Natural Hair: Safe Hairstyles for Workouts
For Black women who love working out, choosing a suitable hairstyle that can withstand sweat and friction from their clothes is just as important as comfortable workout clothes and shoes. Fortunately, protective styles are available for natural hair that protect strands from sun damage, extreme temperatures, and excessive manipulation while keeping hair out of the face and tucking in the ends. According to celebrity hairstylist Derick Monroe, these hairstyles eliminate the need for heat styling and brushes/combs while avoiding wear and tear from friction and frequent salon visits.
Whether one’s hair is long, short, curly, coily, straight, a wig, or a weave, there is a protective style that can work for any woman and workout routine. While there are no strict rules for selecting a style, Monroe advises choosing a style that one feels most comfortable with and is easy to DIY or obtain from a salon. Protective styles can last up to two months or until the next wash day approaches.
Some recommended protective hairstyles for natural hair include braids, which require minimal styling after sweating. Other protective options include accessories such as a silk or satin scarf, a Grace Eleyea Satin Lined Knot Turban, or a headband, which can keep hair out of the face without causing frizz. The pineapple is a high, loosely-gathered ponytail that keeps all curls on the top of the head, preventing hair from clinging to the neck and back during workouts. Slicking down edges with gel, lightweight hairspray, or a headband keeps pineapple styles smooth and secure.
Similar to two-strand twists, Bantu knots make styling your strands after sweating a no-brainer by twisting different sections of your hair into tight little buns. 'When you release your hair [from the buns] after your workout, you'll still have your curls intact,' says Michael Duenas, celebrity hairstylist. To avoid frizz, make sure your knots are tightly secured to the head during your workout and don't feel loose or wobble with movement; you can also use bobby pins to keep the Bantu knots in place. The key is to make sure that your hair is fully dry before untwisting the buns after working out. You can also refresh your scalp and hair with a quick spritz of dry shampoo before leaving the gym. (Need to refill your dry shampoo stash? Check out these Black-owned beauty brands for all of the hair-care products...and then some.)
When it comes to gym hairstyles (including protective styles for natural hair), top knots — or messy buns, or whatever you choose to call 'em — are always a good idea. They're easy, cute, and take practically no time to perfect. A messy bun is the 'perfect way to control your curls and keep them out of your face,' says Dominique LyVar, senior stylist and educator at Devachan Salon. Top knots are also a good choice for anyone who likes to change their look on the reg, adds LyVar.
Early morning exercisers, rejoice! This simple style — which is one of LyVar's go-to's, BTW — can easily be done before hitting the hay at night, so there's one less thing to do in the a.m. before breaking a sweat. You'll want to part the hair into small- to medium-sized sections and start twisting the hair from the root to the tip. In addition to being a timesaver, these twists stand out for their post-workout hairstyle versatility: You can either leave the twists as they are or unravel them to reveal a curly look.
Ah, the ponytail: a tried and true way for keeping hair out of your face, whether you're following a yoga flow or lifting weights. For finer hair types, in particular, try a semi-loose ponytail for a workout protective style for natural hair, recommends Monroe. The looser the elastic and 'tail, the less likely it is that oils and moisture from sweat will get trapped in the hair, which can cause odor, he explains. Better yet, opt for an oversized silk scrunchy, such as this one from LilySilk which won't pull or tug on your hair during, say, burpees, but will still keep strands in place without leaving any indents. To be even more sure that your hair stays frizz- and indent-free, after exercising, let your hair dry completely before taking out your elastic.
If you're working with third- or fourth-day curls but you're still not quite ready to wash your hair, this protective hairstyle should be your go-to, says Lemonds. Just be sure to braid as close to the scalp as possible to avoid frizz and excess moisture build-up on the scalp. 'You can braid them all the way down or even stop halfway and leave the ends out,' she explains. Then once you're done sweating, if you choose to take the braids out, unravel them carefully for practically perfect waves.
A signature protective style for natural hair is the beloved crown braid, perfect for keeping your hair neat and tucked away as you get your workout in. There's nothing like that gross feeling of your hair getting stuck to your face, neck, or back mid-workout. To prevent that, part your hair down the middle and start braiding one of the sections taunt to the scalp. Work your way around your entire head until all of the hair is tucked away in the braid. When you reach the end, use a bobby pin to secure the braid in place. The best part is that once you're done working out, you have the perfect hairstyle to run errands or grab food with friends.
Lastly, if you want to achieve a variation of the pineapple style sans the headwrap, you can create two afro puffs. Part your hair down the middle and gather each section at the top of your head, similar to the pineapple, and secure each side with a hair tie. This fun style not only helps to keep your curls and coils intact, but it also helps reduce puffiness and frizz at the roots from sweating during workouts.
