HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN & HAIR WHEN EXERCISING

Exercising is great for your overall health and physical appearance, but not taking proper care of your hair and skin pre-and post-workout can wreak a little havoc.

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Skin
Skin is the body’s largest organ and requires great care as it protects all the other organs of the body. Exercising is a great way of getting your heart rate up and improving circulation. Through exercise oxygen and nutrients are delivered to the skin to help new cell growth. New cell growth is important for youthful skin and reduced signs of aging.

Related article: How to take care of your skin

Make-up and Exercising
Foundation is formulated to last on your skin and be smudge-proof until you remove it. When you exercise, your pores expand and more sweat is produced. Sweat helps the body cool down. However, if you have make-up on, this process is interrupted and sweat, make-up, and dirt are trapped inside your pores. This could lead to breakouts and disruptions on the skin.

To avoid upsetting your skin, remove make-up before a workout to allow your skin to breathe. You can use a make-up remover before exercising and do a thorough cleanse post-workout. Use a cleanser with Salicylic acid to gently exfoliate the skin and remove impurities. If your skin is feeling dry use a cleanser with Hyaluronic acid to help hydrate the skin. Use a moisturiser with Hyaluronic acid too for more hydration.

Outdoor Exercising
Exercising outdoors is a great way of getting fresh air. “Sun exposure allows our bodies to make Vitamin D which is important for our bones, immune systems, and blood cells. Sunlight also helps boost serotonin that improves our moods, and gives us more energy,” says Alexa Wilding, senior brand manager for Everysun. However, the environment can be harsh on the skin, especially if the weather conditions are extreme. Extreme weather conditions make the skin dry. To protect the skin, exercise outdoors before the sun comes out or just before it sets. Otherwise, wear sunscreen and protective clothing.



Related article: 4 Anti-aging skin habits to keep that youthful glow

DO’s and DON’T’s post-gym

• Don’t use hot water after a workout session as hot water strips the skin of its moisture and leaves it dry.
• Don’t stay in the shower too long, this too strips the skin of its moisture and leaves it dry.
• Do use gentle and nourishing soap to replenish moisture in the skin.
• Do stick to a consistent skin regimen for predictable results.

Hair
The scalp can sweat a lot during a workout, and this will affect the hair. This is one of the main reasons why some women avoid the gym – they simply will not sacrifice their good-looking hair for a sweat session. Also, one may feel like they need to wash their hair every day because of the sweat and build-up and that is not good for your hair. “Shampooing daily could cause the sebaceous glands to work overtime, and that could also create more grease that you’ll want to wash out,” says Peter Matlala, natural hair stylist and colourist at Lucy’s Hair Salon in Morningside.

Related article: What your hair can reveal about your health

Tie your hair up
The simplest way to keep your hair out of the way is to tie it up in a loose bun. Tying it too tightly will put a strain on your scalp and cause tension headaches and overtime, hair thinning. Use a hair-tie like a hair bobble that won’t leave a line on your hair.

Cool Hairdryer setting
After your workout, don’t use the hairdryer on full blast – this will damage the hair. Instead, use it on a cool setting to gently dry sweat.



Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoo is a great product that can be used to absorb grease. It refreshes the hair and gives it a bit of volume too. Do not overuse dry shampoo, as it doesn’t remove dirt from the hair.

Clarifying Shampoo
Once a week use a clarifying shampoo to remove product build-up. Do not shampoo your hair every day as this will make it dry. Be careful about how you dry it too. “Towel drying can be just as damaging as blow-drying, and sometimes more so since the movements can be just as rough on your strands as intense heat. The key is to be gentle with the towel, and squeeze your hair with it rather than rub,” says Jonathan Horowitz, researcher and ingredients expert for Maple Holistics in New Jersey on rd.com. Smangele Sibisi, who is the owner of Indalo Nubian Naturals in Johannesburg recommends using an old t-shirt instead. She explains that a t-shirt causes less friction on your hair and therefore won’t cause it to dry.

BY NTHABISENG MAKHOKHA

Extra sources: businessinsider.com, byrdie.com