Help! I Don’t Have Time to Shower After Yoga
I have a big confession: When I work out in the mornings, I rarely shower afterwards (sorry, coworkers). Sometimes, I just don’t have time to wait in line for the shower, and other times, the fitness class is held at a studio without showering facilities. What’s a girl with a penchant for 7 a.m. bootcamp classes to do? Whether you’re squeezing in a workout before going out to dinner or going for a run on your lunch break, showering may not make it into your post-sweat session routine. We’ve asked Manhattan-based dermatologist Dr. Sejal Shah, Peloton Cycling instructors Nicole Meline and Jessica King, and celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa for the best ways to keep your hair and skin healthy and fresh without a shower.
Wash carefully and thoroughly. Just because you’re not showering doesn’t mean you’re exempt from soap and water. According to Shah, you should still wash your face with a facial cleanser, and use a wet wipe for your body. Our senior editor Joanna Douglas recommends Ban Total Refresh Cooling Body Cloths ($3) for a quick fix. If you absolutely do not have access to a sink, you can use a cleansing cloth on your face, too. You’re not done after cleansing, though — before you put on your makeup, Shah recommends splashing your face with cool water a few times. “This not only helps cool the skin but also tones down any redness by constricting blood vessels,” she says. You can also try Avène Thermal Spring Water mist ($13) or a rosewater toner, which provides antioxidants.
Avoid traditional ponytails. It’s very gratifying to see your ponytail bounce when you’re getting your sweat on, but it can cause damaging stress or kinks in your hair. Potempa recommends a bun or braid variation, which you can keep wearing after your workout without looking greasy, and which can be dressed up with a fun headband. “A braid can create some great texture if you remove it, and you can always use a dry shampoo at the root to absorb any excess oil,” she adds. If you think an elegant bun is too much of a hassle you could try Potempa’s own Wrap Up ($10), which gives you a bun without hairpins or elastic bands. For those with shorter hair or those who want extra sweat protection, Meline wears headbands from Funky Shredz ($20) and Namrata Joshipura ($40) to absorb sweat before they reach her hair and to keep hair out of her eyes. King, on the other hand, prefers letting her hair fly free so that she can shake it out and let it dry wavy afterwards. “Sweat is my favorite hair product,” she tells Yahoo Beauty.
Fake it with products. Meline, who has curly hair that only gets bigger with sweat, tames her frizz with a botanical spray like Ouidad Botanical Boost Moisture Infusing & Refreshing Spray ($20) and smoothes ends with a leave-in conditioner. She likes Oribe Dry Shampoo ($22), which comes in travel-size, for the roots. Shah agrees with the virtues of dry shampoo: “If your hair is still wet from sweat, use a blow-dryer before applying the dry shampoo. If your eyebrow hair is out of place, put a little dry shampoo on a brow brush and comb through them. Then, wait a few seconds and comb through them again.”
Skip the heavy makeup, before and after exercise. Both Meline and Shah agree that it’s better to work out with a bare face, but you should also avoid the potential of pore-clogging foundations after exercise, too, especially if you’re overheated. Shah recommends a tinted moisturizer and BB cream, used sparingly on the cheeks, eyes, and lips. If you want to keep your cheeks rosy post-workout, she suggests a sheer cheek stain instead of traditional powder blush to avoid looking caked on. But, not to worry, if you really want to wear heavy foundation and concealer, a mattifying concealer can prevent your makeup from melting off and absorbing too much into your skin. For eyes, King recommends Dior Diorshow Black Out Waterproof Mascara ($28). “It’s thick as thieves and you’ll need some coconut oil to take it off, but totally worth it,” she says. “Wear what makes you feel brave, bold, and strong! That’s the workout you want to have,” Meline adds.
Related:
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