Celebrity stylist Sarah Potempa says one of the easiest ways to go from gym to work/brunch without shampooing is to braid your hair, then twist it into a low bun. When you're done with your workout, simply unpin the bun, hit it with your hairdryer to dry up any sweat, then add a touch of dry shampoo (Potempa recommends Aussie Total Miracle 7in1 Dry Shampoo, $4.99) around the roots. You're left with a long, refreshed braid.
"A slick topknot will make even your worst hair days look clean and neat," says Farel. Comb your hair and brush it into a smooth, tight ponytail at the crown of your head. Twist the ponytail, coil it around itself and pin it in place with bobby pins. No one will ever know you just came from the gym.
Try a sleek braid on wet hair, says Farel. Because your hair is damp, it allows you to get the look tighter and sleeker. To get this look, apply a sculpting gel to your hands and run it through your hair. Brush your hair back into a tight ponytail and secure with an elastic. Then, take a one-inch section of hair from your ponytail and wrap it around the elastic to cover it, and use a bobby pin to hold it in place. Braid the remainder of your hair and tie it off with a clear hair tie.
Credit: Julien Farel Group
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Top It Off
Potempa's biggest piece of advice is to think ahead, and plan how you'll wear your hair to the gym based on how you want it to look after. So, if you're going for this topknot, be sure to wear your hair in a sleek, tight high ponytail to the gym. That way, you're already halfway prepped.
Jim Markham, ColorProof Evolved Color Care Founder and CEO, adds that if you do wear a ponytail to the gym, opt for ribbon-style hair ties made in soft, stretchy material -- these won't pull or create creases in your hair. We're fans of Twistband, $10.50 for five.
Farel also says this hairstyle is perfect for just-washed hair. This look works best on long hair. Use a gel to create a sleek ponytail at the top of your head and tie it off with an elastic. Section off your ponytail into several pieces. Coil one section, wrap it around the base of your ponytail and pin it in place. Repeat with the other sections to create this modern take on the topknot.
