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9 Ways To Get Away With Not Washing Your Hair After The Gym

by Martha Adams

Exercising before you start your day is tough, especially when you have to restyle your hair before that 9 A.M. meeting. Even if you have time to shower, it's hard to squeeze a blowout into the schedule, too. And walking out with wet strands isn't an option in the chilly, wintry temperatures. So what's a girl to do when she wants to go hard in the gym and still have fabulous hair? Just skip your post-gym wash. There are several products that will soak up grease and add a clean scent to strands. And there are styling tricks to refresh your hair in a hurry—no water necessary. Read nine of our time-saving styling tips below.

Related: 4 Gorgeous Hairstyles That Will Take You From Barre To The Bar

Use dry shampoo before your workout.

Dry shampoo has become a superhero for saving dirty strands, but it shouldn't be used on wet hair. It's specifically made for use on dry strands, so spraying it on sweaty hair won't help much. Instead, mist the product throughout your roots before you hit the gym. That way the formula can soak up excess oils and debris while you sweat.

Try it: (L to R) Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo, $22; sephora.com . Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones, $26; sephora.com . Klorane Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk, $20; sephora.com .

Give the wet look a try.

When you don't have time to wash your hair, you can use conditioner to style your strands into a wet look. The trend has been growing, and stars like Kim Kardashian have rocked the hairdo. Kerry Washington 's hairstylist created the wet look for the Critics' Choice Awards by leaving a few drops of conditioner in the actress's strands in order to maintain the damp appearance throughout the day.

Try it: Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask, $6; target.com

Accessorize with pretty headbands.

Another way to leave the gym looking like a star is to invest in pretty headbands and scarfs. A printed sash can dress up a classic topknot and disguise sweaty roots. Follow Issa Rae's lead and choose a colorful print to make a neutral outfit pop. Bonus: Grab a headband that's lined with silk to reduce friction.

Try: Pink Plaid African Print Headband, $10; lozatam.com

Pack your gym bag with your favorite gel.

A bristle brush and edge-control gel are lifesavers after an intense sweat session. They'll help you neatly smooth the strands around your hairline, which can drastically change your look. Celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin keeps holding gels like Gorilla Snot in her hair kit. Yes, it sounds gross, but a small drop will whip your strands into place quickly.

Try it: Moco De Gorila Punk Squizz Hair Gel, $3; target.com . Design Essentials Sleek Edge Control Gel, $8; jcpenney.com . Hicks Edges Pomade, $15; sallybeauty.com .

Dress up a basic ponytail with accessories.

Keep your gym bag loaded with hair accessories like hair pins and elastics. Not only do they keep flyaways in place, they also make for cute accessories. Just wrap multiple hair ties around your ponytail and cluster a group of bobby pins together to recreate Chrissy Teigen 's camera-ready look.

Try it: Conair Styling Essentials Bobby Pins, $10; walmart.com . Scunci No-Damage Hair Ties, $2; walmart.com .

Embrace your texture.

If sweat does a number on your roots, don’t bother putting heat on your hair. The last thing you want to do is damage your waves or curls. Instead, embrace your natural pattern with the help of styling products. We like Eco Styler Moroccan Argan Oil for coily textures and Oribe's Texturing Spray for wavy and fine hair types.

Try it: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, $44; birchbox.com . Eco Styler Moroccan Argan Oil Styling Gel, $6; sallybeauty.com .

Create a head full of waves while you workout.

Before your gym class begins, braid your hair into two plaits. Fully mist each section with a wave spray. Once the workout is over and your hair has dried, undo the braids. You'll be left with a head full of loose waves that won't require any heat.

Try it: Ouai Wave Spray, $26; theouai.com

Never underestimate the power of a hair pin.

If your hair is too short to toss into a ponytail, that's OK. A squad of hair pins will disguise sweaty strands. Add a deep side part like Kristen Stewart . Then, tuck and secure strands, and you're good to go.

Try it: Goody 100-Count Hair Pins In Brown, $2; bedbathandbeyond.com

Wear a sweatband.

A sweatband is more than just a cool accessory to go with your new sports bra . It can absorb droplets along your hairline while you workout, and it will help keep hair out of your face. If you have naturally coily hair, it will also keep your roots stretched, which will minimize shrinkage.

Try it: Nike Pro Swish 2.0, $15; nike.com

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