So I’m still doing the straight thing. Getting tired of it quick and will probably do a wash n go sometime this weekend. Today I’m rocking a big old messy bun made with two satin scrunchies. (TIP: Satin scrunchies can be found at a lot of BSS and are great for making pony tails and buns if you experience breakage from hair bands. They don’t get the hair as tight as the elastics, but are much more gentle).
I am going to try and do a bun tutorial. Ya’ll please be patient with me, I know I said I was going to do another puff tutorial, but it just hasn’t happened yet. But it will!
So here is my workout hair for this week. I’ve had some reversion near the nape and at the roots a bit, but it’s still ok considering I’ve been sweating like a pig. I did the high ponytail and then banded the rest of my hair.
I also have my trusty headband firmly in place to soak up the sweat.
If you’d like to try this but your hair is too short to get into one ponytail, do 4 or 5, however many you need. Make sure the roots are pulled taunt for when you start sweating.
I left the twists in for a week and then wore the twistout for a little less than another week. I know I wanted to straighten my hair one more time before it starts getting humid here. I don’t plan on fighting the humidity this summer. So I blow dried and flat ironed.
I don’t blow dry very often, so I’m a bit more nervous than usual. I also blew a breaker while blow drying,so that might have been you-know-who giving me a sign that I didn’t need to be doing that. I took this oppurtunity to trim about 1/2 inch. I had a few knots and splits, and I haven’t had a serious trim in awhile, so it was needed.
Ponytail
I did a big bantu knotout to give my hair a little body
After taking out giant bantu knots
After a few hours! My hair wants to be big no matter what LOL!
And just for fun, here are my flat ironing picture from 15 months ago
Here are three styles, one of my own included, from three different ladies. I just love the versatility of natural hair and this post is proof of it. First up, Solange:
Hey Ms Lady,
I just wanted to share my style success. I love seeing a new style online and trying to replicate it myself. Some times it works out, some times not so much! LOL But this time it did. Please tell the lovely Natural Diva from Bermuda to keep sending style pics. She has a fly TWA that is blooming pretty fast so I know I can keep getting style tips from her even though my hair is at a different length than hers. Thanks for all you do!! 2010 will bring great things!
Solange, I’m glad you were able to get some inspiration from Bermuda’s last TWA styling post. It turned out beautifully and I love the color on you!!Thanks for sharing!!
Now we have “Ami”, a coworker and friend of mine, who is a mostly straight natural who transitioned long term to get rid of her relaxed ends.
She just recently cut the last of them off and dabbles in both straight and curly styles. Check out her bantu knot out on blow dried hair! Bantu knot outs are a great way to add some bounce to a straight style without using added heat. Ami used coconut oil beforehand.
OK, so now there’s little ole me. I am still rocking my twists, but in (what else?) a bun.
Wow, how do we naturals ever get by without the versatility of relaxed hair?
Oh well, I guess we make do 
My recent flat ironing experience always makes me think about my mother’s hair and how she was natural most of her life. She only got relaxed in her 30s. Her younger years were spent as a pressed natural. She also told me that she wore the occasional afro, but I’ve never seen pictures of that. After she was relaxed, it never grew past her shoulders.
BTW that’s not me she’s holding, but a cousin. I wasn’t even thought of then
A few of you have asked me what I’m doing with my hair while it’s straight and I’m working out. I’m no expert at being a straight natural and to be honest my roots are not perfectly straight, so there has been some reversion. It’s something I accept and that happens when exercising heavily.
However, my hair is fairing much better this time around than a prior time when I was working out quite a bit. Winter/Fall time is definitely the best time to do the straight hair thing if you’re going to.
Hair that says "poof"
Work out where it’s coolest
One big contributor to my hair lasting this time is that I am working out a lot outside. It’s around 40-50 degrees in the morning here so the sweat pretty much doesn’t have a chance to buildup. If it’s the summer time and you want to flat iron your hair, try working out inside in air conditioning if possible, preferably under a fan. That may help some, but I really have to say that the cooler weather has been a big plus for helping me keep my style.
Pull hair back
A member of LHCF named Pinkskates is a straight natural that works out on a regular basis. She always suggests putting your hair up in a high bun or ponytail when working out. I’ve tried this and though it works, I’ve found that putting the hair up in 2-3 buns works better for me.It just seems to keep the roots taunter. If your hair is shorter, you may have to do 5-6 buns instead.
The pictures below are of my hair today before working out this morning. I did 2 high ponytails and then rolled the ends under, securing with a large hair pin. Do not tuck your ends near your roots where you will be sweating the most.
Here you can see my roots starting to revert some. Most of my hair has stayed pretty straight though.
I tried to show here that my ends are firmly tucked in the middle of my hair, not near my roots. I also rolled the ponytails to the front and not to the back where I seem to sweat more.
Here’s Pinkskates website if anyone is interested. I believe it has both hair and fitness info . It’s not a free website though, just be aware. I can’t vouch for any of the info there.
Wear a cotton scarf
I always try to wear a scarf that will absorb the sweat aroudn my edges in addition to pulling it back. I know some of you are probably cringing, but having it on while you are heavily sweating for 30 minutes won’t killl your edges.
I’ve recently been wearing a linen head wrap that I have. It soaks up sweat and keeps my ears warm. I have tried satin scarves, but they get soaked easily and then the sweat has nowhere to sit but on my hair.
Double buns with linen wrap
Keep ends out of the way
Do not let your ends come anywhere near your face or any sweat. It’s much easier to hide puffy roots than it is puff ends. You may want to braid your hair up and pin it.
Let it dry
However you secure your hair prior to your workout, leave it alone until it dries completely.
Right combo of products
Make sure you start out your straight hair with good anti reversion products. Aveda Antihumtecant Pomade has been my HG for this. It really helps to keep my hair from going “poof”. However, this may not be the one for you. I also make sure to oil my hair with coconut oil and/or jojoba oil everyday. This makes my hair product heavy, but I believe it helps repel some of the sweat. I liberally oil my scalp with Burnt Sugar Pomade as well.
(If your hair feels too oily, squeeze sections of your hair with a cotton scarf to soak up some of the oil.)
Tried all these tips and it’s still not working for you?
You can still work out. Please do not stop working out entirely because of your hair. Avoid the rain, don’t go swimming, but please work out. If you don’t want to do strenuous cardio, try to do some yoga or weight lifting instead. The closer you get to wash day, the more intense your workouts can become.
That’s about all I’ve got ladies. Nothing ground breaking, nothing earth shattering. But it’s been working for me. Feel free to share your own routines for working out with straight natural hair!
As I’ve said before, my edges are extremely delicate. I am of the belief that women of color naturally have delicate edges anyway, so when we use chemicals and heat, we further compound the problem. I personally had bald edges as a child and teenager so mine have grown back quite thin. They rip at the slightest provocation so I am very gentle with them still.
They never get any direct heat no matter what. That’s right. I refuse to put heat on my edges at all. They don’t match the rest of my head when I straighten, but there are ways to smooth them out or hide them. They may not look perfect, but straight hair is not that serious for me. My edges and hair period are not going to look like someone who is relaxed. And I’m not going to burn the stew out of it in order to get those results.
Aloe Vera and Pomade Trick
Ya’ll know I’m always singing the praises of Almond Glaze for laying my edges down when I’m wearing a puff or ponytail. But that is usually in combination with a very wet head. I’ve tried the glaze alone on my edges when wearing it straight. No cigar. I mean, it did ok, but mostly just made it greasy. I’ve tried it with water and that makes my edges fuzzier. What works for me?
A little aloe vera gel and then the pomade. I pull the hair back as tight as I can get it (ponytail), brush it back with a boar bristle brush, and then snugly apply a satin scarf. I undo the ponytail after I apply the scarf and let it sit overnight. When I awaken, my edges are nice and smooth. Probably not as smooth as if I’d flat ironed them, but good enough for me!
Edges are aloe vera and pomade
Wear a scarf
I know you’ve got em! Wear them! If all else fails, pull out one of these babies and cover your edges up.
Parting
Parting your hair to the side or down the middle can help to hide or downplay fuzzy edges. I usually end up doing this at some point when wearing a straight ‘do.
Parted on the side to hide fuzzy edges on the right
Rollerset or minimal heat
If you’re doing to blow dry or flat iron your hair, try to exclude your edges from this and roll them instead. If you do want to use heat on them, use very low heat and only pass one time with your flat iron or hot comb. Do not “snatch” your edges roughly or with a lot of force. Heat protectant is a must!
For the love of Pete…
Do not re-flat iron, hot comb or blow dry your edges everyday
Do not relax your edges. You might laugh but I’ve heard of people doing this.
Readers: Have your own tips for edges while wearing your natural hair straight? Share!
Tomorrow: I’ll be sharing what I do with straight hair when exercising.
