From Gym to Glam: My Quick Fixes for Post-Workout Hair

Okay, real talk, I love working out, but my hair? Not so much. Last Tuesday I crushed my spin class, felt amazing, then walked past a mirror and... yikes. Sweaty roots, frizz everywhere, that weird dent from my headband. You know the look.

This happens to me constantly, and our clients at Studio 360 by The Warehouse Salon always ask what we do about it. So here's what actually works when you need to look human again after the gym.

Dry shampoo is non-negotiable

I used to skip this and just throw my hair up. Big mistake. Now I keep a travel-size bottle in my gym bag (and my car, and my desk drawe, I have a problem). The trick is spraying it on your roots and actually waiting a full minute before touching it. I know, when you're sweaty and gross, a minute feels like forever. But if you massage it in too early, you just get weird white patches.

Game changer.

A good ponytail covers a multitude of sins

Sometimes I genuinely don't have time for anything else. High ponytail, pull out a couple pieces around my face, done. Is it styled? No. Does it look intentional? Sure. Will anyone know I'm hiding a disaster underneath? Absolutely not.

After my Thursday morning classes, this is literally all I do before work. I've gotten compliments on it. The bar is low, people.

Something to tame the frizz

My hair gets so dry and puffy after I work out, I think it's the combination of sweat and the gym's aggressive air conditioning. I started keeping a little spray bottle with water and a few drops of leave-in conditioner in my bag. Quick spritz, run my fingers through, and at least it doesn't look like I stuck my finger in an outlet.

One time I forgot this step before meeting friends for lunch and spent the whole meal obsessing over how frizzy I looked in the restaurant's mirrors. Not worth it.

Clip-ins when I'm really desperate

Full disclosure: I don't do this often because I'm lazy. But when I have back-to-back gym and something important? One or two clip-ins at my crown make me look like I have my life together. Takes maybe 30 seconds. Nobody knows.

My coworker asked if I'd gotten my hair done once after I did this. I just said thanks and changed the subject.

Headbands, scarves, whatever hides the damage

I cannot tell you how many times a headband has saved me. Or a scrunchie. Or that silk scarf I bought on a whim and now use constantly. When my hairline is a sweaty mess and I have zero energy to deal with it, I just slap something on and call it fashion.

Works every time.

One thing that helps: braid it before you work out

This is the only "planning ahead" thing I actually do. If I braid my hair before certain workouts, it's so much easier to deal with after. Plus it stays out of my face during class. If I remember to add a little leave-in conditioner before I braid it, my hair actually feels pretty good when I take it down.

Of course, I forget to do this about half the time.

The point

Look, your hair's going to be a mess after you work out. That's just physics. But you don't have to stay looking like that, and you definitely don't need an hour to fix it.

If you're local and want better advice than my trial-and-error approach, come see us at Studio 360 by The Warehouse Salon, we're at 650 Shunpike Rd in Chatham Township. You can call us at 973-360-0900 or book online. We've dealt with approximately one million versions of post-workout hair at this point, so we've seen it all.

Life's too short to let sweaty hair ruin your day. Trust me on this.