Katie Hill
Mon, July 13, 2026 at 2:52 PM UTC

NEED TO KNOW
Summer Housestar Kyle Cooke has partnered with Dove Men+Care and Strava on their “Every Step Counts” challenge to promote the launch of the brand’s new 2-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner
Cooke’s self-care and workout routine is “simple yet effective” to fit in with his crazy, busy lifestyle
Cooke loves to run and encourages everyone to exercise for at least 20 minutes every day
Mental and physical health are top priorities for Kyle Cooke as he manages his crazy-busy lifestyle
The Summer Housestar, 43, is juggling two TV shows (Summer Houseand In the City), two companies (Loverboy and Flowerboy), the occasional DJ-ing gig and several brand partnerships. The secret behind his chaotic schedule? Staying “simple yet effective” with a workout routine
That’s why it was an immediate yes when asked to collaborate with Dove Men+Care and Strava on their new initiative. To celebrate the launch of Dove Men+Care’s new 2-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner, the brand has partnered with the fitness tracking and social networking app on a nationwide “Any Step Counts” challenge, running through July 21
“I think there’s a lot of noise, what not to do, what todo, when it comes to health, wellness, and taking care of yourself,” Cooke tells PEOPLE. “So I love the philosophy, or the MO, behind this campaign. Any step is better than doing nothing at all, right?”

The challenge asks participants to complete a 5k run in exchange for a Dove Men+Care Shampoo + Conditioner—a product that Cooke has been loving as part of his routine. “First and foremost, just getting into my shower, there’s less clutter,” says Cooke. “Less things to buy, less things to maintain, and manage inventory. I know it sounds silly, but it’s a nice added win to have a 2-in-1.”
“A, I love the way it smells, and B, the effectiveness. It’s a win-win,” Cooke continues. “I want to feel like I can wash my hair on a regular basis without over-drying it and stripping it.”
Having hair care that doesn’t cause dryness is critical for Cooke, especially because he’s considering bringing his much-talked-about mullet out of retirement. “One thing I did notice as I grew it out, I mean, I’ve never had split ends in my life, but I’m like, ‘Man, my hair towards the end feels a little weak.'”
“If only I had known there were other options,” says Cooke. “The Dove product strengthens with natural proteins, so they’ve actually made a point of focusing on that—making sure your hair looks and feels stronger. Never say never on the mullet.”

It wasn’t until Covid that Cooke grew to love running, but now, he uses it to “get lost” from all the stressors in his life. When he’s not listening to music, an audiobook, or his favorite podcastAll-In, Cooke also really enjoys running’s community aspect, a component Strava has mastered. “Running is probably one of the more social-driven sports, if you make an effort to seek that out,” says Cooke. “And being on the app is an easy first step.”
“You can literally see what other people are doing, if they’ve gone a run, where they ran, how far they ran. And that just leads to motivation.”
Unfortunately for Cooke, his Summer Housecostar Carl Radke has already hit over 1,000 followers on Strava, so he has some catching up to do
When asked what he hopes participants take away from the challenge, Cooke responded: “Simplicity is king. When it’s simple, it’s sustainable.” Whether it’s running, walking, pilates, or lifting <a href="https://healthylife7.com/obesity-or-just-fat-when-does-extra-weight-harm-your-health/” title=”Obesity or just fat: When does extra weight harm your health”>weights, Cooke believes everyone is capable of finding 20 minutes in their day to get moving
“I would just encourage people to take a look at the mental benefits [of working out] as well as the physical,” says Cooke. “Take care of yourself and take care of your hair.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories
Apart from focusing on his mental and physical well-being, Cooke is diving head (and heart) first into all things Summer House, after filming for season 11 kicked off July Fourth weekend. With two season regulars Amanda Batula and West Wilson not returning after last season’s relationship scandal, Cooke is excited for a “really fun kind of new chapter.”
“There was once a time going back to season 1 where, you know, yes, we were younger, but the very premise of the show revolved around a bunch of working professionals that go out there [the Hamptons] not just to have fun, but to meet people,” says Cooke. “I think that now more so than ever, there’s the potential to kind of return back to that.”
Read the original article on People


