Exercise and misconceptions about hair health
The misconception that exercise is bad for your hair is completely unfounded. Exercise not only improves your overall health, but it is also an important factor in maintaining healthy hair.
The Paris Olympics may have just ended a month ago, but the amazing moments of diving, fencing, synchronized swimming and athletics are still fresh in our minds. Those skillful movements inspire us to exercise, urging us to seek out sports activities to improve our health and feel positive changes in our bodies. However, many people are hindered by seemingly small reasons: procrastination, busyness, fear of returning to the gym after a long hiatus, or sometimes quite funny reasons like... just washing their hair. It may sound strange, but many people are really worried about the effects of sports on their hair.
Today, join L'OFFICIEL to explore common misconceptions about sports and hair and find out the truth from the experts' perspective.
Sweat makes hair dry and brittle
One of the most common concerns is that sweat, a result of exercise, can damage hair. In fact, sweat contains salt and other minerals that can dry out hair if not properly cared for. However, experts say that sweating is actually a good sign of overall health. When the body is active, blood flow to the scalp increases, providing hair follicles with more oxygen and nutrients, thereby promoting healthy hair growth.
To avoid dry and weak hair due to sweat, you should wash your hair after exercise and use moisturizing products to balance the moisture in your hair.
Swimming weakens hair
Swimming is often hailed as a great sport, with countless benefits that help tone and exercise almost every muscle in the body. However, salt water and chlorine can be the "worst enemy" of hair, weakening keratin fibers, causing dehydration and losing beautiful shine, especially with highlighted or colored hair.
How to keep your hair healthy and beautiful even when swimming regularly? Simply, shower with fresh water before entering the pool so that the hair strands are soaked with clean water, thereby minimizing chlorine absorption. After swimming in the ocean, remember to rinse your hair with fresh water to remove excess sea salt. In addition, you should use hair treatments containing amino acids to protect your hair from the harmful effects of sea water and pool water.
Too much exercise causes hair loss
Many people believe that excessive exercise can lead to hair loss, but in reality, there is no scientific evidence to support this. Hair loss is often related to a variety of factors such as stress, genetics, or poor nutrition, rather than physical activity.
On the contrary, when you exercise, blood flow increases, and as a result, the oxidation of hair follicles is also significantly improved . Regular exercise not only helps increase sweating, eliminating toxins through the skin, but also stimulates the secretion of natural oils, providing nutrients to the hair roots, creating conditions for healthy hair growth.
Sunlight only harms the skin, not the hair
UV rays from the sun not only damage your skin, but also seriously affect your hair. Too much exposure to the sun can make your hair dry, dull, and brittle.
Don't just worry about your skin - your hair needs protection from the sun too. Apply a product or sunscreen specifically designed for your scalp and hair, and you'll be safe from the sun's harmful effects.
Nutrition is not related to hair
As you know, Olympic athletes always follow a balanced diet, and we should learn from them. Do not hesitate to consult a nutritionist to build a suitable diet, because nutrition plays an important role in maintaining overall health, including hair. Experts recommend that we focus on eating healthy instead of abusing sports supplements, as they can be counterproductive, especially for hair health.
Photo: izabelgoulart, Splash News
