The Mane Balancing Act: Exercising And Your Hair

April 30th, 2012 - By Rich

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So they say Black women don’t exercise because we don’t want to mess up our hair? Is this true? While it might not be the majority, I know SEVERAL Black women who do not work out because they don’t want to mess up their hair including me ☹

When I straighten my hair, I don’t even want to take a hot bath because I sweat. My goal for the 2 weeks my hair is straightened is how not to sweat.

So let’s take it to the gym. What can we do to stop being so worried about our hair? For one, we could just change our thought process: having a healthy body should come before having “pretty” hair. Next we need to find a way to keep our hair healthy in the process.

No, No, absolutely no cotton scarves/bandannas. They are horrible for your hair and can break off your edges. Why not do something like a cute updo style so your hair is off your neck and secure?

Here are some tips on how to treat your hair while you are working out:

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  • lightbrownis

    been working out for years and I rock either a braids or weave most of the year.

  • http://twitter.com/ChakaKhanian Chaka/SistaVoyage

    By me being natural, my hair is the last thing on my mind when I work out. Matter of fact, I welcome the sweat!

  • Danielle

    Black Solutions has a waterless shampoo created so black woman can go to the gym and be able to cleanse their hair without the long production it usually takes.  Just wrap your hair and when you finish spray this into your hair and brush out or wipe off the dirt.
    It’s a new cleansing technology that includes a combination of highly active
    conditioning agents and anti bacterial ingredients modified to absorb and remove dirt from the hair
    (when brushed out or wiped out).
    http://blacksolutions.com/shop/so-fresh-so-clean/

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tiana-Atkinson/100001064313371 Tiana Atkinson

    you sweat from your scalp, no scarf/do rag is going to keep your hair from getting wet. i’m in the military and have to workout more than i care to and when i was relaxed, wrapping it was the best i could but i always unwrapped a bit of damp mess, and my only saving grace was that it was long enough to brush back and put in a pony tail. the best thing i could do was include enough time post-workout to do my hair.

    • Cheryl

      My reply to you is due n part b/c you’re military (I’m Retired Air Force) Thank you for your honesty, I guess it’s the pony tail for me (can’t wrap to save my life).  The hard part is getting to the gym now.  Do you wash your hair every day? I have relaxed down the back hair as well, with a gray “headband” of hair smack dab ear-to-ear in the front , and and they are VERY stubborn.  Guess I better invest in a good brush.

  • Pingback: Black Women, Exercising and our Hair: How to Manage it | EURweb

  • Amy Huang

    Wash your stinking hair!!!

  • Guest

    I work out everyday, and I have shoulder length relaxed hair. I wear it in a high ponytail or bun and call it a day.. I am what I call  a “hothead”.. I sweat in my head, but I do not let that stop me. I may come out the gym with wet hair but at the end of the day it’s about my health.. I can always call up my girl Juana for a quick blowout any day of the week!

  • Sasseynsweet

    Michelle Obama was quoted as saying: “I will not let my hair dictate my health.” I concur; I would rather have a fit and fierce body any day of the week. Yes, I know she has a stylist at-the-ready, but don’t let that deter you. I am wearing a “boy” hairstyle-shaved and natural. However, I see sisters with relaxers at the gym, too.

  • Msjan81

    I started exercising daily two years ago.  I tried to keep up with the relaxer for 6 months and then said forget it and did the big chop and went natural.  I haven’t looked back and still work out every day.

  • Sabrina

    That used to me, but then I stopped caring. I was growing so out of shape that even the prettiest hair wouldn’t have made me feel better about my appearance.

    I’ll admit — when I get my hair done at the salon, I won’t go to the gym for a couple of days. However, I’ll still do exercises at home that won’t make me sweat excessively.

  • http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Peaches%20The%20Writer PeachesTheWriter

    I see beautiful, fit sisters in the gym and in my neighborhood exercising all the time. I do not believe for one minute that women are so superficial as to care more about a hairstyle than their health. Buy my new book Layover by Peaches the Writer on Amazon Kindle.