How Does Sweat Affect Your Hair? (Especially This Time of Year)

How Does Sweat Affect Your Hair? (Especially This Time of Year)

Sweating is something that almost all of us do, whether we like it or not (when people can’t, it’s called anhidrosis). Sweating’s purpose, contrary to popular belief, is not to remove toxins from your system (your liver and kidneys do that); instead, sweating is designed to regulate your body’s temperature.

Because monsoon is the time of year when we sweat the most, it would be a good idea to look into how sweat can affect our scalp and hair. Because, believe it or not, there are a number of them. So, How Does Sweat Affect Your Hair? (Especially This Time of Year).

Sweat Can Cause Hair Dryness

Sweat contains a lot of sodium, which is why it tastes like salt water. Saltwater is terrible for your hair and scalp because it zaps all of the natural moisture from both. When your hair is dehydrated, it becomes dry and brittle, which can lead to split ends and breakage and a dry and itchy scalp. Neither of these is desirable. 

Sweat can clog the hair follicles.

You’ve probably never considered the connection between sweat and hair loss. But the reality is that when sebum and sweat combine, they can produce a substance that clogs your hair follicles. And, yes, if you’re not careful, this can lead to hair loss over time. That’s insane. Use a thermal heat cap before washing your hair to help open follicles. Hair Love India has good options.  

Sweating Can Cause Scalp Inflammation

Lactic acid is a substance found in sweat. This type of acid can irritate your scalp if you sweat excessively. Then, scratching your scalp for relief can aggravate the itching, resulting in scalp damage from dirty fingernails and the formation of lesions on your scalp.

Sweating Can Cause Hair Color Changes

So, here’s a surprise. Did you know that sweat can cause hair color to fade? Yep. As with salt water, allowing sweat to remain in your hair for an extended period can strip the dye from your hair, resulting in the need for more frequent coloring touch-ups (which could also lead to more hair damage).

Sweat can cause strands to weaken over time.

Remember what I said earlier about lactic acid? Another thing it tends to do is bind to the keratin in your hair. This will not only dry out your hair (as previously stated), but it will also weaken the bonds of your hair. And eventually, this can lead to hair loss (wow!).

Sweat protection for your hair

So, now that you’re aware of how sweat can wreak complete and total havoc on your hair, what can you do to prevent this from happening — especially during a season when sweating is practically unavoidable?

1. After working out, rinse your hair

Rinsing your hair with fresh water is an excellent way to remove “saltwater.” So, after working out or spending a lot of time in the sun, give your hair a good rinse with cool water (you don’t want to use hot water because it dehydrates hair as well). This shouldn’t be an issue if you’re wearing a wash ‘n go because the water will hydrate your natural curls. Switch to microfibre towels instead of ordinary towels for your hair. Buy microfiber towels online at Hair Love India.

2. Scrub your scalp

Exfoliating your scalp is always your best bet for preventing sweat (and product buildup) from clogging your pores. It will not only keep work from irritating your scalp, but it will also soothe it.

3. Apply a leave-in conditioner

Whether you’re in between washes or want to add moisture to your hair after working out but don’t want to drench it in water, a leave-in conditioner is a good compromise. If it’s water-based, it can hydrate your hair without adding excessive product buildup. It will also make lactic acid damage to your hair strands more difficult.