So that explains why a black male said to me years ago "Do you wear your hair short and natural because you're too lazy to keep it up?" Couldn't be I just don't want chemicals in my hair. I was just telling my daughter (student athlete) there are a lot of overweight black women on the Metro with GREAT hair styles!!!!!! Ladies PLEASE stop wearing braided styles I put on my girls in ELEMENTARY SCHOOL! I really enjoy the Sun's health Q&A's section!
/ Thanks Kim. Women should be able to wear their hair anyway they would like.

wow... riveting article

African men and women don't seem to be deterred, so are afros and corn-rows the only solution? Maybe you could dish some tips on hair care for the active African-American in terms of conditioning, etc. Thanks!

/ no, no natural looks aren't the only option. one option for women is to wrap their hair while working out. The surgeon general gives a few tips as well. do others have other tips."

Andrea, all of us do not have your hair and choose not to cut our relaxed hair off to go natural. Michelle Obama has a personal hair stylist she can call at her beckon whim and we don't. The average black woman with chemically treated hair cannot wash their hair every day or every other day unless she wants her hair to be extremely dry and brittle and her scalp to be flaky and ashy. We'll have to find a creative way in finding a way to get physically fit.

/ Hi Nicky, I agree the natural look isn't for everyone. Nor should it be. How boring would that be if we all had the same hairstyle. I just mention it as one option black women are taking. The surgeon general talks about working out at night so she can do her hair in the morniing. I have seen some women wrap their hair while at the gym. Or wear it in a high strategically-placed ponytail. And some workouts don't mess up the hair quite so much. Like weight training or yoga has less havoc on the hair then running or swimming.

Its takes an hour for me to wash, blow dry and flat iron/wrap my hair. So work outs during lunch are out. By the time I go to the gym after work, do an hour workout, come home and get ready for the next day its almost 9:00 PM. I also attend college so I have homework and housework to do. I don't have kids, so that helps; but I can only imagine how difficult this would be with them. On the list of important things working out is falling further to the bottom because of time consuming after effects this has on me afterwards. I canNOT go to work looking a mess, I would be written up.

For the life of me I cannot understand why black women can't wash their own hair. Unless you have a "hair appointment" every other day, how can you even say your hair is clean most days? I am a black woman, and I am still mystified at this practice. I go to the gym, workout, shower, wash my hair, blow dry it and curl it just like anyone would. I don't rely on a third party to wash any other part of my body, why is hair any different?

/ Shelly. Thanks for your note. I don't think it's always an issue of somebody else washing our hair. Not everyone's hair is a texture that can be washed and blow-dried everyday without becoming dry and brittle. It doesn't mean you're head isn't clean because you don't wash it everyday. But as the surgeon general says, there are ways to get around it. For instance, washing every few days. Andrea

Candylyn:

I feel your pain. But I also understand that black women are more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension and heart disease than other races. It should not be an 'if', it is when and how we will find time to work out in order to stay healthy. You may need to get up a half hour earlier to work out, and also try working on the weekends and one week day.

As for Black Women and their hair, I have been a Hairstylist for over 20 years. I have had the pleasure of seeing alot of trends come and go,ie the Jerri Curl hard curls relaxers , texturizers treads locs just to name a few. I do believe in excersize as a priority not only does it keep your body and mind healthy it also indirectly nourishes your hair.
One of the tips that I share with clients that have long hair is to put the hair in a high loose ponytail. this will allow the scalp to breath and reduce the amount of perspiration that deposits on the hair, short hair can be wrapped. tie it down with a scarf around the sides and back, leave the scarf on during and after the workout . take your shower etc. by the youre dressed the hair should have molded on the sides laying nice and smooth. If you have to shampoo every day , instead of shampoo use a moisturizing conditioner to cleanse the hair. This will avoid the lost of natural oils being lost due to over cleansing.
Then also Wigs and Weaves are a workable options, as long as its done properly and concerne for the overall condition of the hair is the priorty.