Experts reveal the truth about washing your hair after exercise

Between run clubs and gym sessions, to nature trails and yoga classes, we are a nation that loves to exercise.

And on top of an endorphin boost, with exercise comes sweat, which will leave you wanting to shower after your session, but what if it’s not a hair-wash day?

Well, with Absolute Collagen spotting searches for ‘should you wash your hair after you work out’ are up by 100% in a year, as well as searches for ‘dry shampoo after exercise’ up 200% over the same time frame, it’s clear that people are looking for guidance on how to handle their hair after exercise.

So, for those seasoned gym bunnies to novice runners looking for answers, Eva Proudman trichologist at Absolute Collagen has revealed how often you should wash your hair around your workouts as well as the common post-gym haircare hacks to avoid.

“Firstly, it’s important to understand your workout’s impact on your hair. If you are doing a lower-impact session, such as yoga or pilates, then you might not notice. But each time you work out, you are building up more oils and sweat across your body, particularly your scalp.

“And while natural oils are good for your skin, the excess caused by exercise can build up on your hair strands, giving your hair a greasy and damp appearance. What’s worse, these oils can trap dirt and impurities from elsewhere causing more damage to your hair.

“If you want to avoid the greasy post-workout look, the best thing you can do is wash your hair regularly (every day or every other day) with a shampoo with active ingredients to help with the overproduction of sebum (natural oil).

“Look for a quality shampoo that isn’t going to be harsh on your hair, but instead supports and strengthens it. Natural shampoos are a great option for this.

“When it comes to hacks that you might see on social media, like blow drying sweat, it is important to consider that heat is one of the main culprits of damaged hair. Too much direct heat onto the hair can cause breakage, so heated tools should be used sparingly and with a heat protectant spray.

“Dry shampoo is also something you should be wary of as a substitute for washing. Using a dry shampoo to put off washing for just one day is usually fine, but not for several days. Dry shampoo will build up on the scalp and can cause irritation, which, if combined with the excess oils and sweat from working out, will leave you with a very irritated head.”

To shop for hair-strengthening shampoo, visit the Absolute Collagen website.