Regardless of the non-public aptitude she brings to the observe (see her customized bedazzled Nikes), Mu describes herself as “low upkeep.” She’s loyal to a couple no-nonsense drugstore manufacturers and has solely visited a hair salon as soon as in her life. Months in the past, as she ready for the Olympic trials from “desert-y” Los Angeles, Mu acquired granular in regards to the magnificence routine getting her by it.
Hair
[When it comes to hair,] typically I do probably the most, typically I’m not likely doing something, however on the finish of the day, I’ve simply acquired to run. At Prefontaine [Classic competition] final yr, I wore two braids with my pure hair for the primary time. It is at all times a last-minute factor the place I get up and a thought or an image involves thoughts, and I am like, “All proper, let’s attempt it. Let’s see how lengthy it takes.” Often, I would like about two hours to do my hair.
In my dream world, I’d be doing a full-on wash routine each two weeks to maintain my hair moisturized and co-washing each different week. Between 2019 and 2020, I began truly caring for my hair, and I’ve been glued to Carol’s Daughter ever since. I’ve used their castor oil, shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in conditioner for the previous 5 years. For somebody that has 4B and 4C hair, it isn’t the most effective to have stripping merchandise, and that model is actually good for ensuring my hair retains all of the moisture.
That is in all probability not good, however I typically hold the conditioner in in a single day. No matter, it makes my hair really feel actually good! Then I’ll do the LCO methodology, which is leave-in conditioner, cream, and oil. For the cream, I’ll change it up from time to time, however I used to be utilizing TGIN [Thank God It’s Natural] most not too long ago. And if I must get my curls redefined, I’ll simply hop again within the bathe for a co-wash.
For the previous three years, I’ve additionally been utilizing Eco Fashion to slick my hair. I do know it’s actually stripping, however as a result of it’s water-based, it’s in a position to get my hair to do no matter I need. I do know the pure hair neighborhood is gonna be like, “Oh no, we gotta repair that,” but it surely slicks my hair so good, and it takes me 5 minutes after I’m on the point of work out. I’ve began utilizing wax, too, so I’ll moist my hair and use Murray’s Edgewax for a bun.
Funnily sufficient, I went to a hair salon, ORR Hair Studio [in Los Angeles], for the primary time in my life one yr in the past. I’ve been making an attempt to develop out my hair for the previous 5 years or so. Once I went, I acquired a silk press, however she additionally trimmed my ends to assist eliminate the harm from all of the years I wasn’t going to the salon. From time to time, I’ll get a blowout, and [Nia Macc] does my braids. It’s so stress-free to be on the salon with another person doing all your hair.
Pores and skin
It took some time to get right here, however I am now very excited to deal with my face. Earlier than, it might simply be a easy face wash, and typically I’d put lotion—not even facial moisturizer—on my face, which is loopy.
