One of the biggest questions I get from my friends is what do I do with my hair while working out? My hair is long and thick. Re: Heavy. If I'm running or moving around a lot during a workout (which one tends to do), a basic pony just wont' do. My hair will fall down in minutes, leaving me with hair all up in my face sweat.
I have a few go-to workout hairstyles to remedy this, and they all involve some form of braid. Since I received so many questions about workout 'do's, I've decided to start a Sweat Proof Hairstyle series, starting with a classic: How To French Braid.
The French Braid is my tried-and-true go-to. I rock a French braided pony so often, I can whip my hair into shape without a mirror. This workout-approved 'do helps keep my hair in place, off my face and keeps it from getting all tangled. Here's the step-by-step on how to get this sweat-proof style.
- Brush out any tangles and brush your hair back, away from your forehead.
- Gather a big chunk of hair (1-2 inches wide) from the top-center of your head. Divide that chunk into three equal-sized pieces.
- Begin by starting a regular braid. Hold two strands in your left hand and the third your right hand. Pull the right piece over the middle piece, so that it becomes the center piece. Then pull the left piece over new middle piece. Repeat 2x.
- Now it's time to start incorporating new pieces. The next time you pull a right piece over the middle, add an extra piece of hair from the right side. Likewise, the next time you pull a left piece over the middle, add an extra piece of hair from the left side to braid along with it. The less hair you grab (and the more times you cross pieces over) the more intricate the braid will be. It's best to pull pieces from near your face and neck vs. pieces that are already close to the braid.
- Continue Step 4 until all of your hair is incorporated into the braid. This should occur by the time you reach the nape of your neck.
- You can tie the braid at the nape of your neck, or continue with a regular braid all the way down.
Before you do it up, French style, be sure to join the Fit & Fashionable Friday Link Up ( full rules here).
Let's Chat:
What do you do with your hair during workouts?
Is there a type of braid you'd like to see in this series?
