Adrien: My Hair Care Routine.

By request! I haven't blathered on about my hair for a while so maybe now is the time.

My hair is both easy and a huge pain in the ass. It's very straight and nearly impossible to grow out so I keep things short, which suits me fine. However, short hair is not really easy. I can't just throw it up in a ponytail and it absolutely does NOT look better if I don't wash it for a few days. I can never, ever just get up and go because my bedhead is... astounding. So, here are the products and techniques I use to keep my bob looking sharp:

First, I should mention that I get regular cuts/trims and I also get my hair professionally colored. I love my hair stylist and this is really my main beauty luxury - I rarely get facials or other spa treatments and never get manicures, so this is kind of my one big thing on which I spend many dollars. I really like having a nice hair cut!

Products:

I am on a Davines binge right now because they make SUCH nice products. They smell good, the packaging is cute and, most importantly, they work.

I love the Minu Shampoo and conditioner for colored hair - a little goes a long way and it doesn't strip my color. I've also tried the OI shampoo and conditioner and they're lovely as well.

Before styling I spritz OI All In One Milk all over. It softens, detangles, and protects from frizz but mostly I love how it smells and it also gives my hair a bit of heft and shine. Apparently the OI Oil is also magical but I cannot put oil on my hair, no way, so I will never know.

I also use a small dollop of the Davines Volume Boosting Mousse for some hold. It's very nice but not super special like the OI Milk.

One other thing I use to cleanse is the dpHue ACV Rinse which I think I mentioned a while back. It's meant to be used as a shampoo alternative for colored hair so I use it instead of shampoo a few times a week to keep my color fresh. It's quite good! Apple cider vinegar must be the new argan oil because R+Co has a rinse as well. Has anyone tried it?

Tools: 

I am a strong believer in good tools. Good tools in your tool box, in your kitchen, for your craft projects and definitely for your hair. Here's what I swear by:

How did I ever live without a Wet Brush? (And how did I not know it came in a leopard print version?) This brush is a tiny miracle and has really cut down on breakage for my fine hair. The Wet Brush is cheap and eventually all the bristles start to retreat into the pad but still worth it's weight in gold. Get one! Hair-life-changing.

After I brush through with my wet brush I use my Daily Concepts hair wrap thingy.  Even though I don't have long hair I still wrap it up in this microfiber turban every single time after washing. It sucks most of the water out without the damage from towel drying and cuts my dry time way down. Listen, I don't have a ton of hair so I have to do everything I can to keep breakage and damage at a minimum. They come in fancy versions but mine is pretty basic and I adore it. Get one! Hair-life-changing, part two.

My Hair Dryer. I've talked about my beloved Super Solano a few times on the blog (my review is here) and I am still very deeply in love with my fancy hair dryer four years later. It's not, like, Dyson dryer fancy but it was an investment and a very good one. So, after I get my hair damp-dry I finish with my hair dryer and just a regular vented brush. It takes all of two minutes.

My flat iron is a BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ionic and its been a solid purchase! I bought it three years ago and it's still going strong. It was the flat iron that my stylist was using on me (same with my hair dryer) so I pretty much trust her judgement. You might be wondering what the hell a straight-haired person like me even needs with a flat iron but I have a few weird cowlicks and curves and I like to use this after drying to get everything lying flat and correctly and also to get my edges sharp.

Now! I can't believe this but I also have a great travel set that I've never reviewed! I bought this Amika Mighty Mini set a few years back and it's really, really good. The dryer is teeny tiny but still way more powerful than your average shitty hotel dryer. The flat iron is also ridiculously small but gets very hot and is good for tweaks and bangs. If you have thick/long hair and need to flat iron your whole head, it won't be what you need, but for my purposes it's a great travel option.

That's it! I'm hoping I can convince Marianne to post about her hair to give the curly-hair people something about which to commiserate because we never get so many comments as when we talk about curly hair. Y'all are a little scary tbh. (In a good way.) And since we're talking about comments, please feel free to tell me what product or tool you swear by!

Stuff I Swear By: Clothes and Shoes

From time to time I talk about the stuff that I swear by - items I've bought repeatedly and/or brands to which I'm very loyal. Generally I'm fickle and always looking for my next favorite but when I find something I really love and that works for me? I cling to it. Here are a few of my favorites for clothes and shoes, starting with underthings:

Hanky Panky thongs 

I have a drawer full of these and every year I buy a few more to replace the pairs that have worn out. It's the only thong underwear I've ever found comfortable and they come in a million colors. I like the classic rise version. 

Aerie seamless unders

These are a newish addition but I bought a few pairs and a few months later bought ALL the pairs because they're that good. Comfortable, stay in place, kind of sporty, inexpensive! 

Natori bras

I stray occasionally but generally Natori is the brand I go to for well-fitting, good quality bras. Currently I have two of this style and I'm REAL TIRED of wearing them (they don't seem to want to wear out) so I think it's time to see what else Natori has for me. 

Spanx Tights

I have three or four pairs of the Spanx Tight End tights and they are not fucking around. They hold you in and last forever. If you're not into the Spanx part, I also love Commando tights - super black, super opaque and they have a nice soft panel waistband that doesn't cut in. 

Bombas Socks

Y'all know I love me some Bombas socks. The ankle socks are my go-to gym socks but I also like them for wearing with booties for a no-sock look. They also make no-shows that actually stay on my heels! I have a drawer full of Bombas and always want more. (Go through my link and get 25% off your first order!) 

Madewell denim

I mean, duh. Y'all know this. Currently I have three pairs of Madewell jeans and they're the jeans that get worn the most in my closet. They are good quality and just have that look that is cool. I don't know how else to explain it. My current favorites are the Boyjean (size down) and the Skinny High Rise coated. 

Everlane cotton v-neck tees

I have a ridiculous amount of Everlane cotton v-neck tees. They're $15 each and are the kind of t-shirts that just get softer and better with age. I will say that the heathered version tends to lose it's shape really fast but they'e the best for sleeping in. 

Birkenstock soft footbed sandals

OH MY GOD YOU GUYS. I have four pairs of Birkenstocks (and a silver pair on my brain) and three of them have the soft footbed. They are SO GOOD. Somewhere along the way I just stopped wearing heels in the summer and all I want on my feet is Birkenstocks. It's a slippery slope. Just an aside: my friend Nina, who likes nice things, totally swears by the EVA version of the Birkenstock Arizona. She wears hers constantly and says they're just as comfortable. I cannot attest to this but they are certainly less expensive!

MBMJ bags

This is kind of a dumb one to include because Marc By Marc is no more (though NR still has a small selection), but you guys know I have a small collection of MBMJ bags and they just work for me. I've also owned quite a few that I ended up selling (some with regret) but I'm always keeping an eye on Poshmark and eBay for bargains. (They're not super popular right now so if you've ever wanted one, get to searching! They're going super cheap.)

Athleta for fitness stuff

It’s expensive and I usually wait for a sale but I have two pairs of the Chaturanga capris and three mesh tanks and they get worn pretty much every week. They look good, hold up well and function properly - nothing rides up or slides down. 

For sport bras I love the Lululemon energy bra (I have three) but I am going to try Athleta’s version because LL has been having continuous quality issues and every time I read the reviews I’m like...nope. 

Nike Juvenate

For casual sneakers I love my Nike Junvenate pair a lot. I really need to get a new pair soon because I've worn my old pair into the ground! They're really light weight, pack well and you don't even have to wear socks with them (though I do.) 

For performance sneakers I don't really have a good answer. My running shoes are...ha, I can't even remember. They were on sale? I don't even know. (They're fine but I can't get excited about them and I hate running.) For other non-running purposes I like Inov-8 because they fit me well and are easy to find on sale. 6pm has a bunch! I have a pair that I bought for Crossfit and also a pair of trail runners for hiking.

I'll post about skincare and makeup later in the week! Now, please tell me what you swear by.