In case your ponytail reaches past shoulder-length, it doubtless swishes forwards and backwards as you progress. This, Smith says, is the place you’ll be able to (actually) run into points: “For those who go for a run and you’ve got your hair unfastened whipping forwards and backwards, it’s an absolute recipe for cut up ends and actually dry friction burn on the ends of your hair.” 

An excessive amount of friction, as we all know, can set off bodily harm, carry up the cuticle, and trigger frizz. It’s why you may sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase versus cotton or linen materials, so your strands glide simpler throughout the floor, which helps them retain their smoothness and shine. (And on that observe, you may wish to put money into some silk scrunchies to additional defend your tresses.) For those who’re not partaking in intense exercise, this clearly poses much less of an issue; low-to-moderate depth coaching (suppose yoga, Pilates, or strolling) received’t create as a lot friction, so a unfastened ponytail could also be A-OK. 

It’s extra of a warning for HIIT exercises or jogs: As a lot as it’s possible you’ll wish to resemble an iconic Baywatch babe if you hit the pavement, all that swishing forwards and backwards can hurt your hair within the long-run. “That’s like whiplash in your hair,” Smith provides. 

As a substitute, he recommends wrapping your hair right into a bun or braid, in order that your ends keep tucked in and guarded. Once more, simply ensure you’re not pulling too tightly if you’re tying, so that you don’t trigger breakage on the hairline. For buns, you may also wish to change up the location sometimes: “This fashion it is not repeated harm in the very same spot—you are giving your hair a break,” hairstylist Levi Monarch as soon as shared with us. 

It’s a fragile dance, and on the finish of the day, just a few damaged hairs shouldn’t deter you from breaking a sweat—common train, in spite of everything, is nice in your magnificence routine. However if you happen to’re an avid runner otherwise you discover your pony bopping round throughout a spin class, you may wish to tuck within the ends á la buns or braids. Maybe save the lovable pony in your stroll dwelling.