Hairstyle World Article for Women

Athletic Hairstyles for Active Females

By Kate M. D’Imperio

Get geared up for your sporting events with a new hairstyle! Whether your favorite sport is soccer, track and field, basketball, softball, rugby, running or something completely different, keeping the hair off the back of your neck and out of your eyes will surely make playing conditions more comfortable.

Double braids work well with medium to longer hair lengths as they both keep the hair out of the face and off of the neck.

Using a comb, trace a straight part down the back of the head and secure one of the two sections with an elastic band.

Begin braiding by separating the remaining segment of hair into three equal sections. Braid hair by alternately pulling each of the outside sections of hair toward the center, over the middle section. Continue braiding hair until only an inch or two remains at the bottom of the braid. Fasten the end with an elastic hair band and repeat for the second braid. For best results, braid hair while it is still damp from the shower unless sporting events are during cold winter months. (Consider doing this same style with French braids if you know how.)

Using elastic headbands, pull hair back from forehead and tie it up into a high ponytail for the best and easiest off the neck, out-of-the-eyes style. Elastic bands work best for ponytails because plastic and metal clips can sometimes cause injury if sporting accidents occur.

Mini-braid mania – Using tiny rubber bands made specifically for hair, braid bangs or front section of hair split into tiny sections, one by one. Depending on hair’s length and personal preferences, braid one or two rows and tie the rest back into a ponytail. For those with much time on their hands or a whole bunch of friends to help out, braid the entire head! If desired, use hairspray or gel to strengthen the hold. Consider using an elastic headband or other alternative to keep braids against the top of your head and off of your face.

Improvised headband - If elastic headbands are not among the selection of barrettes and clips in your personal hair care inventory, don’t worry. Try to get some pre-wrap from your team’s athletic trainer if possible, or barring that, find an old T-shirt and cut off one sleeve. Cut the sleeve again, but just at the seam that stitches it from bicep to armpit. Open up the sleeve and cut tiny strips about one-half inch thick and the entire length of the sleeve, starting the scissors along the edge where you just cut the seam. After cutting the strips, pull fabric gently but firmly to tighten and tie around head, holding hair down securely. This improvised fashion statement could actually accommodate your entire team with hair bands for all, if cutting both sleeves of an old T-shirt.

As a fun tradition, get a few friends together before the game and help each other with an athletic hairstyle. Braiding each other’s hair to keep it out of the eyes and off the neck can provide some relaxing downtime just prior to the opening whistle while putting everyone in a positive mood. Help each other get psyched up and ready to play!

Add comment May 22nd, 2006

Quick and Refreshing Fixes for Your Hair

Kathryn M. D’Imperio

Have you ever had one of those “perfect hair days” where your hair looks fabulous just before you’re about to hop in the shower? Knowing full well that you’d be generously lucky for your hair to look half as nice, you grab that quick shower, even though you just washed your hair this morning/last night.

You needn’t wash your hair repeatedly to ensure remarkable results, so why not skip a shampoo or two? Remember, the more you wash your hair and the more styling products you apply, the greater the amount of buildup that adheres to your silky strands.

Every once in a while, forego the routine washing by twisting your hair up into a towel or piling it into a shower cap before you step into the shower. To alleviate your concerns of how your hair will smell, look and feel without shampooing it just this once, try these tips to keep your hair vibrant and refreshed.

Freshen Up

You’ve got your perfume and your body spray, so why not something sweet and tantalizing for your tresses? A number of well-known companies offer deliciously delightful fragrances for hair, like Clairol’s Herbal Essences Style Refreshing Mist. It comes in a compact pump spray bottle with flirty floral fragrances that are sure to keep you feeling great about your hair.

Another option – if you simply must wash your hair every time you shower, so be it. Shampoo and condition your hair, but do without the blow dryer during the warmer months. Twist your hair up and secure it to your head with a hairpin or some bobby pins. Try a sexy style with some little claw clips or pull your hair back into a classic braid.

De-Frizz and Smooth Out

So the end of the day is nearing and you’ve still got your dinner date in less than an hour. You may not have time to shower and get prettied up all over again, but you can at least apply some frizz-fighting gel or styling product to smooth out your hair.

If you can’t possibly dream of going on a date without a shower to freshen up, take the fastest shower of your life and get moving! Apply a leave-in conditioner or other anti-frizz styling solution to your hair and follow the instructions for drying your hair, or allow it to dry naturally if you have time.

Preserve

While you may not have all the time in the world to get ready, it doesn’t hurt to catch a glimpse of yourself once in a while to be sure your hair is behaving and your makeup hasn’t smudged. Be careful not to whip out your compact in front of your date and surely avoid the obvious gawk at your reflection on a tinted car window as you walk by.

Excuse yourself for a brief trip to the ladies room, and failing all else, use a tiny bit of water or a small dab of hand cream to assuage any hair catastrophes.

Add comment May 22nd, 2006