Hair Care in Sport – Everything you need to Know

Here are the best tips on how to take care of your hair during training to keep it healthy and flawless at all times.

Practising a sport or simply doing a physical exercise routine to keep in good shape brings great benefits to our health.

However, we must keep in mind the importance of hair care in sport.

When we train we produce sweat all over our body and the scalp is no exception.

Sweat has a high concentration of salt which causes dryness and weakness in the hair, resulting in hair follicle breakage and loss of shine.

How to take care of your hair while doing sport?

Hair is the frame of the face, its appearance reflects a lot of who we are.

It would be paradoxical to practice sports to stay healthy and neglect our hair in the process.

Due to its function in our body, it acts as an insulator and is rich in sebaceous and sweat glands.

It tends to get dirty easily and therefore requires specific care depending on the type of sport we do.

Water sports

In the case of water sports, whether at the beach or in the pool, people who practice them are exposed to two elements that are extremely damaging to hair.

Chlorine and salt dry out both the scalp and hair, so wearing a swimming cap is essential for proper protection from damaging agents in the water.

Silicone caps are highly recommended for insulating hair in the pool.

It is also advisable to apply a chemical-free rinse aid before entering the water to keep the hair moisturised.

It can be a cream, spray or easily absorbed hair oil. Coconut oil is highly recommended, as it is natural, as it controls hair dryness and makes it less brittle.

Finally, washing your hair at the end of each session is imperative to remove any chlorine or salt residue.

It is also suggested to apply a weekly repair mask.

Outdoor sports

For those who enjoy running, hiking and other outdoor physical activities, it is necessary to protect the hair from the sun’s rays by wearing caps or hats made of light, breathable materials, so that air can circulate and sweat is not trapped on the covered head.

If you have long hair, it is advisable to perform the exercises with your hair tied back, preferably using elastic bands lined with fabric or spiral type.

With our sports hair care tips you will always have shiny hair.

Wash and moisturising mask

At the end of the activity, the hair should be washed with a mild shampoo to ensure that the impurities generated during the training are removed.

It is also recommended to periodically use a moisturising mask with emollients to maintain the hair’s texture under the action of the sun, sweat, elastic bands, etc.

Tie your hair up

If you train in any cardio sport, or attend classes such as body combat or body pump, you should either tie your hair back from your forehead with a headband or make a ponytail using a rubber band.

On the other hand, you’ll probably end up sweating profusely, so you’ll need to wash your hair thoroughly after the activity.

However, be careful to use a daily shampoo that avoids greasing the roots.

Another interesting and beneficial workout is yoga.

Hot Yoga

But if it’s something more extreme, such as hot yoga, then you need to take other precautions.

Being subjected to 40 degrees of temperature to do yoga means being exposed to a lot of heat. This heat makes your hair brittle and fragile.

In this case, it is recommended to apply a good heat protector to the hair.

You should also wash it after each session.

Additional Tips

Wash your hair daily

This is the common recommendation after any sporting activity.

It is very convenient to use a shampoo with repairing ingredients, followed by a good conditioner and regular application of a moisturising mask formulated for hair regeneration.

Water temperature

The hair should be washed with lukewarm water, as high temperatures cause dehydration of the hair fibre.

Air drying

It is advisable not to use a hairdryer or straighteners on a daily basis.

Try to let it air dry.

If this is not possible, use the hairdryer at medium heat, never high heat, and always apply a heat protector.

Protect it from the cold

Both air and low temperatures can damage hair.

The cold has a vasoconstrictive effect on the scalp which causes dryness.

Nourish your hair

In order to keep hair healthy, shiny and strong, the right diet for athletes is crucial.

Particularly for athletes playing competitive sports and for people undergoing intensive training sessions.

Zinc, an ally

It is highly recommended to take food supplements containing minerals such as Zinc to maintain healthy and strong hair, especially if you are involved in endurance sports.

Bibliographic sources

1. “El arte de la salud y la belleza” Consejos útiles para el cuidado del cuerpo, ejercicios, nutrición y salud.
2. “Salud, ejercicio y deporte” Dr. Jürgen Weineck 2001
3. “Nutrición para la salud, la condición física y el deporte” Melvin H. Williams 2002
4. “Salud y belleza” Dora Franco Restrepo 2000

Related Entries

• Buy Hair Supplements
• We tell you everything you need to know about Hair Vitamins by clicking here.
• Everything you need to know about Biotin and Hair in this link.