Q & A Beauty & Wellness Series: Melissa Raso, hair whiz & organic lifestyle mama

Mel & her littles

Melissa Raso
Hairstylist
Mama, Former Fashion Buyer, Effortless Beauty Inside & Out

You’ve been working as a hairstylist for years now, and you also did a stint in fashion buying. These are competitive industries where appearance plays a huge factor. Does it ever feel overwhelming?

To be completely honest, NEVER! I love dressing up! I feel like it plays a big part in who I am. Not so much in a superficial way… for example, when you dress a certain way to gain others’ approval… or copy exactly what's on trend. To me, it’s about having my own signature style, but also being inspired by what’s happening in the industry… learning how to translate what's trendy into your own style. That’s the fun part for me!

Beauty is on the inside, but I’ve noticed personally, when I look good I feel good and perform better at work and in my day-to-day life. Of course there is that stereotypical superficial side of the industry...but as long as you stay true to your authentic self...for the most part, you learn to zone that part out and see the industry for what it is.

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As a busy mom of two, you know how hard it can be to get ready in the morning. Do you have any tips on how to achieve an effortlessly “put-together” look on a tight time budget?

YES! Be REALISTIC! Forget about dedicating 1hr of your time to contouring and highlighting your face… it’s not going to happen.

Also, don’t try to do everything all at once...if you’re like me, your day has a lot of unexpected interruptions from your little ones. I love to do my hair at night when everyone is asleep. That way, it only takes a few minutes to style it in the morning (throw in a sleek or bouncy pony tail, a tousled bun or even just that lived in blow dry look). And for makeup, I dedicate about 5-10 mins (you can surprisingly get a lot done in that time frame and eventually you’ll perfect your routine). My favourites: tinted moisturizer, bronzer, blush and mascara.

This might be a biased opinion coming from a beauty background, but I think it's worth investing in a quality haircut and a few trust-worthy beauty products. Your face is what people see first- invest in it!

And for clothing: I suggest investing in a few timeless pieces that can easily transition through the seasons (a chic jacket, great pair of jeans, etc). And add your own flare!

"I think it's worth investing in a quality haircut and a few trust-worthy beauty products. Your face is what people see first- invest in it!"

What's a regular day like in your life? 

Early morning
I always start my morning with hot water and lemon. Then I prepare breakfast for my girls and a bullet proof coffee for myself.

We then race to get Maya to school, and afterwards I get myself and baby ready for the day.

Morning
Mornings usually involve an activity: errands, playdates, going to the mall. Sometimes I will take a few hair clients.

Lunch
After lunch, when baby’s napping, I usually quickly tidy around the house, return work-related phone calls/emails, pay bills, etc.

Afternoon
Pick up Maya from school and head home to prepare the girls’ dinner. At the moment, I have to make a kid-friendly meal and one for my husband and me. My dream and ultimate goal is to eventually cook one meal that pleases everyone. If anyone has any recommendations...please send my way! :)

Evening
Dinner, bath time, book time, lights out! Whooohoo!

Then I make dinner #2 for my husband and me. This is when we tell each other about our day.

Then more tidying up, shower… and, FINALLY that moment I’ve been waiting for all day long… my bed, my husband and some sort of guilty pleasure: Netflix or online shopping in bed :) It’s the simple things really.

When you have time to pamper yourself, what’s your go-to?

I LOVE getting semi-permanent eyelashes applied and getting my eyebrows professionally groomed. Again, I can’t stress this enough, your face is your first impression. So I love investing in little pleasures for my face. It also saves me time in the morning- no mascara necessary. Wake up and go!

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"To all the moms and caregivers out there, the best gift you can give yourself is SLEEP! When you’re well rested you can conquer anything!"

What are your favourite wellness products?
Doterra essential oils... I love essential oils!!! I took an interest in them when I became a mom for the first time and wanted to bring natural solutions into my home. When my first daughter got sick, I figured I’d try them instead of modern medicine. I was SO HAPPY with the results! I began to really incorporate them into our lives, including in home cleaning and personal care. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Bees wax candles... I like the sweet scent and that it’s a natural way to purify the air.

Robi body butters!! I love that it’s all natural and my girls can use them too… and I don’t  have to worry about any synthetic ingredients.

Do you have any daily rituals you do to keep calm or focused?
Yes.. coffee!

And if I’m feeling frustrated/low energy: I drink emergenC or green tea (it’s the perfect pick me up in the late afternoon without feeling too jittery from too much caffeine).

One more thing: Saging! I love saging/smudging my home whenever I’m feeling frustrated… the smell really calms me. Smudging has been scientifically proven to change the energy in a room. A cleansed space always invokes a feeling of well-being, peace and harmony.

What's the best beauty or overall wellness advice you've ever received?

SLEEP, exercise & drink lots of water. That is pretty much the blanket regimen for all things beauty and wellness! lol
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To all the moms and caregivers out there, the best gift you can give yourself is SLEEP! When you’re well rested you can conquer anything!