11 May 2012
Posted by Jay Ell Vaughn 
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By: Shaila Strayhorn
Exercising has been an important way of staying in shape and relieving my stress. Anything from kick boxing, Pilates, and running the treadmill; I find to be a relaxing and invigorating experience. However, when I have asked some of my friends, family members, and even colleagues to come join me in this experience; they often respond with these horrid words “I can’t go exercise; I will sweat my hair out!” Even our own US surgeon general, Dr. Regina M. Benjamin, can relate to this topic when she stated during an interview that “When [women] start to exercise, you look for reasons not to, and sometimes the hair is one of those reasons.”
As African American women, it has been programmed within our minds at a young age that we need to take a great amount of precautions in order to keep our hair beautiful. From being taught how to wrap our hair, to needing to sleep in a certain position to keep our hair looking nice for the next day, these “hair” precautions that we developed still exist during adulthood. For example, many African American women spend a disproportionate amount of time and money on hair care compared to going to a gym and working out . One study conducted by the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center found that 31% of 103 African American women that were surveyed, stated that they would exercise less because it may harm their hairstyles.
In order to avoid being a part of this statistic I have found the following resolutions helpful when working out and still maintaining my hair style:
I engage in my workout activities before my beauty shop appointments
I talk with my beautician about products I can use in order to maintain my hairstyle after a heavy work out
I use a cotton head band to prevent the sweat from making my edges to frizzy
To counteract the effects of sweat use a leave in conditioner before working out
For non-natural hair, WRAP IT UP!!! Use a silk scarf or head wrap to maintain hair style
Between your hair and a good sweaty work out; the fact still remains that only one can lead to lifelong health benefits. Which will you choose?
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Shaila Strayhorn is a supporter of BGR! and she loves to engage in zumba, pilates, and club boxing. She is a current first year graduate student at The University of Michigan School of Public Health in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is pursuing a Master’s in Public Health and enjoys exercising and spending time with her family and friends.
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16 Comments
Well said!!! A lot of women are guilty of skipping the gym to maintain a specific hairstyle, which is understandable in some ways and yet absolutely ridiculous. I jazz my hair up on Fridays, I do weights on Saturdays to preserve the look, and Sunday after church it is no longer important.
I am so guilty of not working out “too hard” because I sweat perfusely and it takes too much time to “do” my hair. I hate using that excuse. Does anyone have suggestions for shortening the process for a woman who is transitioning from relaxers to natural?
Go natural – the way that you were born and you will save time and money, Most importantly, your body, mind and health will thank you for it.
micro braids…I stopped getting relaxers in January 2009…I started getting micro braids every three months. Now, all of my relaxed hair is gone (I would clip the ends every so often to get rid of the relaxed hair) and I have natural hair. Some people cut off all of their relaxed hair and start from scratch, I chose to use braids until it grew out and it worked great. In between braid styles I would flat iron my hair and it looked like I had a relaxer…I would then put the braids back in after a week or two to keep the growth going. Too much heat on the hair is not good for growth.
I’ve been natural for 7 years going on 8 years. I usually wear my hair blown out and flat ironed or in its natural state. I’ve learned to just tie my hair in a ponytail and go. Blow dry the roots out after exercising and when bad hair days start to happen, wear braid, a ponytail or a bun.
I think women just have to learn to get over it. There is no magical product or accessory that is going to prevent sweating we just have to learn how to adapt to it.
WOW I’m sitting here reading this article and saying to myself that use to be me. When I started working out a year ago I had permed hair it was by far hard to maintain simply because I’m a sweater I sweat like crazy even in my head. Working out made me feel so good I said the heck with spending all this money on my hair when I’m just going to exercise and sweat it out. I went and big chopped it all off to a low brush cut and let me tell u I ROCKED the heck out of that cut lol. It was on a popping now I could exercise like crazy and wash and go with my hair. Today I’m 9 mos natural and my health is 100% better. You make the choice hair or health.
Well said!! I agree 100%! I’m rocking the short brush cut as well!
Nicole Ari Parker’s Save Your Do Gymwrap… it’s worth a try.
http://saveyourdo.com/
I use Save Your Do, it does help,
Thanks….I’m ordering mine now
I decided my health was more important. I did the big chop and rocked it short for a while. Wash and go was great. My hair curls up very nicely when wet, even if its wet from sweat. I have since grown it back out but it means I can wear it curly if I am sweating like crazy and I can be fit and fab at the same time. I strive to not give my daughters the same complex about their hair as I had growing up.
I agree 100% with Leticia. I’m 8 months into being natural. At the sugesstion of my husband I did the BIG Chop (down to a brush cut) I’m rocking it and loving it!!! I have learned to enjoy/appreciate being out in the rain more b/c I’m not running for the car or carrying an umbrella to protect my hair. Oh and the wash and go every morning is the best!!!
Love the comment! I too am natural and have been wearing locs for over 20 years. I love the style and can exercise without a worry in the world. Love your hair!
I love working out!!! U have to get over your hair, the only person worried about your hair is you!!! I am natural but I like to wear my hair in drop girls, so every night I put it in pin girls and call it nite. HEALTH OR HAIR!!!
Kimyonce, your comment was right on the money! I frequent the gym quite often, and have to deal with “the struggle” of my hair after my workout. At the end of the day, I do not let “my hair” determine my health status. I would rather be healthy any day than not be……..
Great recommendations above but I was wondering if you have any advice on preventing your scalp from drying out. I am currently training for a run this summer and running 2-3 times a week. I have relaxed hair (no plans to go natural) and started noticing recently my scalp is drying out very badly. I grease my scalp on a regular basis and the hair itself is not drying out. I’m only washing my hair once a week so I know it’s probably the salt from the sweat drying out my hair. Just wondered if you had any tips.