Walking, weights and warm ups A guide to working out with your wig on! Does the idea of braving the gym or a jog in the park terrify you? Repetitive thoughts of possible embarrassment from losing your wig mid run? Are you tired of feeling distracted, and not getting the best out of your work out? Well never fear, we are here to help. Hair loss should not deter you from keeping up with an active lifestyle. In fact, it is a great way to regain control of your body and mind, regardless of the stresses you are dealing with from alopecia. Below are six great tips on how to make your wig work with your exercise regime. SECURITY IS KEY We all know that movement comes part and parcel with all types of physical activity, especially when getting your heart rate up. Unfortunately, that means your wig will be at risk of moving around on your head, so be sure to take a few stabilising measures such as a wig grip, wearing a secure wig cap and even using hair pins to secure it into place. Specialised silicone bands are designed to create enough friction to stop any unwanted shifting whilst you are bopping about, and make sure that nothing moves that shouldn’t. HALVE YOUR HAIR If the sun is out, you may feel like wearing a cap. However, a double layer on your head sounds super warm and sweaty, not to mention bulky. Why not try a hybrid style “wig hat”? With several colours and lengths to choose from, this design only has hair around the trim of the hat, meaning your head has room to breathe, without revealing any sort of natural hair loss. Similarly, wig hats are perfect for a quick trip to the shops or to pop the bins out. DEDICATE A DO Do you buy clothes specifically for the gym, then why not do the same for your wig? If you’re looking to replace one of your older styles, don’t get rid of it, use it as your “exercise wig”. If you don’t want to do that, have a look at purchasing a similar style from a more affordable range. This way you can also tie it up in a low ponytail or plait your cheaper style without the risk of damaging your “Sunday best”. KEEP IT COOL So, you’ve worked out how to keep your wig secure whilst you’re working up a sweat. However, it’s still so warm. Did you know that fully wefted, or “capless/ open – cap” wigs are designed with breathability in mind. More airflow means more comfort, which then leads to more working out! What’s not to love. KEEP IT CLEAN This may seem like a no brainer, but wigs get dirty too. Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing they are gradually absorbing dust, dirt and sweat from your active adventures. That means you’re going to need to freshen it up occasionally. We recommend washing your wig every 12-15 wears or failing that – do a sniff test. If it smells like it needs a wash, it probably does. On the contrary, don’t wash your wig too often, or unnecessarily which could end up wearing out your wig a little sooner than you’d imagined. TAKE IT SLOW There’s no reason to rush into exercising with a wig on, it’s going to take some getting used to. Before you plan a long climb up Pen-y-fan (highest peak in South Wales!), why not try a walk/ jog round your neighbourhood and get a feel for wearing it during exercise. You might end up learning a lot and opting for a different approach or making some adjustments. The main thing is that you are interested in an active lifestyle, which is great, and what better way to get into it than with peace of mind that you’re going to feel and LOOK great. For more information please visit: www.hairware.com Links to products: Keeping Active | HairwareOr contact us onTelephone: 01793 831363Email: [email protected] To find businesses who supply products and services for those with alopecia please visit the Service Directory here. This is a paid advertisement. This payment covers the costs of maintaining the Alopecia UK website (including our Service Directory) and supports the further work of the charity. Whilst Alopecia UK takes care to ensure the accuracy of the information we can not accept liability for any inaccuracies. Further, Alopecia UK provides this information as a resource only and does not in any way endorse the products or services being offered.