You’re running along, enjoying the fresh air and the fire in your lungs; feeling slightly smug and happy to be alive.
But then a chunk of hair escapes from your ponytail.
It flops into your eyes. It whips your cheeks. It welds annoyingly to your lip balm. Next thing you’re flapping your hands around your noggin like a madwoman.
Well, that may just be me and my disobedient locks. Fed up of bobby pins and clips boring into my skull, I’ve been on a quest for better workout hair. These are my two favourite solutions…
Solution 1: Mermaid Braid
For the past two years I’ve been a rabid fan of Hairdresser on Fire, the blog of New York hair stylist Reagan Baker (she’s also a runner!). She has oodles of brilliant hairdo tutorials and when it comes to the workout barnet, this mermaid braid is a winner.
Despite lots of practice it looks utterly rubbish when I do it, but even poorly executed it corrals all those stray bits of hair out of my face, then I scoop the rest back into a ponytail.
Solution 2: Stretchy Headband
I love a good wide headband; basically a seamless tube of stretchy fabric. They’re ace because:
- My hairline is totally covered. Tendrils: you have no chance of escape!
- They’re soft and very comfortable.
- I can put the band over my ears so they stay warm and my earphones don’t fall out.
- They’re stretchy so they’re big enough to get around my giant head without being tight.
- They’re multi-functional – because it’s a seamless tube I can wear it like a headband, bandana, neck scarf or even balaclava style.
Here are the two brands I’ve tried:
1. Patterned headtubes from Mountain Warehouse in the UK. They’re only £4.99.
2. Bandanas from Hoo Rag. They’re an American company with a huge array of designs. They kindly sent us a review sample way back in January and I’ve been wearing it every week since (apologies for the very untimely feedback, Hoorag folks!). The band is so comfortable with the perfect amount of stretch.
At $15.95 USD it’s more expensive than the Mountain Warehouse offering, but it’s just that wee bit more comfortable so I find myself reaching for it over and over. It’s also showing no signs of wear after 10 months of regular use. You can see the Groovy-Hoo design in this here pic of the Inverness Cheer Squad. My eyes say Half Asleep but my head says Party Time!
Early morning Hoo Rag
Any hair nerds out there? How do you do your do for a workout?
