Get a Grip! Pole and Aerial Grip Aids to Try!
It’s no secret that grip can be the make or break of a great training day. Some often question if pole dancers or aerialists should even use grip while training because it might make them dependent on it and as a result, they are weaker as an athlete. In a perfect world, I would love to never have to use grip. But I’m not elitest and I don’t think I’m above the law when it comes to sliding off a pole or slipping on the fabric. Sometimes, you just need a little extra grip and that’s okay. It doesn’t make you “less than,” it means you don’t want to fall on your face! The success of grip aid depends on a few things…your skin type, your climate and the current season…your apparatus. I tend to cycle through a few different things because ONE thing doesn’t typically serve me all year long. I have to switch it up as my skin adapts or as the weather changes (or I change my apparatus).
Here are a few grip aid ideas for you to try, if you happen to be searching for the perfect combination of pole and aerial grip:
DRY HANDS
Dry Hands is the tried and true chalk grip for all things pole and aerial. It does leave your hands “dry” (as the name suggests), so if you already have dry skin, this might not work the best on it’s own or it might be most successful in certain climates. I’ve been using Dry Hands for years and it’s definitely part of my regular rotation.
VEGETABLE GLYCERIN
Vegetable glycerin is used in all kinds of skincare products for its moisturizing properties and can even be used to treat wounds and burns. Food Grade glycerin is odorless, colorless, vegan and non-toxic. A combination of Vegetable Glycerin + Water in a little sprayer bottle can give you a needed moisturized layer for the pole or fabric. You can experiment with different ratios to find the result that works best for you. If you have super dry skin and need a little bit of moisture to get yourself to stick to your apparatus, give it a try! Best of all - It’s super affordable if you buy your own glycerin and dilute it yourself. A little goes a long way!
PORTER’S LOTION
This is another greaseless liquid product I like to use when I find my skin feeling ultra dry. If you need just a little bit of moisture, Porter’s Lotion is a great way to go. One of my student’s calls it the “stinky spray” because it kind of has an earthy/musky scent (I mean — it was originally formulated for construction workers to treat their dry skin).
POWDERED ROSIN
Roisin (+ Rubbing Alcohol Mixture)
Rosin is a classic grip that’s been used in a variety of athletic sports. The fine powder rosin works the best (vs. big crystal-like rosin). You can grind your own down to a powder but I think it’s easier just to get it already powdered! I have also noticed that the larger crystals can become quite bothersome if they fall onto the ground…making a mess and actually becoming like little glass shards if you step on them with bare feet! I find that powdered rosin is best “activated” when you spritz a little bit of isopropyl rubbing alcohol into your hands. It gives you a really good tac but if you overdo it, can become slippery. A little bit goes a long way. Some people like to pour the rosin into a sock and keep it in a bucket or bowl to powder their hands with as they need.
CORN HUSKER’S LOTION
Another weird liquid/gel product that originated from - you guessed it - corn huskers! It was first developed in 1919 as a moisturizer for the rough, dry hands of Iowa farmers working in the cornfields. Corn Being that the main ingredient is glycerin, it’s closer to a gel product than a creamy lotion. I started using this years ago for pole when my legs were ultra dry during the winter. Again, it has an earthier scent, but if you can get past that it works great for moisturizing without being greasy or too creamy on your skin!
ITAC2
I tried out Itac2 just recently and so far it seems to work well for both pole and aerial. As long as my hands aren’t too oily to begin with, it works well on the fabric. I have found the most success when I “dry” my hands with isopropyl alcohol first, and then apply the Itac2. A little bit goes a long way!
I hope you enjoyed this article - and hopefully you are exposed to a few new products to try in your pole and aerial journey. Like I said before, sometimes one thing works for awhile and then you have to try something new! Let me know in the comments what other blog posts you would like to see here!
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