If you follow me on instagram, you'll know I recently picked up some new gym gear, which inspired me to share a few of my gym bag staples. Besides the standard running shoes and water, here's what you'd find if you took a peek into my gym bag.

CLEANSING WATER | Because my gym is at the office, I often go straight after work with my full face on. Removing makeup is a must, and while I used to use makeup wipes I found they were really making my skin feel dry and tight. Using a cleansing water (you know I love this one) has been great because it removes makeup without stripping my skin. Plus it feels super refreshing to use post-workout as well. 

JEWELRY POUCH | I'm always wearing at least one piece of jewelry to work, and I find tossing them in a small pouch versus straight into my bag helps keep them from tangling up or falling apart.

TANGLE TEEZER | My hair tangles so easily so when putting it up after a long day there is almost guaranteed to be a mini rats-nest to deal with. Tangle Teezers are great for on the go because they're super compact.

COCONUT OIL | This may seem strange, but I love taking a little bit of coconut oil with me to the gym because it is so multipurpose. Since my hair will be up and I'll be washing it afterwards anyways, I'll sometimes use gym time as an opportunity to do a moisturizing treatment on my hair. I feel like the heat from my workout also helps it really absorb into my hair. If after my workout my skin feels really dry, I can use a little bit to moisturize it before I head home home (it can take me almost an hour to get home from the office) and do my full skincare routine.

APPAREL | Most of my workout clothing at this point is from Old Navy and Target. They both have really great activewear lines that don't break the bank. The Champion Capri Leggings are my favourite workout pants because they have a high rise (nothing is worse than constantly feeling like you need to hike up your pants when running) but don't cause me to overheat. When I'm warming up or running outside in the spring the Old Navy pullovers are the best because they're light weight, hold up well in the wash, and have so many fun colours in store. Plus they have thumb holes, and I think that speaks for itself.

DRY SHAMPOO | I keep dry shampoo in my gym bag for the occasions that I have to make a stop on the way home and don't want to look like a greasy mess. This one from Lush isn't my favourite for regular use, but it's small and portable so it gets the job done for short spurts.

Now I'm curious, what are your must haves for the gym?

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As someone with super fine and limp hair, getting volume that sticks around has always been a struggle. In the last few years, I've tried so many different ways of adding volume that I now have a routine down for when I feel like adding a bit of extra va-va voom to my flat locks.

WASH DAY

1 | Get all the product build up and grime that could be weighing down your hair out by using a clarifying shampoo - it will give your hair more natural lift. You'll know from my latest empties post that this one is my favourite. 

2 | Grab your favourite volumizing mouse and use a dollop not only on your roots, but also distribute through the lengths of you hair. A little goes a long way so don't overdo it! This will give more shape, thickness and texture to your whole head, and avoid the dreaded crunchy feeling. Not all mousses are created equal, but I've had good look with this one for years.

3 | Rough dry your hair upside down until 80% dry, making sure to direct air flow down the shaft of your hair for less frizz.

4 | Add the concentrator nozzle and use a round brush to focus on the crown of your head. Boar bristle brushes give more smoothness and shine to the overall look. Hair shape is fixed while it cools versus while it's heating up, so leave the brush lifting the roots for a minute (or use velcro rollers) after you've finished drying a section to achieve the ultimate lift!

 

If you have to use a flat iron to smooth out the rest of your hair - focus on the ends and avoid the roots so you don't pull out all the hard work you just put in!

BIG HAIR MAINTENANCE

1 | I've mentioned this before, but one of my favourite ways to keep my hair from getting flat overnight is using a scrunchie to tie my hair up in a super high pony. It keeps the roots lifted all night long and is way less tight on the hair so minimizes the risk of kinks. If you don't have a scrunchie, a large hair clip can be used too.

2 | Dry shampoo will help soak up all the oils that weigh down the hair - but most aren't designed to do much more than that. The Batiste XXL Volume is my favourite because it does double duty and is mess free. There are also tons of other volumizing powders on the market that can be used for the same purpose after dry-shampoo. These will leave a residue in your hair, but the grip they give your roots is amazing!

3 | I don't regularly feel the need to tease my hair if I follow the routine above, but if I'm looking for serious volume to last for a long time, I'll do a bit of light teasing after using a volumizing powder. Using a teasing comb is the best way to get volume exactly where you want it.

Following these steps, I can get and keep volume in my fine hair for days! What are your big hair secrets?

 

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It's always around this time of year that I start looking at my winter wardrobe and thinking blah. The thought of above freezing temperatures this week has got me in the spring mood, and even though I said I wanted to add some more pattern into my clothing this season, this floral dress is pretty much all I have to work with at this point. Instead of wearing it as is, I decided to turn it into a top to make it a bit less formal.

Dress (Top): H&M {similar} | Blazer: Forever 21 {similar} | Necklace: Nadri {exact}
Jeans: American Eagle {exact} | Bracelet: Unknown {similar}

I love that the colour palette of this dress lends itself particularly well for transitioning into/out of the colder weather. Topping it with a darker blazer and bottoms really brings out the moodier colours and adds the extra coverage that we definitely still need in Toronto. 

Have you started busting out your spring wardrobe yet?

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