Gymwrap by Nicole Ari Parker, voted Women’s Health’s Best Workout Headband, is an innovative headwear brand that prevents moisture from reverting your silk press during your workouts.

Yasss to keeping the edges laid! Nicole Ari Parker shares the inspiration behind her moisture-wicking headbands, Gymwrap, plus her essential tips for maintaining your silk press. While well-known for her acting and modeling career, the actress is also a notable philanthropist and entrepreneur.

As we hone in on Women’s History Month, this topic of health is super important as Black Women have some of the highest incidents of ailments like strokes, hypertension and diabetes. Many women are not working out because they are scared of ruining their silk press or having to spend more money on their hair. *Insert Gymwrap*

Exclusively Interviewed by Madam J

Madam J: What was your personal journey to starting Gymwrap?

Nicole Ari Parker: I found in my personal fitness journey that managing sweat was keeping me from working out. So, almost 15 years ago I made Gymwrap in my kitchen. I made prototypes from Boris’s athletic shirts and experimented until I had something that I liked. I didn’t have a business degree or any experience in fashion design but I knew this was a problem that I could solve. Then I met with manufactures, found one that understood the vision, and things took off from there.

MJ: What do you hope people experience from using your brand?

NAP: I hope people experience the freedom to make movement part of their daily routine. I say movement because running, Pilates, HIIT, etc may not be for everyone but there is something out there for you. I want Gymwrap to help enable you to incorporate your thing into your routine.

MJ: How important is it to be a Black-owned brand in this space? 

NAP: Headbands are not new, but being a Black woman led me to the unique insight that “many of us were sacrificing our health for our hair.” This led me to create the Gymwrap with extra sweat wicking capabilities to keep edges protected and make sure that you don’t sweat out your silk press. You can have it all; you can be a gym girlie and glam girlie. So being a Black-owned business for me means that I get to focus on our unique problems and deliver solutions that are best for us.

MJ: What is your hero product for Gymwrap?

NAP: Gymwrap 2.0 a sweat wicking adjustable headband that manages sweat while keeping your edges and silk press intact.

MJ: What is the best technique to protect your silk press with Gymwrap?

NAP:

• Center part your hair
• Put each section up in a bun
• Cover your edges with Gymwrap and tying securely in the back
• Workout
• Leave Gymwrap on for an hour after working out or until edges are dry. (If you shower during this time, a shower cap is recommended)
• Untie shower cap, undo buns, give a quick hairtoss and go.
• Note: For heavy scalp sweaters try the Gymwrap Full Triangle 

MJ: Is there anything else you’d like to share?

NAP: April is African American Women’s Fitness Month and to celebrate we are going to be making some big announcements, everything from new designs to new products. Follow @gymwrap on IG for more details.

I personally had the opportunity to test out Gymwrap for my Pilates and gym workouts as a stretched natural girlie and I’m here to say, they DID that! Edges in tact and hair not reverted. I won’t be doing another workout without my Gymwraps!

Gymwrap is available in the US, UK and Canada on Amazon. Additionally, you can find Gymwrap at Gymwrap.com.