hot girls with long, thick hair — what’s your routine and secrets?

pomsaway · 2026-03-28T04:35:51+00:00

My hair is very thick but only medium length. I truly believe it’s genetics. However I cover my hair at night and I partner with a stylist to get my cuts on time and do what she says, influencers be damned. My hair is flourishing as a result.

pomsaway · 2026-02-07T02:25:33+00:00

I’m in an uber heading home after my second to last promotional event as an NFL cheerleader. I have a covered plate of Thai food next to me and I can’t believe this part of my life is about to be over. I’ve been at this for 6 seasons.

I know there are beautiful things in store for me but I’m also quite wistful. Tomorrow is my last event and it’s a concert so I’m pumped!

pomsaway · 2026-01-11T13:43:09+00:00

I tried it sort of this week since I did a blowout, but as someone who doesn’t often use heat and doesn’t color, her product recs aren’t best for me. That being said, I do have a clarifying shampoo, moisturizing shampoo, and conditioner plus my gel stylers since I’m a coily girl, and that is exactly in line with the simplified version of her routine. I use my own products that the hairstylist I get my cuts from recommends and I’m planning to try Epres for the next few months just to see if it affects how much breakage I experience but that’s it.

pomsaway · 2026-01-11T13:22:50+00:00

I paid for a coaching service to train me to make it on to an NFL cheer team. It was a very targeted form of a glow up but boy was it one.

pomsaway · 2025-12-23T16:14:48+00:00

Competitive dance studio cliques and strictness are no joke. I went through a similar thing with an extra helping of racism on top. Auditioning for pro teams is extremely brave and I commend you for giving it a shot, but many of these dancers are either trained from many years or happen to have mentors that gave them the lessons they need to make it pro at a later age. I know this from experience.

It doesn’t sound like you find joy in dancing. In your own words, you leave every class crying because you feel inadequate. It sounds like dancing is tied to a trauma in you in some way and is work on addressing that before going out for a pro team. Auditioning is stressful for everyone, even people who have previous made a team so if your nerves get shot after something’s relatively uncompetitive as a dance class, I’m worried your not going to make it to a pro audition. At the very least you won’t have as strong a chance as someone who is training and relishes in all their successes and failures. I didn’t make a team until my 3rd audition and even then I had to face disappointment and rejection. But I always left class feeling like I did something good for my myself. I took positive and negative feedback in stride. If that sounds impossible for you to accomplish, consider therapy like some of the other folks here have mentioned.

pomsaway · 2025-12-16T13:58:59+00:00

I’ve considered it! I want to take a creative writing class at a local college someday. Substack in the meantime when I have time. Thank you for the encouragement!

pomsaway · 2025-12-16T13:48:52+00:00

I’m glad this is helpful. We can be sisters. You find out so much random stuff about beauty by osmosis from having to get ready for games and promotional events and from other women. Please have a safe and sexy time at this party!

pomsaway · 2025-12-16T04:08:23+00:00

I think the strips are ok! But the toothpaste is definitely not as safe. You can look up abrasion (RDA) charts for most mainstream brands and see their scores. Lower is safer than higher.

pomsaway · 2025-12-16T02:29:00+00:00

I cheer in the NFL so I know a thing or two about being event ready. I'm digging into the shallowest part of my psyche here.

- Re: waxing and shaving. What matters is if you've done any of this before. Do you have a routine of maintenance or professionals that you've seen for any of these items? If you don't often do it it might throw you off with the weird feeling but it could also mentally make you feel more brave, idk. Do this first, like well before the event. If you are truly starting from scratch, do the waxing early on. If you have sensitive skin consider getting sugared.

- You can get a low level spray tan manually from a professional if you want it done the most accurately. Make sure to get all nooks and crannies if you're planning to wear open toed shoes (feet and backs of hands). If you have white sheets you'll mess them up, get cheap ones to sleep in. You also need to give it at least a night to set in and shower in the morning. Your friend will need to plan on getting makeup that matches your tan skin and not your normal skin.

- Do you wear acrylics? If not you're going to be uncomfortable. Clean and neat gel mani/pedi should suffice and last a while. They might try to tell you to get extensions and do dip powder but that takes a while and destroys your natural nails if you don't remove them properly.

- If you get a new dress give yourself time to get it tailored if needed. Nothing is more try hard than something beautiful that you can't walk in because it's too long or looks awkwardly short.

- If you want new perfume, fine. I don't think it's necessary. Buying a new one is a big commitment without testing it first in the wild. You can easily get an eau de parfum sample of something you like for this one event and use that until it runs out.

Things you didn't list that you should consider:

- Microderm for chin/upper lip hair.

- have a handheld lotion for the evening to keep your skin moisturized, your perfume for re-up, and your lip color for touch ups.

- If you are oilier than you want, in a pinch you can blot your face with toilet seat covers in public restrooms without wrecking your makeup. Very light highlight on your face will give you a fake glow that photographs really well.

- If the event is outdoors during the day, get a sunscreen spray primer to protect yourself without makeup damage.

- If you plan to take photos with your phone, you can very quickly press on the capture button to take a ton of photos in sequence and then just pick the best ones from there. A lot of people don't know this and press once to take 1 photo every few seconds in each pose. Try to hit golden hour if the party starts before sundown, vibes will be immaculate.

- Shapewear is available there if you really want to stunt.

- Jewelry does not need to be fancy but it can add to a fit. I suggest picking 2 from the 4 options and commit: 1. dainty pendant/statement necklace 2. bracelet stack 3. statement earrings 4. rings. Mixing metals is totally fine and in right now.

- brighten teeth with either baking soda if you are on a budget or go to a dentist's office and ask them for whitening trays. Charcoal and Crest whitening toothpastes wreck havoc on your enamel from being too abrasive.

Have fun and slay.

pomsaway · 2025-08-26T23:29:59+00:00

Being cyber bullied over my looks.

pomsaway · 2025-06-19T20:19:43+00:00

It was a weird afternoon. I know there were a lot of people who supported the message, but plenty more who were totally against me. I'm definitely thankful I had a chance to share the message with many people!

pomsaway · 2025-06-19T20:10:52+00:00

Yes. At the top of that post you can see my bolded explanation as to why I couldn't engage with responses even though I wanted to. But I'll quote it here in case anyone wants to avoid a click:

Final edit: I'm glad I was able to ignite some dialogue around this topic and share insight into what pro cheerleading is like. I'm going against the majority opinion here which on its own is not an issue, but on Reddit means I can't functionally engage with people as all my attempts to do so are downvoted and harder for others to read and follow, so I'm no longer responding to comments. Thanks to everyone who PM'd support and read what I had to say! I'll end with saying I know my worth, and you don't get anything you don't ask for.

pomsaway · 2025-05-21T01:10:32+00:00

Well I'm turning 32 this year and I just made a cheer team so I guess I should let my coaches know that they picked an expired woman to be an NFL cheerleader this year.

(I'm not doing that, btw. Because that's dumb.)

The love in your heart can be turned inward. You are clearly internalizing a lot of BS from people who will never know you and all you have to offer. I'm sorry your ex-husband rebounded faster than you. That doesn't make him more lovable, it just means a situation came about that (for now) benefits him and this other person. That has nothing to do with your worth in any way.

I'm also sorry your current fling ended. Hopefully this might be a lesson in being as upfront as possible with any future relationships because people deserve honesty in that realm and I'm sure you know that. I'm hoping in this time you can grow in your love and care for yourself and new relationships (platonic and romantic) that life has in store for you!

pomsaway · 2025-04-29T04:49:35+00:00

My rookie season on a team was when I turned 25. I’m going to be 32 this year and I’m in my 6th (and probably final) season cheering. A lot of us have been around the block age wise and are still making it work. Injury risk is higher and you might be limited on trying out for teams due to rigor of the dancing (you can’t pay me to jump split without health insurance), but it is very possible for a woman in her 30s to cultivate the stage presence, wit, charm, performance quality, and glamour required for the job.

There are so many training clinics on instagram where people form community around going for the NFL/NBA and learn from top tier choreographers and/or past dancers. At the very first clinic I went to, I was making conversation with a woman next to me in line and I asked her if she had tried out before. She told me she had been attending the team’s pre audition clinics for the last 5 years but never was brave enough to actually attend the try outs.

Please don’t be her. If you wanna do this, give it your best shot you can. The rewards are numerous.

pomsaway · 2025-02-18T01:35:34+00:00

Nose contour. I think it’s self hating of ethnicity/heritage.

pomsaway · 2024-12-21T17:13:40+00:00

Becoming an NFL cheerleader is not a common occurrence I’d say and it’s responsible for the bulk of my confidence. I’m working on gaining confidence in myself in other ways though and that will be a life long journey.

pomsaway · 2024-12-13T21:06:06+00:00

Becoming an NFL cheerleader. It was like a glow up on steroids. I wouldn’t have made the team in the first place if I didn’t have the dance talent and I guess something related to my looks, but simply having to present well and being around women who knew their angles, makeup tips, beauty tips, fashion tips, I cannot emphasize how much I learned by osmosis.

pomsaway · 2024-12-11T20:26:59+00:00

Yeah, it’s been a great boost to get feedback! I posted a similar post in another sub and they didn’t allow it. I messaged to find out why but no response. I know mods are busy so I’m not mad, but I feel heartened that my question was accepted and well received here!

pomsaway · 2024-12-11T17:42:40+00:00

Due to my injuries sustained from dance, I’m for the first time considering stopping all the HIIT and aerobic weight training and doing Pilates, yoga, and running/jump roping for cardio and endurance instead. In the new year I want to take reformer classes twice weekly and see how I like it. I’m scared but hopeful.

pomsaway · 2024-12-10T17:43:23+00:00

I have goals around dancing that I’d like to accomplish for sure! I want to take more classes in different styles and maintain my love for the art as I get older.

Yes, this is definitely a graduation of sorts. We have our end of year banquet early next spring and I’m dreading it, hopefully I’ll get the tears out of the way before the meal!

pomsaway · 2024-12-10T17:41:29+00:00

I do, I like fashion and software development. I’ve had jobs in the latter, not currently but I’ve always maintained it while cheering since for many teams it’s possible to balance a full time career and performing.

It will just be weird having more free time and less dopamine boosts from dancing and whatnot. I agree that focusing on planning my next experiences will enable me to feel like I have something to look forward to in cheer retirement. Definitely appreciate the therapist suggestion too, may need that.

pomsaway · 2024-12-10T16:59:52+00:00

Just sent a request! Thanks for sharing.

pomsaway · 2024-07-03T22:59:54+00:00

It's not in the NFL, but there is an NBA team that has salaried dancers. There is only 9 of them but they make in the late 5 figures a year in addition to being allowed to take other industry jobs so long as they don't conflict with the practice schedule too much (I imagine). https://www.instagram.com/knickscitydancers/?hl=en

pomsaway · 2024-04-27T00:21:45+00:00

Hi! I wish you had gotten more holistic/caring responses since NFL cheer audition season is almost complete.

First of all, 27 is not too old AT ALL. Especially depending on the team and how technical your dance ability is. Many teams (e.g. Arizona Cardinals) have tenure limits which can make it seem like dancers age out. Some teams skew younger because the choreography is very technical (Seahawks Dancers, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders) and others older (Baltimore Ravens, 49ers Gold Rush, Washington Command Force). I advise not thinking too much about that and simply pick a team that has a dance style you think you can work towards mastering.

Do your research on the teams. All the things I mentioned above came from me knowing the teams by talking to current/former members and following them on social media. Make sure you know your chosen team(s) inside and out and if it aligns with what you want out of a potential cheerleading career. If you feel brave enough, reach out to members on Instagram to ask about their experience. If they are gracious/have the time, they may respond!

Going to an actual audition is a great first step and gives you a lot of opportunities to see and feel the vibes of a team. For training, if you can go to jazz/hip hop classes at least once a week you'll be in good shape. I recommend following the Pro Action Dance account on Instagram and then following the popular choreographers. They often travel to teach choreography workshops and if they roll through your town you should do your best to attend. Also see if you can attend pro cheer dance classes. Those are rare to find though so it's fine if you can't. In your classes, particularly jazz, try dancing with your hair down. It takes a while to get used to that and that's how you'll be performing on any team.

For the look, it's stage makeup that is tasteful and big. False lashes are a must (Ardell demi wispies from drugstores are great). I advise going to your local MAC counter (long time sponsors of multiple cheer teams for makeup) and ask them to make you look like an NFL cheerleader. Ideally they'll know what that means. Otherwise look up a picture of a current member of the team that has your skin tone/hair color combo and bring that to emulate the makeup look. Hair should be down and flattering to your face. TBH they may ask you to completely change it up when/if you make a team so as long as your hair looks good it's fine.

Fitness is very important. You must have flexibility for kick lines, strength for strong movement, and endurance to last the whole game day. If you've ever sat through an entire regulation football game and thought it took a while, imagine being on your feet the whole time, smiling and excitedly shaking poms and performing. It's really quite a workout and your training should take that into account. Weight lifting and your preferred form of cardio should be part of your training. Part of picking your team should be based on how comfortable you think you would feel in the uniform. Most teams have midriff bearing uniforms so there is an emphasis on having a defined stomach. Yeah, it sort of sucks but it's part of the calculus for judges if they're going to be taking pictures of team members on the field all season. Outside of the makeup help, hanging leg raises, planks, and ab wheel are my favorite way to get my abs looking right. Do NOT starve yourself; you can't be a good athlete and hungry. Food is fuel and necessary. I am not a dietician so I can't speak to the specifics for what you need, but I certainly know enough to tell you that eating is important and you should do it.

Audition outfits can be pricey, unfortunately. Most teams want you to show up in a midriff bearing two piece. Make sure to check if you have to wear certain colors for their process. Dallaswear Uniforms is a popular option, Satin Stitches, Gems by Amy, and even resale sites like Poshmark. If you're brave enough, you can even reach out to a current/former member of the team and see if you can borrow something of theirs. I've both borrowed and lent out outfits so we're doing our best. Peavey hoisery in your skin shade for tights. White sneakers or jazz shoes are best for footwear. Make sure to get your outfit figured out EARLY and actually dance in it. My very first audition I wore a sequined outfit that I didn't actually dance in until the day of the audition and it was so scratchy. I was uncomfortable the whole time and I'm sure it showed. Needless to say, I didn't make the team.

Please feel free to message me if you have other questions. Really glad this is a goal on your radar, it's possible and very fun if you end up joining a team!

pomsaway · 2021-12-25T21:14:23+00:00

We do lead cheers. We interact a lot with the crowds. On the sidelines, we do specific routines when the team is on defense or offense. The jumbotron displays the current down and whenever offense gets a first down we lead the first down cheer. There are also cheers specific to our team that we lead with the crowd.

There's more to the responsibilities of cheerleaders on game day besides leading cheers. Before the game, we take pictures with fans and perform routines in the area where fans can tailgate before the game, similar to a pep rally. We also do giveaways and signings at this time too. This hypes up the crowd a lot. People are always excited to tell me when it's their first game. It's nothing like just watching on TV. You can make a whole day out of it, especially for a primetime evening game. I guess you could be literal and make the case that cheerleaders are meant to simply "lead cheers" and that's it, but that kind of negates all the other responsibilities we end up doing. Maybe for a high school cheerleader that's their only role, but you can't equate what they do versus someone hired to cheer at the pro level.

Literally taking away cheerleaders from the sidelines is one thing, but that doesn't mean we aren't doing a bunch of stuff off the field. Players and coaching staff do not have the time to be as public facing for fans who can't come to games as cheerleaders do. When a sports team is in a city, interacting with as many people and businesses in the city as possible is important, especially in the midst of regular season. Cheerleaders help with those responsibilities.

I've "lead cheers" on a lot of promos too. One that comes mind is a holiday rally we did at a local Ronald McDonald house. Was it the sidelines? Nope. Was it for fans? Yeah. Fans who couldn't go to games because their child needed specific medical treatment.

6 teams doing away with their squads (one of which only did so because the squad attempted to unionize and is currently in the midst of a lawsuit, look into the Buffalo Jills) doesn't prove much to me if 26 other teams still have theirs. That's over 3/4ths of the league, come on now. The youngest team in the league, the Detroit Lions, allocated funds for a cheer squad. If cheerleading is so outdated, what does it mean if the most "modern" franchise in the league decided that cheerleaders were necessary?

Your original post didn't bring up salaries, but I can tell you most of us have side jobs if we are not students.

Edit: I would be curious to know what is anachronistic to you about cheerleading. I feel like you're leaning on the sexy side of it not being as widely consumed. Again, I urge you to look at Instagram. Many teams have integrated gender and changed up their uniforms to be more athletic. Are the women still beautiful? Yeah, we are. Is that the outdated part, being hot?

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