The new year always brings a swath of new people into the gym. Unfortunately, even those with the best intentions end up breaking their resolutions. One reason: time. Finding time for a session on the treadmill or spin on the cycle can be tough. But the post-gym protocol—the clean up required to get back to the office or home for dinner—can also contribute to the demise of a regular fitness routine.

Swair, an indie haircare brand founded by Carrier Sporer and Meredith Krill, is designed to keep people in the game, so to speak.

Sporer and Krill met in 2017 while training for the New York City Marathon. They had a shared love for running and a desire for personal care products that would help them go from “sweaty to ready” without too much fuss.

The duo crossed the finish line in 2020 with the launch of Swair showerless shampoo, a dry shampoo alternative. It won accolades in 2023 from Glamour. Swair also offers SweatShield, a leave-in conditioner.

Last month, Swair expanded its roster again with SpeedMask, another time-saving product.

SpeedMask is said to merge performance with practicality, delivering the same results of a 20-minute hair mask in 60 seconds.

“We always wanted to be the kind of women who used hair masks, but the reality was, we never had 20 minutes to spare. The idea of getting in the shower, applying a mask, getting out of the shower to wait for it to work, then getting back in the shower again to wash it out was unrealistic for our busy lives,” Krill said.

Key ingredients include baobab oil, which hydrates and restores softness and elasticity quickly; rice proteins, which smooth the hair cuticles to reduce frizz and boost manageability; and astaxanthin, an antioxidant that protects hair from oxidative stress and supports healthier, more resilient hair.

The product is applied to dry, damp or post-workout hair for one minute before rinsing out. It is followed by shampoo/conditioner.

What’s Next for Swair

For many indie brands, tariffs and rising costs made 2025 a complicated year.

The founders are bullish on the future of Swair, and are doubling down on the idea that “fitness haircare” is its own category.

The duo told Happi that they have “planted the seeds for some exciting partnerships and retail opportunities that will come to fruition in 2026.”

And new rollouts are planned for the spring that will round out Swair’s current offering.

“2025 certainly had its challenges,” said Sporer and Krill, “but we feel like the brand gained momentum and increased our recognition in the fitness to beauty space.”