I started my natural hair journey around the same time I started running in 2017. But although I know a lot more about running now, there is still a lot I need to learn about taking care of my natural hair. For one, how does one maintain a healthy afro when leading an active running lifestyle? Knowing that I couldn’t possibly write a blog on this myself, I reached out to Gaborone-based hair blogger Tapiwa Gachala. She was lovely and immediately agreed to guest blog for me! Tapiwa did the big chop in October 2013 and started a Blog in 2018 to share all she knows about natural haircare, tips and tricks as well as her favourite hair products. Her blog is well-written and easy to read – she focuses on some of the basics and provides hands-on and practical tips in a manner that’s not judgemental or intimidating in any way.
For Our Running Naturalistas
I’m not much of a runner (at all actually) but I do work out so I am very much alive to the fact that there are certain struggles that natural haired ladies who exercise experience. Below I share my 5 hair care tips which should help you before, during and after your run!
1/ Tie your hair up! It doesn’t really matter how you tie it up as long as it is not too tight; it could be a high bun, high puff, twists or plaits. Firstly, this is obviously so your hair doesn’t distract or irritate you once you get into the flow of your run. Secondly, and more importantly this is so your hair doesn’t come into contact with your sweat on your face and neck area. Because of all the salt content in your sweat, letting your hair sit or soak in sweat will cause dryness which could lead to breakage. If you feel you sweat a lot on your head area you might consider getting a sweat band or a head scarf to help soak up some of the sweat from your scalp, just make sure they aren’t too tight and aren’t hurting your hair line as well.
2/ You do not have to wash your hair after every run! I know it’s tempting to want to wash your hair to get that sweat out after every run but it’s not necessary. Over-washing will definitely dry out your hair because it will strip off its natural oils and nutrients. Over-washing in my view is also a form of over manipulating your hair so you might end up causing it to break or shed more. With that being said you will have to do a little extra to care for your hair. See my next tip.
3/ CO-WASH! I normally wash my hair once weekly or sometimes biweekly if life gets hectic. However, when I started working out I realised this routine had to switch up a bit to cater for the extra build up on my scalp from all the sweating. So now I still have my major wash day every Sunday but then I squeeze in a mini co-wash session mid week.
Co-wash simply means conditioner wash, so you aren’t using shampoo which will definitely strip your hair’s natural oils if it isn’t that dirty. What a lot of people don’t know is that conditioner also has dirt-removing properties which aren’t as robust as in a shampoo. By co-washing you’re able to remove the build up and sweat from the running but still get some nutrients into your hair from the conditioner. This is also a great way of refreshing your hair and managing the frizz that might develop from the sweat and working out.
4/ Dry Shampoo? I am not a fan of dry shampoo. I’ve used it once and did not rate it much. To be honest the whole concept has never made sense to me. In my head spraying something onto my scalp that I won’t wash off is me adding another layer to the already existing build up and just clogging up my scalp.
I did a little research and it turns out I am right! Gail Federici, CEO of Color Wow, explained in an article I read on their website that “at best a dry shampoo will soak up some visible oil. But in truth, you’re just adding another layer of debris on top of your already dirty hair. And that is not a solution…it’s potentially a serious problem!” The article went on to state that when you use a powder based dry shampoo, the powder actually mixes with your scalp oil and it becomes a paste-y mixture that sticks to your scalp and can impede new hair growth by blocking follicles. Let’s just delete dry shampoo from our lives.
5/ KEEP RUNNING! Along with all the other benefits for your body, running (and exercise in general) helps improve blood circulation in the body. The increased blood circulation stimulates hair growth! So running = healthy growing hair!
Thank you so much to Tapiwa for sharing these awesome tips with us! I get really lazy with my haircare routine but with all my running I need to be extra careful to ensure that while my body is getting healthier, I don’t leave my hair behind. It doesn’t have to be a case of one or the other! For more hair inspiration, be sure to follow Tapiwa on her blog Tap On Hair, her Facebook Page and her Instagram.
I’m joining Kooky Runner and Zenaida on their link up, Tuesday Topics. Hop on over to their blogs and others, and be inspired!
The Gaborone Runner 
Thanks, Tapiwa, for these insights. I have never heard of co-washing! What a brilliant idea, I will try that tomorrow after my run. And I have never like the concept of dry shampoo either. After reading your information I will definitely never use it, either! Yuk! ;-))
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So glad you found this information useful! And I see in a follow up comment you loved the co-washing experience!
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I don’t wash my hair often–maybe 2-3x/week. I usually just dry it after a workout. I’ve never heard of cowash but I like the idea of it!
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Co-washing really works for me!
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This is such important information! I am the run coordinator for a local chapter of Black Girls Run and you wouldn’t believe how many women tell me they don’t want to workout or tun because of their hair – it always makes me so sad 😦
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That’s why I was so desperate to get a blog post like this done! I’ve heard so many stories of people refusing to work out because of hair. But it just really takes having the correct info on how to manage our hair and still live an active lifestyle.
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I have often wondered the same thing about dry shampoo…I’ve tried to like it, but it just leaves my hair feeling gummy and yucky. Granted, my hair is of a much different texture, but it’s every bit as fragile because it’s so fine. I’ve gotten pretty good at disguising my “dirty” hair, so I don’t stress about washing it every time a little (or a lot of) sweat goes down.
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Over-washing for my texture just leaves it even more fragile and prone to breakage, so I can imagine that for your fine texture too, it would be just as damaging.
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I am one of those wash my hair everyday people. I am a big sweater! I also use dry shampoo when I have multiple workouts
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My texture really struggles with daily washing, so at most it’s the one wash and the mid-week co-wash! But I guess it really goes down to knowing and understanding your texture and sticking with what works for you.
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I wash my hair every other day, or if I need to after a hot Florida day or hard work out. It just depends. Everyone’s hair is so different and needs such different things. I use dry shampoo for emergencies (it was really helpful if I needed to stretch to three days while I was dealing with my broken leg), but it’s not my go-to.
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You are so right – the best thing is really knowing and understanding your own hair texture, and what it likes and doesn’t like. My transition from chemically straightening my hair to my natural afro was a huge learning process. I’m still learning so much and grateful for natural hair bloggers who have really come to my rescue!
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Update: I tried the co-wash: it worked!! Thanks for the awesome tip! 😄
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I shared this with a group of women of colour I talk to in a tiny running group on Facebook and they said thank you!
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Fantastic Liz!!! Thank you so much for sharing. I love that Tapiwa kept things simple because there is so much information on the internet for natural hair care, but it’s sometimes so intimidating that it really leaves one overwhelmed.
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I used to wash my hair after every single workout/run. Then I got dry scalp and the constant washing made it worse. Now I wash it with shampoo maybe once or twice a week and the other times I rinse it with water. I’ve never heard of co washing but it looks like something doable. 🙂
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I love co-washing! And if you were getting dry scalp from all the washing, I suspect the co-washing may really work for you.
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I still have some shampoo left and part of me feels guilty throwing it away. That is why I only wash my hair every 2-3 days.
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I completely agree woth you on the dry shampoo. I dont know the science behind it. I doesnt makes sense for me.
Does it even work for us, naturalista ??
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I think for us naturalistas it doesn’t work very well! My thinking is it was designed for other hair types!
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Gratitude for the both of you! Love this, great job done. It’s still hard not to wash too often, oily hair!
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Thank you Purvasha! Glad you enjoyed this!
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