However...I set my hair on flexirods. For those who don't know what those are, they are the long (usually 12") foam flexible, bendable rods (come in variable sizes) that can be used to curl or spiral your hair. I used them on freshly washed, wet hair and got these results (and for fun I included the outfit...all of which is in a size MEDIUM!!!!):
Well...I loved it! It took me about 45 minutes or so to rod, 1 hour under the dryer and another couple of hours of airdrying (while I did my nails and feet) to complete. Then...I removed most of the rods and pinned the curls up into place and slept carefully. MOST Black women at one point or another in life have slept "carefully" i.e. on your forehead, in a chair, propped up by your hand, and I am no different. I rotated between arms folded on my forehead with my chest elevated by pillows and keeping my head in the air by holding it with my arm. Completely uncomfortable, but as you can see the curls remained intact and I felt it was all worth it as I received compliments at the wedding. Sidebar: I don't have the tolerance to do "careful" styles very often and best believe after the wedding I piled those bad boys on the top of my hair, slapped a bonnet on and laid down like a normal person! But on occasion I do return to "careful" sleeping for special occasions like this one.
Anyway...I'm digressing. After the wedding, I already began thinking of what workouts I would do where I could preserve my beloved curls for at least 3 days! Before embarking on this journey...this would constitute me to NOT workout until I changed my hair. Yes...I was one of those Black women who would put hair before fitness. I'm proud of the fact that I no longer do that as much, but every once in a while that old person who values a hairstyle so much resurfaces. A HAIRSTYLE, one that can be replicated, redone, recreated as many times as I like will come before WORKING OUT, something that has to be done regularly to be maintained. How ironic and moreover silly is that??? If you Google "Reasons Black Women Don't Exercise" the #1 reason is hair. Harvard University even conducted a study that concluded this...its not just an urban legend.
I'm really proud of myself because I forced myself to NOT be that woman, but rather to be a woman who focuses on overall appearance and health...not just hair. So as much as I didn't want to - I placed a hairnet on my hair to keep the curls gathered and got busy with Jillian Michaels. Today I will do the same as well as jump some rope.
Who can relate to what I'm saying? If not hair then what aesthetic thing will you put before working out? Freshly painted toenails? A spray tan that you don't want to streak? What?
