Welcome to Pearl, a newsletter dedicated to Filipinas and their beauty & wellness journeys. Read more about its mission here.
You know you’re on the brink of a breakthrough when you have the sudden urge to change your hair.
I do, at least.
See: The time I chopped my waist-length hair into a middle-parted bob when I started my first editor job at a major fashion magazine. Barely out of college, riddled with imposter syndrome, and desperate to look the part, I wanted a sleek and serious style. As hairstylist Harry Josh chopped off my ends into a blunt, shoulder-grazing length, he told me, “You’ll look really expensive, like you work for a high-end magazine.” Bingo. It made me feel like a grown-up for the first time.
Exhibit B: I once coped with ending a four-year relationship by dyeing my naturally black hair bright, caramel blonde. After escaping years of dimming myself, I wanted to sparkle. I wanted to feel free–sexy, even. I was 25, single, and determined to have a reckless summer of dating in NYC. Transforming my hair felt like pressing a restart button on my confidence. My then-bleached hair might’ve been damaged, but my heart was healing.
My latest hair change isn’t quite as dramatic…I got bangs! Big deal, I know, but to me, this new look signifies the transition period I’m currently in: A time where I seemingly have a lot of my life together, but I’m also questioning my status quo. I waffle over my life trajectory daily: When is the right time to have kids? Am I ready? Should I be saving more to buy a home? Do I want to move to a different city? Country?! Do I want another career pivot???
The only thing I know for sure is that I want to write more, and I’d be lying if I said that didn’t factor into my haircut.
When I posted about my new bangs on Instagram, a Pearl subscriber, Eliana, commented, “It's giving, ‘sophisticated writer’ era. Low-key thought about Anne Hathaway's transformation in Devil Wears Prada.” She gets it!!! I’m a very visual person (I make mood boards for every occasion), and I think the bangs help me embody my writer side after being in “beauty influencer” mode for the last four years. I’ve been swimming in vanity, and my desire to perform Beauty with a capital B is waning. Maybe that’s why I’m leaning more toward what pop culture has deemed a “brainy” hairstyle instead. Whether it’s Andy Sachs, Marianne at Trinity College in Normal People, or Rory Gilmore of Gilmore Girls during her Yale years, bangs are often the signature look of an aspirational, erudite character.
Is my new look cosplay? Maybe a little. But, when I look at the mirror and see a little fringe hovering over my new cateye-shaped prescription glasses, I find it easier to slip into writer mode. That’s the magic of a new hair look. Beauty choices often communicate a lot about who you are, but can also be a gateway to who you want to be.
Beauty choices often communicate a lot about who you are, but can also be a gateway to who you want to be.
As happy as I am with my bangs, I wasn’t warned how much maintenance they require! After one week of wearing them, I’ve come up with essentials for anyone either new to fringe or contemplating a chop. Here are some products I’d put in a bangs starter kit:
1. Pocket Comb
I never kept a comb in my purse, but it’s now necessary. While on a walk over the weekend, heavy winds left my bangs sticking up and out all sorts of ways, so having a tiny comb to touch-up when needed is a lifesaver. My friend Krissa introduced me to Dream-Lang Studio. This Filipino brand makes an acrylic comb-mirror combo that’s not only compact enough to fit into the tiniest purse but also has an affirmation in Tagalog: “Malakas ka at mahalaga” (“you are strong and important”).
2. USB-Powered Hot Roller
After watching this video about a USB-powered hot roller sold at Japanese store Daiso, I asked my friend visiting Toyko to pick one up. It works brilliantly for daily bangs-styling. It only takes a couple minutes to warm up, and I leave it in while I do my makeup for the style to set. I can’t find that exact curler online, but here’s a similar one!
3. dae 3-in-1 Styling Cream with Taming Wand
Shorter pieces of hair mean more flyaways. This pomade wandhelps smooth them out and adds a nice, textured finish for more of that wispy look. I prefer it to popular wax sticks because it’s much lighter and doesn’t leave a heavy, stiff residue. It comes in an oversized mascara wand shape, making applying as much or as little as you want a breeze.
4. Crease-free hair clips
When I exercise, wash my face, and sleep, I need my hair off my forehead. Crease-free clips like these from Emi Jay keep strands away from your face without forming any unwanted bends. They’re also great for when you’re applying makeup and don’t want any bangs getting in the way!
Thanks for reading Pearl! If you enjoyed this post, please make sure to subscribe. And tell a friend! Mahal kita 💜
Links I’m Loving…
My friend Jon (@jon.luigi) is one of my favorite people to follow for educational, thoughtful, and often hilarious takes on Filipino culture. He started a new series interviewing Filipinos in NYC and I’m in the latest one talking about my career, advice for going freelance, and more. Watch it here.
Olivia Rodrigo and Vanessa Hudgens posing together on the red carpet makes me happy. The High School Musical metaverse is alive and well!
Filipina on the Rise created an impressive, crowd-sourced directory of Filipina-owned businesses, spanning everything from clothing and jewelry to beauty and wellness.
There’s lots of exciting news in the world of Filipino cuisine! Valerio’s Tropical Bakeshop, a beloved West Coast bakery, is coming to NYC! Meanwhile, Napa is getting a new Filipino restaurant called Carabao, led by Chef Jade Cunningham, who hails from Bulacan.
Filipino makeup brand Filipinta (mentioned in last week’s issue!) shared this beautifully illustrated carousel of traditional courting practices in Filipino culture. It reminded me how much I love the harana tradition, where men sing outside a woman’s window to woo her. Dating apps could never!
Keep Reading…
4 Hair Secrets I Learned from Olivia Rodrigo’s Hair Stylist
Pearl Profiles: Abi Balingit, the James Beard Award-Winning Baker
A Complete List of Foundations That Work for My Morena Skin
Ube Has Officially Gone Mainstream…and Into Sephora
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