Natural Hair and Exercise: Transitioning Tips 101

I'm so lucky that my Sis is a hair stylist. She works at a hair salon downtown Chicago and just so happens to be an expert on transitioning from relaxed to natural hair. She has been helping me through the process so I asked her to write a post for you all. See the post below and be sure to check out her blog Kinky Hair Girl.

The pic above is my first DIY rollerset. More detailed pics to come!

Hair Care advice for Transitioners from Kinky Hair Girl:

Transitioning Tips 101

Hello Readers, I apologize for not updating in such a long time. I have been doing a lot of research and product knowledge classes.


A lot of my clients are continuously me the same questions. "How can I go natural without cutting my hair?", "What are the best products to use, while transitioning?".

So, that is the topic for my post. ''The Big Transition"



If you want to keep your length while transitioning, it is possible but difficult. There are many ways to go bout this but one thing that is very important is that you You must understand that when you straighten your hair you stretch out your curl. Therefore setting back your natural goal. What I always recommend my clients is to start treating your hair as if it is already curly. Which means start doing the natural styles. Like I said it will be a difficult path but you can achieve your goal. Here are my tips on achieving your goal.


Natural Styles

1.  When doing natural styles use rods at the ends of your hair. Because the relaxed hair is still straight you need to use the rods to make it curly. Try the smallest rods so that they may be tight and last longer.

2. Make sure to clip your ends exactly every 6 weeks. When you are going through the transition your natural hair will get tangled with your relaxed hair. To prevent that clip at least 1 cm of hair every 6 weeks.

3. Hair should be conditioned under the dryer/ under cap with hot towel for 10 mins. every two weeks. Your hair will be very dry during this time. So this is a very important rule.

4. One of the easiest ways of styling while transitioning is doing rod sets. Why? Because its a curly style and when you sweat it will not be that noticeable when your hair starts to revert.
Virgin Olive Oil or Coconut oil. Just a quarter size every two to three days. It will keep your hair soft and easier to manage. Stay away from greasy products, they coat the hair and does not allow moisture to penetrate.

5. Drink lots and lots of water. There will be a point where your hair will feel very dry, that is okay and normal. Just stay hydrated.

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF HER POST

Natural Hair and Exercise: How to maintain hair during a workout

As many of you know I am transitioning (going back to my curls). I have been doing some research/experimenting to find solutions for maintaining my hair and exercise. I know I told you last week that I was going to do my own roller set but I ended up going to my hair dresser on Saturday. I had a last minute special event to go to. I couldn't take any risks with my DIY style. Anyway, I got my hair curled (see pic above) on saturday afternoon and so far it is has survived three days of exercise. I did flow yoga (yes I sweated) on Sunday, cardio (elliptical) and weights on Monday, and I just finished with 45 min on the elliptical and core exercises (e.g., planks). See below to see how my hair looks now. By the way I pin curl my hair at night and leave that way at the gym. I do not touch my hair until it is completely dry. FYI: I am 4.5 months post relaxer

I definitely, think pin curling at night and leaving it that way while at the gym is  a good strategy.

Sorry the pic is blurry (I was obviously on the go) but you get the picture, my hair was still curly

NFG Hair Maintenance Recommendations :

1. If your hair is curly then you should pin curl it at night and leave the pin curls in while at the gym
2. Let your hair breathe while you work out, put a headband on it to catch the sweat (but do not wrap it up tight)
3. Do Not touch your hair until it is dry
4. Try a dry shampoo to refresh your style (I am currently trying to find a really good one)


Do you have any tips ?

Natural Hair and Exercise: So much to learn

So I told y'all I am transitioning to my Natural Hair. I have not had a relaxer for four months (pic above is how my hair looks now) and so far I have been wearing my hair straight. Now that I have made the commitment, I want to start wearing more textured styles. But I am so worried about how this will effect my exercise routine. So I have just been doing a ton of research. It's amazing how much info there is on Natural Hair. There are so many styles, products, there is even a Natural hair vocabulary (e.g., TWA = Teenie Weenie Afro). I am just so amazed (and overwhelmed) at how much info there is. I am in the process of figuring out what will work for me. Unfortunately, there is not that much out there about natural hair and exercise. So as I go through this journey, I will share with you all my successes, challenges, good hair days, and bad hair days (:-/).

Right now I am in the preparation stage. I have ordered a hooded blow dryer, bought some Jane carter hair products, and some Cantu Shea Butter (see pics below). I have seen so many recommendations for the Cantu Shea butter leave in conditioner (everyone says it must be used alone--do not put anything in your after you put on the leave in). Jane Carter had a trial pack at Target for 19.99 so I scooped one up. I plan to do my first flexi rod set this weekend. My Sister is supposed to come help me out. She is a Hair Stylist in Chicago and does natural hair all the time. So I will let you know how it goes (pics comings soon and maybe even a video).

One more thing......
I got super lucky today and ran into a Natural Hair expert at Target. I met Mama Naturalista, an expert from several natural hair blogs (e.g., curly nikki). She gave me tips on transitioning and some good sites to get cheap products. She also gave me a thumbs ups on the Jane Carter products and Cantu Shea butter. I think the best advice she gave me is to recognize that everyone's hair, workout routine, and various other lifestyle factors are different so there is no perfect style. Also, she said don't become a product junkie (it's so hard though).

She recommended www.curlmart.com and www.curlbox.com. 


I can't wait to get some curls into this head!

What are your favorite products?
Favorite styles?
Any tips for a newbie???

Moms and Exercise

This is advice for Moms or Moms-to-be on taking care of yourself by exercising and eating right.

I have been a Mom for 25 years! I had lost myself in motherhood. I woke up one day and had no family to care for anymore. I am now a divorced empty-nester.

I am turning back to exercise and focusing on myself again. I have been inspired by my daughter who runs five miles a day. I have started running a mile when I can work it in my schedule. I also do pilates and yoga. I try to do one hundred sit ups a day. This keeps my belly flat. I had four children so this keeps my mom pouch tight.

I will be 51 this year. I am in excellent health. I eat high protein lean meats (chicken, turkey, fish) plus lots of fruits and vegetables. My breakfast is protein shake with yogurt and fruit blended together. When I am on the run I eat a protein bar and an apple for breakfast. I rarely eat fast food. I eat very little salt.

At one time we were vegetarians. I believe in eating herbal supplements. I love Herbalife.

I am not perfect in my eating habits. I love sweets. My grandmother raised me on eating ice cream and cookies or cake everyday for dessert. I try to substitute it for yogurt, homemade sorbet, or jello.

I have worked out over the years off and on. I am okay with that. I know that I am the type of person who works out sometimes. I don't beat myself up about it. When I am tired of being a couch potato then I start working out again. That is the way I am. There is no right or wrong.

I was married to an athlete. I watched him workout consistently daily for years. Sometimes he would workout two or three times a day. He had the discipline to do that. Sometimes I would just sit back and watch him go. I learned that I am not wired that way. I am okay with who I am. I am healthy that is what is important.

Being a Mom is demanding, one can get lost in the routine of consistently giving, caring and putting others first. Just do what you can for yourself when you can. Let the guilt go. Guilt holds you back. There is no perfect mother or caretaker.

After the birth of my first-born, I did aerobics home with the TV while my newborn rocked in the swing. I played with my children. I taught my girls to jump rope. I ran with my children teaching them to skate and ride bikes. I have done a water aerobics while we did family swim night. We have done family bike rides. I have taken a YMCA exercise instructor course and taught class to fellow headstart mothers. I have walked for miles. I have jogged. I have had gym memberships. I have attended dance classes.

In order to get moving:

• Focus on improving your health and having fun instead of losing weight.

• Try different things. Find out what gives you joy. What makes you feel good?

• Remember back to when you were a child. What games did you play?
• Did you jump rope, skate, ride a bike, run with your dog?
• See yourself playing, moving and being active.
• Believe you can be active.
• I suggest mothers should start by playing with your children.
• Find your inner child and share it with your children.

• Schedule some alone time to exercise by yourself, significant other or with a friend.
• Read exercise books, magazine, websites or watch exercise videos or tv shows.

When I was depressed or stressed and eating myself crazy; I would eat myself sick until I was ready to make a change and get active again. Just because that is where you are sometimes doesn't mean you can't stop and change it. Stop beating yourself up. Let it go and breathe.

Your love and time is more important that worrying about whatever is stressing you.

Have a family member or friend babysit and do something special for yourself to recharge your batteries.

Take the first step and sign up for the BetterMe Coaching Tool at http://www.goredforwomen.org/.

Exercise for your Sanity

The more I exercise the more I learn about the benefits...

Life is getting quite hectic for me right now. I have made physical activity a priority in my life so no matter what I still start my day with 35-40 minutes of cardio and 20 minutes of toning and strength training. I commit 1 hour a day to myself and it really is helping me deal with the stressors I encounter during the day.

My summer is officially over and I am back in school, applying for PhD programs, studying for the gre, working 2 jobs (2 part time), and planning a Regional Conference (by myself) for the National Black Graduate Student Association. Despite all this I continue to find ways to squeeze exercise in to my life. No matter how overwhelmed I get I know that I did one positive thing for my body. I am actually starting to find exercise therapeutic, I sometimes even look forward to it ( crazy, huh?)

I know many of you have lives that are just as jam packed with work and other activities. But I hope you continue to make your health a priority. You are really never to busy to exercise you just have to make a few sacrifices.

If you really feel that you are to busy for exercise then check out a few of these articles to find creative ways to fit in fitness.

* Working Out at Work
*12 Tips to Fit Fitness in Your Day
*How to Fit in Fitness

So Please make your health a priority!

Look out for more information about the Save our Sister Fitness Challenge, this week!

* I'm looking for people to contribute to my blog. So if your interested please hit me up at hypothesis1913@gmail.com

Comments?
Does Exercise Bring Sanity to Your life?

Is Exercise a Cultural Thing?

Have you always recognized the importance of physical activity and healthy eating? Do you notice a distinction between the eating patterns and lack of exercise in our culture compared to other cultures?


My story:
Exercise and eating healthy were the least of my concerns in high school. I was focused on keeping my hair fly and buying new outfits. Looking back I realize how unimportant healthy eating and exercise were to me. Lunch at my high school consisted of Flamin' hots w/nacho cheese and a Geyser (a sugary filled drink) or food from McDonalds. None of my friends were focused on exercise or eating healthy either (unless they were athletes). I realize now how detrimental these habits were to my health.

I did not recognize the importance of exercise until I attended a PWI (predominately white institution). I noticed that all the white chicks were hitting the gym on a daily basis and wouldn't touch food unless it was marked low carb or low fat. They were extremely health conscious and always sharing the latest news from their "Fitness Magazines." So while I was busy eating what I wanted and gaining the freshman 15/20 they maintained their healthy bodies. I eventually realized that I needed to hit the gym and change my eating habits.

It has always been hard for me to understand why "Exercise and Healthy Eating" was common knowledge among them. Clearly, I was completely out of the loop, where I grew up you didn't exercise unless you were on a sports team.


The Research
I found an article that evaluated ethnic disparities in teen exercise. Here are some of the key findings:

* Overall, black and Hispanic girls reported less activity than white girls -- an average of 5.4, 5.2 and 6.0 activities per week, respectively. In contrast, among boys, the number of activities per week was similar for blacks (7.6), Hispanics (7.5) and whites (7.6).

*On average, black and Hispanic adolescents had a higher body mass index (BMI) than white adolescents.

* In general, black and Hispanic girls attended poorer schools in which all girls had lower physical activity levels

*Overall, adolescent girls were less physically active than boys, reporting fewer physical activities per week.


Want to read the full article? Click the Link!
http://www.childrenshospital.org/newsroom/Site1339/mainpageS1339P1sublevel215.html


Share Your Thoughts!
What has your experience been? When did you recognize the importance of exercise?

Why do you think Black and Hispanic Teens don't get as much exercise?