This weeks blog is brought to you from your gym's locker room. I had finished my work out at the gym the other day and escaped into the women's locker room to shower and get ready for my day. I always bring my travel size shampoo, conditioner and body wash with me to avoid the dreadful 3 in 1 shampoo, conditioner and body wash that is provided by the gym. This is something that I have always done. I would NEVER consider using the questionable blue liquid that you pump out of some contraption in the locker room shower on my hair...noone would do this right?! Wrong! I was styling my hair when this women next to me started to complain about the cheap 3 in1 shampoo conditioner and body wash that the gym provides. Yikes! I really tried not to make a face to show how horrified that I was that this woman had actually used the unidentifiable blue liquid. She continued saying how dry her hair felt, how itchy her skin was and how her hair was not syling the way she wanted it to. No kidding! Of course you are a hot mess of itchy skin and dry hair! This is a woman that I have seen at the gym before. However, I have not met her or had any interaction with her until then so she had no idea that I was a hair stylist. She looked to me to offer sympathy for her in which I replied, "You are better off rinsing your hair with water rather than damage it by using the gym's products."
The products offered by many gym's are most likely going to be the cheapest money can find. Therefore, you should steer clear of all of them! A big don't! I have sensitive skin, especially now that the seasons are changing and my skin is getting dryer. The 3 in 1 wash at these gyms are going to be mostly diluted with water and offer no moisture for your hair or skin whatsoever. They can strip your hair of color and moisture. Save yourself from the trouble of fixing the damage to your hair later! You really are better off simply rinsing your hair with water if you have no products of your own.
Now, there are some 3 in 1 products out there that offer better results for your hair if you
must have something that is fast or to use for a post workout rinse. For the men, Paul Mitchell has their men's line Mitch, that offers a 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner called Double Hitter. Crew also offers a 3 in 1 for men. For the ladies, Philosophy has several 3 in 1 options are available in a variety of flavors.
Personally, I am not a fan of 3 in 1 quick solutions for women. Why? They are going to do more damage than good to your hair. I am a firm believer in using a shampoo and conditioner that is going to work for your unique hair type, not a "one size fits all" wash. Make it easy on yourself! Set up a shower bag that you can easily take to the gym with you. Most professional products offer travel sizes or you can purchase smaller bottles at the drugstore to put your shampoo and conditioner in. Remember, shampoo and conditioner can make or break your good hair day!
Photo is from Home Depot.com
