How I Keep My Retwist While Working Out
I remember when working out used to be optional. Back then, I didn’t have locs or sweat in my scalp— life was so different. Now, my locs hang to the middle of my back, I sweat in places I didn’t know could sweat and to maintain my health and body goals, working out is essential.
But here’s the challenge, that I believe many of us face as we’re working out with locs. I want my locs to smell fresh, I don’t want to scratch my scalp all day, and I want my retwist to last longer than 22 hours. I’ve come to find out that this is not an unreasonable request. Let me share with you the style, product, and regimen that I use to overcome these challenges.
How I Wear My Locs to Workout
Personally I maintain my locs with retwisting, not interlocking, which means my roots have a mind of their own. They can easily unravel, even 5 years in, and frizz quickly after a workout. However, I’ve found that compression styling controls both of these. My favorite compression style is rope twists. The Rope Twists keep my roots together and minimize frizz, even after I take them out!
My Favorite workout products
Fighting itchy scalp and smelly sweat odors comes down to the products. For me, there are two products that I swear by for my scalp health and refreshing smell — an astringent moisturizer and pre-cleanser. Some people use witch hazel, some swear by tea tree oil— the Pure Scalp Astringent Moisturizer is the perfect blend of them both and more! This product soothes itching immediately and removes sweat so my locs stay smelling fresh.
I also have to have my Noggin Oil Wash Pre-Cleanse. As much as I sweat, without it I would most definitely have biological buildup at my roots, so I keep this stuff stocked!
My Workout Hair Care Regimen
These days, I am all about choosing ease— especially after working so hard during my workout. Keeping my locs in a compression style and/or in my loc soc minimize my frizz and keep my retwist longer. I even just discovered a mesh loc bonnet that lets my roots breath but still keep my locs compressed— it’s my new favorite!
And shortly after my workout, I apply the Pure Scalp and brush my locs to make sure any of the dust from the floor mat dust is out of my hair. Ya’ll know I’m allergic to lint! I also like to keep my scalp clean, so at the end of each week, even if it’s not the week I shampoo my hair, I apply the “Wash” to my roots. I have found that doing this weekly makes it so much easier during wash day because my roots have little to no flaking or product accumulation. Anything that I can do to cut down the intensity of the arm workout that is shampooing and retwisting, I am all for it!
Blog Comments
Denniece
November 2, 2021 at 8:30 am
Do you wash your hair while its in rope twists? When I say “wash” I mean do you put your hair under the shower head like you would if you were washing loose locs?