Hair and make-up tips for runners

Since I started running in 1999 I’ve been fortunate enough not to have my hair come undone during a race, except one time. It was in an 8km road race and I had my hair tied up in a ponytail. It was close to the finish line when my elastic band had decided to escape. Off it flew into the wind and I felt my long, blond mane flying in my face. It looked like I was doing a photo shoot, racing down the runway instead of actually being in a race. I definitely had the wild look which wasn’t what I had planned. Ever since that day, I always make sure my hair is tied back and if I decide to wear it down I wear a hat or a headband to keep it in place.

When it comes to make-up, I don’t wear much of it. I like to wear the bare minimum but I do like to wear mascara. This brings me to another time I was running. I was on a training run and wasn’t wearing water-proof or sweat-proof mascara. Little did I know I had it running down my face. It didn’t look pretty. I looked like a raccoon. I also had a hard time rubbing it off my face, and my white towel ended up with some black smudges on it.

After experiencing a bad hair day and a make-up mishap I learned to not do it again.

Here are my basic hair and make-up tips I use when I go for my workout:

On my runs, I wear slide-proof elastic bands. It keeps my hair in place, whether I am running fast or long.

I sometimes wear the non-slip headband and it is great to wear on a hot day. The band also serves to prevent sweat from running down my face and into my eyes. In the winter, it helps keep my ears warm too.

Bobby pins are great to hold your hair in place. On some days, I like to wear my hair down, but tend to wear a cap. Either way, I wear some kind of accessory to keep my hair from my face.

When it comes to my face I wear SPF 45 UVA/UVB protection almost all year around. After my run, I use a moisturizer to keep my skin hydrated.
If I am going to wear mascara, it will be to go from my run to a coffee meeting. I certainly wear the water-proof, sweat proof kind you can find at most stores.

Make-up products and hair accessories keeps improving. There are so many hair accessories to choose from for whatever workout routine you choose to do. If you like to wear make-up there is no shortage either.

Christine Blanchette is an avid competitive runner. When she isn’t writing, she is hitting the trails. Check out her health and running website at: www.runwithit.ca. Photo by Juan Eduardo De Cristófaro via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)