Sweatbands/headbands are the best solutions for managing your hair while working out, period. Everyone with hair more than one-two inches long knows this. If they don't, they're more than likely having a torrid experience sweating under a variety of hats trying out different methods, only to fail every time and spend half of the workout with your sweat-drenched hair in your eyes and face. It is irritating; it is unsanitary and entirely unnecessary.
However, sweatbands' primary use is to manage perspiration and sweating, as the name implies, and this is again where there is no better option. Some of you may be thinking about the golden age of disco and the '80s when headbands were also up top in fashion. Well, when working out, one might value functionality more than looks, but let's look at some different examples where headbands are the best choice by far.
How Distractions are Ruining Your Workout
Someone who comes to the gym to socialize and spends most of their time talking and walking won't be particularly interested in workout gear. A clean pair of shoes and shorts is all that is needed. But, for people who leave their blood and sweat in there, excess distractions are costly.
"If the bar ain't bending, you're just pretending."
Okay, this doesn't just go for the weightlifters. In fact, the majority of people with sweatbands in the gym are likely women. But, getting workout headbands for women or men is not about hair, but about sweat and hygiene primarily.
If you do a proper workout, you will have sweat running down your face, getting into your eyes, mouth, even ears. Sweaty earphone syndrome is a common occurrence. People usually try to work this out with a towel, but it is just so much work, and after a few wipes, you don't know which side is used and which is clean. Plus, you put it down often, so it is not recommended for the face, obviously.
Wiping Sweat With Your Hands?
Even worse, you wipe your face with your hands or wrists. This buys you a few more swipes, but if you are working out as you should, this won't cover 15% of the workout, especially if you're in the midst of an intense cardio session on the treadmill. At the times of a pandemic, it is even worse if you touch your face with your hands that have just touched bars and weights. It's important to practice good hygiene, even when we come out of the other side of the current global situation. At the very least, it shows courtesy towards the other gym-goers.
How to Create Distraction-Free Workouts
You need a high-quality sweatband with great absorption qualities that will last for the duration of the whole training session. This allows you to just forget about the sweat, the hair, and all that other stuff and just focus on your workout, allowing you to take your exercise and fitness to new levels.
Headphones are the usual go-to for creating a distraction-free atmosphere during workouts, but as said, people often have more pressing matters than canceling noise. Headbands for women will often do several things at the same time, including all things mentioned above.
Women's headbands serve to prevent sweat from dripping down, getting into the eyes, ears, mouth, and even nose. Also, they prevent hair from flapping around (depending on the exercise) and sticking to a sweaty face. Even if tied into a tail, lengthy hair will stick to the back of the neck, which can be very irritating, especially during a yoga session.
Also, workout headbands for women keep hygiene at acceptable levels, even during cardio. And just for an added bonus, they look great too!
Tips to Maintain Focus and Avoid Distraction at the Gym
Headphones are a must if we're talking about crowded, popular places. If there are 5, 10, or more people working out at the same time in an average-sized gym, chances are a couple of them will be talking. It is a normal human thing, socializing. However, they may touch on a subject of interest to you, and even if you don't want to join, you'll probably get distracted.
In addition to sound disturbances, sweat dripping down the face is the second most common cause of distraction, and this is precisely why there is so much emphasis on sweatbands. So, here are some tips are drawn from decades of experience within the gym by various generations and both genres:
- Wireless headphones (now that the technology has caught up, no more cable to get caught up into)
- The device that is playing your music should be hands-free.
- Your gym gear must have a convenient spot for placing your music device (if it can drop out, best don't use it)
- Bring one or even two headbands, i.e., sweatbands, for both the head and the wrists. But, if you don't want to turn it into TV aerobics from the '80s, just the head is fine.
- Utilizing both head and wrist sweatbands can eliminate the need for a towel, which is an additional distraction (constantly looking for a place to put it down)
- If you only have a towel, it will get used up quickly, and then you will just end up smearing sweat around yourself, which will subconsciously make you want to end the training prematurely (you will start cutting reps, looking for shortcuts, etc.)
What are Distraction-Free Sweatbands?
Sweatbands are mainly used on the forehead, but as mentioned, having them on the wrists can change the workout game entirely. Their primary use is perspiration absorption, but they can also keep your hair in check and are fashionable apparel for athletics.
Polyester, terry cloth, and even nylon are the most commonly used materials in the making process, although there are other variations like bamboo. What matters is that a good quality sweatband should be anti-bacterial, highly absorbant, hypoallergenic (bamboo takes the #1 place here), and they are also thermo-regulating, which means they cool you off slightly, but noticeably.
Other materials include spandex, which is fast-drying and breathable, but less fashionable perhaps. However, with prolonged workout regimes, spandex might be the best option. Velvet is also used; although it is costly, velvet sweatbands might be the most comfortable to wear, according to customer reviews on the web.
Velvet is important if you don't like having a vice-like grip on your forehead or if you get headaches from pressure, but really all materials are made with comfort in mind nowadays. Workout headbands for women are naturally made with greater emphasis on comfort and style, although they do not fall back on utility, which makes them great for all types of workouts.
