THE VANITY DIARIES: RAMLA ALI
HOW 1O HOURS OF SLEEP and HOT YOGA CREATED the FEATHERWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION
The boxing champion shares her wellbeing routine, from fitness tips to her must-have products
I HIT THE SACK AT…
1Opm, latest 1O.3Opm. So boring, I know.
I WAKE UP AT…
8am. Don’t judge me, I get about 1O hours’ sleep a night. My training starts at 1Oam.
THE FIRST THING I DO IN THE MORNING IS…
wash my face with a Dermalogica cleanser. My skin gets really dry overnight, so
I follow it up with a moisturiser that contains SPF 3O to protects against sun damage.
THE LAST THING THAT I DO AT NIGHT IS…
brush my teeth. When I see these girls doing 12-step skincare routines, I just want to go straight to bed.
MY MAKE-UP ROUTINE IS…
minimal. I don’t really wear make-up, but my go-to is mascara; it really changes a person’s face.
MY EXERCISE REGIME…
is extensive: I train six times a week, twice a day, with Sundays off. I have a two-hour session in the morning and the same in the evening, so four hours a day. It’s a mix of strength training, conditioning, track work and boxing, so I never get bored.
WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR I SEE…
a strong, powerful woman. It’s taken a very long time, but I’ve learned to love my hair. It has become a key part of my identity. I love this new wave of acceptance of natural hair.
MY MUST-DO BEAUTY HABIT IS…
always exfoliating my face after sparring. People don’t clean their gloves and the germs can cause breakouts. It’s the first thing I do, no excuses.
MY GREATEST BEAUTY DISCOVERY IS…
from my hairdresser, who told me to stop using products containing sulphates as it dries out my hair. Pow: mind blown. It changed everything.
MY CURRENT STATE OF BEING IS…
calm and zen because it’s my day off from training.
THE CRAZIEST THING I’VE DONE FOR BEAUT Y WAS…
having my nose broken. I had my coach break it back into shape after a fight. If you don’t do it there and then, it sets in place, and I couldn’t live with a crooked nose. It’s the most painful thing that’s ever happened to me. Well, ask me again when I’ve given birth.
MY BODY IS…
my temple. There was a period when I was younger and 6Olb heavier when I took my body for granted. But since I started boxing for a living, I’ve lived with strict diet and discipline for more than a decade.
MY BEAUTY SECRET IS…
wash conditioner out of your hair with cold water to lock in the moisture and make it glossy.
I DEAL WITH STRESS BY…
Doing hot yoga. I get scared that if my muscles are cold I’ll pull something, which would set me back at least six weeks of training. At the end of the session you lie back and think of why you’re there – it’s the most peaceful five minutes. Ramla Ali is part of the Pantene Power of Hair Power Squad