Super Cute Gym Hair Dos

Check out my friend Alicia’s hair (above). This is how she showed up to a casual morning yoga session… looking like a friggin’ hair model! And the more I look around yoga and spin class, the more I’m noticing there’s a lot of hair chicness going on. More and more gals are going makeup free to workout, but primping their hair into cute dos that go way beyond the prosaic pony. Time to step up my hair game! So I want to Courtney Gnas for hair help. Not only is she a certified Pilates instructor who can teach it all (Reformer, barrel, tower, chair and mat), she’s a hair stylist who’s been doing it all for the past 9 years (color, cuts, updos… you name it!). “I’ve always had curly unmanageable hair growing up,” says Courtney. “If I had a bad hair day I usually felt horrible, so I learned quickly how to manage and style my own hair as well as find colors and cuts that complimented or expressed how I was feeling at the time.” Courtney loves doing extensions, Brazilian blowouts and total transformations because she loves the way it makes a girl feel. “I love to see results and the joy that it brings people, whether they’re in my chair or in my class – I love to make people feel good.”  Here, Courtney tells us all how to elevate our gym hair to über chic status…

A cute side braid is quick and easy. Start by twisting your hair in the back by rolling it upwards and to the side, placing a few bobby pins in along the way to secure a twist. Then once you reach the side, begin braiding your hair. Finish with a clear rubber band. From sweaty to stylish: After your workout, pull out a few pieces in the front and then twist a wire bow around the rubber band. I get mine from Free People.

Pig tail braids are also very easy. Part your hair down the back and braid each side, secure with rubber band. From sweaty to stylish: After your workout, throw on a cute hat, or pull a few pieces down around your face.

For a topknot, tip your head upside down, gather all your hair to the top, wrap the rubber band around once, not pulling all of the hair through, and wrap again. You should have a large loop of hair at the top. Pull on the loop so it tightens the rubber band and then loosen some of the hair in front. For extra long hair you can tuck the ends under or wrap them around your loop and secure with bobby pins. From sweaty to stylish: I always throw on a cute headband or you can French braid the bottom of your hair as your head is tilted down before securing topknot with rubber band.

Add a few twists or braids to your pony. Start by parting your hair to the side; pull your hair back into a pony, removing about an inch of hair in the front for 1-3 braids. Twist or braid that piece back towards your ear, then fasten with a bobby pin (tuck the bobby pin under your hair so it’s not visible). From sweaty to stylish: After a hard sweaty workout, you could always braid your pony and wrap it into a bun (loosen the top for some lift at the crown and secure with pins).

For more info on Courtney…
Courtney reforms bodies at Reformed Pilates in Arcadia (one of my fave places to sweat) and does hair at Beauty Guru Ceiba salon