I love working out and I love to sweat. Now that the weather is changing to the cooler seasons, I am even more motivated because it’s not so hot and humid for my workout regimen. The one thing that I have to make certain is adjusting my hair schedule to suit my work out schedule. I mean, I don’t want to create a flat iron* style the day before my water aerobics class. Am I alone in this?
Exercise is very important for the body and hair. However, black women have always had the stigma that we tend to be more for our hair over our health. Maintaining your hair without looking a mess should not be more important than going for a brisk walk, or even doing a little yoga.
Let’s beat the statistic of not maintaining good health (which could be because of our hair) and get back in the gym or create workout regimens at home. Here are some tips that will help you not to be intimidated by the sweat, save your hairstyle, and to help you get a good workout in:
Planning for the workout
1. Make a schedule/plan that you will follow based on your goals
Before you start any work out, have a specific goal in mind (lose weight, tone muscle, flexibility, etc.). This is very important so you can know what style to have for your hair before, during, and after your workout. This will also help you schedule your hair and work out schedules to go hand-in-hand with each other.
For instance, it is easier to wear a straight style on the week you are focusing on muscle gain and or flexibility, because even though things can get pretty hectic, for the most part you are focused on muscle groups and not bouncing around and working up a sweat.
2. Plan to work out in a cool area
No matter what or how you plan for your workout, aim to work out in a cool environment. This will help reduce the sweat in your hair and scalp ultimately saving the style you have. Working out in a heated environment can dry your hair out and there will be more product buildup on your scalp from the extra sweat you secrete. You can also work out earlier in the day before the sun rises and enjoy the cool breeze or alternatively run during the cool breeze at night.