you could also just wrap the scarf around your hairline, leaving the crown exposed. This will preserve the volume without flattening your ‘do. Cotton is generally not recommended, but in this instance, it can absorb your perspiration and keep it from getting into your face.
Style a Ponytail
Longer-haired ladies can pull their hair back into a ponytail. Fashion a high ponytail that doesn’t rest against your neck if possible. Not only does it keep your hair out of the way, you can wear a matching covered elastic if you like your hair accessories to match your exercise outfits.
Braid It
If your hair is long enough, braid it into one or two French braids, or simply one braided ponytail. You can then wrap it with a scarf or pin the braid or braids up. Post-workout, unravel the braids for a wavy look.
Wear it Natural
Your hair doesn’t have to be natural, but you can style it in more of a “wash n’ go” way if you have a texturizer instead of fully straightening it. Of course, if your hair is natural, then you probably don’t mind wetting and/or conditioner washing more often. When you have other options besides the bone-straight look, you won’t spend as much time straightening after exercising. Instead, you can either shake it out and go, or wash and go without too much effort.