How I Learned to Care for My Hair as a Black Woman Runner
The sport of running has brought me so much joy—but it came with challenges in the beginning. When I decided to start running about four years ago, I instantly faced the question, “What am I going to do with my hair?”
As a Black woman, my natural hair had been a barrier to my fitness. I worried about sweat, frizziness, the dreadful idea of running in rain, and much more.
I realized that I had to decide to put my health first and to not get in the way of my new running journey. Four years in, I’ve learned what is best for my hair. Here are my top five tips:
Educate Yourself on Your Hair and Its Texture
There is no one-size-fits-all routine when it comes to taking care of your hair. What works for my hair might not necessarily work for yours. As someone with kinkier hair, I require more moisture than someone who has a looser curl pattern.
Here’s a fun tip: Take advantage of social media and find women who have the same or similar hair texture. YouTube is a great platform to start; try following a few tutorials.
Wear Your Hair in Protective Styles and Use Sweat Wicking, Frizz Reducing Hair Accessories
Putting your hair up in a bun or ponytail can keep it away from your neck and head to reduce contact with sweat. Braids, flat twists, and double-strand twists are great protective styles and can be worn in a variety of ways. For added protection, you can wear headbands or scarves to prevent hair breakage and keep the sweat from your head and neck. A staple for my workouts has been silk or satin-lined wraps as well as gym hair wraps that wick sweat away from my hair. You can find these products online and support Black-owned businesses at the same time.
Refresh and Moisturize
Shampoo less and condition more! Afro-textured hair tends to be drier than other textures and adding sweat can make it even drier. Co-wash your hair with your favorite conditioner more often than shampooing. It can be helpful to deep-condition on off days, at least once a week. A quick and easy way to refresh your hair is using a spray bottle with water and your favorite conditioner before and after your workout.
Know Your Schedule
Knowing what your running or workout schedule is for the week can be helpful in deciding how to style your hair. If you know you are approaching training season for your next race, you may want to opt for a longer-term protective style.
Practice Patience and Love
As a runner, it takes patience to develop your endurance. Similarly, it takes patience to get the right hair routine that works for you. For me it was a lot of trial and error, but I knew I wanted to continue to run, so I had to stay persistent. I also had to learn to love and embrace my natural hair as a part of my self-care. Once I loved my hair, I learned to love all of me. Loving all of me helped me take care of my hair, my body, and my mind. This will go a long way in your running journey.