Salsa y Cabello Natural! (Salsa and Natural Hair)

 

Hola Todos!

For those of you readers who don't know: I LOVE to dance. Accounting I do for a living...but it's dancing that I'm passionate about :) I danced Latin and Ballroom for 4 years and now I mainly dance Latin. I am currently a part of a Salsa team in Toronto. Apart from the ballroom dances, I also love Bachata, Kizomba and Zouk.



Salsa Performance - That's me on the far right.



So this post is entitled Salsa y Cabello Natural (Salsa and Natural Hair). I don't ever straighten my hair for dance, because it's too much of a hassle. It'll just start to frizz and go back to afro after a 3 minute salsa dance. I dance 2-3 times a week and I do yoga once a week, so I my styles have to be quick and simple. This post is tips for naturals on dealing with natural hair while maintaining a consistent exercise regime.



Pick a Style!

Twists: Simple and easy! I'll wear these during team practice or when I do hot yoga. It helps to keep it stretched during my most extreme sweating sessions (lol), so I don't have to deal with a tangled shrunken mess when I return home.

Twist Outs: I love my 'fro and I'll normally wear a twist out when I'm performing or when I go out; the bigger the better! My afro doesn't really shrink too much when I dance and in any case if it does I don't mind. However, I could never wear my afro to a hot yoga session...oh the shrinkage and tangles that would result!

 

There are tons of other protective styles: braids, cornrows, buns, ponytails, poofs, etc. The most important thing is you want something that's simple, quick and easy, but also protective. Pick the style that's best for your work out and when it doubt, put it up! Or try wrapping your hair with a scarf or wrap.

  

Salsa Performance

Co-Washing

Co-washing is like my best friend. I'll co-wash my hair after a hot yoga session or extreme night of dancing.

Build your regime around your work-outs

 

If I have twists in, I'll co-wash with the twists in my hair. Often times I'll come home from a Salsa night (i.e., late Friday night) and I'll have to go out the Saturday morning. I'll co-wash my hair, and add leave-in, oil and gel. I'll then put my hair into approx ten braids and I'll go about my business the next day with the braids in. I have the process down, so I can be in bed in less than an hour! When I'm ready to go dancing again on Saturday night, I'll remove the braids, fluff and go! It might take me an extra hour on Friday night before bed, but it'll cut down my styling time the next night.  Or sometimes if my curls are doing good, I'll just throw it in a poof the next day.



Poof - Salsa Dancing



Since I dance mostly on weekends (Friday-Sunday), I'll normally do my wash and DC on a Sunday or Monday evening. This way, I'm good to go for the next week!

If you're sweating a lot, it's important to cleanse your scalp frequently to avoid buildup and remove impurities. I only shampoo once a month, but I find that rinsing my hair and scalp thoroughly with water and then co-washing works well for me.



Twist Out - Afro Cuban Routine



It's important to plan your regime around your work outs, so that way neither your hair or your workout has to get compromised :)

 
What style do wear when you work-out? How do you fit your exercise in around your weekly hair regime?

xx

J

"Free your hair and the rest will follow."

Twist Out - Zouking