Give yourself the same kindness you give others.
– Self Love đïž
Tag Archives: prioritise yourself
My happy girl things.
What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?
A good self care day
Nothing makes me happier than a full self care day. Hair treatments, a fresh blowdry, getting my nails done, a relaxing pedicure, and a massage just make me feel so refreshed, confident, and put together. I also love getting my hair colored twice a year, it feels like such a fun little transformation and makes me feel brand new. Itâs honestly the best reset ever.
A good shopping spree
Shopping is my happy place! Whether Iâm scrolling online or walking through the mall, I love it all. Sephora, Mango, Zara, Ulta⊠I could spend hours looking at makeup, clothes, and shoes. It just instantly lifts my mood.
Coffee with the right people
Coffee feels so much better when itâs with the right person. Sitting there, talking about everything and nothing, laughing, venting, and just being completely unfiltered is such a comforting feeling.
Driving
I absolutely love driving. Itâs just me, my music, and my thoughts. It feels so peaceful and freeing, like my own little escape where I can just be in the moment.
Quiet time to myself
As much as I love being around people, I really value my alone time. Just relaxing, unwinding, and enjoying a little peace makes me feel recharged and balanced again. Even sleeping peacefully without an alarm just makes it feel extra special.
The Splurge & The Save: My Hair Care Edit
I love experimenting with my hairâwhether itâs new colors or different cuts. Changing it up every year feels like therapy for me. Sure, it can get a little pricey, but itâs always worth it if you go to a good colorist who really knows what theyâre doing. Recently, I went for golden tones, and Iâm absolutely loving the look!
I enjoy taking care of myselfâhair care, skin care, makeup, you name it. I like investing in products that make me feel good. For example, I have four different shampoos and pick one depending on the scent or how I want my hair to feel that day. I also keep three hair masks and several serums because splurging on these things makes me happy. Honestly, as women, we need that extra aftercareâespecially after bleaching or coloring our hair.
Shampoos:
KĂ©rastase Chroma Absolu Bain Riche Chroma Respect
This one feels super luxurious. Itâs creamy, nourishing, and really helps keep my color looking fresh and shiny. Plus, it smells like a high-end salonâsoft and a little floral.
LâOrĂ©al Serie Expert Vitamino Color
Lightweight but does the job so well! It protects the color and gives my hair that glossy look. The scent is fruity and fresh, the scent instantly brightens my mood.
LâOrĂ©al Serie Expert Metal Detox
A total game-changer after coloring. It gets rid of all the build-up from metals in water that can make hair dull. My hair feels cleaner and stronger with this one. The scent is clean, a bit citrusy, and refreshing.
OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo
This one is all about smoothing and shine. It leaves my hair soft and glossy, and the scent is warm, nutty, and a little tropicalâhonestly so addictive. Since it has sulfates, though, it can feel a bit more drying compared to the others, so I usually follow up with a good conditioner or mask.
Hair Masks
K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask
This oneâs more of a treatment than a maskâit works on a deeper level to repair damage from coloring or heat. My hair always feels stronger and healthier after using it. The scent is clean and minimal, nothing heavy, which I like since it doesnât clash with other products. Definitely one of my top favoritesâit never fails me. I feel hair lengths get healthier and my grows so well whenever I use this mask.
Shiseido Fino Hair Mask
Such an affordable gem! It makes my hair super soft, smooth, and easy to manage. The scent is sweet and floral, very âJapanese beauty aisle.â I usually leave it on for a good amount of time, and the results are even betterâmy hair feels silky and light.
KĂ©rastase RĂ©sistance Masque
My go-to when my hair feels fragile or over-processed. It nourishes deeply, strengthens strands, and smells just like a high-end salonâfresh, slightly floral, and elegant. I also leave this one on longer than suggested, and it makes a huge difference in how healthy my hair feels.
Hair Serum
Label.m Age-Defying Hair Serum
A lightweight serum that targets signs of aging in hair, like thinning or dullness. It makes strands feel smoother, adds shine, and gives that âhealthy bounceâ back. The scent is light and fresh, and just grabs attention of anyone who blowdries my hair.
KĂ©rastase Thermique (likely Ciment Thermique or Nutritive Thermique)
This is a heat protectant + leave-in treatment in one. I love it before blow-drying or styling because it protects while making my hair soft and frizz-free. It has that signature KĂ©rastase salon scentâclean, slightly floral, and very luxe. I usually use this over my lable.m serum and after my k18 treatment for an extra layer of protection against heat damage.
Shiseido Fino Hair Serum
Affordable but really effective. It smooths down frizz and adds a silky finish without weighing hair down. The scent is subtle, a soft sweet-floral, which pairs well with the Fino mask. I usually use this when I donât really have to style my hair and just air dry them.
K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil
This is more than just a shine oilâit actually helps repair damage on a deeper level, just like the K18 mask. Super lightweight, non-greasy, and perfect for both styling and long-term strengthening. The scent is clean and understated. I prefer using this in nighttime hair care routine, add in a few drops on my stands before brushing them.
The Hair Care Basic
I also like to keep it simple sometimes with a good oil massage. I use Munawar Haq Coconut Hair Oil, which is lightweight, transparent, and doesnât have that strong smell some coconut oils do. The best part is that it doesnât affect my hair color, so I can still enjoy the benefits of oiling without worrying about fading. It leaves my hair soft, nourished, and just overall healthier. I would add 10-15 drops of rosemary essential hair oil to 5-6 tablespoons of my coconut oil.
Final Thoughts đž
Taking care of my hair is honestly one of my favorite forms of self-care. I donât mind splurging because every product feels like an experienceâwhether itâs the scent, the texture, or just the way my hair looks afterward. Out of everything Iâve tried, my absolute top favorites are the K18 molecular repair hair mask and the KĂ©rastase RĂ©sistance Masque for repair, and the KĂ©rastase Chroma absolu shampoo.
I have been using kerastase products since over 10 years now. And people back then didnât even know this brand existed and only one salon in my city had signed up with kerastase for their treatments and selling their products. Itâs become more common now, still I stock up some products which are not available here from Dubai or US.
Disclaimer: There are a lot of pages in Pakistan selling fake k18 products at a lesser price (AVOID THEM AT ALL COSTS). Safer option is always getting it yourself or asking someone you buy it from US preferably. US and UK prices have a huge difference when it comes to K18 market. Thank me later.
*When it comes to my cut and color, Iâm super particular. There are only three people in my city I trust to cut and color my hair, and about five who can style it exactly the way I like. I always go back to themâI just canât let someone new touch my hair. Very few people truly understand what I like and how I want my hair to look, so once I find the right ones, I stick with them. Itâs that final touch that ties everything together and makes me feel completely myself*
The Power of Being You
We live in a time where scrolling through social media often feels like flipping through a magazine of edited perfection. Celebrities and influencers have access to makeup artists, fillers, Photoshop, and filtersâand yet, we compare ourselves to them in our most natural state. No wonder so many people feel insecure.
But hereâs the truth: you donât need fake lashes, fake nails, or endless beauty treatments to be worthy of love and confidence. You are beautiful as you are. That doesnât mean you canât enjoy makeup, skincare, or even high-maintenance procedures if they make you feel goodâit just means your value doesnât depend on them.
Everyone has their own version of beauty. What makes you stand out isnât how much you look like an influencer, but how much you look like yourself. When you stop chasing the illusion of perfection, youâll find that your natural features, your quirks, and even the things you thought were âflawsâ are what make you unique.
So take a break from comparing. Put the phone down for a while. Look in the mirror without filters, and remind yourself: this is meâand I am enough.
The Art of Walking Lightly, Living Wisely
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Some of the most profound lessons Iâve carried in life werenât from books or lecturesâthey were from conversations with my father. His words were simple, but theyâve stayed with me, guiding me through moments of confusion, growth, and change.
Do good and forget about it.
Goodness is not a transactionâitâs a reflection of who you are. When you do something kind, donât wait for recognition or repayment. Life has its own way of returning what you give, sometimes in ways youâd never expect. The same applies to ill intentions: those who plot harm often find themselves ensnared by their own traps. Life is circular; what goes around always comes around.
Arrogance is for the foolish.
Every day is an opportunity to learn. Mistakes, missteps, and even heartbreaks are teachers if youâre willing to listen. To walk through life thinking you know it all is to close yourself off from growth. True strength lies in humility and the ability to adapt with each new lesson.
Be wise with your resources.
Money comes and goes, but discipline in spending shapes your freedom. Confidence, however, is a different kind of wealth. When you walk into a room, know that no one else can be you. That quiet certainty is far more valuable than arroganceâitâs self-respect without the need for comparison.
Guard your circle.
Loneliness is better than being surrounded by serpents. Not everyone who smiles at you wishes you well. A friend to all is often a friend to none. The ones who truly matter are selective with their trust and protective of their space. Sometimes, solitude is not isolationâitâs preservation.
In all these lessons lies a single thread: life is both a teacher and a mirror. What you give, you receive. What you learn, you become. And what you protect, protects you in return.
âTo know yourself is a lifetimeâs work; to pretend you know others is arrogance.â
Things you need to stop taking for granted.
People
You only realise when youâve taken someoneâs presence for granted when you search for them and all you see is emptiness. A void or a hole in your chest which wonât ever be filled. No matter how many people you meet but that space left behind will never be filled by anyone. When waking up everyday we think the people around us are going to be there forever. We make our plans our routines being selfish until we realise the people who needed our time the most might not be there tomorrow, next month or the coming year. And when the loss hits you, you canât utter a word, you try to speak words remembering them but you canât. You remember the time you spent with them, the way you would put your head in their lap, the bedtime stories and the warm hugs. Ultimately we all move on from a dear oneâs loss of life but we can never get over it. We grow around the grief of losing a loved one. A bond which can no longer be seen but felt deeply. So if you still have people who matter the most to you in this world make sure to tell them theyâre loved and cherished before itâs too late. This can be immediate family and extremely close friends. You never know how long someoneâs going to be there or how much someone needs to know they matter.
Time
When weâre young we forget how quickly time is going by. We take tomorrows for granted. We take our own time for granted. We prioritize the wrong things in life and ultimately when someone gets old all that is left is regret to make better use of our time. Time is literally flying and it hits you when you are a certain age and you see how things have changed and how things are now. This is your time, do whatever you want, wear your favourite sweater/outfit, put on your favourite perfume, get your hair coloured the way you want and wear your favourite pair of shoes, make plans, travel and focus on yourself. What if you have all those things but you no longer desire to dress up or dine out or go to your favourite place anymore? Circumstances and time changes a lot of things and because of this we too change. Our life, our surroundings and most importantly our mood. So try living in the present for yourself. This world is a bitter place and you deserve to do what you have to do in order to stay sane and happy. You come before anyone else, everyone and everything else comes later.
Health/Appearance
One of the phobias I have is Acne and being Fat. I cannot emphasis how much I dislike it when someone is extremely careless about their appearance. You donât get fat overnight. Itâs the lifestyle you follow and the poor diet habits you make which have led you to become like a balloon. Secondly for skin. Iâm not saying you should have baby skin but at least it should be taken care of. Have a basic skin care routine and get clinical facials. Sure some people are genetically blessed with good skin but if youâre not you should start investing on yourself. Doctors give proper Accutane course for acne, itâs pricey and turns your skin into Sahara desert, but itâs only for 6 months. Someone who doesnât take care of their appearance shows how much they truly donât respect themselves and are pure lazy. There are tons of laser treatments to combat different skin concerns, but there are a few professional doctors who are good at what they do. Next focus on a clean and healthy diet and get your blood work done at least twice a year to see if your healthy diet is actually benefiting you.
Lastly Iâd like to add is that tomorrow is never promised and yesterday is already gone, all you have is today and try making the most of it by doing what makes you feel good & happy. Draw boundaries and keep away from people you arenât comfortable with.Donât ever let someone make you feel bad about yourself or a situation. Peace.
