Open This For Updates: Rogaine, YouTube and my Makeup Routine 😬

Hair, Makeup, Life, Food, Studies...what's been going on with me that I haven't talked about

Hello my friends! Today I thought I’d write something a bit lighter, in this case, an update on what’s going on with me. I know I’ve alluded to studying and being busy…all will be revealed!

As always, thanks for being a subscriber (and if you’re not, why not? It’s free!) and extra thanks to my supporters who fund the work that goes into this newsletter. 

Let’s get on with the show…

💁🏻‍♀️Hair. Yes, let’s start on the shallowest level, shall we? As most of you know, I built my YouTube content creation around my hair loss recovery story and fortunately/unfortunately, it is still the most interesting and useful thing about me to many of my audience. And that’s ok!

I’ve been having some absolutely banging hair days lately and I’m not doing anything new, perhaps the hair goddesses figured they owe me and I’m having a good few weeks? Unclear.

I’m using Kerastase Bain Satin 1 shampoo, which is still my 15+ years forever holy grail and I will lose my mind if they ever discontinue it, and Pureology hydrating conditioner. Then I’ve been using Kerastase Nutritive Blow Dry Primer balm, which is theoretically for pre-heat styling, and then I either use my Babyliss air brush or I air dry. This is my air-dried hair today. 

💄 Makeup. So now that my hair is doing great, my makeup routine is up shits creek without a paddle. I can’t nail it lately, same products, same techniques…what’s going on? Every eyeliner flick is wonky. Blush is not sticking correctly. I don’t know if it’s because my hooded eyelids have become more hooded or my face is falling and I need to invest in some Botox and fillers, but it’s been impossible to have a good makeup day. WE CAN’T HAVE IT ALL, LADIES, AM I RIGHT? At least not at the same time.

🤷🏻‍♀️ Rogaine. Yeah, I still use it, but I’ve become increasingly lazy and only use a small amount of the foam every two days. Either I’ve recovered entirely from hair loss, or my hair only needs this low dose right now, I don’t know. I think what I’ll do is switch to cheaper and lower dose liquid after I’m done with this supply. I don’t dare to stop entirely.

🌊 Life. I was a little mopey over the death of Heather “Dooce” Armstrong last week and on the spur of the moment (usually my posts are a little more planned), I wrote about it and sent out a newsletter. So many of you connected with me privately about feeling sad about her death, too. You can read about it here if you missed it.

In other life news, I have been keeping my head down and hitting the books. I’ve been spending the last two months studying for something called the LLQP, the Life License Qualification Program, which is what you need to become a life insurance agent here in Canada where I live. I’m joining the family business and I think it will be a fun new adventure. I’m not planning on giving up writing though, so you’re stuck with me here as long as you want to be!

📱YouTube. So, I know I quit YouTube, but then I put up some home movies of a trip to Vegas and Palm Springs so my family could see them. Now I make videos and I post them here for you guys first on Substack, and they’re hosted on YouTube already so I just flip the switch on them so everyone can see them. 

My YouTube videos are still very impactful for gaining new subscribers to this newsletter, which is where I am putting my energy. I don’t make anything exclusively for YouTube or to appease its algorithm, I put a hold on all comments there, and yet, it’s such a great free marketing and advertising tool for the work I really want to do, which is writing this very post. If I post a video it always gets new people to sign up here, if I don’t, things get a little lean. Hey, if Tom Brady can un-retire, so can I? Actually, that ended kinda badly for him aka Gisele kicked him to the curb, among other indignities, so perhaps I need to rethink that. I dunno. It’s messy. 

🙍🏻‍♀️ Skincare. For my paying subscribers, later this week you’ll learn about the product that changed my face. If you get that email and you’re not a paying subscriber, feel free to use the free trial option to read it, no hard feelings! 

What I can tell you is that I also bought a pack of those little mini razors to clean up the area around my brows and wow, the amount of dead skin and peach fuzz that came out was serving delight to all my rapidly diminishing brain cells. This is what counts as a highlight of my week now, people. 

🥖 Food. I got the book Savory Baking by the fabulous baker Erin Jeanne McDowell and omg, it’s such a treasure. I’ve tried the weeknight focaccia recipe so far and it’s bomb. No kneading required.

On YouTube, I’ve discovered chef Lucas Sin. Yes, I watch a ton of YouTube, so what? In the words of the wise Shereé Whitfield, who gon’ check me, boo? I love that Lucas Sin talks about the history of Cantonese and Chinese cuisine in America in a way that melds intellect and demonstration. Then he broke out the Haw Flakes candy to make a sweet and sour sauce (here’s the video) and I started crying because I hadn’t thought about them for decades and I miss my grandmother, who used to buy them for us kids.

✅ So that brings you up to date, my cherished friends. Here are some articles from my archive if you’re a newer subscriber!

Oral minoxidil and why I’ll never use it for hair growth. Read it here.

My best ever products for dry, damaged hair. Read it here.

Things to make to eat to feed one person (my most-read article, by the way. I guess you’re as tired of cooking for a crowd as I am, haha!)

Warmly,

Helen