Oh, my fellow curly haired sisters…my sista girls who fear the sweat that ruins the ‘do. I feel your pain. I have tight curly hair that I like straightening from time to time, but I work out almost every day—which means I either have to keep blow drying and straightening every night or I have to forgo the gym. Just writing that makes my butt twitch. I know it happens though…a lot, actually. The Surgeon General DID say that women have to stop using their hair as an excuse not to exercise. The SG apparently doesn’t have a fro like moi.

A lot of my gal pals with weaves, perms—basically any hair style that is allergic to sweat—complain to me about the dilemma of working out and the hairy consequences. A lot of us gals can’t wash our hair every day unless we don’t mind dry, brittle coifs, so we forgo the runs and push-ups. Because of this stress, I was more than happy to try out actress Nicole Ari Parker’s GymWrap. She was on the right path. Her headband boasts a revolutionary (patent-pending) Edge Control Technology that minimizes the sweat absorption into one’s hair through a unique blend of material that allows heat to escape while letting cool air in. Basically, it promises to wick much like our workout clothes do.

My first reaction: Are you kidding me?! Had this angelic woman actually created a contraption that could end the hair/workout excuses for good?! I was more than happy to test one out.

So one day, I straightened my hair, and then I put on the headband. I felt like a bad arse for sure.

First, I couldn’t get the darn thing to stay on my head. I decided to take a cardio weight class to ensure I’d sweat. I had to stop jump-roping three times to retie the darn thing. One perk of the headband, no matter how tight you tie it, it will not hurt your noggin. After the class, I raced to the locker room to see if it had worked.  

Don’t know if you can tell or not but that’s mad curly rat’s nest on my head. It didn’t work! Oh, the agony! I swear I’m not a sweaty beast. It takes me awhile to even work up a sweat, but even with my wussy sweat glands I was still able to sweat out my hair. You don’t know how sad I was.

At the very most, it keeps the sweat off of your forehead and it’s mad comfortable to wear, but don’t think you can visit the salon and then head straight to the gym. It retails for $24.95 ($29.95 for the Full Triangle version) which isn’t bad if you’re looking for a comfortable sweat band. Can you tell I’m bummed though? I promise on my fit bottom that I WILL find a product that actually keeps my ‘do in tact. Promise!

Does your hair keep you from working out? Found anything that helps? Let’s discuss! —Tish

Why are all of the FBGs discussing green fitness stuff this week? Because it’s Fit Bottomed Earth Week, silly!

Bamboo…it’s not just for pandas! In fact, bamboo is a highly renewable source of material that’s totally eco-friendly. Read on for three unique bamboo products that you can use in your workouts—and fit life!

Filled with bamboo and charcoal, it's a natural way to get the stink out of stinky!

1. Moso Natural Moso Bag. Sick of your gym bag smelling like the guys’ locker room but don’t want to cover it up with perfume or other unnatural scents? To the rescue is the Moso Natural Moso Bag, an air-purifying bag that absorbs and filters out not only odors, but also harmful pollutants, allergens and bacteria and dehumidifies to prevent mildew, mold and moisture. Made from 100 percent bamboo charcoal, Moso Bags are a fragrance-free, non-toxic and eco-friendly air purifier that the company says will work to remove impurities in the air for up to two years. Two years!

The bamboo-filled bags are available in three colors and two sizes. The small Moso Bag ($9.95) is ideal for smaller areas covering approximately 90 square feet (bathroom, car—an extra roomy gym bag!) while the large Moso Bag ($22.95) is ideal for larger living spaces covering about 250 square feet. I’ve used a little one both in my bathroom and in my gym bag, and the little bag, which has zero smell, works!

How confident are you about showing off your underarms? Credit: lululemon athletica

The following is a post sponsored by Dove Clear Tone Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant. For our sponsored post policy, click here.

Now that it’s spring (and the temps have been crazy warmer than usual), we’ve been breaking out the tank tops for workouts! While this is awesome, the one thing I’ve been less than stoked about is showing off my armpits. While I’ve made peace with the fact that I’ll always be a pale redhead with slightly pink undertones, I refuse to settle with having red marks on my underarms. No way, dude!

And it turns out, I’m not alone. According to Dove Clear Tone Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant, a whopping 32 million women in the U.S. experience similar red and dark marks on their underarms due to dryness and shaving. Ouch! And unsightly! When we work out, we want to feel good and look good, which is why we’ve recently partnered with Dove to create the Move Confidently campaign. Dove’s new Clear Tone Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant is amazing at correcting this pesky underarm issue, which is why we want to tell the world about it!

Made with calendula, sunflower seed extracts and unique Dove moisturizers, this new anti-perspirant/deodorant helps accelerate the natural skin-renewal process. In fact, after using the product for two weeks, nine out of ten women preferred it for more even-looking skin tone. We’ve used it for a few weeks now, and we agree that the stuff just works. Not to mention that it also keeps you dry and fresh during workouts and smells hella good. (And if you need the big guns, it also comes in Dove Clear Tone Clinical Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant.)

Over the next couple of months, we’ll be bringing you all kinds of Move Confidently Dove Clear Tone Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant & FBG campaign content, including a 10-minute workout that you’ll be able to do confidently (read: without sleeves and the embarrassment of redness) and tips on building confidence in yourself. It’s going to be fun!

Oh, and did we mention there’s a giveaway? Comment about your experience with underarm redness below, and in about a week, we’ll select one lucky U.S. reader to try Dove’s new Clear Tone Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant herself! Woot! —Jenn

Why are you reading about dude-related stuff? Because it’s Fit Bottomed Dudes’ Week, that’s why! Click here for all the special posts, and please share with the guys in your life! 

Despite my better judgment, I find myself back for Fit Bottomed Dudes’ week again this year, being some hapless guinea pig for yet another boys-only targeted body product.  This year, we go for some smooth, clean-cut testing…Hey Dude Cleansing Shave Gel.

So, where to start? I guess the best way to get into this is to put you into my mindset. When offered the chance to test out another product this year, I was a bit leery. Last year, I was coaxed into testing this gem, so I wasn’t sure what the girls had in mind this year.  They promised it would be something much less…well…private.

Enter Hey Dude.

Great. I HATE shaving. It really is one of the worst parts of the daily routine…and I use “daily” pretty loosely. But, I have to admit the name cracked me up a bit. I mean, HEY, I’m a DUDE…this must be for me.

The tube arrives,  and straight away I am beginning to like this assignment.  There is a very sharp looking dude right there on tube. His hair is a-muss, and he’s wearing a very stylish striped shirt. Hey, that dude is just like me! We are off to a good start, so time to see what this product is all about.

The very first line on the packaging asks, “What Dude…” (yes, capital D)…”What Dude doesn’t want to save time?” Well, this Dude likes saving time so much he doesn’t shave very often, but can’t wait to try this stuff! Right there on the tube, it says I can “Dudify” my morning routine by combining steps to combine cleansing and shaving my “mug.” (You have to get into the lingo to be truly Dudified). Ok, I’m in. Let’s Dudify this thing.

There is a big deal about the use of eucalyptus oil being used in this project, and I’m no animal-rights activist, but I hope no koalas went hungry in the making of this product. However, it’s supposed to help retain moisture while taking a deadly sharp piece of steel to your “mug.”

I have to really honest. This is far and away the best shaving lubricant I have ever used. (Must be all those generous koalas donating their precious agriculture to science.) It was very slick, and the razor really did glide along my face as promised. No razor burn. No irritation. Just a very fine shave that a gentleman—excuse me, dude, like myself—deserves.

As far as the cleansing portion of the program, I would say it is middle of the road. Very soft, mild and slightly refreshing on the skin, but I have used better products. But Hey, Dudes who are saving time understand there is give and take.

There is a whole line of Hey Dude skin care products that focus on the various aspects of the daily routine. So, I say, Dudify yourself and give the shaving gel a try. It claims that it will make “her shout ‘Dude!’” but my wife usually only says that in disgust—so maybe you’ll have better luck than me. —Scott Barton

We’re never too shy about, well, anything here on FBG when it comes to reviews. We’ve peed. We’ve pooped—twice. We’ve armpit-sweated up a storm. So when we had the chance to try The DivaCup, a reusable cup that’s an alternative to pads/tampons and comfortable during workouts? Well, that seemed as normal as reviewing a workout DVD or a pair of new running shoes.

Or so I thought. I’ve not overly shy about my vajay. In fact, I heart her. I regularly use tampons and have gotten plenty friendly with my cervical fluid through this process. So inserting something as simple as a cup up there didn’t intimidate me in the least. Although, I was very, very curious as to how it all worked and if it worked.

The DivaCup is a really cool idea. Because pads and tampons are often bleached out and made with less than desirable ingredients—not to mention have risks involved—The DivaCup, which is made of silicone, lets you feel comfortable with what you’re exposing your body to. Also, it can be worn for up to 12 hours, and it’s way better for the environment because it’s reusable. So on the whole, lots and lots of good things about it.

But—without getting too graphic—I had a heck of a time getting it, ahem, situated. The DivaCup comes in two sizes. One for those under 30 years old and without kids, and one for those over 30 and/or women who have given birth. Seeing that I’m 31, I opted first for Model 2, but after not being able to get it to feel right (like a properly inserted tampon, you’re not supposed to feel it, but I could), I downsized to the smaller Model 1. Alas, I still felt it. When you insert it, you’re supposed to fold it a specific way, get it up in the right spot, twist it and then it suctions, which keeps it in place. Maybe my whole nether region is just small, but I could get it to section and rotate, but it just never felt right, so I only kept it in for a few minutes at a time. And removing it? Well, let’s just say that the suction did its job rather well, and it took a few tries. I tried to use The DivaCup a total of three times, but never quite got it. And, honestly, since Aunt Flo was in town, it just got pretty messy. Although it does come with a super cute little flowered fabric purse for you to carry it around in when it’s clean.

Now my experience does not mean that you shouldn’t try it. And next month, I plan to bust it out again because, like I said, I love the idea of it. Not to mention that I know people who use it and love it—especially when training for races and such. And at less than $30, it’s kind of like buying a box of tampons that will last for at least a year if washed and cared for properly.

So tell us, would you try The DivaCup? Have you used it before? Think it’s cool? Too up in your business? Have any tips for me? Let’s discuss! —Jenn 

Confession: I purposely don’t buy a lot of white shirts or tanks to work out in because, well, they just get gross in the armpit region. And yellow. And did I mention gross? I’ve heard my girlfriends complain of this, too, but it’s a huge bummer to have to ditch some of your favorite white workout apparel just because of some yellow armpit stains. Well, turns out, a company has a solution to this unsightly little problem, and we got to try it!

I was seriously skeptical of Deo-Go at first. No way something that doesn’t have bleach in it can get the yellow out—even on color garments. But apparently I was wrong because Deo-Go stood up to my gnarliest of tests. I busted out my favorite white workout T (from The Fit Pit!), which sadly was covered with a good six months of old, yellowed deodorant in the armpit zone. And after spraying the Deo-Go until the yellowed area was really wet, scrubbing it like crazy, letting it sit for 20 minutes and then washing it by itself on a normal setting, my shirt came back de-yellowed.

Seriously. Proof is below:

Now, I will say that Deo-Go smells a bit like paint, and it says to wash your hands right after use, so gosh knows there are some strong chemicals in there to de-yellow the yellowist of armpits. And having to do each shirt one by one in the wash is some work, but for those favorite white shirts that have been ruined, this is certainly a way to revive them. I still don’t see myself going to an all-white workout wardrobe (for reasons other than yellow armpits), but for the ones I really, really love? Well, this is a shirt-saver indeed. And at about $10 for a bottle of Deo-Go (much cheaper than a new white shirt!), the company says you can expect to save about 15 shirts from Yellow Armpit Syndrome per bottle.

Do you get really bad yellow armpit stains, too? Would you try Deo-Go to get them out? Share your armpitty truth! Ew… —Jenn

I didn’t used to take a lot of baths. They always seemed too indulgent—just sitting there and getting pruney for 15 minutes or so. (Not to mention that I usually spend half the time thinking about how I really, really need to clean my tub more thoroughly.) But then the peeps at Dr. Teals sent us an email asking to try their new collection that revitalizes achy tired muscles, and I really had no choice but to get my soak on. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it. Read on for my thoughts on the three products I tried from the line!

Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt Sleep

In junior high, FBG Tish (we’ve been buds for a long time, yo) had this lavender spray that I swear would put us to sleep no matter how much Dr. Pepper we had guzzled down or how loud we had the Spice Girls cranked up on the stereo. And those memories flooded back to me as soon as I opened this package of Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt Sleep.

A mix of magnesium and sulfate, which are known to help tired, achy muscles and refresh skin, this bath soak is part therapeutic, part pamperific. The lavender smell seriously calms you the heck down on its own. So when you add a hot bath to the mix, it’s pretty much a recipe for relaxation. You just sprinkle into your hot tub and zen out. After using the Epsom salt the night of a really hard workout, it didn’t take my soreness away totally, but it certainly helped. And I smelled wonderful. At $15 for a big bag of the stuff online (cheaper in stores—$5!), it’s a luxury worth the price.

The FBGs are no experts on beauty products. While we’ll quickly comment on the latest fitness fashion trends or whether or not a cleanser works, when it comes to actual beauty products like mascara, facial masks and the like, we’re a bit out of our comfort zone. So, when Emilie and Jen of Running with Mascara, the official blog of FitandFabLiving.com, offered to write up a few tips on beauty and the gym, we were game!

According to the gals, Running with Mascara was created to promote healthy living and beauty tips. The blog also focuses on giveaways that are related to health, wellness and fitness, as well as fashion and beauty in the news. Overall, Running with Mascara is a healthy living and beauty blog, dedicated to sharing helpful tips to look and feel your best! Sounds like something we can dig!

Top Beauty Tips and Fave Products from Running With Mascara

Mascara is a must, say the writers of Running with Mascara! Makes sense... Credit: _overanalyzer

My name is Emilie. I was a runner in high school and college, and I am slowly making my way back by training for a 5K. It’s hard to get back in the habit, but given my personal experience, I can help others reach their goals and provide motivation for people who have reentered the world of fitness. Growing up playing sports (ice hockey was my favorite!) and loving academic life, I have always appreciated people who have a healthy interest in both. It’s important to keep a balance!

When it comes to beauty, I love Sephora and the amazing sales they have at Ulta. I truly believe that not wearing mascara is a sin, but I keep it pretty bare during the week. On weekends, I dial it up. I have perfected the smoky eye for nights out. In terms of beauty products, I swear by Origins 10-minute mask called Drink Up. It is the best hydrating product I’ve found. My skin has gotten progressively drier with each fall/winter season, and this product keeps me fresh and clean. Who doesn’t love feeling that automatic change in their skin after using a product? You can see and feel the difference.

Our other awesome editor is Jen. Jen and I are both pop-culture and fashion enthusiasts. Jen loves being updated on all the trends, such as what colors are seen on the runway and what shoes are in for the season. Trying new makeup products and exercises keeps her daily routine interesting, and finding clothing and makeup on sale especially makes her happy! Her favorite beauty product is Essie nail polish (in a variety of colors). She also loves the foundation and powders from Clinique. She really has an eye for color and is always changing her nail polish.

Our best tip for a post-workout makeup refresher? Carry face wipes or use a towel with cool water to dab your face of any sweat. And keep a tinted moisturizer handy—it will even out your skin and hydrate it so that you can go from the gym to a coffee date. Keep it simple and you can’t go wrong!

I’ve so committed a sin with the lack of mascara many days…but I am DIGGING the product suggestions and top beauty tips. Thanks, Emilie and Jen! What’s your favorite beauty product? —Jenn

This post brought to you by TRESemmé. All opinions are 100 percent ours.

There’s nothing like getting done with a killer workout, only to have to rush back to work or to the next to-do on your list looking like a hot, sweaty mess. While we haven’t found a way to look as fresh as if you just showered after leaving the gym, we have found a way to help your hair style out tenfold: TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo.

At one time, dry shampoo was only offered by the super-expensive beauty brands out there, making it a pricey post-workout-hair fix. But TRESemmé created a complete line of affordable dry shampoos that are uniquely formulated to absorb excess oil and remove odor, rejuvenating your hair without a drop of water. (And if you need to go a day without showering, it’ll revive your style’s look and feel, too!)

The full line includes four dry shampoos for all hair types. Strengthening Dry Shampoo has B12 vitamins and keratin, which helps strengthen hair and leaves it full of healthy body. The Volumizing Dry Shampoo has mineral clay and citrus to remove oil while injecting hair with salon-gorgeous volume. Smoothing Dry Shampoo contains vitamin H and silk proteins, which refreshes your straight style by removing excess oil, impurities and odor to ensure your smooth look lasts. And Moisturizing Waterless Foam Shampoo includes witch hazel, citrus and aloe vera to refresh your hair by removing excess oil, impurities and odor, all while moisturizing hair. With a renewing burst of citrus extracts infused into every product in the line, it leaves hair with a clean, fresh scent.

I tried the Volumizing Dry Shampoo after a workout and loved it. It soaked up oil near my scalp and left my hair looking like it hadn’t been in a high sweaty ponytail for a three-mile run. The dry shampoo is super easy to use, too. Here’s a quick guide on how to get the most from your TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo.

• Do shake vigorously before use and in between spray bursts for best results.
• Do lift sections of dry hair and spray lightly at roots
• Do spray in short bursts, holding 8-12 inches from head
• Don’t spray it like hair spray (all over and continuously)
• Do leave in for 1-2 minutes.
• Do use fingertips or a brush to distribute product evenly
• If clogging occurs, remove nozzle and rinse the nozzle under warm water, then reattach.

If you’d like more tips for making the most of your TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo, check out this Top Hair Products for School video by YouTube Celebrity Elle Fowler. She recently teamed up with TRESemmé to teach you how to use TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo properly. Check it out!

See? Easy to use and it totally works! Have you ever tried TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo before? Will you? Do share! —Jenn

We’ve been rather verbose about our, ahem, odor from time to time. Be it wet-dog smell after a run, pits that could use extra deo or workout clothes that get rank after a Bikram yoga class, getting sweaty can get stinky. We’ve tried special laundry detergents that are made specifically for laundering workout clothes, but we haven’t really tried an entirely natural one. Because we’re always looking to make the earth a little fitter along with our booties, we decided to give the Vaska line of detergents a go after they hit us up with an email.

I tried two different Vaska formulas. The first was Vaska Herbatergent in lavender, which is a liquid laundry detergent that uses real lavender and “botanical-cleaning agents” to clean clothing and linens without harmful chemicals. To give it a fair shake, I washed just about everything in my home with this stuff: clothes, a sports bra I ran in, sheets, towels, all of it. Unlike more commercial brands that are very viscous, Herbatergent is like water—lovely lavender-smelling water. Add a cap-full to your wash and let it work its magic. It left my clothes feeling soft, looking clean and smelling just slightly of lavender. (Love.) It didn’t appear to be any more or less efficient than my usual Tide, but it certainly didn’t irritate my sensitive skin—and I felt good about using a product that was more natural and eco-friendly. At just about $10 for a 48-ounce bottle (32 loads), it’s not cheap, but it’s not super-pricey either.

The second Vaska product I tried was Spotoff, the natural line’s version of Shout stain remover. In what I’m considering a small miracle, for the entire month I tested the line, not once did my husband or I spill anything that needed Spotoff. So, on a Tuesday afternoon, I popped a bottle of Two-Buck Chuck open and spilled it on a white dish towel that I wasn’t particularly attached to. And then I poured myself a glass and did some laundry. (You know, for work, people.) Although Spotoff didn’t get all of the Shiraz out in one washing, it got A LOT of it out. The stain-remover spray can be used on spills on rugs and upholstery, too, but I didn’t go splashing my wine around to test. That’s more of a Friday night thing. At just about $10 for a 22-ounce spray bottle, unless you have a gaggle of kids or puppies running amok in your home, one bottle should last you a few years, making the cost (and lack of chemicals) totally worth it.

Overall, these natural products seem to do as well as the commercial stuff—minus the chemicals, dyes and overpowering fragrances that can irritate sensitive skin and tick Mother Nature off. When it comes to washing your clothes, do you spend more on more natural products? —Jenn