A gym hairstyle needs to deliver on all fronts. Not only do you want it to look good (a workout class may not be a fashion show, but it’s always nice to feel your best), but you need it to keep your hair out of your face so you can focus on the hard work at hand. After all, the last thing you want when you’re in the middle of an intense workout is your hair flying around and sticking to your face.

But if you’ve got a bob, getting your hair workout-ready can be a little trickier. If you’re the proud owner of a feathered, razor-cut or bubble bob, you might have just about enough hair to fly around as you move but not enough length to scrape it all back. And even if you can just about get it in a ponytail, the shorter pieces around your face will probably end up coming loose as you move. Not ideal.

There are ways to style a bob that’ll keep it secure throughout your workouts, though. You might just need to spend a little bit more time before your session getting everything in place. Or reach for a handy accessory. To find out more, we asked Michael Kent, manager of Blue Tit Brixton, for his top styling tips. Here’s what he had to say.  

1. Use a headband to pull the hair out of your face 

“Headbands are the easiest way to style and accessorise your hair at the gym with a bob because it keeps it out of your face,” Kent explains. “They come in all sorts of fabrics, colours and styles. Personally, I love a sleek and simple one.”

To get started, Kent recommends brushing all your hair back before popping the headband in to secure it in place. “If you want a bit of volume, you can pull out a few pieces at the roots and pop on some hairspray to fix it in place,” Kent adds.  

2. Go for a low-down style with a pair of bunches

If you don’t like the feeling of your hair flying around underneath your headband, then opting for a pair of bunches is a good idea. “Bunches are a cute style with a bob, and they’re great for keeping in after the gym because they’re adorable,” Kent says.

You’ll need a few accessories to achieve this look: two hair ties, some bobby pins and a hairbrush that allows you to get a clean parting down the centre of your head.

“To get started, brush your hair and split it down the middle, and then create two ponytails with either side,” he says. “Depending on the length of your hair, you can tease the ends and make little buns for an added finish depending on the length of your bob. Secure this with some bobby pins (if needed) and you’re good to go.” 

3. If your hair is on the shorter side, opt for half-up half-down

A headband isn’t the only way to keep your hair out of your face. If the longer pieces of your hair aren’t long enough to fly into your face, then a half-up half-down style is great for scraping those annoying shorter bits out of the way while keeping your hair down.

“Start by sectioning the hair in front of your ears to the top of the head and secure with an elastic,” Kent says. You can then choose to leave this section as it is in a ponytail style or transform it into a bun depending on your taste.

“Loop the ponytail around the thumb to create a bun, and wrap the ends around the base,” Kent adds. “You can tease the bun more for extra texture and add some rings or other hair accessories post-workout to give your hair a more styled look.” 

Images: Getty