Running Hair do Care

Running hair… do you care?  Like most people, your main objective will probably be to get the hair off your face and out of your way (unlike the running emoji girl, who lets her luscious locks loose 🏃‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️). So unless you have very short hair, you probably have a go-to hair do when you go on a run.  I know I did, straight to a standard ponytail, but then one day, I went running a a mizzle (misty drizzle) 🌧️ and I got the dreaded rats nest.  Apparently this is a thing, a thing I didn’t know about and it required a bucketload of conditioner and lots of patience with my tangle teaser.

This is just one of the main hair related dramas you might encounter on your runs.  You might have had hair ties break, braids fall apart, or fringes that just wont behave.  But luckily there are a variety of option you can try.

So we’ll start off with the humble pony mainstay of the hairdo workout scene, and then work our way through some useful variations, then move on to different plaits/braids and finally finish up with some accessories to make it all come together.

High pony

It’s traditional, easy to achieve, usually sits at the crown of your head, and all you need is a good hair tie (or elastic, bobble, band… whatever you like to call it)

Pros:

• Easy to do
• Minimal equipment needed: just a brush and a hair band
• Keeps the hair out of your face
• Works on wet, clean and dry, or less than clean hair

Cons:

• Might not work for mid and shorter hair
• Longer hair can still hang down and get tangled, matted
• Does not control wispy bits at the front
• Its a bit boring

Low Pony/Side Pony

Again, this one is quite traditional, but provides an easy way to secure your hair out of your face.  Put it to one side, if you don’t like your hair swishing around your back or on the back of your neck, or if you are wearing a hydration/back pack.

Pros:

• Works well on mid-length hair
• Works well with a cap, as it will sit below the cap line
• Easy to do
• Minimal equipment needed: just a brush and a hair band
• Keeps the hair out of your face
• Works on wet, clean and dry, or less than clean hair

Cons:

• If your hair is really short, then it still might not work
• You might not like getting a sweaty neck
• Longer hair can still hang down and get tangled, matted
• Does not control wispy bits at the front
• Its also a bit boring

Ponies with braids/plaits

This is a simple way to take your basic high or low ponytail to the next level, but incorporating a simple 3 strand braid after you have tied off your pony tail.

Pros (as above, plus):

• Keeps hair from getting matted in humid or rainy weather (rats nest)
• Keeps hair from getting tangled, sweaty on your skin or swishing around your back
• Easier than french/dutch braids

Cons (as above, plus):

• I find a braid on a pony can sometimes create a side-to-side swish, which might be because of the way that I run 🤷‍♀️, or it might be the hairstyle, but it can be annoying, so test this out before you commit to this option on a big training run or race day

French/Dutch Braid

This is a braid that runs down your head, picking up hair as you progress down the braid.  The only difference between french and dutch is weather your braid sits on top or inside, and this is determined by what order you fold you strands over each other (see picture to below to see the difference).

Pros:

• Close to head, neat option
• Can choose double* or single option
• Can event choose a hairband french or dutch braid, a great to keep a fringe/bangs out of your eyes
• Works well on dirty hair

*A double dutch or french braid can be tough on the arms if you are not used to doing them. I suggest doing one side, and taking a break, have a cup of coffee and come back and do the other side when your arms are less tired.

Cons:

• Can be quite hard to do, tiring for your hands, arms
• Can be time consuming
• Can be hard to get a tight braid and you don’t want it come loose

Top tip: Take a look at Milabu Hairstyles on instagram or youtube, she has great videos

Pull through – faux braids

This actually isn’t a braid, it is a succession of small ponytails that you split and pull through each other.  It is much more secure than a normal french/dutch braid, but takes a little getting used to how to do it.

Pros:

• A much more secure option than french or dutch plaits, as each section is tied off with it’s own elastic
• I find this easier than dutch or french braids, as you can stop mid way through, and do whatever you need to do (answer the door, get a snack, use the loo), and then come back to it, as each section is tied off

Cons:

• You need to make sure you have the little snag free elastics, you don’t want to damage your hair and clips to hold your hair in the right place while you are dong it
• Takes a little bit of time to get the hand of it
• If you have a sensitive scalp you might not like the tight feel of this style

Caps

A breathable baseball style cap 🧢 is a great option if you might need rain and/or sun protection on your run and it keeps your hair out of your face.

I personally like to keep my pony tail below the hat (not through the hole) incase I need to take my cap off mid-run, my hair wont have to come out to take off the cap

Warning, your hair will look horrific afterwards, sweaty hat hair is never a good look 🙈, so if you planned to meet people afterwards for a post run treat, make sure you feel comfortable either with your cap (or with your bad hair if you wanted to take it off).

Other Accessories & Tools

• Headbands: Adding an elasticated all-around headband to any of these styles, helps keep any wispy bits off your face.  Plus, if you have a sensitive scalp or are prone to headaches from tight hairdos, you can tie a looser ponytail or braid, and use the hairband to keep the wispy bits away
• Buff: If you pop a buff around your neck in the winter for warmth or around your wrist in the summer as a wrist sweat band, it can also double up as a head band, pushing all your hair out of the way
• Bobby pins, metal clips: I stay away from bobby bins, clips, or plastic headbands, as they often create pinchy/ouchie points on my head and never seem to stay in place
• Product: Slicking on a quick rub of gel through the front and side of a braid or pony tail is a great way to keep wispy hairs from springing loose

Buns

• I’m not a fan of a bun or any kind of a top knot for that matter while on a run.  I found it often bounces out of place and that running is just too high impact for this hairstyle
• If you love a bun or top knot, use your best hair tie, and double up.  Use one to secure your base ponytail, and then another to secure your bun or top knot

Fringes/Bangs/Short Hair

• I had a fringe a few years ago, and it is not the most compatible workout hairstyle.  But I found on most runs, the wind just pushed it back.
• If you prefer for things to be secure, consider a headband to keep those tendrils at bay.
• Yes you will have to re-wash/style your fringe, but you probably would have to anyway.
• For shorter hair, consider a half pony, or even a double pull through faux braid might be a good option, as each section is tied off, and when you do two, the hair has less distance to travel.

Phew, so that was a lot, and I bet that there are more running hairstyles that you rock, that I have not covered.  I guess the best tip I could give, no matter what hairdo you choose for your workout, is to have a spare elastic or hair tie around your wrist or tucked away in a little pocket for emergencies.

• What is your go to running hairstyle, please share?
• I love Milabu’s hairstyle accounts, and I don’t even have short hair, but her videos are just great.  Do you have any hair style accounts or inspo that you could share with me?
• What is your top running hairdo tip?