Written By Terrie-Ann Dacosta

I’ve always been the type of girl who didn’t fear the weather or a good workout…. well at least where my hair was concerned. Growing up I had friends who when the forecast called for rain, mist, fog or any suggestion of humidity higher than 22% would begin to mentally formulate their school outfits around whatever hat or head scarf they had to match. Sweating out one’s hairstyle was considered impertinent…. hardly civilized. Winsome ‘ole me cavalierly unwrapped my hair sans trepidation and kept it moving. Rain today…. no problem, off to the gym…no sweat. Somewhere along the line a friend or two pointed out to me that I was somehow born blessed with a built in rain (not torrential) and humidity repellant on my hair. Ok well maybe I wasn’t born that way but with a little “relaxed” aid no force of nature could spark a frizz or a fly away. With my extensions I never worried about the texture of my own exposed tresses contrasting with the texture of the weave. Kinky roots only sprouted when a touch up was due. Bad hair days were few and far between and hair life was essentially grand as far as I was concerned. I guess I could be considered an ultra girly superhero of sorts.

Things got quite a bit more interesting when I made the bold decision to cut my hair into a dramatically short style. Cutting my hair transformed me in more ways than I can number. The changes were overwhelmingly positive despite the expected initial shock. However, I was also left vulnerable as the lack of hair on my head proved to have a kryptonite like effect on my once impenetrable locks. After my first trip to the gym I felt like Samson. My hair did the unthinkable. It went flat and frizzed. I will admit to being the sort of woman who likes to look cute in the gym (no scarves, attractive workout gear a must, etc.). So I endeavored in cardio with my hair uncovered and got the shock of my life when I strutted past a gym floor mirror. Only then did it become apparent that I was invincible no more. It seems the rules change when the haircut changes and unbeknownst to me adjustments had to be made in accordance in this variance. Last week I got to put the adjustments to the ultimate test as it rained heavily. In testy weather I was simply a lot more cautious and observant of the amount of time that I spent outdoors and in defense of my hair, I must say it held up pretty well. In the gym I did what I have never done before in daylight…I whipped out my silk scarf and I was still cute. I underwent a Hot Pilates class, as in PILATES IN A120-DREGREE ROOM. Outfitted in a scarf that nicely matched my yoga pants and mat, I was instantly reminded of my friends and their hair struggles way back when. After my workout I removed my scarf revealing perfectly maintained hair proving that one is never too old to learn something new. They say necessity is the master of invention and I giddily felt like I just discovered a brand new technique simply by wrapping up my hair. “Obviously”…”Duh”…. I know, but for some reason I felt like doing this would have an adverse effect, like humidity would affect my hair more under the scarf. Often times with change, utter confusion and dismay occur even when the solution seems overwhelmingly clear. This is why we call our friends and talk about our hair issues and new hair techniques for hours on end….trying to reinvent the wheel. I learned in that process that change happens and there is no reason to rework your routine and go crazy. So many of us would instantly go into deep regret over the haircut or quit the gym altogether if it means dealing with hair issues. At the end of the day sometimes a maneuver as simple as tying a scarf can make such a difference. Perhaps the solution could be simply putting to use a new product or changing the direction in which you wrap your hair. Don’t feel that just because you’ve always done something a certain way or because your hair has always reacted a certain way that this will always be the case. Graciously, I accept my lessons, admit my ignorance and reminisce with empathy, like any true ultra girly superhero would.

Feel free to ask me any questions about health, beauty and fashion.

Best

Stacey Ciceron