How to Refresh Sweaty Hair After a Workout, According to Celebrity Stylists

Mask Up

Celebrity hairstylist Kendall Dorsey is all about masking."One of my favorite ways to care for hair while working out is to actually prep before heading to the gym," he explains. "Before tying your hair back, comb in your favorite treatment mask from root to tip. I like the évolis Professional Promote Mask. Then, pull your hair back into a ponytail, bun, or even a braid, and go workout."

While you work out, you're actually helping the mask work, too. "The excess heat you produce while working out will help the mask penetrate more deeply, and it also helps to keep your hair nice and slicked back during exercise," Dorsey says. "Post-workout, comb out your 'treatment style' and either rinse and air-dry or slick back into a fresh pony until you can rinse out. It will look sleek and super chic."

Try a Pre-Shampoo Treatment

Co-founder and Creative Director for R+Co Howard McLaren is also a fan of pre-workout gym hair treatments, specifically pre-shampoo treatments. "R+Co's Palm Springs Pre-Shampoo Treatment Mask is a great product to put in your hair while you work out to save time doing a treatment," he says. "Work it into dry hair from root to ends, twist it up in a bun, and then shampoo and condition as normal after your workout. You'll have nourished and hydrated your hair without adding any extra time to your beauty routine."

Alternatively, you can use Oribe's Gold Lust Pre-Shampoo Intensive Treatment on dry hair. "Pull your into a high ponytail and twist the ends if you like. This will not only help keep your hair back out of the face but will also condition and nourish the hair while you are at the gym. After you rinse this out (and shampoo and condition as usual), you will be left with very soft hair," says Oribe's Director of Training & Content Kien Hoang.

Use Dry Shampoo

Though it mostly goes without saying, using dry shampoo to refresh sweaty hair is an excellent choice. Take a beat before heat styling. "Post-workout, spray R+Co's Spiritualized Dry Shampoo Mist on the scalp and rub it through before blasting a cold dryer on your hair to take sweat away," Garren says. "You'll then be able to wear it down or in a messy bun because volume is back, and oil, sweat, and smell are gone. To add more volume, use R+Co's Skyline Dry Shampoo Powder now that roots are clean."

Don't Wash Your Hair

"I like to recommend the all-natural route: I tell my clients to rinse their hair off from any sweat after but avoid shampoo (which can easily over-dry the hair, making it fluffier), towel-dry, and use the all-natural brand that we love and carry at the salon: Oway Organics," stylist and co-founder of Nova Arts Salon Sal Salcedo says. He recommends the Sea Salt Spray if you have straight hair and the Curly Potion if you have waves or curls.  

Keep It Loose

"If your hair is already in a good place before working out, one of the easiest ways to keep your hair from getting overly sweaty is to take the top half of your hair and loosely clip it at the crown. Take the bottom half and use a soft hair tie to create a loose ponytail so you don't get a dent from sweating. The key is to have your hair loosely tied, not yanked tight so that it's stuck to you and your sweat while working out," celebrity stylist and co-founder of R+Co Garren says.

Braid Your Hair

"Braid your hair before working out (one or two braids will work), and once done working out, unbraid and use a little bit of product on roots and throughout the length to soak up oil and add texture," Dorsey says.

If you are doing a low-impact workout like yoga or pilates and don’t want to have to wash and style your hair afterward, McLaren is also a fan of using braids as a workout hairstyle. "Use a primer to mist the hair from root to ends, part it in the middle, and braid it into two plaits on either side. Allow your hair to dry in the braids while you work out, and then take the braids out. Flip your hair over and spray dry shampoo throughout the hair to add volume and texture. The result will be undone waves and texture."

Twist Your Hair

Braids aren't the only style in town: You can also try twists. "Twisted messy knots are an easy style to work out in, plus they can leave you with tousled waves," says Hoang. "Touch the waves up after with Oribe's Gold Lust Dry Shampoo at the roots." Bonus: If you have straight hair, the twists will give your tresses a gorgeous wave post-workout.

Accessorize With a Headband

Not only are headbands totally on trend with the Y2K hairstyle resurgence happening right now, but they're also a great way to banish sweat. "You can wear a moisture-wicking, cotton, or terry headband wrap to absorb oils around the temples, crown of the head, and bottom of the hair at the nape of the neck," hairstylist and founder of The Second Floor Salon Rogerio Cavalcante says.

Use the Right Hair Ties

"I always tell my clients to use the Invisibobble Hair Ties because they are gentle on your hair and won't create a crease," stylist Chaie de Jesus says. "It also doesn't feel like you're wearing one!"

Style with Cold Air

Put down the hot tools: Cool styling may be the answer you're looking for. "Refresh hair on a cool temperature setting with your head upside down to refresh and “dry” the hair. Spray dry shampoo throughout hair while upside down, massaging into the roots to add volume and absorb oils," Cavalcante says. He likes the Hask Tea Tree Dry Shampoo with fine rice starch to absorb oils and eliminate odor from the hair and The Rootist Dry Shampoo as it has an easy-to-apply brush-on application

Layer Your Products

If you have curly, natural hair, Dorsey recommends working out with your hair in a bun. To deal with sweaty hair after a workout, let your hair down and use a combo of styling mousse and conditioning water to hydrate and redefine your curls. Dorsey likes Voloom's Very Airy Low Residue Mousse because it is low-residue and won't weigh curls down, and Philip B Weightless Conditioning Water.

Use Detangler

Have curly hair? Hoang recommends using Oribe's Priming Lotion Leave-In Conditioning Detangler. "Apply it before working out to condition and make it easier to style hair for the gym."

Blot Away

Just like how makeup blotting papers work to reduce excess oil on the face, Cavalcante recommends using "a moisture wicking or absorbent yoga towel to 'blot' hair after a workout," removing excess sweat.