Regardless of the non-public aptitude she brings to the observe (see her custom bedazzled Nikes), Mu describes herself as “low upkeep.” She’s loyal to some 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 obtained granular in regards to the magnificence routine she plans to deliver to this 12 months’s Olympic Games.
Hair
I’m unsure what precisely I’m going to do for the Olympics but. Generally I do essentially the most, typically I’m probably not doing something, however on the finish of the day, I’ve simply obtained to run. At Prefontaine [Classic competition] final 12 months, 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 might 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 really 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 is not the perfect to have stripping merchandise, and that model is basically good for ensuring my hair retains all of the moisture.
That is in all probability not good, however I typically preserve the conditioner in in a single day. No matter, it makes my hair really feel actually good! Then I’ll do the LCO method, which is leave-in conditioner, cream, and oil. For the cream, I’ll change it up now and again, however I used to be utilizing TGIN [Thank God It’s Natural] most lately. 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 group is gonna be like, “Oh no, we gotta repair that,” however it slicks my hair so good, and it takes me 5 minutes once 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 12 months in the past. I’ve been making an attempt to develop out my hair for the previous 5 years or so. After I went, I obtained a silk press, however she additionally trimmed my ends to assist do away with the injury from all of the years I wasn’t going to the salon. Occasionally, I’ll get a blowout, and [Nia Macc] does my braids. It’s so enjoyable to be on the salon with another person doing all of your hair.
Pores and skin
It took some time to get right here, however I am now very excited to care for 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.
