Jun 26, 2008

  • Erica Metzler

Style, hair, makeup.

To get it perfect information technology's a long process, taking up time and thought.

Just is it really necessary preparation for basketball games? Some say yes and others say no. However it is an interesting topic to consider -- why girls' basketball players have a big involvement in how they look when they're on the courtroom and what they actually exercise to set up for a game.

"I accept played basketball since tertiary grade, simply started caring most what I looked like probably in high school," said Alex Earl, a bespeak guard for the Southridge Skyhawks in Beaverton, Ore., who is headed to Arizona State in the autumn.

"If I liked someone at my schoolhouse, I'd try to await good at my games. But I don't want to expect hideous when I play, even when nobody I care virtually is looking at me."

Every player has a different motive for putting on makeup, only generally players spend a lot of fourth dimension in other pregame preparations. Hairstyle is 1 of the most important things girls take pride in.

"Before the game everyone is in the hotel rooms, getting ready, straightening their hair, y'all know, just getting ready," said Katie Grad, a Washington Land signee from Auburn Riverside High school in Auburn, Wash. "It'due south but similar preparation for the game. Particularly on a school 24-hour interval when we play on schoolhouse nights we dress upward for games days at home."

Ofttimes girls with curly pilus will take the time to straighten it earlier game time.

"During league [play] I can't play with my hair curly," said Grad. "My hair is naturally curly. I don't know why I can't play with it similar that, but I just always straighten my pilus."

"My hair is actually actually curly and my mom doesn't like it when I vesture my pilus curly for a game, and then she always wants me to straighten it," said Michelle Jenkins, a six-foot-three forward who also played for Southridge and is headed to USC in the fall. "I'll commonly straighten information technology for games or that day for school."

"Information technology just feels lighter when I straighten it," Earl said. "I use six pilus ties in my hair, I don't know why. I like my hair really tight and when information technology's curly it is but really heavy."

Another popular matter among high school basketball players is the use of pre-wrap in the pilus. Because players are not allowed to have any bobby pins or whatsoever kind of metal clips in their hair (the referees really look for them), well-nigh accept turned to pre-wrap to hold upward bangs or loose pilus.

"I wear pink pre-wrap, but it's pretty much what's effectually," said Alyssa Fressle, the Colorado signee who was the point guard for Highlands Ranch Loftier School in Colorado. "I don't have a sure hair style. I'll wear a pony tail or braid information technology sometimes. It's just what I'thou into at the time, only I'll always clothing pre-wrap."

When it comes to makeup, the most common product used is mascara. Most athletes article of clothing the waterproof kind then it doesn't come off when sweating. Some players apply Maybelline or Mac, others apply Loreal or Sephora. Each brand has its ain perks, whether it makes eyelashes wait longer, is cheaper or but a brand to which one has grown accepted.

Simply many have steered away from wearing heavy makeup on their entire face.

"Personally, I wouldn't cake on the makeup because it's not like yous're going out to dinner or anything," said Grad. "It's just a basketball game game. And you lot can always tell when you lot wipe your face up on your jersey."

"Well actually if I could wearable face up makeup during games I would," Earl admitted. "I just go nervous considering information technology smears, so actually that's why I get tanning. I call up girls are cuter when they're tan."

Head omnibus Caryn Jarocki of Highlands Ranch thinks that heavy makeup is not expert for the skin.

"You are pouring out sweat and y'all have all your pores clogged up with makeup. I don't think it'due south the healthiest affair to do," Jarocki said.

Smelling expert before the game is some other thing girls take pleasure in.

"I practice spray perfume on my jersey," Earl said. "I only like to olfactory property good because I like girls who odour good. I wear Paris Hilton right now, but I'g looking to modify, looking to mix it upwardly a little."

Each girl has her own habits and reasoning regarding hair, style and makeup, but Jarocki couldn't have said it any amend: "If it helps them play better than they tin can wear all the makeup they want."

Coming Fri, June 27: The debut of Martonne NeVille'southward column on beauty and basketball game.

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Erica Metzler is a contributor to ESPN HoopGurlz. A journalism graduate of the University of Washington, Erica attended Peninsula High Schoolhouse in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., where she played basketball for 4 years, softball for two and lacrosse for one. She has written for the Academy of Washington Daily and worked office-time for The Seattle Times. Erica can be reached at erica@hoopgurlz.com.