Training, sweating, putting your hair up, going for a run... and managing to keep your curls voluminous and defined days later can seem complicated.
That is why, for this story, we wanted to get away from theory and talk to someone who lives this situation practically every week.
She is @warisfitness, a content creator focused on training and healthy habits, and also a curly girl who has been using the products and techniques Rocío has been recommending to her for months.
We asked her what she really does to balance the gym, running, and curls without having to start her routine from scratch after every workout.
And her answer reflects much of the philosophy we advocate at Productos Curly: observe your hair, simplify, and adapt your routine to your real life.
The routine that is helping Waris maintain her curls
Waris typically washes her hair about twice a week. Her routine includes cleansing, conditioning, leave-in, and then styling with mousse and a small amount of gel.
Every fortnight, she introduces a hair mask instead of the conditioner, and about once a month, she performs a deeper cleanse with her Final Wash.
“I use the shampoo, conditioner, the mask every 15 days, leave-in, mousse, and a little bit of gel afterward.”
Among the products currently part of her routine are the Kia Ora Tundra Shampoo, the Maternatura Orange Blossom Leave-in for Curls and Waves, the Carmen Cosméticos Strong Mousse for Curls, and the Luc Color Extra Strong Fixing Gel.
After applying the products, she brushes and works her hair using the scrunching method, following Rocío's advice. During these last few months, she has also been letting her curls air dry.
But there is one detail that has made an even bigger difference for her than the definition itself.
Her big discovery: the pineapple and the satin bonnet
“What I see gives me a lot of volume, which is what I like, and keeps the definition is the pineapple [updo] and the satin bonnet for sleeping. Since I've been doing that every night, my curls can easily last up to four days.”
And it makes sense that she notices such a difference.
During the night, hair is in contact with the pillow for several hours. If we reduce that friction and avoid constantly crushing the curl pattern, it becomes much easier to maintain definition and volume the next day.
That is why protecting the curl while we sleep is not a minor detail: it can determine how long a good definition actually lasts.
Hair down or up for training?
Here, Waris does not follow a fixed rule. She decides based on the workout, the temperature, and how much she thinks she is going to sweat. “If it's not too hot and I don't sweat too much, I try to wear it down.”
When she needs to put it up, she avoids a tight ponytail. “If I have to put it up, I only use a single claw clip and make a kind of ponytail with the clip.”
It is a simple gesture, but it can make quite a difference. The more we stretch and compress the curl for an hour or two, the harder it will be to regain its shape afterward.
Whenever the type of training allows it, a gentle hold can help us better maintain the pattern.
Running and curls: there are days when it's not worth fighting the sweat
When we talk about running, the situation changes.
Waris sweats quite a bit more and admits that it is harder for her to keep the curl as it was. Her solution?
“I try to align the days I go running with the days I have to wash my hair.”
We think this is one of the best tips of her entire routine precisely because it is extremely realistic.
We don't need to ensure curls remain intact after every workout. Sometimes it is much simpler to organize certain workouts around wash days.
The curly routine should fit your life, not force you to organize your life around your hair.
After training: the less you touch the curl, the better
This is probably the piece of advice Waris struggles with the most. “I try not to touch my hair much, although I find that a bit hard.”
When she wants to regain some volume, she doesn't redefine all her hair.
She gently inserts her fingers to the roots and shakes them to lift the hair without breaking up the curl clumps too much.
It is a simple gesture that can bring hair back to life after training without adding water or more product.
Her refresh depends on how her hair looks when she wakes up
Another detail we like about her routine is that Waris does not automatically refresh every day.
She first looks at how the curl is. “If I see that my curl is more or less fine, all I do is scrunch with wet hands.”
In other words: if the hair is fine, she doesn't add product just because.
However, when a couple of days have passed and she needs to regain a bit more definition, she changes the technique slightly. “If it's been a couple of days since the definition, I spray with water and add a little bit of leave-in and gel to the water.”
This way, she manages to restore some conditioning and hold without repeating the entire wash.
And there is an important idea here: refreshing does not mean starting all over again.
The three products that have the most prominence in her definition
Within her entire routine, there are three products that are especially important for understanding how she manages to maintain definition and volume:
Leave-in
Waris uses Maternatura Orange Blossom Leave-in for Curls and Waves before styling. It helps her prepare and condition the hair before working on the pattern.
Mousse
The Carmen Cosméticos Strong Mousse for Curls provides definition and volume, something especially important for her because she looks for a result with movement and lively roots.
Gel
Afterward, she uses a small amount of Luc Color Extra Strong Fixing Gel to reinforce the hold and ensure that the definition lasts better for the following days.
Notice something important: Waris talks about “a little bit of gel”.
More product does not necessarily mean longer-lasting results. The quantity, the distribution, and the technique matter just as much as the styling product itself.
The complete routine also includes moments for repair and deep cleaning
In addition to the styling products, Waris incorporates other treatments from time to time.
Every fortnight, she uses the Alma Secret Curly Superglow Mask with proteins instead of the conditioner, and about once a month, she introduces the K89 Final Wash Reset Curly Hair Shampoo to perform a deeper cleanse.
These are not products she uses with every wash, and that is precisely the key: every product has its moment and its function.
Rocío's tip: adapt the training to the hair you have that day
There is something especially interesting in the way Waris manages her curls: she doesn't do exactly the same thing every day.
If she can wear it down, she wears it down. If she needs to put it up, she uses a claw clip. If she knows she is going to run and sweat quite a bit, she tries to do it close to her wash day. If the curl looks good the next morning, she simply dampens her hands and scrunches.
Observe first, then decide.
That small change in mentality can make a routine much easier to maintain.
Do you have to wash your hair after every workout?
Not necessarily.
It will depend on how much you have sweated, the state of your scalp, the type of workout, and how your hair looks afterward.
Waris, for example, usually washes her hair twice a week and adjusts certain workouts around those washes.
If your scalp feels comfortable after working out and the definition is still good, it won't always be necessary to start over.
If there is a lot of buildup, discomfort, or the scalp needs cleaning, then it will be time to wash.
What we can learn from Waris's routine
After talking with her, we are left with something much more interesting than a list of products.
Her routine works because it fits her lifestyle.
She trains, runs, moves, sweats, and yet she has managed to find small strategies that allow her curls to last for several days.
The pineapple and satin at night. A claw clip when she needs to put it up. Damp hands when a minimal refresh is enough. A bit of leave-in and gel when she needs a little more. And running days close to wash day.
There are no miracle tricks.
There is consistency, technique, and knowledge of your own hair.
And if you want to follow Waris and also see her content on training and healthy habits, you can find her on Instagram as @warisfitness.
