We love a good workout as much as the next fitness enthusiast—but the limp, sweaty hair that tends to come afterward? Not so much. Fortunately, there’s no need to choose between your next cycling class and enjoying a good hair day. Keep scrolling for five of our top ways to address sweaty hair post-workout without having to take an everything shower.
Should I Wash My Hair Every Day if I Go to the Gym?
How frequently you wash your hair ultimately boils down to personal preference. But with that said, lathering up every day isn’t always necessary—even if you’re regularly hitting the hot yoga studio. In fact, those with certain hair types (like curls and coils, which are naturally drier) may experience damage from overwashing their locks. As mentioned, there are plenty of other (shampoo-free) ways to refresh sweaty hair without doing a full wash-and-dry. This brings us to our next point…
How To Fix Sweaty Hair After a Workout
Good hair day by @laemekiia.
Reach for a dry shampoo
Unsurprisingly, using a dry shampoo for sweaty hair is one of our go-to ways to revive greasy-looking strands. We’re partial to one that doubles as a fragrance booster, like Kérastase’s Fresh Affair Fine Fragrance Dry Shampoo, to amplify a freshly washed effect. The best thing about this absorbent, fine powder spritz is that it comes in a convenient travel size that you can easily stash in your gym bag or locker.
If you’re sensitive to scents and just want to sop up oil, pick up Redken’s Invisible Dry Shampoo. The fragrance-free formula absorbs excess oil from hair without leaving behind product residue.
Use an oil-balancing serum
Dry shampoo isn’t your only sweaty hair-busting option—a dedicated scalp serum like Biolage Professional Scalp Sync Oil Balancing Serum can also help. This lightweight formula helps rebalance an oily scalp by absorbing and reducing excess sebum. Just apply a drop to every inch of your scalp and massage it in with your fingertips.
Good hair day by @danielle.keasling.
Blast it with cool air
To dry sweaty hair in a flash, blast your scalp with cool air from your dryer. You can do this alongside your chosen dry shampoo or serum, or keep it simple and go product-free. For extra volume after a hair-flattening workout, flip your head over and blow-dry your locks upside down to create body at your roots. Voilà—you’ll have fresh-looking hair and hopefully feel a tad cooler afterward.
Good hair day by @m.wroblewska.hairsalon.
Try oil-blotting papers
You may already use blotting sheets to control facial shine, but there are also ones made specifically for a greasy scalp. Typically, these papers are sold in small rectangular sheets that make it easy to target grease along your roots and hairline. To use a blotting sheet, lift small sections of your hair around your crown and part line before gently pressing the paper onto visibly slick areas.
Brush your hair
Take advantage of your scalp’s natural oils by redistributing them through the lengths of your hair. Brushing your hair is a great way to restore shine to your mane and reduce dryness over time. Once brushed, you can slick your hair back into a trendy treatment bun to make the oiliness look chic and intentional. Get the how-to in our article, Treatment Buns: Tips for Trying the Hairstyle.
Next Up: 25 Gym Hairstyles to Try in 2024
Use our salon locator o create a more personalized sweaty hair routine with a stylist near you.
Header photo credits (left to right): Hair.com and @iambohoblonde
