By Josue Perez

You workout to look great, so why not look great while working out? These gym dos are easy to manage and look fabulous.

The sleek ponytail is a classic look that’s perfect for the gym and is also easily manageable. To start, I recommend brushing the hair up to the top of the head, positioning how high you’d like your hair to rest while smoothing out any bumps along the way. From there, use an elastic band to keep the ponytail in place. A great tip: One of the biggest mistakes you can make is wrapping the band around too tight. This will cause hair breakage and damage. Instead of the typical elastic band, one of my favorite tool tricks is using a Bunjee Wrap Elastic (these are elastics with two hooks on the ends to hold hair in place). This is such a great styling tool because the two hooks will wrap around your hair giving you the perfect sleek ponytail that won’t move, no matter what exercise you’re doing.

One piece of advice that I find to be the most crucial is to use tools that help protect your hair against damage. If you regularly straighten your hair and need to use a straightener to achieve a sleek, frizz-free ponytail, I recommend using tools that will protect your hair and eliminate the damage from the high heat, such as the Rowenta Straight Express Iron. It is simple and ready to use in seconds, and it emits pure negative ions that form a layer of protection against the heat. It also will straighten your hair in just one pass, eliminating the need to go over hair multiple times and create hair damage. Keeping your hair healthy is key when it comes to creating new hairstyles that will stay in place and look flawless every time.

As far as hair products at the gym, things can get tricky. As you get into motion and begin to sweat, the oils from hair products often drip down onto your face, which can lead to breakouts. So instead of relying on hairspray, gel and the like, I recommend scaling back and opting for the “less is more” approach. One product I do recommend, which is safe to use even when you’re sweating, is a dry shampoo. This miracle worker keeps your hair looking clean. It’s a great product to have once you leave the gym so your hair will look as fresh and clean as it did before your workout. I also recommend using a head band. Not only is it a cute way to spruce up the sleek ponytail, but it keeps any product oils from dripping down onto your face as you exercise.

To keep hair totally out of your face at the gym, the topknot is a great solution. Although the end goal is to have the hair bump-free, I suggest starting the knot by teasing the ends of your hair a bit before tying it up. The slight tease makes the hair a little fluffier; this slight fluff will ultimately allow hair to easily wrap into the knot without falling out. When I style a topknot, I use a foam hair donut; it is the only way to get a perfect topknot. The perfect circle of the donut is the easiest way to get an even knot that stays in place. Hair donuts come in all shades and sizes; match yours perfectly so that it stays hidden! Bobby pins are always a great, quick tool to help pin down the stubborn pieces.

My favorite gym style is the braid. I love this look for the gym because it’s a great way to get a little creative and add some extra flair. The style possibilities are endless, and it is a great way to keep your hair out of the way while working out. To start, pull your hair into a low ponytail, and then tie your hair into a braid. From there, you can either leave the braid down to show it off or tie it up for a more detailed look. However, going beyond just a simple, low-hanging braid is where the creativity comes in. I like to braid the front of the hair, leading it down toward a sleek ponytail for a cute, duel-look hairstyle. Not only is it a great look, but it also ensures that bangs and shorter layers stay tamed while you’re hitting the gym.

In effort to make any style look enhanced and more put together, always remember that less is more when it comes to using products and tools. To make any style look neat and healthy, your best bet is to use tools that protect your hair and contribute to making your hair stronger!

Celebrity hair stylist Josue Perez is responsible for styling celebrities Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Katrina Bowden and Cameron Diaz (to name a few). For more information about Perez, visit josueperezhair.com.