Page 124 - Muscle & Fitness (February 2020)

SUDSING UP

YOUR SCALP

IS WASHING YOUR HAIR after
every workout a necessity or
more based on personal prefer-

ence? “It’s not necessary to
shampoo it every single time, but
if you find you are drenched in
sweat, like after a cardio work-
out, then it might make you feel
cleaner,” explains George Papani-
kolas, an L.A.-based celebrity
hairdresser and master hair
stylist for Matrix. In fact, washing
your hair too frequently could
have some negative effects. “It’s
not that it’s necessarily bad, but
washing every day strips the hair
of its natural oils, which could
actually dry out your scalp and
cause it to produce more oil,
making your hair greasier much
quicker,” Papanikolas explains.
“If you find your hair is really
greasy, it may seem counterintui-
tive to not wash it every day, but
it allows your scalp to have more YOUR POST-WORKOUT
of a balance.” FRESHEN-UP ROUTINE

TO SHOWER OR NOT to shower, when you can to reduce the risk
that is the question. “The longer of spreading infection.
sweat, oils, and stuff stay on your “Think of it like riding the
skin, the more chance you’ll have subway or public transporta-
of getting fungal infections, tion—we don’t always sweat, but
rashes, and acne, so it’s best if you’re touching the poles and
to shower right away after a handrails, you want to wash
workout,” explains Amanda your hands because so many
Doyle, M.D., a dermatologist at people come into contact with
New York’s Russak Dermatology. the same space,” she says.
If you’re not doing a heavy No matter when you choose to
workout, and there isn’t much shower, be sure to get out of your
perspiration or sweat, you can wet, sweat-drenched clothing
delay the shower and use an right away. “You can develop
antibacterial cleansing wipe in rashes or acne from pores getting

the interim. clogged if you stay in your damp
Just be sure you test the wipe gym clothes,” Heslin says. Jock
first on a small section of your itch, which is a fungus on the
body to check whether it’s skin in the groin area, is another S H U T T E R S T O C K
compatible with your skin, possible result if you stay in
suggests Doyle, and still shower those nasty workout shorts.

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