k, byeee! – Beauty. Wellness. Inspiration.

How I Tone My Hair at Home

It’s been over a year now since I’ve been to the salon for hair color! Pretty insane to think about since I’ve gone regularly since 4th grade, but I can’t say that I miss it. It’s been liberating doing my own hair (with Worsham’s help) at home.

If you have natural brown hair, you know that it starts to get reddish and brassy after a while. Luckily, good old Target (and now Ulta!) has your solution: Kristin Ess Signature Gloss. You’ve probably noticed it while roaming the aisles and wondered if it’s really that great since it’s only $14. Well, it is!

Judging by the picture on the shade I get (Bittersweet), you would think it’s too dark for me. I used to use Smoky Topaz, but it didn’t give me the results I wanted so I decided to go with a darker shade. Be careful doing this if you don’t want to cover up your highlights (I’m over mine so I didn’t care), and don’t venture too far outside of your color family.

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Louis Vuitton Key Pouch: Is It Worth It?

A couple months ago, I decided to treat myself to my first Louis Vuitton. I’d been debating buying the monogram key pouch for a while since so many people rave about it. It’s a versatile piece that gives you a taste of what LV is known for without spending thousands of dollars.

At the time I bought it, it was $225. Is it expensive for what it is? Yes, but considering that I use it as a wallet, it was 100% worth it! Louis Vuitton recently increased prices since the luxury market has taken a hit from the coronavirus. This little gem will cost you $270 now – that is, if you can get your hands on it. I had to stalk the website for a few weeks waiting for it to come back in stock!

I’ve been super impressed with this piece and it makes me smile every time I use it. It fits all my necessities and it’s convenient to have something to grab when you don’t want to carry a purse. I usually keep the chain tucked inside, but you could also attach it to your car keys. It’s something that will be perfect for game days. You know, assuming football season will be more normal this year.

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Things I Plan to Keep Doing After COVID is Over

Hello, November! We’ve almost made it through the most insane year of our lifetimes. This year has felt like an entire decade, and it’s still not over. Here’s to hoping things start looking up in 2021!

Even though 2020 has been trash in some ways, it’s been a good year for growth. It’s made our bonds stronger and shown what actually matters to us. It’s also brought along some lifestyle changes that I’m not mad about. Here’s what I plan to keep doing even when the rona is a thing of the past.

NOT WEARING A BRA – This is THE BEST thing to come out of 2020. Not sure if you’ve noticed, but basically no one is wearing regular bras anymore. They are done. We’ve embraced our inner French women and finally said GOOD RIDDANCE! I’ve wanted to do this forever, but now it’s finally happening. On the rare occasion that I do wear a bra, it’s my fave super loose sports bra or nipple covers. Worsham surprised me with some Nippies by Bristols 6, which you can get at Nordstorm. I’d never heard of them before, but they are MAGICAL. They feel like nothing. I forget I have them on 98% of the time.

Barely wearing makeup – I’ve always loved makeup, but I haven’t always had a healthy relationship with it. In high school, you’d never see me without it even at a 6 a.m. pom practice. In fact, you wouldn’t even see me without a smoky eye or lip gloss. Even though makeup was fun for me, the need to constantly look perfect was draining. I felt like I needed it, no matter what the circumstance was. I carried on these habits throughout most of college too, though I gradually adopted a more natural makeup look that didn’t involve eyeliner and smoky eyes on normal days.

It wasn’t until the past couple years that I’ve gotten comfortable going out into public with my “face” not on. A lot of that is thanks to Worsham and my cousin Hayley’s encouragement. Now I usually just wear makeup a few times a week for Zoom meeting for work, or when I feel like being fancy.

Walking/working out at home – I haven’t been to the gym since right before the rona struck in March, and I don’t miss it either. I have no plans to go back. Instead of hitting the gym, Worsham and I have been going on walks all the time. Between that and YouTube, there’s really no reason to pay for a gym membership. I’ve actually lost weight since the pandemic, which wasn’t my goal but it’s nice to see that what I’m doing is working. I do Holly Dolke workout videos almost every day now – sometimes a few a day. They’re short, require no equipment, and still give you a great workout. I’m super impressed with her channel.

Carrying a mask – I’ll say it…the masks have grown on me. Once I got past being convinced I couldn’t breathe in them, I started liking them. I appreciate the fact that you can’t see half my face. If my skin is broken out, I can not wear makeup and still have no one see it. As an introvert, I like that I don’t feel obligated to smile or say hi to anyone I make eye contact with in a store. That probably sounds bad, but let’s be real. It’s a nice break. I’m not sure I’ll wear a mask forever, but I’ll always have one with me just in case. If you still haven’t found a comfy mask, check out the Mighty Company. I have a pink glitter one from them and it’s the best!

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What I Use to Cut & Color My Own Hair at Home

For the past couple years, I’ve been helping my mom color her roots in between salon visits. It’s become part of our routine every time I come home to visit, and it’s actually pretty fun! I’ve gotten really good at it. However, I never seriously considered doing my own until recently. Desperate rona times call for desperate measures. Rona times aside, I got tired of the overall salon experience. I’d rather skip the germs, small talk, and 30-minute drive and fully embrace being a hermit. It’s who I am now!

I would never try a normal “box” color on my hair though. Too risky. I ain’t about that life. One day I came across a video that ellebangs did (a hairstylist on YouTube) about how to color your own roots at home using a company called eSalon. I’d never heard of them, but I trusted her recommendation. You take a quiz, describe your color goals, and submit pictures. An actual colorist reviews them and makes a custom formula designed to meet your needs. It was exactly what I was looking for, and it was under $30. Perfect!

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What I Do to Boost My Immunity & Maintain My Sanity During 2020

Hello and welcome to the summer edition of WTF Is Even Happening: 2020. For those keeping track, this is month 5 of the pandemic…though it’s hard to remember a time when this wasn’t happening at this point. I hope you’re all taking good care of yourselves, spending quality time with your fam, and staying out of the politics of literally everything.

I have multiple immunity posts, but it seems like a good time for a refresher, don’t you think? It’s never too late to start boosting your immunity, and it certainly isn’t going to hurt given…well, everything.

Disclaimer: You already know I’m not a doctor, so don’t even sass me. Do your own research and consult your own doctor like an adult. K, BYEEE!

ALL THE VITAMINS:

Zinc – According to Dr. Axe, zinc has the ability to exert an anti-viral effect by attaching to receptors in nasal epithelial cells, blocking their effects. I won’t pretend like I understand this, but if it can help, why wouldn’t you take it? Some doctors have been using it on COVID patients as well. This is why it’s been sold out pretty much everywhere. Personally, I take it all the time because it helps my skin stay clear, which is a nice perk.

Quercetin – This is another one that’s hot in the streets for rona prevention/treatment apparently. It’s a flavonoid that’s found in onions, green tea, apples, berries, red wine, and more. Early findings are showing that it’s beneficial for airway infections, which is why it’s gained attention right now. However, it’s most commonly used for heart conditions, cancer prevention, bladder infections, and diabetes.

Immune Shroom – This is one of – if not my absolute – favorite vitamins. I hardly get sick anyway other than the occasional sinus headache, but I’ve been taking this consistently for 2 years and have not been sick. I literally haven’t missed a day of work for being sick since 2018. Even my boss has commented on it. Anyway, it’s made by Organic Olivia who is an awesome herbalist out of Brooklyn. She recently did a podcast episode about her parents’ near-death experience with the coronavirus. Highly recommend listening to it!

Elderberry – Elderberry has been a staple in natural medicine for centuries, with roots tracing back to ancient Egyptian medications (always ahead of their time with everything!). Elderberries contain rich flavanoids which are known to stimulate your immune system.

Vitamin D – Vitamin D supports the immune and nervous system, brain, and lungs, which makes it a nice addition to your preventative measures. According to Medical News Today, children given 1,200 international units of vitamin D per day for four months reduced their risk of the flu (type A) by over 40 percent. Who knows about the rona, but it’s definitely not going to hurt. Don’t want to pay for it? Go outside.

Vitamin C – You already know. It’s the OG immunity vitamin! If you don’t want to take a pill, at least have a bunch of oranges on deck.

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