This article is sponsored by Mielle.

Whether your silk press is fresh out of the salon or you’ve just achieved an immaculate twist-out, a particularly sweaty workout may risk the lifespan of your current hairstyle. And for some Black women, this is enough to ghost a session with your PT.

It’s no secret that hair maintenance can be a major barrier to exercise for Black women – in fact, research from Mielle shows up to a third of Black women skip workouts to avoid damaging their hair. As a Black beauty journalist and a long-term fitness enthusiast, I know we shouldn’t have to choose between caring for our hair and working on our physical health. So why does it often feel like a losing battle?

There are a host of reasons why Black women may have a complicated relationship with hair maintenance and exercise. For one, Black hair can be expensive to maintain. In and out of the salon, we spend more on haircare than any other race in the UK and the US – even in this economy. I understand the desire to protect that investment. 

Not to mention that Black hair has long been over-scrutinised. We’ve all seen how iconic athletes like Simone Biles, Coco Gauff, and Serena Williams have all had their choice of hairstyle scrutinised as they compete on global stages. It makes maintaining the look of our hair feel so essential.

Still, while skipping the gym to maintain a hairstyle can be tempting, there are ways to maintain your hair health, fresh style and your fitness regime at the same time.

1) Prioritise scalp care – even in a protective style

Protective hairstyles like box braids are great for fitness lovers looking for ease and low maintenance. But low maintenance doesn’t mean no maintenance. Kierston Jackson, Hair Scientist and Educator at Mielle suggests protective hairstyles will give you “a week or two in between washes, you should still cleanse your scalp while in the style.”

“The great part about box braids is the access to your scalp,” Kierston says, which will allow you to “focus on keeping your scalp clean with a good shampoo and nourished with the Rosemary Mint Oil”. Final touches to the refresh call for “laid edges” with Mielle’s Rosemary Mint Strengthening Edge Gel so your refresh feels manageable throughout the week.

2) Schedule your wash days on your rest days

For those of us with curly and coily hair, training for a marathon, for example, can also require marathon efforts when detangling our hair on wash day – if we don’t keep to a hair maintenance routine. It’s why I use my Google calendar to schedule everything that matters, including my rest days from training, where I focus on caring for my hair. Good clarifying products like Mielle’s Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo will deal with any sweat and product build up, followed by something to nourish, like Mielle’s Kalahari Melon & Aloe Vera 2-minute Deep Conditioner to leave your hair soft and manageable.

Still, it’s possible to wash your hair too much. Kierston says daily washing is “not the best option for natural hair”, warning that it could strip the hair of natural oils. Instead, it’s advised to refresh your hair with a leave-in conditioner, like Mielle’s Kalahari Melon & Aloe Vera Leave-In Conditioner followed by Mielle’s Rosemary Mint Light Oil and wait at least a few days for a full refresh. A good alternative is to co-wash your hair so it’s gentler on your scalp.

4) Invest in your accessories

Kierston suggests that it “may not be a good idea to leave your hair out” when working out “if your goal is to maintain the definition of your curls for as long as possible”. Instead, she recommends putting hair up into a “pineapple” (high ponytail) while you exercise to ensure you “don’t disrupt your curl pattern” and protect your ends from breakage caused by your hair rubbing against your clothes. Another solid tip is using a satin scarf to tie up your hair to help keep your edges laid and keep your hair free from sweat.

One of the best low-cost investments I’ve made for my training sessions is a moisture-wicking headband. It’s made with sweat-absorbing properties to protect your edges, pull sweat away from the skin and ensure it evaporates rather than soaking into your hair. A great help for prolonging any hairstyle!

5) Don’t sleep on headband wigs

Without needing to expertly melt or pluck a lace closure, headband wigs are an incredibly easy way to look cute in the gym, protect your hair and be low effort. A top tip is to use a half-wig just for the gym. There are many low-cost synthetic half-wigs available. “Instead of using combs try using a wig grip band to keep your wig secure while reducing the tension that can be caused by combs,” Kierston adds. Make sure you remove them and wash them too, as they can also build up with sweat. 

You can now shop Mielle’s full haircare range at Boots and Superdrug across the UK, as well as select products at Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Look Fantastic and ASOS.