Hair Care Practices as a Barrier to Physical Activity in African American Women

Objective: To characterize the influence of hairstyle maintenance on exercise behavior in African American women. Design: A 40-item survey with questions concerning hair care practices, physical activity, and the relationship between the two. Setting: University-affiliated dermatology department at an academic medical center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Participants: A total of 123 African American women from 21 to 60 years of age were surveyed; 103 women completed the questionnaire. Main Outcome Measures: The statistical significance of relationships between hair care practices and physical activity was determined. Results: Fifty percent of African American women surveyed have modified their hairstyle to accommodate exercise and nearly 40% (37.9%) avoid exercise at times owing to hair-related issues. Respondents who exercised less owing to hair concerns were 2.9 times less likely to exercise more than 150 min/wk (95% CI, 0.9-9.4; P=.08). Conclusion: Dermatologists can discuss hair management strategies during exercise that facilitate routinely performing exercise. JAMA Dermatol. 2013;149(3):310-314. Published online December 17, 2012. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.1946