Donald was able to transition from natural to relaxed hair thanks to Rejane Moura, a hairstylist. The Brazilian-born natural-hair stylist, who once worked alongside the cofounders of now defunct Miss Jessie’s Salon, aims to provide a relaxing atmosphere for her curly-haired clients. A not-so-gentle push from a friend of Donald’s led her to Rejane’s Hair Studio in New York’s Midtown East. Donald describes Rejane’s as a less expensive and more stressful way to take care of her hair. “It’s an easy process if you have the right people around you,” she says. Not all of us have the right people.
Running enthusiasts also love protective styles. Nattalyee Randall is a self-described “medal addict” and wears her signature braids to races. She also makes a big impact on the New York City running scene. Randall started the 50 Mile Run for Justice in 2020. Each mile that her group ran was dedicated for a Black and brown victim of police brutality. The project included the families of Eric Garner, Sean Bell, and the documentary that followed. The Race Against Race. Nattalyee, a filmmaker, and actor, wanted the Black Lives Matter movement to be known and honored.
Sharntai Harris, licensed stylist and owner of the FabStylist Salon in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, suggests protective styles for runners because they give hair a break from processing and overwashing. For silk-press runners, she suggests pining hair up in two topknots and pin curls to preserve the look even when sweating. “Avoid wrapping hair around the head, which could lead to sweating out multiple parts of the hair rather than just the roots,” she says. “Runners with longer natural hair can do the ‘pineapple effect.’ Take a scarf and tie it around the perimeter of your head to make a ponytail. Don’t worry, curls and volume can still be protected here!”
Runners with short hairstyles like pixies often have trouble keeping their hair healthy. Sharntai recommends the Gymwrap to protect your hair and absorb moisture. She recommends using Sunday II Sunday hair-care brand for all hair types and styles, including the Root Refresh Micellar Rinse, to keep your hair looking fresh between washes.
Blackness, fitness, community, and Blackness are all interconnected for Black athletes. It can be very difficult to accept your identity and feel comfortable in a place that is not meant for it. It’s even more difficult when we are not given the resources to foster a community. Space allows us to feel loved and supported.
To have a healthy relationship between hair, bodies, and communities, you need patience. Black runners who have felt shamed or marginalized by their hair can now tell me that your definitions of exercise do not have to conform to the expectations of the fitness industry. There might not be castor oil or Adwoa Beauty in the locker room, but it’s so important to take care of your hair in a society that has given us every reason not to.
Source: Glamour
