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Rice Water Shampoo for Natural Hair Care: Check Out These 3 Must-Try Examples!

By Jacqueline Samaroo

Rice water has long been used in some parts of Asia as a hair care treatment. Its use in the Western World may be relatively new, but the benefits of rice water for hair growth have got many naturalistas hooked. Rice water (including fermented rice water) has been reported to:

• Strengthen hair.
• Smooth hair.
• Add slip for detangling.
• Improve hair elasticity.
• Reduce breakage.
• Repair damage.
• Maintain the natural color of your hair.

Want to find out about the benefits of rice water and learn how to make your own rice water rinse for curly hair? Read Rice Water Rinse for Curly Hair: What Is It, Benefits, and 3 EASY Rice Water Recipes.

3 Brands of Rice Water Shampoo

(Plus a few of the other amazing rice water products in their lineup!)

Here’s a quick look at the three rice water shampoos we’ve rounded up for you:

1. SheaMoisture Purple Rice Water Strength and Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner Set
2. Mielle Rice Water Hydrating Shampoo
3. Mimosu Rice Water Shampoo Bar

Go beyond the shampoos! we also give you a heads-up on some of the other rice water products featured by each of these brands. Enjoy!

1.    SheaMoisture Purple Rice Water Strength and Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner Set

What’s in it: Purple rice water, sweet violet extract, and wild orchid extract

SheaMoisture’s rice water shampoo and conditioner are great for detangling your color-treated or damaged hair. They give your hair the boost of moisture and nourishment it needs, leaving your curls softer with added bounce.

They also work as toners, helping to eliminate the brassy undertones that tend to show up in natural and color-treated dark brown and black hair. Plus, both the shampoo and conditioner have an irresistible scent! Together, they are a good choice for sulfate-free, mineral oil-free shampoo and conditioner with purple rice water.

If your hair falls in love with these SheaMoisture purple rice water products, then you’ll want to check out some other items from their Purple Rice Water Strength and Color Care collection. Here’s a quick look at two of them!

SheaMoisture Purple Rice Water Strength and Color Care Masque

Even the most basic natural hair care routines should include a deep conditioner at least once per month. However, you should be thinking of deep conditioning more often (at least once per week) if you have color-treated, chemically-treated, or damaged hair. This purple rice water hair mask from SheaMoisture can help. It provides intense hydration and deeply penetrating nourishment for your hair.

SheaMoisture Purple Rice Water Strength and Color Care Primer and Styler Hairspray

This purple rice water spray is also infused with wild orchid and sweet violet extracts. It’s a leave-in conditioner that helps to reduce brassiness, strengthens hair, and aids in detangling. It also acts as a heat protectant when blow-drying or heat-styling your hair.

 

 

2.      Mielle Rice Water Hydrating Shampoo

What’s in it: Rice water, yuzu (citrus junos) extract, and rapeseed (canola) oil 

Rice water combines with rapeseed oil and strongly scented yuzu peel to create this divine-smelling rice water shampoo. It gently detangles your hair while adding shine and strengthening your strands.

Nutrient-dense rapeseed oil is noted for its high vitamin E content. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, helping to protect against cell damage.

The yuzu is a citrus fruit (related to oranges and grapefruits). It is native to East Asia and is traditionally known for its many health benefits. It is quite nutritious. Among its nutrients are high percentages of both vitamin C and vitamin A. Both of these vitamins are antioxidants with proven benefits for hair growth.

Read more about the benefits of vitamins A, C, and E for hair growth:

• Vitamin A for Hair Growth: 5 Intriguing Facts
• 4 Amazing Benefits of Vitamin C for Hair Growth
• Curly Haircare: Vitamin E for Hair Growth – 6 Wonderful Benefits

Apart from the shampoo, there are several other hair-tastic Mielle Organics rice water products you can try. Mielle Organics rice water collection reviews rave about the results users get with them.  Here are three more examples from the collection.

Mielle Rice Water Moisturizing Milk

This daily moisturizer is made with yuzu extract, coconut oil, and safflower oil. It hydrates your hair then seals that moisture into each strand. It’s great for giving your hair added shine.  This convenient rice water product can be used on either wet or dry hair to assist with styling your curls.

Mielle Rice Water Split End Therapy

Mielle’s rice water split ends therapy is designed to be used as a pre-shampoo treatment to help strengthen your strands. Its list of impressive oils includes rapeseed, coconut, baobab, grapeseed, and rosemary oil.

 

Mielle Organics Rice Water and Aloe Bundle

The idea of using rice water for natural curly haircare may be new to many of us. Using aloe vera, however, is a long-standing tradition among naturalistas. Mielle Organics combines both in this rice water and aloe vera bundle. The set includes:

• Rice Water & Aloe Deep Conditioner
• Rice Water & Aloe Braid Gel
• Rice Water & Aloe Itch Relief

 

3.      Mimosu Rice Water Shampoo Bar

What’s in it: Fermented rice water, coconut oil, olive oil, and argan oil

Shampoo bars are typically made of healthy hair butters and oils. They also include conditioners and other ingredients to gently cleanse the hair and scalp. They are convenient to use, eliminate the use of plastic bottles, and give you more product (less water) for your money.

This unscented fermented rice water shampoo bar from Korean brand Mimosu is a good example. It is a vegan product with coconut oil as a gentle cleanser to nourish both your strands and scalp. You also get the moisturizing benefits of both olive oil and argan oil.

Get more info on coconut, argan, and olive oils in Why Black Hair Needs Hair Oil and 7 of the Best Ones to Use (with Product Examples!)

Here are three more ways to enjoy Mimosu’s fermented rice water products.

Mimosu DIY Rice Water Tea Bags

If you want the benefits of rice water for hair growth, a rice water shampoo is just one way to go. You can DIY your own rice water rinse for curly hair from scratch using rice and water. Or, get your hands on these handy fermented rice water tea bags from Mimosu.

The filling is made from organic rice that’s been fortified with vitamins A, B, and E, as well as minerals and protein. Simply add water, leave for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours, and it’s ready to use!

Mimosu Rice Water Tea Bags Kit

So, what can you make your fermented rice water hair rinse in? The team at Mimosu thought about that, too. This kit comes with their awesome rice water tea bags and a continuous spray bottle. Use the bottle for both making the rice water and applying it to your hair

Mimosu Rice Water Shampoo Bar and Tea Bags Kit Bundle

Get the rice water shampoo bar, rice water tea bags, and that sweet-looking bottle all in the same bundle!

 

 

Do you use rice water shampoo or any other rice water products? Tell us about them!

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Jacqueline Samaroo, DMT.NEWS, DMT BeautySpot,

Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last dollar.

Do you plan to rent a home forever? Do you love it? Do you hate it? Is it a mixed bag? We’d love to hear from you! Fill out this form and tell us about being a forever renter for a story on Refinery29.

Toay: an oral historian who makes $55,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on a green velvet couch.

Occupation: Oral Historian
Industry: Higher Education
Age: 31
Location: Jackson, MS
Salary: $55,000 + $7,595 (last year’s guest lecture fees, honorariums, and transcription jobs)
Net Worth: ~-$256,220 ($14,000 in savings + $2,500 in checking + $5,773 in a brokerage account + 21,780 in my retirement plan + ~$12,350 in house equity – debt)
Debt: Student Loans: $74,623.17 (grad school loan currently in forbearance due to COVID, but my job qualifies for PSLF); Mortgage: $237,650
Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $1,630.84
Pronouns: she/her/hers

Monthly Expenses
Mortgage: $1,416.71 (I live alone in a recently purchased three-bedroom home; this includes homeowners insurance in escrow.)
Loans: $0 because of COVID deferment
Car Payment: $219
Car Insurance: $300 (I pay six months at a time.)
Utilities: ~$80
Internet: $50
Cell Phone: $0 (I’m on my family’s plan and my parents pay.)
Health & Dental Insurance: $93.60
Netflix: $14
Other Streaming Services: $0 (I use my brother’s Amazon Prime, my parents’ Hulu, my cousin’s Disney+, and my friend’s HBO Max.)
Tithes: $326 (10% of each paycheck after deductions.)
Retirement: $412.50 (9% contribution pulled directly from my gross pay each month.)

Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
Neither of my parents finished college but it was always assumed I would not only attend but do so on a scholarship. My parents didn’t have college funds set up for my brother and me so while I did receive some small scholarships and a hefty amount of financial aid, my private university was particularly expensive. My dad liquidated one of his retirement savings accounts to help pay some of the costs, but some student loans were still necessary. I opened my own checking account in high school and got a job as a writer for a local newspaper the summer before college that provided all of the spending money I used my freshman year. For the rest of college, I worked in the college admissions office, volunteered as a human research subject in the psych department (for small stipends), and took up part-time and summer jobs as a nanny, transcriptionist, and camp counselor. Afterwards, with some help from my parents, I was able to pay off all of my undergrad loans ($30,000) within three years of graduating. I recently completed a master’s degree that I paid for using some savings and more student loans.

Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent/guardian(s) educate you about finances?
When we were kids, my dad created bank accounts for my brother and me at his credit union and taught us about the importance of saving money at a young age. My parents didn’t talk to us very much about money directly but did discuss it amongst themselves often enough for me, a very nosey kid, to know that we couldn’t necessarily afford a lot of the things other kids were asking for for Christmas. My parents were not financial experts and because money was pretty tight growing up, I developed a bit of a fear of debt as a kid. I eventually took some financial literacy courses in college and learned to take advice from friends and family more knowledgeable about finances.

What was your first job and why did you get it?
I had done some babysitting and tutoring for my younger cousins and neighbors as a pre-teen but my first real paycheck came from being an after-school reading tutor at 16. I took this job because four of my best friends were doing it and I thought it would be a good way to start saving money for college.

Did you worry about money growing up?
Yes, at times. But, growing up in a fairly religious household, I also believed that God would always provide.

Do you worry about money now?
Not usually, but buying a house has definitely made me more aware of my finances.

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
I have been financially responsible for myself (aside from my cell phone bill) since college but my parents will probably always be my financial safety net. I know that if I ever lost my job or otherwise became unable to support myself, they would take care of me, not just because they have the capacity, but because they would insist upon it. However, I try to make sure that I am prepared to withstand financial hardship on my own.

Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
No.

Day One

6:15 a.m. — My alarm goes off and instead of hitting snooze, I turn it off, roll over and fall back asleep. I wake up 30 minutes later to find that I am going to be late for work and jump out of bed. Thankfully, I decided to shower before bed last night so that saves me ten minutes this morning. Before getting dressed, I run to the kitchen to put on the kettle for the thermos of hot water I usually bring to work for my jasmine tea. I put on a sleeveless grey dress, then move on to brushing my teeth and doing my skincare. My daily routine includes a rose water and witch hazel toner spray, The Ordinary serum and daily moisturizer, Neutrogena eye cream, and sunscreen. I don’t wear much makeup but I do fill in my eyebrows using a drugstore brow pencil. I pack myself a lunch of a turkey sandwich, a couple of clementines, cherries, potato chips, and a refillable water bottle. I grab the iced coffee I didn’t finish yesterday and load up my car to hit the road.

8:05 a.m. — After a 30-minute commute, (listening to an audiobook, One Blood by John M. Perkins) I arrive to work late but before nearly all of my coworkers and consider it a win. I open up my computer and get to work.

10 a.m. — I switch right from a 8:30 a.m. meeting (that ran over) to a Zoom seminar. I have revisions for a book chapter due in four days, a two-day workshop to prepare for, and an in-person interview session lined up, so there’s a lot to be done. While zoning in and out of this long meeting, I finally make the decision to purchase the Eginald Wide Velvet Sofa & Chaise I’ve been debating on from Wayfair. I’ve spent a week shopping for a green velvet couch online and have been reluctant to pull the trigger because of the high price tag. I don’t usually make many purchases of this size, but I figure it’s something I will see and use every day so it’s worth it. I also opt to add the three-year protection plan. $1,740.87 yikes! $1,740.87

12 p.m. — I eat my packed lunch while watching YouTube videos. A coworker stops by my office to discuss her proposal for the students’ welcome week event next Tuesday. I work on my chapter edits and swing by the printer to pick up some documents. Eventually I wrap up my work for the day and pack up my laptop and research notes since I will be taking a personal day tomorrow to rest and recover from my recent bout with COVID-19.

5 p.m. — I say goodbye to my coworkers and get started on my commute home, continuing the audio book from this morning. When I arrive, I change into some workout clothes and head to my old apartment to pick up mail and clean it before the lease is up this weekend. The apartment complex also has a great gym so I plan to get one last workout while there.

7:25 p.m. — I head home and cook breakfast for dinner since I forgot to defrost anything. While cooking, I talk to my brother on the phone and watch an episode of Good Trouble. I read in a relaxing bubble bath before doing my nighttime skincare routine, brushing my teeth, and heading to bed.

Daily Total: $1,740.87

Day Two

7:45 a.m. — Even though I’m not going to work today, I decide to get up to mow my lawn before the weather gets too hot.

8:30 a.m. — I fill a huge cup of water to rehydrate and brush off all the excess grass clippings from my ankles before turning on the Roomba to vacuum it all up. I sit down in front of the TV to cool off and I watch an episode of the new Gossip Girl reboot before making myself a smoothie (spinach, banana, frozen mango, strawberries, and blueberries, with coconut milk) for breakfast. When I finish, I hit the shower and change into some Old Navy leggings and a matching sports bra. I climb back into bed to make a grocery list.

11 a.m. — I head out for my shopping. I get a bunch of groceries and then head home to unload. $126.07

1 p.m. — My car has been due for maintenance for about two weeks but because of my bout of COVID, I had to reschedule. I make it to my appointment right on time. My car lease includes free regular maintenance so there’s no charge.

1:45 p.m. — My massage therapist comes by for an hour-long full body massage at a discounted rate of $60, including tip. $60

3 p.m. — After the massage therapist leaves, I realize I haven’t eaten lunch and fix myself a BLT with some leftover hashbrowns. I’m feeling super relaxed and decide to just chill for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Around dinner time, I have a video call with one of my oldest friends, T., which she takes while she cooks for her family; on the call, I thank her for the generous housewarming gift I received in the mail yesterday. I do my evening skincare, brush my teeth, take my daily vitamins and melatonin, then change into pajamas. I climb into bed with my phone and continue reading a few chapters of Diana Galbadons’ Outlander series (I’m currently finishing up book two, A Dragonfly in Amber). I’m asleep by 11:30.

Daily Total: $186.07

Day Three

8 a.m. — I sleep in a bit before finally getting up to brush my teeth, shower, do skincare, and dress. I pick a blush cotton blouse, black floral print high-waisted shorts, and pink suede booties that coordinate with a cute straw hat. I then head out the door by 8:40 to join some ladies from my church for breakfast and coffee. I stop for gas on the way. $28.27

11:45 a.m. — Meeting up with the ladies is such a great way to spend this morning, as it has been so rare for me to meet new people since moving to Mississippi 18 months ago. After breakfast, I head to Costco to spend way too much money stocking up on paper products and other bulk items. On my way home from Costco ($225.60), I stop by the Dollar General to pick up a few items ($14.71), and Goodwill to drop off a donation of clothes that no longer fit. $240.31

1 p.m. — After putting away my purchases, I putter around the house organizing things, snacking, cleaning, and breaking down some boxes from the move. I take a little nap and contemplate staying in for the night again.

6 p.m. — I realize how important it is for me to keep working at making friends, and I meet back up with some of the same ladies from church for a mini-golf outing ($10.75) and a late dinner. I bring some ice water and a clementine in the car to snack on and listen to music with the windows rolled down to help wake me up from my nap. $10.75

9:22 p.m. — I pay for my cheeseburger and fries then drive back home in time to shower and promptly pass out by 10. $12.09

Daily Total: $291.42

Day Four

8 a.m. — I wind up sleeping in and decide to watch church service online, making a breakfast of cereal and almond milk. I find that I have four mosquito bites from mini-golf and decide to spend the day indoors out of frustration. I break down a few more boxes, unload the dishwasher, and walk around the house organizing, reorganizing, and making a list of things I still need for the house.

12:30 p.m. — I fix myself a snack while I get some homemade chili started in the crockpot. I realize I don’t have any canned black beans so over video call my mom talks me through prepping some dried ones. Due to the uptick in COVID cases in my state, I am attempting to limit the number of times I eat out during the week, so cooking big batches of food like this is a great help in that.

4 p.m. — I log into Zoom prepared to host my monthly meeting for Black oral historians, an initiative I started over a year ago, and it goes really well with a lot of generative new ideas.

5 p.m. — I dedicate the rest of my evening to washing, deep conditioning, and twisting my hair. I went natural about ten years ago and I almost always do my own hair instead of visiting salons or hiring a professional because it saves me a ton of money each year.

7:30 p.m. — I have some of my chili with half an avocado and shredded cheese for dinner, and later follow it up with my favorite Ben and Jerry’s Americone Dream ice cream. While I eat I watch Manifest.

Daily Total: $0

Day Five

7 a.m. — I snooze my morning alarm since I will not have to commute into the office today. My boss allows me to work from home on days when I will be spending considerable time presenting on Zoom due to the inconsistent WiFi on campus. I turn off the beans that have been slowly cooking all night and boil some water for tea while unloading the dishwasher.

8 a.m. — I log into my email and begin my work day by responding to some of the emails that have accumulated over the weekend. Due to my nervous stomach, I slowly drink my tea and nibble on a madeleine, while I prepare for this afternoon’s workshop. Luckily I only have to dress nicely from the waist up, so I wear a light blue ribbed sleeveless sweater and pearl earrings with my pajama pants and slippers.

11:55 a.m. — I log into Zoom early to make sure that my PowerPoint works before my workshop starts.

3 p.m. — Day one of the workshop is a success and I reward myself with a late lunch of chili and a glass of wine.

4 p.m. — I check back into my email inbox to respond to any requests made while I was teaching, then log off at the end of the work day. I do some gardening for fresh air before I eat more chili for dinner on the rug in front of the TV. Clearly, I’m the type of person who has no problem eating the same thing over and over, as long as it’s tasty.

10 p.m. — Shower, skincare, brush teeth, vitamins, melatonin, reading in bed.

Daily Total: $0

Day Six

6:15 a.m. — I wake up on time and brush my teeth, wash my face, and get dressed. I decide on black trousers and a white sleeveless button-down casually tied at the waist with a pair of black pointed-toe leather pumps. I make myself my usual smoothie and grab one of my prepared lunches and a water bottle from the fridge, then head out the door. Before pulling out of the driveway, I bring the trash and some broken-down boxes to the curb.

8 a.m. — I get to work and fix myself some tea while I review emails. I then head to the campus security office to renew my parking permit and opt to pay extra for a reserved spot close to my building. The lady who handles this is exceptionally rude and accuses me of parking illegally previously, but I rise above and don’t justify her remarks with one of my patented snarky comebacks. There is an option to pay all at once or in installments but I decide it’ll be easiest to pay the full $200 fee all at once. $200

10 a.m. — I head down to the reading room to assist with the welcome week informational sessions for new freshmen students being led by my coworker.

12 p.m. — I quickly eat my packed lunch of salad with grilled chicken before attending a weekly Zoom meeting with a partner institution working on a grant project. As soon as this meeting ends, I log into the Zoom link for the second part of my two-day workshop. When my workshop is finally over hours later, I have a snack from my desk drawer emergency stash and start wrapping up for the day.

5:30 p.m. — On the way home, I stop at the grocery store for some tortilla chips to eat with my chili and see that fresh-cut Bloom Haus roses are on sale so I grab those as well. When I arrive home from work I immediately begin reheating dinner. $10.69

6 p.m. — I change into some sweats and eat dinner, following it up with a slice of key lime pie that’s technically past the expiration date (it’s frozen so it still passes the taste test lol). When I’ve finished my dessert, I clean up, wash a few dishes, and load the rest into the dishwasher. I then talk to my mother on the phone and watch a few more hours of Manifest before bedtime.

10 p.m. — I don’t do my skincare routine but at least remember to wash my face before bed. I read a few pages of Outlander on my phone before passing out.

Daily Total: $210.69

Day Seven

6:15 a.m. — Alarm goes off and morning routine goes down. I put on a coral sleeveless dress with flat sandals and a flowy printed duster. I make a smoothie, grab my salad for lunch, and head to work.

8 a.m. — I park in my new reserved spot, feeling like yesterday’s purchase was well worth it. Before settling in at my desk, I take a new coworker to tour the center’s newest exhibit in the art building. Afterward, I return to my office, fix tea, finish my smoothie, and start work preparing for today’s interview. I complete my list of sample questions and charge the batteries for my camera and audio recorder, install new memory cards, and make sure I have the correct tripod and extra double-A batteries.

10:00 a.m. — I log into a long-awaited telehealth appointment with a psychotherapist in order to get a prescription for antidepressants. I’ve been in therapy for a few months now and my therapist has recommended this as the best course of action for me.

11:20 a.m. — It takes me two trips to load my equipment into the car then I head off campus to conduct the oral history interview I’ve been preparing for. Since COVID, I’ve had very few opportunities to do any in-person interviewing so I’m a bit more nervous than usual but it turns out better than expected. When I return to campus, though, it’s to find somebody parked in my newly reserved spot. Very annoying! I park somewhere else and leave the equipment in my car until after I eat lunch. When the other car leaves, I move my car, then check in with some coworkers before going back to my office to decompress.

5 p.m. — I call my grandparents from the car to check in on them and catch up on family gossip on the drive home. I make a pit stop at Walgreens and pick up the new prescription. It’s a generic brand and the price is drastically reduced by insurance. I avoid the temptation to buy candy or nail polish. $13.54

6 p.m. — I arrive home to an Amazon package at the door addressed to the house’s previous owner and call my parents for advice on what to do. While on the phone, I fix a snack and clean the kitchen. I heat up more chili with shredded cheese and after hearing the therapist’s voice in my head, I decide against alcohol to drink, opting for some cranberry juice instead. I eat on the living room floor in front of the TV again. In between episodes of Manifest, I upload some old interview audio to my computer and finally finish breaking down all the boxes in my garage. Having worked up a sweat in the garage, I have the great idea to take a bubble bath (does anyone else shower before/after bubble baths in order to actually feel clean?).

10 p.m. — I put on one of my favorite silky nightgowns, brush my teeth, take a melatonin and Tylenol PM to ensure a full night’s sleep, and read more Outlander until I fall into sleep’s sweet oblivion.

Daily Total: $13.54

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Refinery29, DMT.NEWS, DMT BeautySpot,

Welcome to Refinery29’s Feel Good Diaries, where we chronicle the physical and mental wellness routines of women today, their costs, and whether or not these self-care rituals actually make you feel good.

Have your own Feel Good Diary to submit? You can do so here!

Today: A woman whose wellness routine includes running, virtual therapy, and baking cakes for her father’s birthday.

Age: 24
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Occupation: Copywriter/Marketing Specialist
Salary: $42,000/year

This diary was written in November 2020.

Day One

8 a.m. — My boyfriend and I had an unusually late night, so we sleep in before making a quick breakfast — eggs, sausage, and Earl Grey tea — together. Then I kickstart yet another work from home (or work from boyfriend’s place) day by pulling up my Notion dashboard, a free online task manager that I use to organize and inspire my entire life.

10:30 a.m. — It’s an unseasonably nice day in November, so my boyfriend and I go for a walk around his neighborhood. I know it’s one of the last warm, sunny days I’ll get in many months, so I try to soak it in as much as possible. The warmth combined with the good company is calming and centering, and I feel more refreshed than I did after breakfast.

5 p.m. — After I’m done working for the day, I put on the true-crime podcast My Favorite Murder and go for another walk, back at my own apartment now. There’s a Target half a mile from my place, and I stop by in search of toilet bowl cleaner. They’re out, but I end up buying a box of penne pasta, which is under a dollar. Once I’m back home, I spend half an hour playing an online game with some friends before logging off. I cook an improvised use-up-the-leftovers meal of half a jar of pesto, a few ounces of cream cheese, and some mixed vegetables with the penne. World events have had me stressed and anxious, so there’s something about a warm bowl of basil-y, cheesy pasta that sets my heart a little more at ease. $0.99

Daily Total: $0.99

Day Two

7 a.m. — ​​The first thing I do after I wake up is head out for a 5K run through my neighborhood, along the nearby river. The temperature has dropped to a chilly 40 degrees, but the brisk air is invigorating. I finish the run with Pamela Reif’s “10 MIN SIXPACK WORKOUT // No Equipment” video on YouTube. I’ve been doing this series of 20 nonstop core exercises regularly since May, but some days it’s still a challenge to get through.

After, it’s morning smoothie time! Most weekdays, my breakfast is a homemade frozen smoothie pack with bananas, chopped kale, and various berries or other fruit, which I mix with Greek yogurt and almond milk. It’s big enough to be filling, but light enough that I can stomach it after a run or heavy workout, since my body doesn’t always like to eat right after I exercise. I sit down to work with a cup of coffee.

12 p.m. — I Skype with my mom over my work-from-home lunch break. We started Skype lunch dates in March during the first lockdown and have kept it up a few days a week since. It’s nice to chat, especially since we both spend much of our days alone. Most of my lunches are leftovers from whatever I made for dinner recently. I live alone but cook full recipes, which means I typically cook two to three dinners a week and spread out the leftovers.

8:30 p.m. — Time for a virtual therapy session. I’ve done some in-person therapy in the past, but now I’m trying virtual therapy through BetterHelp, which costs me $40.50 per week as part of my Employee Assistance Plan, to manage my pandemic-induced anxiety. It’s still very much a work in progress. As am I. $40.50

Daily Total: $40.50

Day Three

7 a.m. — I like to alternate running/cross-training days, so I do another of my favorite video workouts: 35-Minute Nike HIIT Workout by PopSugar Fitness on YouTube. I like the combination of cardio and strength moves. I’ve recently graduated from five- to eight-pound dumbbells, so I’m sweating a bit more than usual.

4 p.m. — I log off my work email for the day, put on some music (today it’s the Dreamland album by Glass Animals), and go for a short walk, about a mile and a half. Now that it’s getting dark earlier, I’m less motivated to go for daily walks than when I could look forward to feeling the warm sun on my skin. But sitting on the couch all day makes me feel lazy, so I try to walk every day.

9:45 p.m. — On a good night, I’ve done my skincare routine—cleanser (Neutrogena Acne Stress Control), toner (Skin & Co Truffle Therapy Face Toner), moisturizer (Pond’s Clarant B3). Nothing fancy — and I’m in bed before 10 to read. Right now, I’m reading Skyhunter by Marie Lu. I check out ebooks from my local library on my iPad, so it’s all free! I love fantasy and sci-fi novels, especially, and I enjoy escaping into someone else’s world before I fall asleep around 10:30.

Daily Total: $0

Day Four

6:45 a.m. — Another cold weather 5K. The wind chill is around 20 now, and there’s snow on the ground. It’s hard to motivate myself to get out there, and this morning, my body is struggling to keep up my usual pace. I’m relieved once I get back inside and shed several layers of shirts.

7 p.m. — I brew a cup of decaf chai (Toothless Tiger Chai from TeaSource) and Skype with a friend from high school. Her work puts her in a high-risk category for COVID-19, so we haven’t seen one another in person since February. But since we live across state lines anyway, we’re well-practiced at keeping up without meeting up in person. Still, I look forward to the day when I can make the drive to her place and watch rom-coms together.

9 p.m. — I spend five minutes practicing mindfulness meditation with the Calm app (I use the free version). It’s tough today — my brain is impatient, always trying to think ahead to all the work I need to get done tomorrow. But that’s the point of mindfulness: to recognize when your mind wanders off and gently bring it back to focus on the present. Today, there’s a lot of patience required in the process.

Daily Total: $0

Day Five

7:45 a.m. — It’s Friday, which means I take an extra-long self-care shower after a HIIT workout. I first shampoo my hair with Neutrogena’s anti-residue clarifying shampoo. It’s the only thing that keeps my hair from feeling greasy in a building with hard water. Then I use moisturizing shampoo (OGX Argan Oil of Morocco), followed by a strengthening conditioner (OGX Anti-Breakage Keratin Oil). I have long, thick hair that takes several hours to air dry, so in lockdown I trained it to only need two washes a week.

3:30 p.m. — My Instacart order arrives for the coming week. I’m planning a seasonal tart (groceries I bought: squash, sausage, pastry sheets, onion) and homemade ramen (plain ramen noodles, sesame oil, eggs), among other things. I also bought baking ingredients for my dad’s upcoming birthday (chocolate, sour cream, flour). I usually spend about $40 to 50 shopping once a week with occasional small trips if I run out of a staple midweek, like eggs or pasta. $40

6 p.m. — My boyfriend comes over, and we have a leisurely dinner of Chinese takeout while we split a bottle of prosecco and talk about our weeks. We get increasingly giggly with each glass of prosecco, and it feels to relax and let loose a little even without going out. Eventually, we end up on the couch, where we watch a few episodes of Futurama before heading to bed around 11. $30

Daily Total: $70

Day Six

9 a.m. — After an hour of me reading in bed, my boyfriend finally wakes up. We make a big breakfast of eggs and sausage, along with bananas and the last of a leftover pumpkin bread loaf I made last weekend. He has a cup of Earl Grey, and I opt for coffee. It’s another leisurely meal where we spend 10 minutes eating and 45 minutes talking. After breakfast, we bundle up for a short walk around the block before settling in for his homework and my writing.

3 p.m. — My boyfriend heads back to his place, and I head to my parents’ house to celebrate my dad’s birthday. While my parents and brother work on assembling ingredients for a massive paella with chicken, shrimp, and sausage, I whip up a frosting for the chocolate cakes I baked yesterday. Once I’ve assembled a towering double-layer chocolate cake slathered in frosting, I add some colorful sprinkles for good measure. We enjoy it with some vanilla ice cream after we’ve scarfed down the paella (and portioned out an ungodly amount of leftovers among the four of us).

11 p.m. — I get home late, but sometimes I find it difficult to fall asleep after a social event. I just bought Clinique’s City Block purifying mask, so I use that and scroll Pinterest before falling asleep.

Daily Total: $0

Day Seven

8 a.m. — I get out of bed, make a smoothie, and allow myself a slow morning to finish the latest episode of The Great British Baking Show. Then I do a 30-minute yoga practice with a video from PopSugar Fitness.

4 p.m. — SOURDOUGH BAKE. Yes, I tried a quarantine sourdough starter back in April, and yes, it’s still going. I’m still trying to perfect the process, but it’s so satisfying. Just flour, starter, water, and time! I keep my starter active, so I threw together the dough yesterday evening and let it rise overnight. This morning I worked it and stuck it in the fridge. Now it’s baking and my entire apartment smells like fresh bread, which is worth it even if the loaf doesn’t turn out.

6 p.m. — I try a new recipe: lemon Brussels sprouts and gnocchi from The New York Times Cooking. I subscribe to the Times’ Five Weeknight Dishes newsletter, which often links to recipes that are temporarily in front of the paywall. It takes me a little longer than the 20 minutes the recipe claims it should, but it’s worth it! The nuttiness of the cooked butter is so nice and comforting with the gnocchi. I also added sliced mushrooms for good measure. Later that evening, I finish out the weekend with another meditation session, a few episodes of Veep, and a glass of red wine. I try to keep my Sunday nights as relaxing as possible to prepare for the week ahead.

Daily Total: $0

Weekly Total: $111.49

Reflection: Routine is important to me, and each of the things I do serves a purpose, whether it’s helping me feel calm, keeping my body healthy, or keeping me connected to the people around me. I’m not the kind of person who does wellness spur-of-the-moment; I’m the kind of person who plans in advance and generally does the same things each week.

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Our favorite Etsy finds for October are all about the harvest and halloween decor, beautiful fall knitwear and more. Fall colors come together to create a cheerful, welcoming palette in a variety of products for women, littles, and the home. Beautiful handblock quilts in various color combinations, adorable fabric pumpkins, personalized trick or treat baskets and more. Etsy always comes through with these handmade, unique items that add a personalized touch. Take a look at some of the recent finds I’m loving…

The post Etsy Finds From October appeared first on Julia Berolzheimer.

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October is National ADHD Awareness Month and it’s no secret that I’ve lived a life up against this disorder.

I hate that word: disorder. The dictionary defines “disorder” as a “state of confusion.” But I do not feel confused at all. Sure, sometimes I may feel confused but I do not live in a constant state of disorder just because I have ADHD. It really frustrates me that we call ADHD a “disorder.” However, in medicine, a disturbance of normal functioning of the mind or body is considered a disorder. I suppose my mind does not function “normally,” but I am okay with that.

It’s always feels a little daunting to me when I up in a “Things I’m Afraid To Tell You” type of post. When I sit down to write these, I cannot help but think about the troll who is convinced that I have bi-polar disorder. I’m sure it’s the same person writing this message to me over and over again. Or, perhaps is coming from a few different people. I can assure you that I do not have bi-polar disorder {which by the way is very difficult to diagnose}. I have been seeing doctors and therapists my entire life. For some reason when I open up on social media about my mental illness struggles, I always get a spectator or two who is simply here to judge, poke at what may seem like my weaknesses and try to get a rise out of me.

I am here to tell you one thing: ADHD is not my weakness. It is my strength.

It really annoys the heck out of me that people have shamed others and look at people with ADHD as if we have some sort of plague. The moment I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child I was immediately pulled into a special learnings class, took tests alone in the hallway outside the classrooms, put on medication and was told I was “different.” What was I supposed to think? That this was a good thing?

When I first met Grant he was aware of what ADHD was and he thought he knew what it meant. But it wasn’t until living with me for many years for him to really understand the daily nuances and little ticks that make life with ADHD, and life living with a person who has ADHD, quite the struggle. But what I love most about Grant was that once he started to realize what those little struggles were, he started to point out all of the many strengths that also come along with having ADHD. My hyper focused brain is like superwoman on days I’m “firing” with ADHD. I’m able to get more work done in a day than most do in a full week. Grant also pointed out that I have very high energy, I’m creative and intuitive. I had been so wrapped up in the many negative traits that are associated with ADHD for so long that I failed to see the positive ones.

Luckily I have had amazing resources in my adulthood that have helped me understand ADHD and ways I cope and manage it. I have shared a lot of social posts and blog posts about how I’ve learned to live with ADHD. However, I have shared very little about the things that I really struggle with. So, in light of National ADHD Awareness Month and bringing more awareness to this disorder, I thought I would share more about my story below.

I Hate Medication

I no longer take Adderall, Ritalin, Dexedrine, Lexapro, or any other type of stimulants. I have never liked the way medication makes me feel and always knew in my gut (gotta trust that intuition) that medication was not the best route for me. Over the years, I’ve found that if I work out daily or at least move my body with a walk, that it really helps calm my mind and keep me feeling stable.

People with ADHD are “Hyper”

This one really crawls under my skin. “You have so much energy!” is something that I have heard a lot of people say to me. Honestly? I don’t have that much energy. But it really seems like when I’m excited about something or I’m working really hard on a project, that I get labeled as having “high energy” ADHD. I can actually be downright lazy when I’m not interested in something. I hate the stigmas that attach to ADHD. The minute you tell someone you have it is the minute that automatically slap you with labels of “high energy.”

No, You Do Not Have ADHD

Doesn’t it seem like everyone and their dog has ADHD? I don’t know when it became so popular to just rattle off “oh ya I have that too” when someone opens up about their neurobiological disorder. Don’t get me wrong, I love that people want to relate and make those of us with ADHD feel a bit more “normal,” but it can also feel a little undermining at times when everyone says they have ADHD.

The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor, or two, or three.

I’m Exhausted

Sometimes my hyper focused energy is so exhausting. On days, like today, I’m sitting in my pajamas at 2pm, teeth unbrushed, face unwashed and I’m feeling a little sick. I will continue to push myself to work for another hour and then maybe take a 30 minute break before dragging myself to the grocery store. What I really need is rest. I need to recharge. But my mind won’t let me. It’s a weird rush of energy I get when I’m working on something I am passionate about. So, I continue. This is probably my least favorite thing about ADHD. There are simply some days that I cannot turn it off. The only thing that helps me on these days are taking a nice, deep breath and knowing that this day will not last forever. This moment will pass. This is just a tough day.

The Things That Help Me

A lot of yoga, working out and mindfulness have been my saving grace to helping with my ADHD symptoms {click here to read more about my symptoms}. I have also been seeing my therapist for over 6 years steadily. I am constantly reading about and learning more on ADHD and try to stay up to date on new studies and findings. Incorporating my ADHD into my every day life with Grant so I’m less afraid to talk about it has also been helpful. We continue to point out moments that I’m “firing” and the frustration and/or annoyance lessens as a result.

Do you struggle with ADHD? How do you cope/manage? Leave a comment below and continue to help spread awareness this month!

 

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Fred Nieddu (above) recently set up on his own under the name ‘taillour’ (an Old French term for tailor), having previously been  the bespoke cutter at Timothy Everest in London. However, chances are you will have seen Fred’s work around for... > Read more

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