My Beautystack — Jan 19 — Braid Babe

So last year I decided to stop wearing weaves. No big deal, I just woke up one day and was like… I want to see my own hair again. I’d been bonding my hair (yes, BONDING!) every few weeks for 9 yrs straight and it just felt like self abuse. So in June I just stopped. My hairdresser @alishadobson and I were on our #naturalhairjourney together so she helped me transition. Mainly by cutting off a lot of heat damage and head massages. 6 months on and its been…. interesting. But defo worth it. My curls are healthier, my scalp no longer weeps silently from Bonding Glue and I can go swimming on demand. (I genuinely think my lack of swimming skills is down to not wanting to ruin my hair. Not “bone density”)

But the main thing that made this possible was Braids. I’ve totally taken to braids in a whole new way. When my hair is braided I feel like a Queen.

Because I HATE spending loads of time in the salon (believe it or not) my braids have to be done in like 3–4 hours otherwise I just can’t handle it. Even then, it’s a push. I love when a girl can come to my home of office so I can be typing away doing my work while my hair is being done. Multitasking yknow! My go to girls right now are @amazingafi (based in Dalston) and @signedbyliah (based in Shepherds Bush) can both travel to you. If you’re Central, go and see @keashbraids in Soho, based in the WAH salon. It’s a vibe!

Some things to note: I’m lame and I can’t have my braids longer than 2 weeks. I’m TERRIBLE at wrapping my hair for bed. I hate when my braids are too fresh — I think they “settle” best after 3 days — good to know if booking for a special occasions. But then by day 10 my braids are fluffy cos I don’t wrap them well so basically I have like days 3–10 when my braids are banging and the either side of that they not at their optimum… So I’m not very good on reviewing the longevity of a braid.

With this in mind, here’s my braid life… (click images to see details to book on the app)

1 — Half Plaited Box Braids.
Here @amazingafi and I mixed TWO types of hair together — the normal Xpressions hair mixed with Pony braiding hair. Pony Hair is more straighter and smoother but doesn’t last as long because you need some grip. The Xpressions is usually £1.99 a packet where Pony can we £6–10. We usually use 4 total packs (2 of each) in my hair which results in around 25 braids. Key thing for this look is to leave some plaits messy and loose. I also put a few earrings in my hair for decoration. This was done at my house for £70 and took about 3.5hrs

2 — Rope Twists
I love twists because they have a dreadlock vibe. Another one by @amazingafi but the first time we used a different brand of hair and although it was softer and gorgey (didn’t need to “settle” at all) the hair was so soft it slipped out after a week or so. So then we redid it with Xpressions hair and it lasted my obligatory two weeks but she cut the length a little shorter this time and I defo prefer it long — This was done at my house for £70 and took about 3.5hrs

3 — Two Canerows

Ok yeah I’m pretty dry. I like having two canerows and I like a side parting because I think it suits my face better. @signedbyliah did these babes for £25 I also like to cut the ends short cos I think it looks more natural and like it’s my real hair.

4 — High Ponytail
I LOVED these braids. So I bought this Ombré braiding hair where the colour goes from 1B to 27 (the honey boo blonde) from Amazon and Taiba@keash braided it into a high pony. It took 2hrs and I was late for dinner but it was so banging.

Of course all of these are on my Beautystack profile so some things you can book direct! :)

Where are you guys getting braids done? Let me know so I can add to my wish list pls!

I really wanna try Faux Locs next… but it takes 7 hrs 😩

MY BEAUTYSTACK THIS MONTH

• LASHES — Got my lashes done at Lash Perfect in Soho. Super natural but expensive and don’t last as long as Slash. £75 for a half set (45min)
• BROWS — done by Georgie. Insane shape, tint lasts a few days. Good for a date or special occasion.
• MAKE UP — Abbie May did my STUNNING makeup for my TedxUCL talk! £125 for home visit with lashes. Made me feel amazing!
• NAILS — Anoushka did my nails this month for New York. She’s leaving WAH and going on Beautystack full time!
• PEDICURE — Kadimah does the best pedicure of your life. It’s a dry pedi, but flawless. You can book her to come to yours if you live West.
• MASSAGE — I get regular massages from Urban Massage. I’ve been trying out loads of different providers and I’m loving Eva G for a firm but relaxing massage.
• ACUPUNTURE — Paula is based in an unusual location: the clock tower in St Charles Hospital. A crazy gothic building in North Ken. Acupuncture has changed my life. My well-being and back pain. Paula just have a positive energy that I love.
• Best beauty treatment this month? Sleep and Vitamin C tbh….

Do you have any NYC beauty recommendations ??

BUSINESS

Im quite obsessed with Behavioural Economics and Personality Testing and I make everyone in my team write a Guide to Working With Me. It’s funny and illuminating and a lovely self reflective exercise. Read more about it our company Medium Blog, which charts our Start Up journey.

I did a TedxUCL talk. It was the most stressful thing ever!!! I have this thing where I can’t watch or listen to myself again, so send me any feedback pls! It’s really about getting women to move from consumption to creation in technology.

TedxUCL Women Talk

CULTURAL CONSUMPTION

• This month, I became obsessed with the concept of memory and how unreliable it is.
• The Wing’s podcast is emotional and I cried at this one on Womens Social Clubs, thinking how I’d contributed to this in a small way with WAH.
• Really loved listening to Brad Burnham of Union Square Ventures talk about the history of the internet pretty much.
• I listen to short Stoic Meditations like my Grandma listens to Bible scriptures.
• Reading my first Raymond Carver and its harrowing.
• Next time you go for a walk, listen to a someone read Jorge Luis Borges, out aloud.
• Reading On Grand Strategy by John Lewis Gaddis which goes through history and chronicles key moments of strategic decisions. Good if you liked 48 Laws of Power.
• I’m about to have my first Board Meeting. Learning board dynamics on 20 Min VC.
• Julia Hartz founded Eventbrite with her husband. Listen to how their customers became their biggest advocates.
• After playing board games all Christmas, I’m obsessed with thescience of beating people at games.
• What’s the future of Marketplaces? a16z think it’s services. Lucky for us;)
• Listen to the Soulcycle journey, Forever inspiring.
• I’m going to watch RBG this week at PIcturehouse Central (my fave cinema). Super excited to see this movie about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and how she changed the world for women.

Shar xx

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