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 obtained granular in regards to the magnificence routine she plans to convey to this yr’s Olympic Video games.
Hair
I’m unsure what precisely I’m going to do for the Olympics but. Generally I do essentially the most, generally I’m probably not doing something, however on the finish of the day, I’ve simply obtained 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.” Normally, I want 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 is not the very best 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 generally maintain 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 swap it up from time to time, however I used to be utilizing TGIN [Thank God It’s Natural] most just lately. And if I have to 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 Type to slick my hair. I do know it’s actually stripping, however as a result of it’s water-based, it’s capable of get my hair to do no matter I would like. I do know the pure hair neighborhood is gonna be like, “Oh no, we gotta repair that,” however it slicks my hair so good, and it takes me 5 minutes after I’m on the brink 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 obtained a silk press, however she additionally trimmed my ends to assist do away with the harm from all of the years I wasn’t going to the salon. Every now and then, 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 your hair.
Pores and skin
It took some time to get right here, however I am now very excited to handle my face. Earlier than, it will simply be a easy face wash, and generally I’d put lotion—not even facial moisturizer—on my face, which is loopy.