January Q&A

 

Due to the holidays, I inadvertently skipped December’s Q&A – so if you sent in a question, I will be getting back to you shortly via email!  Thank you to everyone who sent in topics for this month – I hope these are helpful to share here.  As always, you can email me directly if you have a styling dilemma or if you need help finding something!  Now let’s get to those questions:

1) We are heading on a Caribbean cruise in mid-February & I’m having a hard time finding summery styles to bring with me on our trip.  I’m not a fan of really bright colors – I’d rather stick to soft tones, neutrals & classic stripes.

I remember running into the same problem when we went to Mexico in February a couple years back.  The key is to check out online stores that have a “resort wear” section and search on discount sites like T.J.Maxx and Nordstrom Rack – you can also usually find great dresses & pretty tops for less from ASOS.  Here are some affordable options I found that would work well for your upcoming cruise:

DRESSES:  ONE // TWO // THREE // FOUR
SANDALS:  ONE // TWO // THREE // FOUR // FIVE
TOPS:  ONE // TWO // THREE // FOUR
BAGS:  ONE // TWO // THREE // FOUR

MORE VACATION-READY STYLES

2) After having my son, my hair’s texture has completely changed and I need to find some new products that will give me volume without drying my hair out.  We also live in Chicago and since our winter began, I feel like I’m constantly battling static – help!

You are definitely not alone – so many woman I’ve talked with have also had their hair change during & after pregnancy – mine certainly did!  Here are the products that I use & would recommend:

For volume: I think I tried just about every volumizing product on the market after losing nearly half of my hair due to my autoimmune disease.  I continue to test new formulas as they come out, but I keep coming back to this shampoo (worth every penny, in my opinion).  And, if you aren’t already, I’d suggest taking a supplement that will strengthen your hair from the inside out & encourage new growth.  There are so many on the market in the form of gummies or powders, but I really like these vitamins because they contain a rich blend of amino acids.  After I’ve washed my hair, I apply this thickening mousse (which my mom got me hooked on) – it really gives your hair a boost without a sticky finish.

One of my favorite tricks for extending the time between washing my hair is to spray on this dry shampoo, concentrating on my roots & then brush it through with this brush.  Then I take small sections of hair & put these large velcro rollers in & use my blow dryer on medium heat all over my head.  I usually will leave them in while I do my makeup & then remove when I’m done and voilà – all the oil is absorbed & I have instant volume!

For frizz: I had no idea that using a regular towel wasn’t good for your hair (it creates frizz & can cause breakage), so when my hair stylist told me about this hair turban, I immediately ordered one. I always take it with me when I travel & have gifted some to friends too!  Another product that I love is my silk pillowcase – you don’t have to spend a fortune on this name brand…as long as it’s 100% silk, it will have the same benefits & you won’t wake up with a tangled bed-head.

The anti-static spray that I used all last year was discontinued so I had to find a replacement – after testing a few brands, this one was the clear winner.  I like that you can use it on wet or dry hair & it doesn’t leave a greasy residue.  It also comes in a travel size so you can test it out before buying the full bottle.  For on-the-go touch-ups, I keep these anti-frizz sheets & this magic hair wand in my purse – the sheets are great for combating static and the hair wand is best for taming flyaways.

I’ve also been using this hair mask about once a week & it has helped so much with the dry scalp I sometimes get in the winter + it really hydrates my hair without weighing it down.  And I’ve been trying to let my hair air dry as much as possible to minimize heat damage.  So, on days when I want to enhance my natural curl, I scrunch this sea salt spray all over & let it dry completely – I love the effortless, beachy waves it gives me without feeling crunchy.

3) I know this isn’t really your specialty, but I’m currently 28 weeks pregnant & I’d love to see some affordable maternity options that I can wear to work and transition into the spring.

I completely understand not wanting to spend a fortune on a brand new wardrobe when you’re only going to be wearing it for a handful of months.  The good news is that there are plenty of budget-friendly options, but there is a much wider selection available online.  Some of my favorites include LOFT, Gap, Target and H&M.  Old Navy also has great maternity basics like this v-neck sweater, these ponte pants, this tunic shirt & these white skinny jeans (perfect for spring/summer!).  Here are some classic styles to carry you into the next season:

ROW 1:  ONE // TWO  // THREE // FOUR // FIVE
ROW 2: ONE // TWO // THREE // FOUR // FIVE

MORE MATERNITY STYLES