Hair Care Thriving During Weak Economy

Note: I apologize for the crazy font / text in this post. There is something wrong with Blogger. I'll correct it once I figure out the solution

Image taken from: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-85CxsIHXzlI/TYAJD-wUDTI/AAAAAAAAAOw/-TXW2e4XN5U/s640/aestheticimprovement.jpg

Who knew that natural hair care might be an oasis in the midst of the current financial crisis? Sabrina Tavernise penned an 8/6/11 New York Times article entitled, “A thriving growth area in a weak economy: Hair” that addresses this point (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/us/07hair.html). The article reports that while consumers may cut many things from their budget during an economic down turn, hair care is not one of them. Call me crazy, but I could have told you that! Really, I know lots of ladies who will stop planning luxury trips, weekly mani/pedis and monthly shopping extravaganzas in order to keep their regularly scheduled hair appointments. One woman in the article even compared getting her hair done to keeping her lights on. Now THAT might be a bit far for me (who can see your hair anyway if you don’t have electricity?) but I get the gist. Hair matters!

Another interesting note was that some women are even turning to the hair care industry for employment given the slow job market. I came across an interesting blog that talks about this from the perspective of the “informal urban economy” as JE, the blog author referred to it (see “If you can do braids, you can get paid!”: http://thesolarpoweredumbrella.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html). Where there is a will, there is a way.

Hair Care Thriving During Weak Economy

Note: I apologize for the crazy font / text in this post. There is something wrong with Blogger. I'll correct it once I figure out the solution

Image taken from: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-85CxsIHXzlI/TYAJD-wUDTI/AAAAAAAAAOw/-TXW2e4XN5U/s640/aestheticimprovement.jpg

Who knew that natural hair care might be an oasis in the midst of the current financial crisis? Sabrina Tavernise penned an 8/6/11 New York Times article entitled, “A thriving growth area in a weak economy: Hair” that addresses this point (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/us/07hair.html). The article reports that while consumers may cut many things from their budget during an economic down turn, hair care is not one of them. Call me crazy, but I could have told you that! Really, I know lots of ladies who will stop planning luxury trips, weekly mani/pedis and monthly shopping extravaganzas in order to keep their regularly scheduled hair appointments. One woman in the article even compared getting her hair done to keeping her lights on. Now THAT might be a bit far for me (who can see your hair anyway if you don’t have electricity?) but I get the gist. Hair matters!

Another interesting note was that some women are even turning to the hair care industry for employment given the slow job market. I came across an interesting blog that talks about this from the perspective of the “informal urban economy” as JE, the blog author referred to it (see “If you can do braids, you can get paid!”: http://thesolarpoweredumbrella.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html). Where there is a will, there is a way.

Hair and Exercise

I apologize for the crazy font / text in this post. There is something wrong with Blogger. I'll correct it once I figure out the solution. Thanks!

After yesterday’s INTENSE workout with my new personal trainer, I am still rocking my headband in an attempt to contain the afro at the roots of my dreadlocks (I’m back to growing my hair out again…don’t ask, I seem to be going through an indecisive hair phase).

The fro at the roots is fine with me though. As I’ve said before, I am not going to allow my hair to stop me from working out. Here is a news report about the relationship between hair and exercise: http://perfectly-pretty.com/2010/04/22/unique-perspectivehow-womans-hair-effects-womans-health/.

Here are a few resources to help take care of your hair and exercise (I’ve included information for people with natural and chemically altered hair): http://curlychic.com/excersise-hair-care-tip-how-to-protect-your-curly-hair-while-you-workout/;http://thefitnessgoddess.blogspot.com/2008/08/hair-products-for-black-women-that.html;http://www.curlynikki.com/2011/02/exercise-routines-and-natural-hair.html;http://www.ehow.com/how_5177077_maintain-exercise-african-american-women.html;http://blacknaturalhaircare.net/tag/exercise/;http://chocolateorchid.blogspot.com/2009/12/hair-exercise-sweat.html.

Hair and Exercise

I apologize for the crazy font / text in this post. There is something wrong with Blogger. I'll correct it once I figure out the solution. Thanks!

After yesterday’s INTENSE workout with my new personal trainer, I am still rocking my headband in an attempt to contain the afro at the roots of my dreadlocks (I’m back to growing my hair out again…don’t ask, I seem to be going through an indecisive hair phase).

The fro at the roots is fine with me though. As I’ve said before, I am not going to allow my hair to stop me from working out. Here is a news report about the relationship between hair and exercise: http://perfectly-pretty.com/2010/04/22/unique-perspectivehow-womans-hair-effects-womans-health/.

Here are a few resources to help take care of your hair and exercise (I’ve included information for people with natural and chemically altered hair): http://curlychic.com/excersise-hair-care-tip-how-to-protect-your-curly-hair-while-you-workout/;http://thefitnessgoddess.blogspot.com/2008/08/hair-products-for-black-women-that.html;http://www.curlynikki.com/2011/02/exercise-routines-and-natural-hair.html;http://www.ehow.com/how_5177077_maintain-exercise-african-american-women.html;http://blacknaturalhaircare.net/tag/exercise/;http://chocolateorchid.blogspot.com/2009/12/hair-exercise-sweat.html.

Work Out Hairstyles

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Rule #1 of personal training: do NOT tell your new personal trainer that you used to run track. Today was my first day working out with Bismark Osei. Oh my goodness. What an amazing workout. By the end, I'd sweated out my roots and I had two different hairstyles: a mini-afro at the roots and dreadlocks on the ends. Thank the Lord for headbands!

How do you protectively style your hair when you workout? What tips do you have for work out styles? Has your hair ever prevented you from working out?

Work Out Hairstyles

Image found at: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Qcm_AvAPwlzlc0BFnTMU4VNobewf0T4M-IS-Og9oCV2DnBz3A9i0BkgIhpvQD7nHq1nNhWRsKrruqY_ghONpq4FWRI1zIgLOMquVJK4VNRq4-or9IfCC7vVoVy0Ctldz4P-B22ORhLqv/s320/Exercise.jpg

Rule #1 of personal training: do NOT tell your new personal trainer that you used to run track. Today was my first day working out with Bismark Osei. Oh my goodness. What an amazing workout. By the end, I'd sweated out my roots and I had two different hairstyles: a mini-afro at the roots and dreadlocks on the ends. Thank the Lord for headbands!

How do you protectively style your hair when you workout? What tips do you have for work out styles? Has your hair ever prevented you from working out?

Relaxer Versus Natural Hair: A Verdict on Ethnic Pride?

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Today’s post is short, sweet (I hope) and to the point:

If you put chemicals (e.g., relaxer, Brazilian blowout, etc.) in your hair you are denying your ethnicity.

You should be able to wear your hair however you like and not have your ethnic identification be questioned.

What is your response to those two statements? How do the statements make you feel? Have you ever had someone express these sentiments to you? Please comment and tell me a little bit about yourself. J