By: Sarah Schmermund
People can rattle off any number of different obstacles (time, work, money, etc.) getting in the way of their exercise routines. ?And while grooming isn’t the number one reason people put off a good gym session, the US surgeon general raised some eyebrows by paying particular attention to a fairly female-specific obstacle: women’s hair. ?Dr. Regina M. Benjamin visited a hair trade show in Atlanta this month to talk to women about just that: their hair, and it’s apparent influence on their health and fitness. Indeed, in a recent survey, one-third of women noted concerns about ruining their hair as reason not to exercise. ?Her message: your health is more important than your hair. ?Though this may sound silly to some, the complaint goes beyond vanity. ?As women have grown to have greater responsibility outside of the home in the workforce while still maintaining their?household responsibilities, free time is increasingly hard to come by.
In order to get a workout in,?many women’s only options are often either before work or during their lunch break. ?And while it sounds feasible in theory, nobody wants to sit in on a 1:00pm conference call with a woman who just finished pumping out a 5K. ?The gross truth: hair absorbs sweat. And in order to ensure a good workout, you ideally want to sweat as much as possible within your 45 minute gym allotment. ?At the same time, you want to maintain a sense of professionalism (see: cleanliness) at the office. ?The slicked back look may work for some (and even that’s up for debate), but most of us need some quality face time with our hair post-workout. ?So what is a professional woman (with a decent sense of hygiene) supposed to do?
Thankfully, health and fitness magazines have long been a great source for tips and tricks to get you out of the gym and back into the office. ?Some of my go-to’s:
Come prepared: have a pre-packed bag ready to go, so you’re not wasting time looking for earbuds.
Give it time: After an intense workout, your skin will continue to work (see: sweat) to cool your body down well after your last rep. ?Wait about 30 minutes to reapply make-up.
And speaking of make-up: have a small arsenal of go-to essentials for a polished face in 5 minutes.
Dry Shampoo! It’s great for refreshing your style (and scent!) and absorbing any excess moisture so your post-workout ‘do looks so fresh and so clean (clean).
Mini Straightener! Freshen up your bangs and curl the ends of your ponytail for a “I’m wearing my (dirty) hair up by choice” look.
How do you freshen up after a workout?