🧘🏼‍♀️ Get tapping

It’s hard being a woman on the best of days, but when it’s your TOM & a trip to the hairdressers doesn’t go to plan, it’s pretty rough. Last week, my request to look like a “natural Swedish blonde” somehow got misinterpreted to glow-in-the-dark white blonde with random golden bits. Worst still, I’d brought this all on myself. I was “testing” a new hairdresser who was supposed to be great, & crucially, cheaper than my usual £225 per visit salon.

Imagine my surprise when I got to the till & paid exactly the same (thanks to the extra’s my hair apparently needed), except this time I didn’t have a creamy expensive-looking blonde. By some miracle, as I was whining on about the disaster to a friend, she told me about the Redken Blonage shampoo. I bought it immediately. I’m not sure what wizardry is inside, but honestly, one wash later and my weird yellow blonde hair somehow looks pretty good.

So, lesson of the week - if you’re blonde, don’t risk a new hairdresser, ever. & two, if you do & it all goes wrong, try the shampoo & pray for the best.

In your weekly dose:

• Profhilo is trending (again), plus the best spots to get it in London.

• The real flex is a regulated nervous system: find out how to tap into yours, literally.

• The wellness web: we’re snacking on matcha blueberry bark, the brand that cleared Saffron Bakers acne, the different types of retinols you need to know about, and much more.

• The DL list: Editor’s weekly wellness favourites.

^{_{TAP YOUR PROBLEMS AWAY}}
PSA: You need to train your vagus nerve as hard as your glutes

So you want a perfect peach for hot girl summer, I hear you. And that alone is hard work in itself. But, if you’re working on feeling your best for summer, then you need to start training your vagus nerve too. Whether you use a device (we’ll get onto that) or stimulate it naturally, your built-in chill button deserves some TLC.

Why does it matter?

Your vagus nerve helps you tone things down from crazy (fight or flight) to calm (rest and digest). It’s the boss of your parasympathetic nervous system, helping to slow your heart rate, lower your blood pressure, digest food better & just feel slightly more chill.

When you’re stressed, the vagus nerve takes a hit. In turn, your body can feel inflamed & bloated. Plus, you can guarantee that your skin will decide to turn on you too. Stimulating your vagus nerve helps keep your stress levels under control. & the less stressed you are, the hotter you’re going to look & feel this summer.

Your vagus nerve workout routine

TAPPING

Tapping certain points on the body, whilst reminding yourself that you can do whatever is stressing you out right now, helps desensitise your body to to the stress. The main points to focus on are upwards from under the eyes to your temple, your chin & just below your collar bones. Watch this if you’re not sure where to start.

COLD THERAPY

Whether it’s the final 2 minutes of your shower or a quick dunk in your plunge, it can help. There’s even been studies showing that simply icing the back of your neck area for 15 minutes can make a difference too. Personally, I like being warm (get me into a sauna any day!) so 15 minutes with ice on me is not appealing in the slightest.

MEDITATION

Whilst committing to any meditation practice is going to work wonders for your stress levels, to tone the vagus nerve you need to be doing deep breathing. The main goal here is to make sure your exhales are longer than your inhales. I’ve said it before but I’m a huge fan of the Othership app for anything breathwork related. Or for anything IRL, Jamie from The Breath Space is your go to. Warning: his breathwork sessions WILL make you cry, in the best way.

TAYLOR SWIFT

Okay, it doesn’t have to be Taylor. But singing your heart out to your favourite song actually helps stimulate your vagus nerve. Interestingly, so does gargling - so if ever you needed a reminder to use mouth wash every day, this was it.

A SWANKY DEVICE

Because the tech is relatively new, vagus nerve devices don’t come cheap. One of the most popular is from Nurosym (which is also used by Bryan Johnson to improve his heart rate variability (HRV)). It basically sends electrical signals to the brain, via your vagus nerve, helping to regulate your nervous system.

The DR Verdict:

For now, I’m going to stick to car singing & trying to get more consistent with my cold plunge (it’s a real love hate relationship). The tapping is very new to me, and despite my boyfriend thinking I’ve entirely lost the plot as he saw me doing it, I’m going to give it a go on the days that feel extra spicy at work. Let me know if you do too! Friends that tap together and all that.

THE WELLNESS WEB:

• 👜 The summer staple: According to this trend forecaster, apparently we’re all wearing Capri’s this summer. The DR forecast? Pale blue Birkenstock clog’s are going to be the new Stanley Mug for us pilates girls. You heard it here first.

• 👓 Watch this: @skndoctor teaches us the difference between retinol and retinal (yes, not a typo). Plus the brand that she swears by for her patients.

• ✨ Don’t sleep on Voyage Privé: I did too. But last week they had a stay at the ultra-dreamy Nomad in Mykonos, for a third of the price.

• 💅🏼 Girl talk: Since I mentioned it was my TOM, I may as well tell you I’ve had these discs on subscription for about 2 years now. Once you try them, nothing else compares.

• 😇 This brand cleared up Saffron Baker’s acne, and it’s currently 20% off here.

• 🫐 A new way with matcha: the sweet caffeine kick treat you didn’t know you needed, we’re obsessed with this recipe.

• 💸 Pricey: Equinox just launched a $40k per year longevity membership. Inclusive of a range of wellbeing tests, sleep coaching (who knew that was a thing!), personal training sessions & nutrition help.

THE DR LIST

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With love,

Jasmine