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Symmetrical, blonde fitness goddess Tracy Anderson is the new face of drugstore hair brand Scünci. The emphasis here is on their "Everyday & Active collection," which makes enough sense, since TA is active every day (resulting in a fair amount of time spent in a ponytail).
The hair brand arranged a little interview time for Racked with Tracy, and we got the lowdown on why she's teamed up with them, plus which of her clients has the best ponytail, what her quickie post-workout beauty routine is, and who's blowing her away in the wellness world right now. Just don't ask her for four minute abs.
Racked: Why were you interested in partnering with Scunci?
Tracy Anderson: "I'm really careful about any other brand I align myself with because I've worked really hard to be a trusted source in peoples' health and wellness and wellbeing, so I don't like to take any chance with anything like [product endorsements]. I've been a user of Scunci products for many years, I'm a really big fan of them, so it just made sense for us to team up.
So you were already using Scunci before the partnership came about?
"I would never endorse anything that I wasn't already using."
Which of your clients has the best ponytail?
"Ooh—that's a really good question."
You have some really good ponytails in your roster.
"Yeah. I would say [long pause], oh man. I would say Kim Kardashian has just really beautiful hair."
When it comes to your post-workout beauty routine, what do you do when you're short on time? What's your bare minimum?
"I have to wash my face, period. I wash my face with Le Mieux Phyto-Nutrient Cleansing Gel—you need a gel, and not a cream-based product, when your pores are open because you need something that will really clean them out—or Lancer The Method: Polish acne scrub. When you sweat a lot and you sweat regularly, even if you don't break out a lot, you should be doing something that's preventative.
I always use moisturizer, too, dot on any concealer if I need it, and a lip stain."
And for your hair?
"If my hair's wet, I'll scrunch it with my hands and put it in a low pony tail to the side so it dries kind of sexy and nice. I love the Scunci Knotted Ponytailers for every day, but I also like the 3X Stronger ones because they're braided and I think they're super cute. I always get compliments on those."
Who's catching your eye right now in the wellness world, be it in fitness, nutrition, or beauty?
"I hate to say no one, really, but I run really fast and forward-thinking. I find scientists, and doctors, and researchers who are running fast and focused in their own lanes and bring them together specifically for my audiences' quality of life. For me, it's all about the people who are progressing science.
The conversations that I like that are coming forward are like the new documentary Fed Up. I'm launching a new thing called the Body Blueprint [which will make] understanding individual biological blueprints accessible to everyone. We've spent so much time saying 'Oh, dairy's bad, oh, gluten's bad,' and it's not true—it depends on your own body on your own cellular level, so understanding that is key.
I'm passionate about people who are taking serious steps in the organic world, from little markets to places that are producing food with higher integrity.
In hair and beauty, lines like Original Sprout, a hair line and sunscreen line that's completely chemical free.
Someone who I really advocate for, for having the conversation from a different place is Dr. Habib Sadeghi and his book Within. I've promoted that a lot and been very transparent about my affection for him—I think he's brilliant. His book has the conversation with people about why they aren't able to show up for themselves, work out included, from a deeper level. He's phenomenal and a good one for people to look at."
Mythbusters: What is the biggest fitness myth you wish you could bust for the public?
[Laughs] "That you only have to exercise three days a week. That you only have to exercise three day a week for twenty minutes at a time. That there is such a thing as four minute abs, that juice cleanses work, I could go on and on and on. If I get asked in another interview 'Can you give us an in-office workout?' I just may lose it. You can not work out at the office."
And why is that?
"You can't work out at your desk, you can't work out in your work clothes, you can't work out in an unfocused environment that isn't focused completely on taking care of your body. It's the equivalent of taking of those wispy toothbrush things that fall apart in your mouth and say 'Oh, here, brush your teeth with this every day and then let's see how your oral hygiene is.'"
If you weren't in fitness and wellness, what do you think you'd be doing?
"I would probably be doing something in science or teaching. I probably would have wanted to be some kind of professor."
Because you like imparting knowledge?
"I love research, I love knowledge and translating it, inspiring people. I love that process."
Lightening round!
8am or 8pm?
8pm.
Coffee or tea, and how do you take it?
Coffee with heavy cream.
Jeans or sweats?
Sweats.
Sweet or savory?
Sweet.
Superpower: Flight or invisibility?
Invisibility
Are you a cat person or a dog person?
Ooh that's a super tough question! Dog. I'm a dog person.
Introvert or extrovert?
Extrovert.
What is the chore that you despise?
The dishes. I can't remember the last time I did them.
What TV show must you absolutely watch every week?
Girls and Silicon Valley. If I had to pick one, I'd pick Girls.
The song that always gets you pumped to work out?
Anything by Van Halen.
Favorite vacation spot?
The Maldives.
Quote to live by?
This is going to sound so overdone right now, but 'Be authentic.'
· Scunci [Official Site]
· 50 Insanely Motivating Fitness Instagrams to Follow [Racked]
· Trainer Tracy Anderson and the Epidemic of Self-Sabatoge [Racked]
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