Welcome to our weekly “walk and talk,” where we bring our weekly walks to you. Our walks are a time to catch up on family life, share online shopping hits and misses, exchange recipes, discuss our newest Netflix binge — all the stuff that friends share with each other. And now we’re sharing with you!
Don’t miss a single link! Click here for previous editions of our “Walk and Talk.”
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WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
CHRISTA : I have nothing new today – we’re busy catching up on some favorites. Our list of shows we need to watch includes Hacks Season 2 (HBOMax), which I must say is even better than Season 1 (if you haven’t seen this show, what are you waiting for!). The list also includes Stranger Things Season 4 Part 2 (Netflix), The Flight Attendant Season 2 (HBOMax) and The Boys Season 3 (Amazon Prime). There’s so much good content that it’s getting hard to fit it in without becoming a complete couch potato! I need a few more rainy summer days to get caught up – and more popcorn, please!
MEGAN : Just watched the JLo documentary, Halftime (Netflix) and man was it inspiring. Jennifer Lopez is a rockstar (literally!). The show revolves mainly around her Super Bowl halftime show, but also shares her journey in the industry and her a bit about her childhood. Inspiring for all people, especially women.
NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open for everyone to shop, through the end of July. If you haven’t already shopped, there are still many great finds available. Click here to see the fashion that caught our eye during the preview and click here to see the home/beauty finds we loved.
Pro tip: If an item that you want is out of stock, add it to your wish list on the app to be notified of restocks. Chances are it will be restocked from returns later in the sale.
Here are some outfits we’ve put together to inspire your shopping – these may have also landed in our carts, too! If anything is out of stock, check back because they process returns quickly and restock.
Christa’s Outfit: dress (size down) // boots // purse // earrings // necklace
Megan’s Outfit #1: jacket // track pants // sneakers // t-shirt // vest // belt bag // weekend/gym bag
NORDSTROM BOOTS AND BOOTIES
We’re loving the bootie selection in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. This is a great time to update your wardrobe and retire your old boots. When fall arrives, you’ll be so glad you did! We’re not sure why both of these are still in stock – grab yourself a pair!
Megan’s Pick (left): Brigitte Luxe Bootie by Aquatalia
Christa’s Pick (right): Tasel Waterproof Block Heel Bootie
We’re sharing more outfits in our monthly newsletter, arriving in your inbox this weekend. If you’re not receiving our newsletter, it’s easy to subscribe – just click here.
AMAZON PRIME DAY – THERE ARE STILL SOME DEALS!
Amazon Prime Day might be over, but there are still some great deals available. A few from our Prime Day post include:
- Buying for a dorm or first apartment? This sheet set Megan recommends is 29%% off.
- Christa’s iRobot Rumba i7+ is 24% off, for $764. It’s definitely a luxury, but it works great if you have pets and empties itself for 60 days.
- The Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler is currently 26% off ($325.00, list price $437.00).
- Our favorite Brooks Glycerin 19 sneaker is 20% off – highly recommend these!
- The shower steamer tabs that Megan loves have been a hot item on the blog – still 40% off!
- Christa’s favorite travel toiletry bag is still 20% off.
- One item on every college student’s back to school list – AirPod Pros are 32% off.
SAVE VS. SPLURGE
CHRISTA : Hard to tell the difference between the $820 splurge sandals and the $36 save sandals! For only $36, you can add these fun look alikes to your wardrobe for special occasions. And no one will know but you! (And how cute would these be this fall with the burgundy NSale dress I shared above!)
WHAT WE’RE READING
MEGAN : The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand is the ultimate beach read. Not only is it set in Nantucket but there is a love story, a ghost story and a mystery…it’s got it all.
WALK (AND TALK)…WITH FRIENDS
CHRISTA : Our stylish friend Tina is joining the “Walk and Talk” this week. Yay! Tina is the owner of Rooted with Tina, and she’s been my hair guru since about 2005! She always knows what I’m thinking for my hair even when I don’t! I’m so proud of Tina for spreading her wings recently, and taking a huge chance in life by leaving the business she founded to start a new one. She’s been operating in her own stylish loft space in Sterling, VA, since 2021. Thank you, Tina, for joining us and sharing your expertise – #friendssharethegoodstuff.
Answers to some of the questions you were afraid to ask your stylist…
TINA : Shampooing daily tends to strip your hair of its natural oils. This can cause your oil glands to overcompensate and leave your hair more oily at the roots. It can also create more frizz and dry out your ends, which creates more static and flyaways. Often hairdressers advise to skip at least a day, if you can, go longer because your natural oils are the best conditioner for your hair. If you are a sweater, work out daily or just need to wash every day, then you should be using a sulfate free wash.
Sulfates create negative electrical charges in the hair which damages the natural proteins of the hair follicle. Sulfates can irritate dandruff, eczema, and can cause dryness and itching. Sulfates are what get your shampoo to lather, like in laundry detergents and dish soaps.
TINA : My favorite sulfate free wash is Hairstory’s Original Wash. It takes some getting used to but I love that my hair does not have flyaways after. I wash and rinse one time quickly, then I apply again and use the brush (which is amazing) to scrub my scalp and then brush through to the ends and let it sit for a few, then rinse out.
If you like a lather and need a little sudsy shampoo, make sure it is professional to avoid less sulfates, parabens, silicones and sodium chlorides. Most professional product are color safe, too.
For thicker hair I like Kevin Murphy’s Hydrate wash and conditioner. Angel wash and conditioner is great moisture for fine hair without weighing it down.
Recommended products here.
TINA : If grey hasn’t started yet consider yourself lucky. The texture of grey hair is usually more coarse and does not always behave or listen like it used to. This may require you to change your products depending on your hair type and regime.
Hair in general is very similar to your skin and nails. As we get older we need to treat it appropriately, spend a little more time with it and nurture it with supplements. Putting oil on your ends at night will keep it from frizzing and maintain softness throughout the night. It’s a great idea to sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase for the same reasons (along with keeping our skin from bedhead).
TINA : Healthy boundaries, like setting up time off and sticking to it. I love learning from people but I also need time to unplug and decompress. I find fitness is a big component of mental health as well as physically. Continued education or learning something new feeds the brain, nourishes my passion for art of hair and keeps me current. Time well spent with friends and family outside of work helps me stay grounded and true to myself.
TINA : On average a person loses 100-150 hairs daily. 10% of your hair is constantly in either a resting state or in a shedding state. When a person is sick or over stressed, it can cause up to 50% of hair loss. Needless to say, getting Covid can cause both of these factors. The good news is, the hair follicle remains intact meaning there will be regrowth. This process can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months before you see new growth again and even longer to see a difference in your thickness. The best advice is to try not to panic, take care of yourself and practice patience.
Supplements that help include Vitamins b, neutrophil and biotin. Topically, rosemary oil and Rogaine.
AND, HERE’S WHERE WE WALKED
A peek along our walk…we went off road today on some of Tina’s favorite walking trails.
We learned a lot from Tina today, including:
- If you need a gift idea for your stylist, cash (or wine!) is always appropriate. But your stylist would also love receiving something that you like to gift, like your favorite beauty products.
- “Was it something I said?” If you need to break up with your stylist for any reason, some closure is nice. Let her know why you’re leaving. A little handwritten note or an email would be even better.
- You don’t need to worry about arriving at the salon fully styled – unless you want the stylist to see your hair in its best form to point out problem areas. (Arriving styled is also helpful if you are trying a new stylist.)
- Don’t be afraid to bring pictures. This gives your stylist an idea of what you like. But also be open to her ideas because not all styles work on all hair – trust her!
- For a successful appointment, book at least 2-4 weeks out. This gives you plenty of time to get a prime spot or to learn if your stylist has plans to be out of the office. If your hairdresser has set time off for a vacation, they will most likely be busy right before they go and when they return, so planning ahead is your best bet. Pro tip: Prebook your appointment before leaving each appointment, like you do with the dentist!
And, in case you missed it, here’s a link to our post with our favorite haircare products.
CHRISTA’S WALK AND TALK LINKS
- Catching up on shows: Hacks Season 2 (HBOMax), Stranger Things Season 4 Part 2 (Netflix), The Flight Attendant Season 2 (HBOMax) and The Boys Season 3 (Amazon Prime)
- Christa’s Outfit: dress // boots // purse // earrings // necklace
- $36 save sandals vs. $820 splurge sandals
- capsule wardrobes – this article
MEGAN’S WALK AND TALK LINKS
- Halftime (Netflix)
- Megan’s Outfit: jacket // track pants // sneakers // t-shirt // vest // belt bag // weekend/gym bag
- The Nantucket Hotel by Elin Hilderbrand
TINA’S WALK AND TALK LINKS
- Check out Tina’s work at Rooted with Tina
- Hairstory’s Original Wash
- Recommended products here.
Walking is always so much better when you go with a friend! We hope you’ll share our blog with your walking bestie. And let us know in the comments what you’re watching, wearing, eating, planning or shopping for.
If you’d like to follow along with us for more style, decor, recipes and walks, you can find us @styleamongfriends on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. And you can shop our Instagram here.
