I sweat for England...

PixiePole started this discussion · 12/16/2010

So I have this really unladylike thing called buckets of sweat. I feel really unattractive because whenever I do anything like a leisurely walk, and definitely more intense exercise, as long as my arms are touching the sides of my body I get massive sweat patches under my arms. I think when I have the money for it I'm going to get botox, but that's way out of my budget for now. I've tried this roll-on antiperspirant that you put on at night before you go to bed and wash off in the morning, which is supposed to be super strong, but it didn't really do a lot =[ Anyway I guess my underarms aren't going to be so much of a problem when it comes to poling, but I also have really sweaty hands and feet, plus my back and upper inner thighs. My socks are always wet after a walk, and my hands are just as bad - my boyfriend has noticed on more than a few occasions that holding hands always has him ending up a little damp, and I know for a fact that's me. If I've got my hands in my pocket around my phone or something, it'll be wet when I take it out :'( So this is going to be a major problem for me on the pole. First I should point out that I'm in the UK so probably have different products available over here to all the things I've heard mentioned on other threads =\ unless you can get them on the internet somewhere that'd ship over here? I also don't have a pole yet, and I didn't realise different metals had different effects on sweating! What are your experiences with different kinds? This is so embarrassing in normal life and I don't want it getting in the way of poling too 😢

12 replies

glitterhips · 12/17/2010
Oh you poor thing I couldn't imagine having to deal with that! I don't much about it but I did used to know a girl who had the same problem and she actually saw a doctor who prescribed her a clinical strength anti persperant and she said it helped her a lot, maybe you could look into that? I have really sweaty hands when I pole and I am going to order some dry hands, I've used it before and it does work. good luck!
hannahpc · 12/21/2010
I know how you feel. I too have hyperhidrosis. Was it Driclor the roll on you used overnight? http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100000855.html This product worked for me, it did take quite awhile of using it every night before i saw the results. I still have issues with my hands sweating, so i have to wipe the pole constantly and use alot of dry hands (i sweat through it very quickly) For me, i find my chrome pole best. My mum has a titanium matte silver and although it feels grippier to touch, i find it gets slick when my hands sweat, i feel more secure on my chrome pole.
PixiePole · 12/25/2010
It's Perspirex, though I did only try it for about a week (which is what it says it should take) so maybe I should try it for longer? I think I will, and then switch if it doesn't make any difference. The problem of my hands (and inner thighs) still remains though... I guess I'll wait til I find an underarm antiperspirant that works then see if they have a lotion I can use everywhere else? This is also going to have an effect on what pole I get. I'm thinking an X-Pert (X-Pole seems to be well recommended, and I figured I'd want one with a spinning option at some point so I might as well get the X-Pert now instead of X-Sport then an X-Pert too, saves money in the long run) and I'd quite like a gold one, but the gold one is titanium and the silver one is chrome. Veena says her TG45 is really grippy, but we know Veena sweats like a lady... ie not much lol. Now I'm not really sure whether to go for the grippiest grippy grippole possible or what >.< gurrr! I wish there was a shop I could go to and try them all out lol
Katherine McKinney · 12/26/2010
I can't speak for brass or titanium because I haven't tried them, but the Lil Mynx colors have a reputation for being incredibly sticky. I have a pink rotator, and I sometimes don't even wipe the pole down once during practice. My other friends have played on it and said the same thing. The downfall--more bruises, and slides are TOUGH on your skin. I wouldn't change it, although someday I might try for the titanium. Right now, though, I don't have all that much experience, and Lil Mynx feels really safe and grips really well. As an addendum, the Lil Mynx's are nicely priced--my rotator was $300, shipping included. Also, have you tried showering before poling? I find that I always stick better if I shower before I pole, and I sweat less, too. Also, washing my hands before I pole makes them stick much better.
monica kay · 12/26/2010
i understand the frustrations with perspiration interfering with poling- i myself sweat LIKE CRAZY. i look like someone dumped a bucket of water on me, when others doing the same activity are pretty dry by comparison! lol... but don't be so down on yourself- i think sweating is a good thing and more often then not is a sign of a healthy body. you are well hydrated and the skin is dispelling toxins. i think sweat is sexy- so do guys lol. shimmery, glistening, and rosey skin. hopefully, you can figure out how to keep it off your pole. good luck! 🐱
PixiePole · 12/26/2010
Lol kinda embarrassed to say this on a forum like this but I've never actually been on a pole! I've messed around at one they used to have at a club near here but that was when I'd just turned 18, decided to go out for the night and just by chance there was a pole at the side of the dancefloor. So needless to say, I wasn't exactly doing real pole ha. Showering beforehand is something I could try... for now I really only have other things to compare it to where I've done the same, just no poles involved. I find that if I shower before exercise I definitely feel cleaner, but not really any less sweaty. I'm guessing the sweat you do produce after a shower is more watery and less slick, so less slipping? (lol that's disgusting) Normally I just have to make sure I have wristbands on so I have something to wipe with 😳 Having too much grip could also be a problem for me, as I have pretty delicate skin and scar easily (if I burn, I scar 🙁 so definitely want to avoid that where possible), but for now I intend to moisturise like crazy after practice and try not to be too enthusiastic with my spins until I know for sure what the damage is. This is why I'm thinking of getting one with a spinning option - at least that way if I want to just play around and do the moves, I can get a grippy one and put it on spin, even if that feels like cheating for my actual progress haha. Then when I've got burns I can still practise without making them worse. katana - I think I'm a little past the point of it being shimmery, glistening or sexy lol I'm not a model, but I'm not Quasimodo either, however there are a few things about myself I really hate in the way of attractiveness and my sweating is one of them =[ I actually sweat if I'm too cold. If I'm REALLY cold, like freezing and shivering, I won't, but anything else and I will. In summer my tops get drenched, in winter I sweat under my coats, it's really not nice =\ I like the feel of it, it lets me know I'm getting a good workout (if I am working out anyway) but in any other situation it's just horrific >< and I wish I could say I was well hydrated... unfortunately my body just sweats everything out! Though I'm working on training it not to, and I now drink just over a litre a day instead of just under a litre haha. Working my way up to 2l! But poledancing is supposed to look good, you know? Even if it's not meant to impress a guy, it can still be beautiful, like any other dance form, and sweat sort of ruins that. Even if I don't go on about appearances there's the stupid slipping issue! So I guess in short... shower beforehand and see if it makes a difference (cba to shower twice if I don't have to, and I'm definitely going to have to shower afterwards either way haha), use something to enhance the grip on my hands (I found some Mighty Grip powder around here I could get hold of?), get one of the super antiperspirants to reduce sweating in general, and be sure to keep some alcohol handy for wiping down regularly?
Katherine McKinney · 12/26/2010
Stainless steel is the most slippery, and chrome has medium grip. The consensus, I think, is that brass is the grippiest. Like I said, though, if you want reliability (and grippiness) for little cash, Lil Mynx rotator is the way to go. As far as the rotator, though, I'm guessing you haven't tried spinning either? The spinning mechanism will throw your body a lot harder against the pole when spinning, but there's still plenty of friction. And I've found that spins are just plain tough when spinning on the rotator--thanks to centrifugal force. As for the grip, I think a lot of people use it, but I've always been cautioned by my instructor not to rely on it because it can keep you from building up the strength to actually hold moves. Plus, she thinks you can come to rely too much on it--which can lead to injuries when it fails. Of course, I'm not saying that using grip is bad--just that you might want to consider seeing what you're working with before you start purchasing expensive grip. 😉 If you really do get that sweaty, maybe getting a grippy pole will not be bad for you, you know what I mean? Your sweat might provide a nice little buffer from the burn. There are also gloves you can try that help you stick to the pole. I've never used any grip or gloves, so I would definitely not be the expert on how well any of them work. I will say this, though--I got drunk and was poling when I shouldn't have been at a party at my house, and I did a teddy and now have a huge burn scar on the inside of my arm. I definitely understand what you mean when it comes to that! 🫡 PS. Not trying to start an argument/discussion about the relative merits of using/not using grip. Just talking about my own experience and my instructor's, which I of course acknowledge may be different from that of others! There is no one way much of the time!
Jessica314159 · 12/27/2010
I have purchased the gloves and I do have a sweaty hand problem. I think they work okay, you still have to put dryhands or mightygrip on first or they don't help at all. I find that my hands still get pretty sweaty and the are a marginal help. I have been improving strenght and working consistently and some days are better than others. Here lately I have noticed that no matter what I do I can't get my hands to stick to the pole at all! I'm considering putting anti-perspirent on my hands to see if that helps. Perhaps it is the winter weather, my pole is in the basement on cement floor and it is always freezing. Good luck!
CaseyT · 12/27/2010
I recommend driclor!! I started poling in April and really struggled with sweating hands, I'd need to wipe the pole after every move or my hands would slip... I wanted to enter a competition in December, but every time I tried to do my routine I'd have to stop and wipe the pole, which you can't really do on stage. I'd tried chalks, mighty grip, ecoballs, glaves and none of it worked for more than 2 or 3 moves. My teacher recommended driclor, as it actually blocks the sweat glands, stopping them from producing sweat. I used it for the 2 weeks before the competition ever night before bed and now I rarely have sweaty hands at all! I still use an ecoball when poling normally, but more for a just in case than out of necessity. It's about £6 from boots 🙂 You can also use it on underarms, but don't use it after shaving, stings like a bi-atch! Best of luck chick xx
PixiePole · 12/27/2010
I just got a TG X-Pert last night 😀 not delivered yet, but that's what I'm getting. It looks nice, and it says it's grippier than chrome, so I'll definitely at least try it and then if I think I need something different I'll know whether I want it grippier or not etc. I get your point about relying on grip - I'm like that, I like to learn things the hardest way possible so that if for any reason I don't have the extra help, I can still do it. That, and when you learn it the hard way, the feeling when you try it the easy way for the first time is amazing!! I got some MightyGrip (also not delivered yet) too so I guess I'll try it. Maybe I'll just use that on days I feel my grip is worse than usual? Hmm...
SashaMae · 12/28/2010
Mora, I'm not sure if anyone has brought this up yet, but diet can sometimes be the culprit to excessive sweating. I have the same problem but I found that when I cut back on sodium intake (salt and cheese to name a few) it actually helped quite a bit. Also, when you shower don't use really hot water. Your body overhears and sweating is the body's way of cooling you down. Hopefully it will work for you, too! Good luck, Hun! Sasha
PixiePole · 12/28/2010
...Salt. I have salt on everything <D I neeeeed salt lol I tried cutting back on it a little once (and then again, and again...) and gave it a month or two and I still couldn't get used to the taste of things with less salt! Which is weird cause I made myself switch to low fat foods and artificial sweeteners pretty easily, just made myself eat them for a while and eventually I got used to it, but salt I seem to really have a problem with 🤔 and I crave cheese... a lot. I don't eat it all the time but sometimes I just crave it and then everything I eat for the next week has to have cheese in it. Arg... I really do need to sort out my diet, but I didn't know it could affect sweating as well ❓