No sweat: African American adolescent girls’ opinions of hairstyle choices and physical activity

Abstract

BackgroundObesity prevalence is higher among African American adolescent (AAA) girls than among non-black girls. Lower levels of physical activity (PA) likely contribute to this disparity; this may be impacted by hairstyle concerns.MethodsIn 2011, focus groups were conducted with AAA girls 14-17 years old (n = 36) in Michigan (n = 9), California (n = 11), and Georgia (n = 16). Groups addressed perceptions of hairstyles, exercise, and relationships between the two. Groups were recorded, transcripts reviewed, and themes identified. Adolescents completed a standardized ethnic identity (EI) measure and a survey addressing demographics and PA. Linear regression was used to examine associations between self-reported activity and participants’ characteristics.ResultsFour themes emerged: 1) between ages 8 and 15, when concerns about hairstyles began, participants changed from “juvenile” (natural) styles to “adult” (straightened) styles; 2) participants avoided getting wet or sweating during exercise because their straightened hair became “nappy;” 3) braids with extensions and natural styles were viewed as better for exercise but not very attractive; 4) participants almost universally selected long, straight hairstyles as most attractive. In Michigan and California, EI was positively associated with levels of PA (p < 0.05) and overall having extensions was also positively associated with levels of PA.ConclusionsA preference for straight hair may contribute to AAA girls avoiding certain activities due to concerns about sweat affecting their hair. Furthermore, EI and hairstyle choice appear to be associated with levels of PA for some participants. Efforts to increase AAA girls’ PA may benefit from approaches that address hairstyle choices and EI.

Melanin and Curls: Evaluation of Black Women Candidates

“…Researchers have found that Black women's hair impacts how Black women are treated and perceived. Studies have shown that Americans prefer Black women with smooth hair rather than natural hair (Rudman and McLean 2016; Woolford et al 2016). Hair not only serves a marker for racial identification, but also beauty (Robinson 2011).…”

Hair Maintenance and Chemical Hair Product Usage as Barriers to Physical Activity in Childhood and Adulthood among African American Women

“…For instance, moisture in the environment or from sweat can negatively impact such hairstyles. Indeed, “sweating out” hairstyles or causing hair to revert back to a naturally curly state during PA is often avoided [ 16 , 18 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Moreover, even if Black/AA women wear their hair in its naturally curly state, it is difficult for the hair to stay moisturized because the curl pattern makes it difficult for naturally produced oils to travel from the hair shaft down the strand [ 13 , 24 ].…”

“…Therefore, even wearing hair in a natural state can result in PA avoidance because natural hairstyles may still require extensive hair product use and hair maintenance. In fact, qualitative studies support hair maintenance as a unique barrier to physical activity among Black/AA women as early as adolescence and into adulthood [ 13 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 27 ].…”

“…Lack of physical activity throughout the life course may partially explain recalcitrant disparities in poor cardiometabolic health among AA/Black women, and further study of hair product usage and maintenance behaviors as contributors is warranted. Although there have been several qualitative or mixed-methods studies to date that have investigated the associations between hair maintenance and the lack of physical activity among Black/AA adolescent girls and women [ 13 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], quantitative studies with large sample sizes that consider chemical hair products usage patterns and physical activity are necessary. We sought to investigate the associations of (1) chemical hair product use and (2) hair maintenance behaviors with physical activity.…”

Sweat and Hair: Online Interventions for Improving Physical Activity in African-American Women

“…Obesity rates are disproportionately high in African-American women (AAW), with a prevalence of 56.9% [1]. Several barriers to weight loss have been identified, but one dermatologic barrier unique to AAW is a concern for preserving hairstyles [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. It has been shown that women who avoided exercise due to hair-related concerns are three times more likely to obtain less than the recommended 150 min of moderate physical activity per week [9,10].…”