Black Women Avoiding Exercise To Maintain Hairstyles: Study

toshi89 · February 2013

Man that sucks. That may be why it's stereotyped that a lot of black people can't swim, b/c we don't like water. I love water, & swimming. I just get braids.

pamperedlinny · February 2013

I have noticed this a lot... and not just black women. I am super white (I mean like a ghost or a lobster depending on the sun) and have friends of multiple ethnicities. It really doesn't matter what color you are.... but I have seen people use this as an excuse to not work out no matter race... though the more you pay for your hair the more excuses I hear.

I just wear hats & scarves a lot. And I rarely pay much for any hair style, color, etc. If my hair will be a disaster.... there is a hat in my near future.

k8blujay2 · February 2013

This is no surprise. But I think the younger generation is more concerned with staying fit and healthy.
Natural hair is now more mainstream as well. I mean even as early as a few years ago I remember a character on "A Different World" who wore her hair natural but was forced to straighten it for a job interview. Silly by today's standards.

Just reading this cause I was intregued, but I wanted to reply to this... shoot that's true for a friend of mine who is white and red headed but has an awesome set of curls... but because she works on TV she has to straighten her hair.

In any regard, the OP can be true for a variety of reasons... hair, make-up, black, white, brown...

BossChic · February 2013

I used to be one of these women. Worried about maintaining my hair and not getting it messed up. But I have decided my health is far more important than my hairstyles. So I started asking my stylist what to do and she told me to wrap my hair when I go to the gym and keep it wrapped up until it is dry. It works like a champ everytime.

dafoots0911 · February 2013

As a younger 20-something black female, it stopped me from swimming

i've had so many friends tell me exactly this when we were talking about school swimming lessons. a lot of them said their mothers wouldn't even let them learn to swim because it would mess up their hair. it was a whole side of it i'd never thought about as an english white kid in the 80s. also, where i lived there were no black families, so it just wasn't something i was ever introduced to. but the idea that generations of children missed out on learning to swim because of their hair really shocked me.

I learned to swim as a preteen (7-10) but as I got older and started to doing my own hair, there was too much work involved in keeping our hair straight . Afro's had not quite come out yet. We did a press (hot comb) to get our hair straight -- not only for the look but because it was more manageable and once the water hit it, it was back to afro or what we call "nappy". When my hair goes to it's natural state it is much harder to get a comb through so that means it takes time to come up with a decent style quickly. Time is something we don't always have so once relaxers hit the market they did not mix well with the chemicals in swimming pools. I did wear a cap but it was so tight I couldn't think straight. So that is why I stopped swimming. and just stayed away from the water. I learned the basics but really didn't like swimming anyway. Cheerleading and dancing were so much more fun.

Camille0502 · February 2013

Count me in the "club." At times in my life when I have used relaxers or spent time blow drying and straightening my hair I would think twice about working out - or "time it" with a planned wash. As I got older I went short (as in my picture) or natural (how I wear it now) so I'm not fighting nature anymore. However, what I don't think some of the previous poster understand is the importance if HAIR in the black community. As little girls, we are raised with the fear of death if we get our hair wet (our moms spend lots of time making our hair look nice). Hair is a sign of beauty. Having "good hair" is even better. In fact, I was not allowed to wash my own hair. That was my mom's job - once a week.

I have a niece who has to sneak off just to get her hair trimmed because he father goes ballistic - if you are a black woman and can grow your hair long, you do (although, I tossed that out the window when I chopped my hair off :-) - and I have "good hair" **GASP**)

So I am not surprised at all by the study. Sad as it is. And at my older age - I'm glad that natural hairstyles are accepted more.

dixiewhiskey · February 2013

So, did they interview women with natural, curly hair? I don't have typical "black" hair.. I think this all comes down to people of all races being lazy and unmotivated..

I am SO thankful that my parents didn't jump to a box of relaxer because they couldn't get a comb through my hair when I was 5.. even more thankful that I have embraced my beautiful hair. My hair is mixed, comparable to "Indian" hair.. when I swim, I put conditioner in my hair and if I avoid swimming its because I am prone to ear infections if I don't use ear protection in the water.

I still love busting my butt seven days a week.. I have become heavier after gaining over 120 lbs between two children but that definitely had nothing to do with my hair! What a load of horse.... manure.

LexieSweetheart · February 2013

I think we focus way to much on hair and what type of hair makes you beautiful. There are ways to keep your hair beautiful and still take care of you!! you might have to give up the sew in's and remy hair but in the end it is worth it

bandomom13 · February 2013

I had a friend that avoided exercising because of her hairstyle, and you what? She ended up with a heartattack. Now she takes good care of herself, hairstyles are not worth Not exercising..

JusticeGirl25 · February 2013

A couple of my good friends recently cut their hair short simply because they don't like ponytails and it takes less time for them to deal with their hair after they shower. While that might be true, I like having medium length hair. I don't have issues taking a shower after every workout. I know after workout, I untie my ponytail and I may look like crap, but that's what you're supposed to look like after a workout.

xRay85Rayx · May 2013

Health over a hairstyle!

I wear my hair natural now and haven't regretted it. It works for me when i workout and easier to maintain.

verzanie · May 2013

I don't have this problem and I tend to sweat a lot in my hair/scalp. I will admit that I've stopped straightening my hair, partially due to exercise, but I never really had that much of a concern with hair in the past. However, I will also admit that I have heard this complaint before, but it wasn't just from Black women, although they were included. I've heard it from Hispanic and White women as well. Vanity crosses all color lines!

I'm white and about halfway through Insanity last spring I went to my hair stylist and asked her to teach me how to fix it curly. I used to straighten my hair, and while it took 30+ min. to do, I could make it last 2-3 days, so it was worth it. If I worked out, I could generally dry it and keep it somewhat straight. Insanity put an end to that! I called it my "Insanity cut." LOL

This..I'm white european with very curly hair. Always used to straighten it but with Insanity it's just not going to happen..I'm drenched by the time I get to first stretch..Now I just keep it up!

Achrya · May 2013

My hair is totally natural now, having spent three years growing it out to this point, but before I was part of the don't work out because of my hair crowd. crowd. I wasn't about to waste the 200 dollars it takes in tracks and stylist fees with sweat or chlorine or other such nonsense. I imagine that, had I not decided my money was better spent on shoes and clothes, clothes I'd still be that person. I spend about three hours every three days caring for my hair and its a pain, honestly, but the money I save win out.

It's just a different culture/mentality in some black communities where natural hair is still considered "nappy" and "ugly" (my mother hates my hair and often makes it known she wishes I'd relax it o get a weave again) and you'll do whatever it takes to keep your style smooth, silky, and pristine.

CannibalisticVegetarian · May 2013

I heard about this same study, though I can;t remember where originally. Tis a pity indeed that someone would put hair before health ya know?

Personally, I've gone to the natural side and taken up dreds. This means very little care (besides washing, spraying, and the occasional re-twist) and it's much cheaper than having to shell out for the fake stuff. I'm not knocking the fake hair also, ladies. Been there, done that. When and if I want to change up my style, I'll wear a wig over my natural hair. It still costs less, holds longer, and I don't have to worry about sweating that bad boy out.

rivergirl5 · May 2013

103 people is such a small sample size, add in the fact that these women are going to a dermatologist, there may be other concerns at play. If I had problems with my skin I would be more concerned about the effect of sweat on my skin than sweat on my hair. While I'm not saying that this study doesn't raise a valid point, I will say that I question the statistical validity of the study.

BellaGettinFit · July 2013

i had this problem too and i just decided that i'd rather be healthy and i'll worry about trying to get cute later. now, i'm nappy all the time and i'm down 12 lbs. lol

Black Women Avoiding Exercise To Maintain Hairstyles: Study

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