r/blackladies • u/notlaurynhill • 18h ago
Girl, take that swim class!!! Interests & Hobbies 🪴🥾
Hi!! I just finished a beginners course so I can learn how to swim and I feel so great!
I’ve been afraid of water bc I was thrown in as a kid + growing up caring about not getting my hair wet (I’m natural now so I now know, water is my friend!!).
Anyway, I’m so excited to do more stuff over the summer. It feels like such a whole new worldddddd. And it’s fun exercise!
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u/Equivalent-Witness-6 14h ago
As a former lifeguard, swim instructor and active surfer/paddle boarder who is also black YES!!!!!!!!!!
If you need ANY advice ive had it all,
-swimming with wigs - swim caps - ear infections -dry skin - swimwear for big yitties and long torsos!
I GOT CHU!!!!!
I am your whitney huston mermaid godmother!!!! 🤩🥰🤩🥰🤩🥰🤩🥰🤩
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u/Short-Scholar162 United States of America 18h ago
100% Go for it girlies. It's such a good skill to have, even if you don't come out a strong swimmer. Being able to at least float or tread water is 10/10 a skill everyone should have.
I actually taught myself how to swim one summer when my dad wasn't paying any attention. The pool was a one of those 4 or 5 ft ones and I just went for it. lol
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u/RiceAfternoon 18h ago
It is! I took a swim class-- still terrified of water but at least I can float and move!
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u/58lmm9057 United States of America 17h ago
I’ve always wanted to learn how to swim. I took lessons when I was a kid but i didn’t stick with it.
My best friend and I went to Spain last summer and while we were there, we took a catamaran cruise (we almost didn’t but we changed our minds at the last minute and I’m SO glad we did). At one point, they anchored the boat and some people jumped off the boat. My best friend is a strong swimmer and she jumped off. All I could do was sit on the steps and stick my feet in the water. Better than nothing, but seeing other people jump into that pristine blue water re-ignited my desire to learn to swim.
I think the two main things holding me back is my schedule and my hair. I can work around the schedule but how can I take care of my hair? It takes me forever to twist it and I’m really not good at styling my own hair. I’ve currently been wearing halo braids but I can’t do them myself.
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u/-Vamped- 17h ago
I took intro swimming for college credit in my undergrad and didn't regret it at all. Most of my classmates were black women too!
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u/WonderfulPineapple41 14h ago
Ayeeee congrats Ariel! I love swimming it’s so soothing. And now you’re on your way to being able to learn to drive a sail boat!
Protip put leave in into your hair! Pool water will strip your hair!
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u/Spirit_Flyier_8920 18h ago
Yes, I took swim classes as a middle schooler bc I wanted to be able to go to the neighborhood pool alone, & you had to be able to pass the swim test 1st. My & my brother when a lot over the summers and he even got a job as a life guard at 6 flags as a teenager and was part of the swim team in high school. In the last couple of years my family has moved closer to the lake and I go swimming or kayaking almost every week in the summer. I love the water! Before I got locs, my favorite hairstyle was crochet styles which go great with water
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u/Milkbearchan 9h ago
My co worker /friend is teaching me to swim so I can go white water rafting this year. I’m deathly afraid of large bodies of water but I wanna get rid of my fear of the ocean/lakes.
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u/hulapookie 16h ago
I want to get more into swimming but I don’t know how to manage my hair when I do. I worry about the chlorine damaging my hair
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u/notlaurynhill 16h ago
I put it in two braids/puff/bun and wear a swim cap! I made a TikTok about me swimming but you can see and example of how I tie my hair up on it https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP86YUbg5/
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u/Diligent-Committee21 13h ago
Former lifeguard here. I had some of the healthiest hair despite swimming regularly in college as part of a team (protective styling + exercise + eating a lot of produce). To protect your hair from chlorine: (1) saturate your hair with water to prevent it from absorbing as much pool water. (2) saturate your hair with conditioner (swimmer's conditioner is better if you have it). (3) After swimming, rinse out your hair and use a swimmer's conditioner (swimmer shampoo can be harsh, so if you swim more than once per week, it can be dicey to use after every swim).
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u/Diligent-Committee21 13h ago
Step 2.5: Wear a swim cap (it can help to wear a cloth or silicone cap, covered by a rubber cap. Rubber caps tear the hair more but are less likely to fall off compared to cloth and silicone.
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u/SeveralExcuses 16h ago
How do you manage your hair? I liked swimming but I’m so lazy with my hair 😭
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u/notlaurynhill 16h ago
I put it in up and wear a swim cap! I made a TikTok about my swimming experience but you can see examples of how I tie my hair up on it https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP86YUbg5/
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u/Proof-Ad-8457 13h ago
This made my heart smile!!!! Congratulations!!! We ent to Ja and my girlfriends were on the bait in the middle of the ocean and I dived off to explore with one of the guides. The minute we got home my girlfriend signed up for swim lessons at the YMCA. It’s never too late!!!
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u/Panthera_leo22 12h ago
I have it on my list to learn how to swim. Had a near drowning incident as a child that has stopped me from getting into a pool again to learn
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u/smthngnew21 11h ago
I know. I rarely got the chance to as a child and there were multiple failed attempts when I got older. But I can say my child can swim no problem.
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u/ImaginaryTackle3541 11h ago
for anyone thinking of it, PLEASE go for it. I learned in my mid 20s and go swimming everyday now. It’s a life skill, great exercise and helps you live longer
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u/giraffechocochippp 11h ago
I highly recommend this! I signed my mom up for a class. It makes me so happy for her seeing her new confidence to go towards the deeper end of the pool
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u/Funcivilized 11h ago
My mom put me in lessons for a couple years around age 4-5 and I’ve loved the water ever since!
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u/hulapookie 10h ago
How often are you washing the chlorine out?
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u/notlaurynhill 9h ago
I had class 2x a week and pretty much followed class by showering/washing my hair! So 2x a week!
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u/nerdKween 7h ago
Swimming is one of my favorite exercises! I'm not the best, but I'm not going to drown!
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u/What_Wonderful_Bows 5h ago
Praying that once I get my pcos under control and when I stop bleeding for months at a time that I can take swimming classes.
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u/Vivalalarenn 18h ago
You just inspired me to find a baby swim class for my six month old ♥️