Classic Hairstyles You Can Sweat Your Ass Off In
I’m finally beginning to get a hang of morning workouts. I make it to the gym pretty close to my intended time, I fit in cardio and strength training before class, and sometimes I pick up a smoothie from the Rec Center for a filling snack. The one aspect I am not doing well with is my appearance after the gym. The yoga pants and sweats don’t always feel as flattering as I would hope, but it doesn’t make sense to change into jeans sweaty after a workout. What girls can do to make transitioning back into their class schedule easier is add a little more style to their do.
Ponytail– This is a popular updo at the gym for obvious reasons. It gets the hair off your neck and out of your face. But having your hair in a ponytail just about every day for courses is a bit boring. Try switching your plain black headband you wear to help keep fly-away hair in place to a cute beaded band. With Spring around the corner, why not try some funky tribal bands you can find at Etsy.com.
If the band is a little too flashy for your taste (sometimes, I’s prefer the fake diamond on a ring rather than my head), you can always add in simple braids and twists. It spices up a classic and makes you feel a little more productive with your hair in the morning, even if the twist just takes an additional ten seconds to complete.
Bun– Honestly, when I’m at the gym, sometimes the only bun I imagine is one with cinnamon on it. However, that’s the issue that led me to the Rec Center in the first place. Instead, I imagine different buns I can match with my sweats and tee outfit.
A famous campus hairdo is the messy bun. If you can perfect the bun like this, then you’ll be able to pull this off with any outfit you were out of the house, maybe even your birthday suit (after all, that’s the reason we’re working out, right?). The trick with any bun is to keep it looking low maintenance without placing it on the center of your head, sticking up like a light bulb in a lamp.
A side bun can also be a cute way to add a polished look to your stretched out, vintage Rolling Stones tank top. It can be as messy as the example above or pulled together by twisting your hair round and round the band. If there are issues getting strands to the right places, remember to break out the bobby pins instead of starting over five times (they were invented for a reason).
Braid– My last minute hairstyle has always been braids. However, since I still look like I’m sixteen waiting to go to the big homecoming dance with my lab partner from biology, my braids usually result in pigtails that cement my youthful appearance. After some extensive researching online (more like procrastination on my homework), I stumbled upon a couple YouTube users that upload instructional videos on loads of hairstyles, but this one in particular focuses on grownup braids.
Having issues with your braiding? Here’s a braiding tutorial that can help in advanceing your skills. Just remember, practice makes perfect. If you forgot to bring your American Girl doll with you to campus (unfortunate for you), practice on a few friends and make a night in out of it. Rent some movies, grab some low-fat snacks (popcorn and licorice=yum) and practice the French and Fishtail braids until you can do it in your sleep.
So grab a few tools and get to practice on some fun, different hairstyles that can last throughout the day. Every wonder why those tiny girls that show up to class everyday in yoga pants still look adorable? It’s because the aspects that are easier to control such as hair and natural makeup have been practiced countless times on those nights they don’t have a new date (it is possible that there are days out of the week these girls don’t have guys taking them out—even if it’s just on Tuesdays because “Glee” is on TV).