Healthy Hair Tips for those who Run, Jog or walk as a for of exercise

If you are a runner, the main thing you need to worryabout is friction. 

You want to avoid any opportunity for your ends to brush up against your shoulders, work out clothes or running jacket.

You also want to prevent your hair from whipping around as you run, as consistent exposure to wind, rain or sun can lead to split ends, tangles and an overall weakened hair shaft.

As an avid runner, here are a few tips that have helped me!

1. Coat The Hair First!

Keeping the hair well lubricated is an excellent way to protect the hair from sweat and prevent the hair shaft from becoming weak from exposure to wind, sun and friction.

Before heading out for your run, take a few moments to apply a light oil to the hair in sections.

For a video tutorial of this technique,

2. Protect the Ends!

Instead of your standard ponytail (which does not offer much protection for the ends), try to keep your hair in a protective style to keep the hair and ends secure.

My default style is a loose bun. It keeps my hair out of my face and my ends from whipping around in the wind.

To create, just loosely gather the hair into a ponytail and secure with ponytail holder.

Twist the hair into a rope and tuck in the ends, securing with a few bobby pins. Add a head band to prevent bangs or flyaways from bothering you as you run.

A few other suggestions:

• Two small pigtail buns
• A french twist
• 1 or 2 single braids (with ends tucked in or wrapped in a bun)
• 1 or 2 French braids (with ends tucked in or wrapped in a bun)
• Dry Wrap (covered with a scarf and runners hat (for winter) or baseball cap (for summer)
• Pincurls (covered with a scarf and runners hat (for winter) or baseball cap (for summer).

3. Wash on Long Runs, Rinse on Short Runs!

Plan to wash and deep condition (always deep condition once a week) on "long run" days and to co-wash or rinse hair on "short run" days.

Since you will be most likely sweating more on long run, it makes sense to use this day to throughly wash and remove any dirt and product residue from the weak.

On short run days, try to simply rinse or co-wash the hair to remove sweat.

4. Use a Dry Shampoo and Set Your Hair

For non-rinse or wash days, use a dry shampoo before you run to help soak up moisture and odor.

Set your hair in a style that will dry in a cute 'do when you are finished working out (i.e. french braid, two single braids, bantu knots, etc).

5. Heatless Styles Only

If you are running or working out 3-5 times a week, try to air dry as often as possible. Wet wrapping, air drying in buns, braids, twists or satin rollers, will not only shave time off of your styling regimen, it will also keep the hair healthy and strong.

During the winter, it may be uncomfortable to dry overnight so set the styles and dry 50% -100% under a hood dryer.

Just try to avoid direct heat as much as possible!

-♥Essie

                                -This article came from: http://www.healthytextures.com/articles/20110324