Tips to keep hair fresh after a run

Q: I love my daily run, but I hate having to wreck my freshly-styled hair with a shower each day. My stylist also warns against shampooing strands daily. How can I keep up my running routine without having to sacrifice having good hair?

A: With all the focus on PBs, avoiding injury and bettering your marathon performance, it’s easy to forget the little things. But what about my hair!? This is a common concern for female runners. There is no solid way to go on this one as it depends on your hair type, the intensity of your workout and how much you sweat. That said, many of us have this problem so we came up with a few tips. See which woks best for you! You be the judge.

Bring on the Buff: Instead of wearing a hat that covers the whole head and keeps sweat in, use a headband. What you’re looking for is something moisture-wicking. A Buff is a great accessory because it will wick the sweat away from your head helping you stay dry.

Bust out the dry shampoo: You don’t necessarily have to give your strands a full wash after your daily run. Test out dry shampoo products and see which one works best for you. “Dry shampoo is a great tool to use on the second day,” says Ashley Walker, co-owner of Toronto’s Small Talk Barbershop and Salon. “It helps to absorb the oils in the hair.”

Touch it up: A simple fix-up might do just fine. Plug in the curling or straightening iron and spend a few minutes. If your hair doesn’t feel overly sweaty, there may be no need to start from scratch. Walker says leaving the hair alone post run is OK and that three days is a good rule of thumb. Style on the first day. “The second day I would just touch up whatever style you have,” she says.

Put it up: Today wasn’t interval or long run day so your hair hasn’t hit sweaty mess status just yet. If you’re using the three-day rule, go for something new on the last day. “I would try a different up style, or pull it back with a headband,” Walker suggests.

Low maintenance wash and go: Maybe you’re not lucky enough to be able to pull off three days sans shampoo and conditioner. Not all great hair comes with high maintenance work. Test out a wash and go tactic! You might be pleasantly surprised.