April 17, 2017
Photos courtesy/Christie Mandia
The author enlisted one of Philadelphia's top hairstylists for help in going from the gym to the office or an event in 10 minutes or less.
Have you ever skipped a workout because you didn’t have enough time to get yourself presentable for work or an event after your sweat session? If you are anything like me, you run into these scheduling issues all the time. But that doesn’t have to be the case anymore.
I enlisted one of Philadelphia’s top stylists, Jennifer Bisicchia, to help me find a few hairstyles that would take me from the gym to the office or an event in 10 minutes or less.
Jen shared her secrets with me and I wanted to share them with you in the spirit of self-care and my belief that looking good leads to feeling good. With her tips, I will never skip another workout because I don’t have time to get ready after and neither should you!
(P.S.: you can find Jen at Jason Matthew Salon in Philadelphia.)
The High Pony
The high pony is my go-to workout style because it keeps my hair completely off my face and stays in place for the entire workout. If you are comfortable with it, you could even take a little hair from the underside of the ponytail, wrap it around the rubber band and pin it for a more polished look. Or you could start with this high pony as your base and turn it into the look below, as Jen did on me.
High Pony Into Braided Bun
Turn your high pony into this chic style by braiding the actual ponytail, wrapping the entire thing around the rubber band and pinning it on all sides. It is really that easy! Control flyaway hair around the face with a light to medium hold hair spray for a sleeker look.
Kim K Braids, left, and Braids Pinned Up
These double braids have come back into fashion in the past few months and they are a very practical way to keep hair off your face during a workout. To learn how to do it yourself, watch this.
Once you have the double French braids down, you can either rock them as your post-workout ‘do or you can simply pin them up for a more sophisticated look. Secure the ends of the braids up along the inside of the main braids, and continue to tuck and pin loose ends until you feel comfortable. You can set the look with hairspray and go on your way!
The Sue Ellen, left, and with ribbon or metal to conceal the rubber bands
We are calling this “The Sue Ellen” look because it is reminiscent of one of Christina Applegate’s hairstyle in, Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter Is Dead. It is the perfect alternative to the regular gym ponytail or bun because it is comfortable and secure yet still stylish. To achieve the look, simply start by dividing the hair into 3 sections. Secure the top section and continue to move your way down, placing rubber bands every 2-3 inches until all of your hair is off your neck.
To take this look to the next level, conceal the rubber bands with a ribbon or metal that coordinates with your outfit. Jen suggests that metallics are in this season, so try wrapping a metallic ribbon around each section like we did here.
The Wednesday, left, and transformed into beach braids
We are calling this look "the Wednesday" after Wednesday Addams, the character in the 1960s sitcom, The Addams Family. It is so simple to do, even if you wash and braid it the night before, this technique will still work. Simply separate hair into two sections and braid. Go about your workout and when complete, move on to Part Two.
Post-workout, you can take your girly pigtails and transform them. Heat up your flatiron and with the braids still in tact, move it along the length of the braid. Don’t be afraid to squeeze and pause as you go to ensure that the hair is heating through. Repeat 3-5 times on each side and then let cool before removing. Once the braids are cooled, take them out and gently shake the hair. Use dry shampoo or hair spray for added texture and you will have relaxed beach waves within minutes of completing your workout!
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I hope you find these tips as helpful as I have. I would love to hear about your experiences and any tips you may have. Please feel free to share your story here. I'll continue to keep you posted on my health journey. Follow me for updates @christiemandia.
