We Asked Cyclists and Experts to Share Their Best Black Haircare Advice
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Exercise, in all its forms, can improve everything from skin, heart, and metabolic health to strength and mood. Yet some people in the Black community are hesitant to sacrifice their updo for a workout, regardless of the health benefits. Finding a balance between reaching your fitness goals and maintaining your hair can be tricky, but it is possible.
Despite the plethora of Black haircare advice that’s flooding the internet, the dilemma of whether to skip a ride to maintain a hairstyle is very real. In fact, a 2018 study published in Frontiers in Public Health found that it is common for Black women to avoid or limit exercise in hopes to protect or save their hairstyles because, let’s be honest, completing a full wash routine after every workout just isn’t always feasible.
Plus, when you spend a significant amount of time and money on treatments and styles, the last thing you want to do is risk jeopardizing them in exchange for a quick ride—especially if you have work or social plans afterward. This is why saving our hair often wins the fight, making it a sometimes hard and discouraging decision for Black cyclists to choose between exercise and haircare.
Though there may not be a one-size-fits-all answer, there are ways to maintain your hair—relaxed, natural or loc’ed— without sacrificing your weekly mileage goals. We asked cyclists, licensed cosmetologists, and Black haircare experts to share their tried-and-true tips for how to care for and protect Black hair while riding and exercising.
Identify Your Specific Hair Needs
All hair isn’t created equal; it’s the exact opposite. Just like your training demands you to understand how your specific body responds, understanding your specific hair needs is a vital part of properly caring for it.
“Natural hair is super versatile and how one may wear it differs from the other,” says Latoya Shauntay Snell, multi-sport athlete and founder of Running Fat Chef. For Snell, it’s about learning how to style exceptionally thick hair and locs.
For some others, it may be as simple as applying a protective serum to reduce frizz post-ride, learning a specific style that keeps curls intact, or rocking an Afro puff. The truth is, there’s no right or wrong way to explore your hair, but it’s the necessary first step to understanding how to properly care for it. You can better understand your hair by simply taking notice to how it responds to different products, or how it reacts in different weather conditions.
Try Out Protective Styles
While wearing your hair down may seem simple, it’s not usually the best decision. “Ponytails, cornrows, and twists are great hairstyles during a workout,” says Sharie Wilson and Tonya Thompson founders of natural haircare brand DreamGirls. “These hairstyles help control the sweat, are easy to maintain, and keep hair out of your face so you can focus on your workout.”
Stephanie Puello, cyclist, the first Black woman to ride TransAmerica, and the founder of Black Girls Do Bike: Denver, says her go-to styles for cycling are a low ponytail or side braid if she’s wearing extensions. She says protective styles are functional, less of a hassle, and easy to style in different ways like box braids. She also suggests choosing a style that’s low-manipulation, like the styles suggested below, so it’s easily contained and easy to take out post-ride.
Recreational cyclist, Iresha Picot, agrees citing four big bantu knots as her go-to protective style. Two-strand twists is another low-maintenance style that Picot suggested, and locks were also cited by the 2018 study participants as a conductive style for exercising.
Embrace Accessories
No matter how tight or loose your curl pattern, texture, or the length of your hair, sporting a hair accessory while riding can not only help reduce frizz around the hairline, but it also helps keep flyaways at bay.
According to Emmy-nominated celebrity hairstylist Derick Monroe, headbands are an effective accessory to help maintain smooth edges. His must-have option is the moisture-wicking GymWrap by Nicole Ari Parker. If you’re looking to protect all your hair versus just the hairline, try wrapping your hair in a silk or satin scarf. Silk and satin materials don’t cause frizz as much as other fabrics like cotton and help reduce breakage while you ride.
Also, consider using a cycling cap because it serves multiple purposes—not only can it help protect your face and your hair, but it can also provide a layer of warmth in the winter and wick away sweat in the summer. Plus, the cap will provide you with uniform protection while cycling through unexpected clouds of gnats on and off the road.
Consider Your Helmet Options
Snell and Puello agree that the size of your helmet truly matters, not just for safety and comfort, but for hair preservation, too.
“I’d suggest sizing up on your helmet, if your hair has [a lot of volume],” Snell says. She warns that this may, unfortunately, narrow down some of the stylish options available on the market, but you’ll be thankful later. Her go-to helmet is from Troy Lee Designs. “They’re bright-colored, fashion-forward helmets that safely protect my dome.”
Puello adds that choosing a helmet that isn’t large enough can make protective styles like box braids uncomfortable during your workout. But it’s important to note, that sizing up does depend on the thickness and length of your strands.
If you’re unsure whether sizing up will serve you, we suggest working with the reps at your local bike shop before making a purchase to ensure your helmet is safe and comfortable, or check out our guide to helmets here.
Some cyclists may need to consider having two helmets. The circumference of your head with your hair in its natural state may be bigger or smaller than when your hair is in a protective style. Wearing a helmet that is too large or small can cause discomfort and reduce the level of protection that you need.
How to Manage Your Hair in Bad Weather
Humidity, wind, and rain are three elements that don’t always play nice with natural or relaxed hair. Wilson and Thompson suggest opting for indoor workouts when the weather is rainy or muggy and you really want to preserve your style. If there’s no option for indoor exercise, it’s best to wrap your hair up tightly and cover with a scarf if possible.
Monroe does warn that using scarves over your entire head can create additional heat that has a tendency to cause you to sweat more. If you do go this route, make sure the hair dries properly after your workout to avoid odor and frizz (more on this below).
If you opt to work out outdoors, especially in cooler temps, consider using a hijab to protect your hair from dirt and dust. These versatile hair covers protect not only the hair and scalp but also your ears. This low-profile option works well under helmets for on- and off-road cycling conditions. Plus, hijabs come in a range of colors, styles, and lengths to accommodate almost every type of hair.
When a hijab isn’t enough and rain is unavoidable, consider a cycling-specific rain jacket with a hood. Many of these jackets are constructed using water-resistant material that significantly improves breathability to prevent overheating. As such your hair is more likely to survive the downpour.
When temperatures dip, consider using a balaclava. This cold weather protector protects your face, hair, ears and neck while fitting neatly inside cycling jackets as needed. Consider using a balaclava with wicking material to prevent overheating and sweating.
Pick a Haircare Routine That Works Best for You
In a world run by social media, it’s easy to look at someone else’s haircare routine and quickly adopt it. But as we stated before, there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all haircare.
Licensed cosmetologist and founder of Glamour by Shaniqua, Inc., Shaniqua Pender clarifies that different hair types require different treatments. Three factors to consider when building a hair care regiment and buying products, include determining your curl pattern, hair porosity, and hair density.
The curl pattern chart is “an ongoing debate” but it is helpful in identifying what your curl type may be. “Straighter hair would be a curl pattern of 1 and as the curl pattern becomes tighter it shifts towards a 4,” says Pender. (To determine your hair curl pattern, compare a strand of your hair to this hair chart.) Another factor to consider is that curl pattern may not be uniform throughout the head. “Some people have straighter hair in the front and curlier hair in the back, naturally,” Pender adds.
The second factor to consider is your hair porosity. “Porosity is how well your hair holds or doesn’t hold moisture” says Pender. “High porosity hair gets wet quickly and loses water quickly. On the other hand, low porosity hair takes a while to absorb moisture and because of this, you may need to use a steam cap or deep condition your hair in order for it to get the moisture that it needs.”
You can test your hair porosity by placing a clean strand of hair in a cup of water. If your hair sinks to the bottom, your hair is most likely high porosity and if it sinks to the bottom that is an indication of lower porosity hair.
Hair density rounds out the hair needs trifecta. It is important to consider the density or thickness of your hair because it influences what kind of products will work best for you. Pender recommends testing your hair density by comparing a hair strand to a piece of thread, but you can also try measuring the circumference of your ponytail, or simply looking at your scalp in the mirror. “Less dense hair would not tolerate heavier oils, such as castor oil, as well as more dense hair,” Pender says.
Remember, all of this takes time to figure out. “Planning and creating a routine that works within your natural habits is more manageable than breaking and creating new habits,” says social media influencer and FitHair expert,Alexandria Williams, who recommends talking to your stylist about your workout routine to better care for your hair for pre and postride.
Learning all these different hair attributes can help you find products and craft a care regiment that works best for you on and off the bike. Just remember, like all things in life including your on-the-bike training, no habits are created overnight. Be patient and give yourself time to learn and grow.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Naturally curly and coily hair types lack moisture. This is because the natural oils in the hair don’t travel down the shaft of the hair as quickly or easily as they do on straight hair thanks to all the twists and curls. The tighter your curl, the drier your hair will be.
Snell says every other night she moisturizes her hair to replenish it and wraps it with a satin scarf or cap. And during the day, she opts for a mixture of natural oils and black castor oil with a bit of water to keep moisture levels balanced throughout her day and her workout routine. If you’re looking for a refresh of your scalp and hair, try using a coconut oil spray to add moisture and help prevent breakage.
You may notice that the colder and windier it is outside, the drier your hair feels and looks after an outdoor workout. No matter what your hair type or the weather, you’ll want to apply a moisturizer every single day. This can range from water to curl creams to oils. Just be sure your hydrating products aren’t formulated with mineral oil or alcohols that can dry out the hair even more.
How to Cleanse or Refresh
It’s no secret that Black girls don’t shampoo every day, and there’s good reason for that: Remember we mentioned that curly and coily hair tends to be drier? Well, shampoo only worsens that issue by stripping the hair of natural oils.
Monroe suggests incorporating co-washing into your haircare routine. A co-wash product still cleanses the hair and scalp but uses conditioning ingredients that won’t strip your hair dry. For the most part, you don’t have to wash your hair after every workout. Depending on your hair and scalp, most women with natural hair can get away with shampooing once or twice a week. There’s no magic number, so it really depends on what your hair needs (back to the first tip). It’s always best to opt for a sulfate-free shampoo and follow with a nourishing conditioner.
Shampoos containing sulfates do a good job at washing away dirt and oil—maybe too good a job. In addition to washing away much of what we don’t want, sulfates wash away natural oils which may cause drier scalp and hair. Color-treated hair, which tends to be drier, can also benefit from sulfate-free shampoos. “Some shampoos containing sulfate can make your hair feel hard, especially when it is one of the first 10 ingredients” says Pender.
Between co-washing, you can cleanse your hair without getting it wet. A newcomer to the haircare market, Sunday II Sunday, offers Root Refresh Micellar Rinse, specifically designed to cleanse hair between washes and remove sweat and buildup.
Oh, and did we say moisturize?
Yes, it’s really that important, so we’ll remind you one last time here. Don’t skip the moisturizing step.
Most Importantly, Do What Makes You Happy
The process of figuring out how to care for your hair and maintain a regular riding routine requires some trial and error, and it is not an easy journey for all. But we hope you’ll end up in a place where you’ll never have to choose between exercise or your hair, because both should bring you confidence and joy.
For some cyclists, balancing exercise and haircare means being open to change. One participant of the2018 study found that transitioning from a relaxed hairstyle to a natural hairstyle was a liberating experience. For others, like Pender, “it can be a lot to handle, it’s important to embrace each stage of transitioning.” Regardless of which route you choose, a “consistent regiment will help you to transition with ease” and enjoy your cycling and hair journey, she adds.
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