
When you get a fresh retwist you’re likely to workout just as much as a woman that just got a relaxer— hardly ever! I know you’re probably thinking “why would I put all this time and effort into my locs to just sweat it out”? While this is a fair question, and the most obvious answer is for your health, looking good while you get fit is important too. Thankfully, you don’t have to sacrifice your loc maintenance for your fitness goals.
How to Make Your Retwist Last Longer
When you workout, I mean really workout, you’ll sweat which will cause your hair to swell and then before you know it poof— your nu growth has gone wild. The secret to making your retwist last longer is compression styles or interlocking.
Interlocking is a technique using a tools or fingers that allows your nu growth to be retightened to your scalp and last for weeks.
Compression styles are for locs that are maintained with palm rolling and are used to keep your locs together while preventing your roots from unraveling.
Please be aware that if you maintain your locs with palm rolling you should NOT constantly switch back and forth between interlocking because it can cause weakness and inconsistencies in your locs.

The most common compression styles are rope twists, braids, and pipe cleaner curls. Each of these styles, when done correctly, will prevent your roots from swelling, control frizz and encourage your hair to lock— all while allowing you to exercise as much as you’d like. Another added benefit of compression styles is that they’ll transition into a second style after you take it down. For example, if you rope twist your locs immediately after retwisting and then take out the style 1-2 weeks later, you’ll have beautiful waves in your locs (also known as a twist out)! Your twist out will also last through workouts because your hair has been compressed together with the compression style— was that an “aha moment”?!
If your hair is not long enough to put into a compression style after you retwist or you do not want to interlock, you want to you control your locs with a satin fitness cap. The snug fit of the satin fitness cap will prevent your locs from moving excessively and help prevent your roots from unraveling. As you can see putting a little pressure on your locs while you workout will make your retwist last longer and give you more styling options.
I challenge you to retwist your locs, try a compression style, and workout at least twice next week. Go!
Let me know which style you’re going to try first in the comments!
P.S.— Scalp health is just as important as styling when working out so be on the lookout for the next article on cleansing your scalp after a workout.
Blog Comments
Nikki J
March 17, 2016 at 9:48 pm
I agree, most of my male clients with locs work out and the twists and plaits are def the go to style for the gym, it’s also very versatile for both men and women, they absolutely love it. Thank you for sharing.
Shekira
March 23, 2016 at 10:06 pm
Yes! Let’s talk about it lol two-strand twists are my go to style for this very reason and since i’ve been trying to go longer between retwists, but styles definitely help keeping the hair when working out. No more sacrificing health for beauty lol
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February 9, 2017 at 10:24 am
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Gina
August 7, 2017 at 3:14 pm
I just had my locs retwisted (they’re palm rolled) and then had the pipe cleaner curls done. After air drying, I would like to be able to work out but am afraid that the curls will start to loosen. I just pulled out the pipe cleaners and want to leave it curly like that without loosening them for 1 – 2 wks. (I sweat a lot when working out). I am not sure what you mean by “compression styles”. Is the pipe cleaner curl one of the compression styles?
Jocelyn Reneé
August 9, 2017 at 9:22 am
A pipe cleaner set with the pipe cleaners still in is a compression style. Once the pipe cleaners are no longer installed it will no longer compress the roots and stay in place while working out.
Takila Williams
May 23, 2020 at 10:35 am
I started my boyfriend locs and he’s a month away from a whole year. He’s a cook and has to be around heat all the time and wear hats. The locs in the front are getting a little frizzy and he sweats a lot. What do we need to do to about the frizz and his sweating??
Jocelyn Reneé
May 27, 2020 at 11:12 pm
You definitely want to be sure that you’re using an astringent moisturizer, such as PURE SCALP, often to keep the scalp healthy and you may want to trying maintaining with interlocking or the crochet technique to keep those front locs healthy.
Dawn
August 16, 2020 at 8:47 am
Is a cotton bandana acceptable to use while working out? To absorb the sweat and keep retwist maintained?
Jocelyn Reneé
August 18, 2020 at 11:40 pm
Sure!
Maiya Picott
February 28, 2021 at 10:31 am
Thank you so much for all of the amazing advice that you provide! I started my loc journey on 1/11/21 and I exercise daily, so I decided to put my starter locs into rope twists after retwisting them. How long can I keep these twists in?
Jocelyn Reneé
March 1, 2021 at 9:29 am
Congratulations on starting your new journey! With starter locs, you don’t want to keep a compression style in too long because it can impede on the locking process. To help combat any issues she want to Groom your locks fully dry them and then put in the rope twists and leave them in for no more than 2 weeks.