Battle of the bangs

Hair is the last thing you want to be thinking about when running.

One thing is for sure: One of my biggest fashionable issues while running is what to do with my hair.

No, I’m not talking about styling it. I’m talking about getting it up and off my face.

Headbands slip off. Hats sometimes bounce around. Bobby pins lack the hold. Hair elastic is old and too stretched out, therefore resulting in a droopy painful ponytail. The list goes on!

I know it seems trivial, to worry about such a little thing, but when I’m running I like to be comfortable. When I forget to put up my bangs, the wind blows them in my face or they get all sweaty and not fun to deal with. If I do the messy bun, it bops on my head and eventually falls out. Lastly, the low ponytail swooshes against my back and can sometime be itchy.

When these things happen I’m constantly fixing or fiddling with my hair instead of focusing on my run and enjoying it.

I turned to my friend Corey (who has the longest hair of anyone I’ve ever met) to ask her what her best hair option is while running.

Corey has super long hair, but it doesn't keep her from jogging comfortably.
Corey has super long hair, but it doesn't keep her from jogging comfortably.

“Ponytails still work best for me when working out,” she says. “A lot of girls don’t like them because your hair can get stuck to your back, but I find having my hair bounce actually helps me keep my breathing rhythm”

She also says that wearing a t-shirt while running also helps the sticky hair issue.

There are many options when running that can help you deal with whatever hair you have:

  1. A French braid—keeps your hair in place and there’s no flopping around with this option! When you get sweaty, it keeps the hair off of your back too. Don’t know how to French braid? No worries! You can just watch a video on YouTube and you’ll be able to in no time.
  2. A slipless headband. Some are better than others, but if you can snag a really awesome one, you’re good to go. Also, slipless hair elastics keep the ponytail from falling out (although hurt to take off!).
  3. The bobby pin fortress. Use more than enough bobby pins. Think you have enough? Nah, you probably need one more. No one will be seeing you up close and who cares anyway, you’ll be a bang-free running goddess.
  4. Hat/visor. Get one tailored for running or make sure it’s perfectly adjusted before you go out on your jog. Also, probably avoid them on windy days just so Mother Nature doesn’t try to snatch it.
  5. CUT IT. Drastic, I know, but some do consider this option in order to have no hair distractions.

One of the most important things I find while jogging is that I’m comfortable. I have enough to think about when I’m running and I definitely want to enjoy it rather than fixing my hair or being uncomfortable.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks? Or even stories of desperate measures!?

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