turns out i’ve been blow drying my hair all wrong

Fashion & Beauty

Turns Out I’ve Been Blow Drying My Hair All Wrong—Here’s How To Get It Right

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When trying to decide what to post on new year’s eve, we thought a good ole fashion “how-to” beauty post would do the trick. Hopefully, this will come in handy tonight so that you can ring in the new year with a perfectly blown out do (if that’s the look you’re going for;))

Turns out, I’ve been blowdrying my hair all wrong—and not only does it not look as good as it could, but I’ve been damaging it. I was recently at my friend Janine Jarman’s salon (Hairroin Los Angeles), complaining about how I can never make my hair look good on my own, and convinced that I’ll never learn, when she handed me the blow dryer and a brush and said “show me how you do it.” I did and she, horrified, said “I see…yeah. That is all wrong and now I understand why your hair is so damaged.”

She was actually relieved because this is a problem that we can solve.

To be fair my hair is a challenge and even she admits that. I used to have great long, natural-looking blonde hair. Then I had two kids and proceeded to bleach and chop it and it’s never been the same. It’s curly (therefore frizzy and fuzzy) and broken (so I have to be gentle with it) and it’s actually only shoulder length so while I try to grow it out, I have extensions. It’s also naturally blonde, therefore fine. All of this makes it VERY hard for me to blow it out. The extensions are long and straight, my hair is short and curly. It’s awesome.

So to be clear, yes, I was doing it all wrong, but my hair is absolutely a challenge.

Here’s what I was doing wrong:

I was not using product, did not have the right brush or the right hairdryer (my good one broke a while ago and so Brian picked this cheap guy up at the drugstore).

I was blowing the wrong direction, therefore opening up my cuticle and CREATING frizz.

I was putting the dryer far too close to my hair while it was still really wet (more frizz and damage).

I had no real order and started in the wrong place.

I was doing it WAY too fast, creating more frizz.

Emily Henderson How To Blow Dry Wrong 1

Here’s what it looked like “before” when I was done. I mean, I don’t think it looks that bad, honestly, but does it look like I just stepped out of a salon? Uh, no. It was still a little wavy, a little frizzy, not that shiny. Good enough for everyday life, but yeah, nowhere near what a pro could do.

Emily Henderson How To Blow Dry Wrong 2

So yeah, the finished product, as you can see, is not great. Let’s move on to how you are SUPPOSED to do it:

1. First, towel dry as much as possible. There is no reason to damage your hair by going straight to the blow dryer with soaking wet hair. I hear that this hair towel is great and apparently reduces drying time 50%. (When Arlyn was reading through, she said she actually had that towel, and it indeed made her hair dry faster…though she said maybe by like 30% but she liked it because it was felt light and not like a big lumpy heavy towel that was always flopping around on the top of her head).

2. Next, you want to protect your hair with a product. It’s not like I haven’t tried this but I honestly didn’t know what do use for my hair, how much of it to use and at what point to put it in??? Janine gave me just a few sprays of invisible oil primer and told me to work it all throughout the hair, evenly, while it is still damp. If you have hair like mine, using something that is heat-protective is key. It will act as an SPF for your hair, and protect it from the sun and heat (and reduce frizz). I hate my hair feeling product heavy so at first, I resisted, but using this stuff really made a difference and my hair did not feel weighed down by product at all.

3. Use a gentle wet brush to brush out your hair. I was just using my other bristle brush and not being NEARLY as gentle as I should be. She recommended this one.

4. Then we added a quarter-sized amount of conditioning straightening balm and applied it evenly throughout my hair (avoiding the scalp, because it will get greasy).

Emily Henderson How To Blow Dry Right 2 New

5. First big thing I learned: You HAVE to start with bangs. Why? Because they are the most important part and it’s best to do them at the beginning before your arms are tired, while you still have the patience and before they get too dry and frizzy. She recommended using this brush, then pull the bangs to one side and blow-dry pointing the blow dryer down. Repeat the same motion on the other side.

6. For my hair, Janine told me to do a flat wrap where you use the forehead to help shape and bend bangs. When bangs are almost dry, use a large metal brush, which acts as a curling tool, and pull bangs forward in a circular motion for volume.

7. Before going into sections, rake through hair using hands and blow-dry (always pointing downward) to help get rid of some more moisture so you are not spending a million years drying each section.

Emily Henderson How To Blow Dry Right 3

8. Then move to the crown using a bristle brush and roll the hair under and back using SO MUCH TENSION while pointing the blow dryer downwards and towards the back of your head.

HOT TIP: Tension is the key to shiny and frizz-free hair.

Emily Henderson How To Blow Dry Right 4

9. As you go along, clip sections to cool. Janine told me to clip it like there is a pretend roller in there. This allows your hair to cool down in that smooth shape.

To be honest this is where I started to get REALLY ready for this to be over. It’s so much work and as Janine kept telling me “it’s not a race,” but I just wanted to be done. My arms were tired. I was tired. But I get it. If I take the time, a blowout can last 3 to 4 days so that 1/2 hour to 40 minutes it takes to do it properly is WORTH IT.

Emily Henderson How To Blow Dry Right 5

10. Once you give yourself a pep talk to keep going (you’ve got this), move to the side sections of your hair, making your way from front to back. We used the big boar bristle roller brush for smoothness, and then moved to the metal brush to add more style, curl, and movement. Angle the brush tool the direction you want your hair to go (if you want your hair down and smooth, the brush will need to be curled under your hair, as opposed to just lose like in the top right photo above).

11. Repeat for the rest of the sections of your hair.

HOT TIP: the sections you work with should not be bigger than the tool you are using.

To give my hair a little movement, my normal routine is to add some curl with a curling iron until it looks nice and voluminous (I did this even when I was doing everything else so. wrong.) so that’s what we did here at the end. The finished product is a lot shinier, smoother, and healthier looking. And look, NO FRIZZ. You may notice the exhaustion behind my eyes from the effort, but okay fine, it was worth it.

In case you forgot what MY technique looks like next to Janine’s expert advice, here’s a side by side of the first finished job next to the new and improved blowout:

Emilyfinalsideandback Updated

I kept saying to everyone in the office “are you sure the before is bad enough?” and they all would politely just laugh and say “yeah, it’s convincing.”

So, what do you guys think? Did I succeed? Have I just become a woman who knows how to blow out her hair? I think so.

We just put up a video of the process, so go check it out if the photos aren’t doing it for you.

15 Pro Tips for Traveling With Makeup

Going on vacation is all fun and games until you get to the packing portion of the trip. At that point, it quickly becomes a game of “What can I bring?” and “What must I sadly leave behind?” Traveling with makeup is particularly challenging, especially with TSA’s rules on liquid sizes and the propensity for your most prized products to break or leak. You’ve also got to think about things like climate variation and how your skin might react while also trying to keep your regimen somewhat normal so your skin doesn’t freak. With practice and planning, though, you can get really good at editing down all your beauty essentials without over or under-packing. To help you cover all the bases when it comes to traveling with makeup, we asked experts to share their best tips. 01 of 15 Invest in a Great Makeup Case First thing’s first: You’ve got to have a great place to store your beauty loot when traveling with makeup. Look for a bag that’s big enough to house all your essentials, is leak-proof, keeps you organized, and is easy to clean, advises Sydney Morgan, beauty content creator. The Calpak Medium Clear Cosmetics Case is a great pick. 02 of 15 Choose Cosmetics Bags That Serve Double Duty If chosen well, your makeup bag can be so much more. "Some can double as small clutch or evening purse in a pinch," says Anne McAlpin, packing expert at PackItUp.com. "I love the 'free' ones from cosmetic specials like Clinique and Lancôme. Bright colored bags make it easy to find your makeup in your bag." 03 of 15 Put Makeup Brushes & Tools in Their Own Bag Makeup brushes are an investment, so it only makes sense to look after them well. “I keep my tools in a dedicated case,” notes Jenny Patinkin, professional makeup artist and founder of Jenny Patinkin Eco-Luxe Beauty Tools. This helps protect the bristles and keeps things more sanitary, too. To save even more space, choose a makeup bag that has a compartment you can dedicate specifically to tools and brushes. 04 of 15 Keep a Few Items in Your Purse Lost luggage happens every once in a while, so travel with confidence by having a cosmetic backup plan, says Brittany Lo, a professional makeup artist and founder of Beia. She says, “Always keep two to three essentials with you in your purse, just in case your luggage doesn’t make it or in case you need to reapply before you get the chance to unpack.” For example, a lightweight BB cream or foundation, cream blush, and mascara. When in doubt, identify your “desert island” essentials and pack those. 05 of 15 Opt For Multitasking Makeup Saving space is a must when traveling with makeup, so take advantage of multitasking products. “I do like to steamline when I travel,” notes Patinkin. “[For example], Packing a bronzer that can double as contour, a buildable cheek color, and a buildable foundation for simple daytime application or more dramatic evening looks, one four-pan eyeshadow palette that can be used a lot of different ways, and keeping as few brushes with me as possible.” 06 of 15 Don’t Switch Up Your Routine Too Much It’s tempting to pack all those tiny, travel products since they’re conveniently sized, but switching up your beauty routine too much isn’t ideal. “Your body likes consistency,” notes Matthew Waitesmith, a professional makeup artist with Artis. “If you mostly maintain your same makeup routine while traveling, your body will be less likely to overreact to all the environmental changes involved with travel.” Not to mention, a chill vacation isn’t necessarily a great time to experiment with a tricky new felt liner or foundation formula. You want reliability and ease. 07 of 15 Underfill to Reduce the Risk of Leaks Leaking liquid makeup is not just a big mess—it can mean you lose a lot of your product, too. McAlpin has a little trick that has kept her leak-free. "Only fill liquids three-quarters full, then squeeze out the air and secure the lid. A change in air pressure can cause liquids to expand, creating leaks." By not filling it to the brim, you leave room and reduce the chance of leaks. (But pack it inside a resealable plastic bag just in case!) 08 of 15 Decant Larger Items Whether you’re checking a bag or sticking to a carry-on, it’s wise to consolidate your products to save space and minimize the potential for messes. If any of your liquid products are over 3.4 ounces—the TSA cutoff size—decant them in a travel-size container. Alternatively, buy the travel-sized versions of your faves, Lo suggests. When you run out of the travel-size product, you can refill the packaging with your full-size product. 09 of 15 Protect Delicate Makeup The pain of seeing your favorite powder products broken is real. Avoid the distress by packing delicate items very well. You can do so with a fine bubble wrap (avoid anything too bulky). It also helps to “sandwich” your makeup bag, says Morgan. “Put your makeup bag in the middle of your suitcase with clothes surrounding it,” she says. “This sounds super funny, but it is the best way to keep things from shifting around and breaking. I typically like to put it in the middle with clothes underneath and on all sides. This has helped to avoid breakage.” 10 of 15 Consider the Climate While you don’t want to completely switch up your makeup routine, do take the climate into account. For example, if you’re heading somewhere really humid or plan to splash around in the ocean, swap in some waterproof makeup. Or if it’s going to be dry or hot, pack a face mist that helps set your makeup and keep your skin looking dewy all day. 11 of 15 Bring A Couple “Special Occasion” Items Along with your go-to makeup and skincare products, Waitesmith recommends packing a few makeup items that you associate with special occasions, such as a bold lipstick color or a pretty eyeshadow quad. He says, “You may want to be a bit more extravagant with your makeup colors or intensity to celebrate the special environment—like for a candlelight dinner.” 12 of 15 Pack a Compact Lighted Mirror “The lighting in your hotel or other accommodation mirror is unfamiliar, so it can be hard to judge whether the color or texture of the product you're using feels like it's flattering,” notes Patinkin. She says that a lighted makeup mirror can help squash this issue real fast. Choose one that’s slender and stands up on its own or has suction cups that adhere to a flat surface mirror. 13 of 15 Think Vertical McAlpin swears by hanging-style personal care kits. "Many European and boutique hotels have minimal counter space, so these bags are great for keeping essentials close at hand without items falling off pedestal sinks and breaking on tile floors." 14 of 15 Repurpose Containers Travel-specific containers are great, but you can get creative with what you use. "I use contact lens holders for small amounts of primer, eye moisturizer, etc.," McAlpin says. "Just label it with permanent marker on the lid." 15 of 15 Find Ways to Minimize Liquids If you're traveling carry-on only, your space for liquids is limited. While solid beauty and makeup products have become an important part of travel packing, McAlpin has some other ideas for carrying on her favorites. For fragrance, for instance, you can soak cotton balls with fragrance and pack in small leak-proof containers.

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day + 27 Beautiful Native Owned Shops For Art, Decor, Fashion, & Beauty

Last year, to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we scoured the internet to find and share Native owned brands in art, home decor, fashion, beauty, and more. Since then, more brands have immersed and come to our attention, so we’ve updated this post to reflect even more artists and makers that we’ve come to love. We hope you will follow their work, support by buying, or use your own time to research and educate yourself on the rich and unique Indigenous histories that shape our country. Happy Monday everyone. We hope you had a lovely, relaxing weekend and if you are enjoying another rejuvenating day off today, we are so happy you took the time to stop by. Today, EHD is OOO and recognizing this holiday celebrating Indigenous People in our country and all over the world. When Indigenous Peoples’ Day started to become established in the U.S. it was a long overdue act of recognition to the native people who have been historically and unjustly disenfranchised in this country. It seems such a feeble act to simply acknowledge this day but since we are a design blog, we wanted to bring attention to the native-owned shops and artists that may not be on your radar yet– especially since Native American culture has so much influence on interior design. That said, I am thrilled to introduce you all to some incredible Native artists, makers, and brands that you can shop, support, and follow right now. Art & Photography: Sheridan MacKnight Sheridan MacKnight is an artist of Hunkpapa Lakota, White Earth Chippewa and Scottish descent. She paints as well as makes jewelry that honors her roots and powerful Indigenous identity. From the artist: “My work honors my Native American roots, and to the strong and spiritual devotions of my people. I am Lakota from the Hunkpapa clan and Chippewa from the White Earth Band. My images reflect the heart and emotion of my relations, be it historically or in the present time in the narration of the composition.” Aly Mcknight Aly Mcknight’s body of work consists of watercolor prints and mixed media that celebrates her heritage and life as an Indigenous woman and mother. From the artist: “My artwork and creative endeavors are dedicated to Indigenous representation and youth and womxn empowerment.” I absolutely love her modern take on native culture and how she reflects the female spirit. Itsooaakii Evelyn Mikayla Martin’s (itsooaakii) body of work “primarily consists of self portraits (acrylic on canvas) working to hold space for herself & all of her intersecting identities, along with BIPOC womxn whose identities & lived experiences mirror her own.” Her work is bold and extremely empowering (I especially love this one and need it for my bedroom). Thundervoice Eagle Lehi ThunderVoice Eagle is an artist of Navajo/Totonoc descent. He was raised part-time in the Arizona wilderness, living off the land and part-time in the city and as such his work is about “Reclaiming, reharmonizing, and renewing a way of life in an authentic way.” Bettys Baskets Shop Betty’s baskets shop is where you NEED to go for just about the dang cutest handwoven baskets you’ll ever see. Owner and Native artist, Betty Derke, is a member of the Chippewa tribe from the White Earth Indian Reservation in Minnesota. From the artist: “Weaving became a way to not only connect with my heritage, but to answer a calling I have had since childhood. I could close my eyes and imagine a circle of women working closely together. Most of the time I’ve felt that Sprit was doing the designing as my hands sculpted, so to speak. It has been a very spiritual experience for me. My baskets are functional as well as ornamental; as my grandson used to say, “Gramma, you could put your treasures in there!” SO. CUTE. Indian Pueblo Store The Indian Pueblo Store was founded in 1976 to gather and showcase work from Pueblo and Southwestern Native artists. They work with internationally renowned Native American artists as well as emerging talents from the Southwest, and sell everything from rings, to rugs, to Pendleton blankets. Heart Berry Heart Berry Owner, Sarah Agaton Howes is an Anishinaabe-Ojibwe Artist from Fond du Lac Reservation in Northern Minnesota. She says that Heart Berry “began in the kitchen on the Rez. What began as a custom beadwork and regalia business “House of Howes”, grew from a one woman squad in 2007 to our current team.” They collaborate with other Native artists and are now committed to teaching and building a community of makers. Northwest Native Expressions Northwest Native Expressions is a Native art gallery (located in Sequim, WA) featuring Native American artists from around Washington State. They sell baskets, books, clothing, textiles, jewelry, and more. Made By Nativos Made by Nativos makes hammocks, blankets, bags that are meant to encapsulate centuries of ancient native traditions. The shop was created by owner Laura Bustamante to support and preserve Ancient Native traditions, as part of humanity’s cultural heritage. Indigo Arrows Indigo Arrows sells pillows, linens, and textiles with patterns that are inspired by historical native pottery. From the owner: “For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples in Manitoba, including my Anishinaabe ancestors, created beautiful patterns to adorn their pottery collections and host of bone tools. Most of the surviving pieces are held by museums now, but I think the world needs more than exhibition- we need these patterns in our homes provoking thought; we need them bridging gaps; and, we need them inspiring our loved ones. The Indigo Arrows line picks up where my ancestors left off.” Eighth Generation Eighth Generation is a Seattle-based art and lifestyle brand owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe. Founded in 2008 by artist, activist, and educator, Louie Gong (Nooksack), it is a marketplace where you can find 100% Native designed and made products from wool blankets, to art and home goods. Fashion & Jewelry: B.Yellowtail B.Yellowtail is founded on the notion that clothing can be a vehicle for storytelling through wearable art. Founder Bethany Yellowtail, originally from the Crow (Apsaalooke) & Northern Cheyenne (Tsetsehestahese & So’taeo’o) Nations in southeastern Montana, is fueled by her social justice vision for her community which is fused with her work and artistic vision. “In a world where indigenous images are often stolen and misappropriated, Bethany serves as an unapologetic arbiter of authenticity; a genuine voice who seeks to empower her people through design and representation.” The NVTS The NVTS was started by “two Native American guys trying to fill a hole in the market that is missing the voice of the people.” Their mission is to inspire the youth to embrace culture and history and they did so by creating this native-owned clothing company. Now, their team is comprised of natives from several different tribes and they specialize in making modern clothing with native prints that hold a deeper meaning. She Native SheNative’s mission is to instill inner strength and unwavering confidence in all women, inspired by teachings that come from Indigenous Nationhood, stemming from the idea that Nationhood means knowing who you are and where you come from. As an Indigenous woman, founder Devon Fiddler has overcome discrimination and feelings of self-doubt and has created an uplifting fashion and lifestyle brand that celebrates her heritage and encourages resilience in all women. 4Kinship Say hello to your new favorite sustainable clothing brand that sells colorful and exciting vintage and up cycled clothing made in small batches. It is a Diné (Navajo) owned and the collections are heavily inspired by Southwest terrain. Kuychi Cauldron Maria Cauldron is an indigenous Peruvian American who makes and sells naturally dyed clothing, handmade cermaics, and what is perhaps most impressive, creates plant extractions to make pure pigments from plants which she then makes into plant based inks and paints. SO cool, right? Ginew Ginew (Gih-noo) is the only Native American-owned denim line in the world. It is based out of Portland, Oregon, and founded by husband-and-wife duo Erik Brodt and Amanda Bruegl who live and create their brand by the motto “Minobimaadiziiwin” – “Yohahi-yo sathahita?n” which, simply put, means “Live Well”. Their clothing is androgynous in style, extremely versatile, very COOL, and designed to last. She And Turquoise Shondina Lee, founder of She and Turquoise, is a creative director, photographer, fashion influencer, and jewelry maker. She launched She and Turquoise to sell her earrings that are both classically fashionable and uniquely inspired by her Indigenous heritage. Native Clay Co Sa-ha-na Jackson originally started Native Clay Co. as a fun new hobby but quickly transformed into an avenue for self-discovery. Her earrings are handmade on the rez and her designs are created to honor her people and history. Beyond Buckskin Boutique Beyond Buckskin launched in 2009 by Jessica R. Metcalfe (Turtle Mountain Chippewa). What began as a blog showcasing native artists and makers, expanded to an online boutique where you can shop over 40 native owned and designed brands and unique artisans. Kristen Dorsey Designs Kristen Dorsey, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, makes her jewelry under the foundation that “Jewelry captures our cultural identity and our spirituality.” Her designs are elegant and uniquely inspired by her life experiences and heritage. Shiyoo Designs Founder Jeri Yazzie is an Indigenous artisan that makes jewelry that feels chic, happy, and authentic. Her creations are all handmade and are made with a whimsical and carefree style in mind. Authentic Native Made Is there anything cuter than baby mocassins?? My guess is no. The founder of Authentic Native Made is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie band of Chippewa Indians, in northern Michigan and a self-taught artist. Her shop features her handmade baby mocassins and infant shoes in a variety of styles and colors. If you have any baby showers coming up, say hello to the perfect gift! Ataumbi Metals Artist and jeweler, Keri Ataumbi, makes unique jewelry rooted in “a conceptual narrative exploration as its core.” She uses traditional Kiowa imagery and materials in a contemporary form, making her work a celebration of her heritage and wearable art. Beauty: Cheekbone Beauty Cheekbone Beauty is an Indigenous-owned and founded, digitally-native, Canadian cosmetics company established in 2016. It began because founder Jennifer Harper wanted to create a beauty brand that the Indigenous youth could see themselves in after being separated from her Indigenous roots for most of her childhood and adult life. Cheekbone beauty is also cruelty -free and just this year they launched a less-waste line of lipsticks called SUSTAIN, and they have zero-waste goals for 2023. Mother Earth Essentials Mother Earth Essentials is a Canadian based Indigenous brand that creates luxurious bath & beauty products from natural ingredients and traditional recipes. The founder, Carrie Armstrong, comes from a long line of Cree Medicine women and is passionate about sharing her culture through the brand’s beauty essentials. Sister Sky Sister Sky is a natural beauty brand that was started by two sisters inspired by their Native American grandmothers who harvested a variety of plants like sweet grass, cedar and sage to make teas, ointments and creams. Additional Learning Resources: This article has great information on how to support Indigenous organizers fighting Covid-19 in Native American Communities. Matika Wilbur (a visual storyteller from the Swinomish and Tulalip peoples of coastal Washington) discusses her personal journey to finding her way back to her culture and Representation vs. Power with Grace Bonney in this video. Matika also has a wonderful podcast with Adrienne Keene called All My Relations, where they talk about the issues Native American people are facing in today’s world. If you haven’t heard of James Jones (@notoriouscree), he’s an Indigenous influencer who celebrates his culture through dance and funny/powerful videos. I promise you will be blown away and learn. He is really huge on TikTok but you can also find him on Instagram. Alright, that is all we have for you for today. Please share any additional shops, artists, or resources in the comments. Have a great Monday and week sweet friends.

Shoppers ‘Pack Double or Triple’ in Their Carry-On Bags Thanks to This $30 Travel Hack That Skirts Baggage Fees

I’m a one-bag traveler through and through. Even on a recent monthlong trip through Northern Europe, I was able to fit everything I needed into a carry-on suitcase—puffer jacket included. The best way to pack a suitcase, we seasoned travelers know, is to use compression packing cubes. These clever hacks flatten soft goods to half their size, so you can pack a checked bag’s worth of contents into a carry-on suitcase. They’re the only way a recovering overpacker like me could ever join the exclusive carry-on-only club. Bagail Set of 6 Compression Packing Cubes How do compression packing cubes work? They’re super simple in construction but majorly helpful in practice. Each packing cube is a zippered pouch in ripstop nylon, with two zippers: one that closes the pouch itself, and another you can zip closed to shrink the contents to the smallest size possible. It’s the same principle as sitting on your suitcase to get it to zip—except this travel hack keeps everything nice and tight from start to finish. With clothing packed neatly into these soft nylon pouches, then zipped down to wring out all the air, you’ll wonder why you ever checked a bag to begin with. “The compression feature is genius,” one five-star reviewer said. “Just zip everything tight, and boom, it’s like vacuum-sealing your wardrobe (minus the vacuum). I was able to fit way more than I expected, and everything stayed neatly organized. No more suitcase explosions every time I needed socks.” Say, for instance, a stack of blouses is 6 inches high. Those blouses might squash nice and neat into the medium-sized compression cube that’s 4 inches deep. But then, you can zip that cube down to compress it even further and whittle down that 6-inch stack of clothes to just 2 inches or so. And all that saved space adds up, letting you “pack double or triple your clothes in a small suitcase,” one shopper shared. “Just fold your clothes and overpack, then double zip it! Literally watched my clothes shrink as air was let out.” That shopper was able to fit four pairs of shorts, two sets of pajamas, a robe, three shirts, and nine undergarments—into just one of these compression cubes. As a bonus, you won’t be rifling through a jumbled mess of clothing when you go to unpack in your destination. Instead, your belongings arrive neatly organized in dedicated bags to make finding what you need a breeze. “Unpacking took seconds,” one reviewer raved. “I just pulled out the cubes and popped them into drawers.” This six-pack by Bagail includes six different size options, a variety you don’t often get from other brands. Packing cube fans call these “lightweight, but tough as nails,” with ”high-quality and durable” fabric, “reinforced seams and reliable zippers,” and a mesh panel that lets you see what’s inside. They’re also water repellent too, so if your face wash springs a leak, your clothes stand a fighting chance of still arriving unsoiled. You can even pack damp clothes, one shopper said, without fretting over leaks. “If you're an overpacker like me or just want to feel like a travel ninja, do yourself a favor and grab a set,” a recent packing-cube convert wrote. “Your future-suitcase self will thank you.” Snag this six-pack of the compression packing cubes even skeptical shoppers called “a real game changer,” and read on for other compression cubes for travel to level up your packing game. Bagsmart Compression Packing Cubes, Set of 6 Tripped Travel Gear Compression Packing Cubes, Set of 6 Gonex Compression Packing Cubes, Set of 6 OlarHike Compression Packing Cubes, Set of 8 Veken Packing Cubes, Set of 8

This Is the Worst Thing You Can Do to Your Orchid, And You Might Be Doing It Every Day

Are your orchids dying back, refusing to flower, or developing yellow, wrinkled, or mushy leaves and you’re not sure why? Although these symptoms look different to the eye, they may be caused by the same common mistake that plant parents often make when growing orchids. In this guide, a plant pro reveals the number one worst thing for orchids that often causes these plants to fail, and offers expert tips to help orchids grow and bloom better. Meet the Expert Rebecca Finneran is the Grand Ideas Garden director and a retired senior horticultural educator from Michigan State University. The Worst Thing You Can Do to Your Orchid The number one reason why orchids struggle in homes is due to watering stress. “The most common mistake growers make is not overwatering, but watering incorrectly,” says horticulturalist Rebecca Finneran. This includes overwatering, underwatering, watering plants in the wrong way, or simply growing orchids in poorly draining pots or substrate. The good thing is you can prevent most orchid watering problems, and help overwatered and underwatered plants recover faster by understanding orchid growing needs and avoiding a few common watering pitfalls. Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more! 5 Things You Should Avoid Doing to Your Orchid In the wild, orchids grow as epiphytes and cling to trees using their aerial roots. This unique root structure helps orchids absorb water quickly, but it also make orchids more vulnerable to overwatering and watering stress. This is why it’s so important to water orchids with a careful touch and to avoid these five potential issues when watering. Overwatering Any plant can develop root rot if it sits in soggy soil too long, but orchids are particularly susceptible to overwatering; their roots can rot and turn mushy, slimy, black, or string-like if they aren’t allowed to breathe. To avoid this issue, make sure to grow orchids in well-draining pots, and water them just once every 1 to 2 weeks when the substrate starts to feel dry. Use Clean Water You may want to water with rainwater or distilled water if your tap water contains a lot of chemicals or salts. Underwatering Orchids with root rot often develop yellow or mushy leaves as the rot progress, but underwatering can affect orchids too. “Think about where orchids come from: the rainforest,” Finneran says. “When their leaves are not firm or look like raisins, the plants need a good soak.” Running water through orchid pots should ensure your plants are deeply watered, or you can bottom water your plants. “Take the orchid pot and submerge only the root ball for 1 to 2 hours in a bowl or pan. This allows the fleshy roots to absorb water and will help them immensely,” Finneran says. “I soak all my orchids for one hour a week.” Watering Into the Bud Make sure that you don't water directly into the depression in the center of newly emerging leaves, also known as the orchid "bud." “If you get water into the ‘bud,’ the orchid will rot,” says Finneran. When watering, do your best to direct the flow of water onto the orchid’s aerial roots and let the water run, low and slow, over the plant’s substrate until the water runs through the pot’s drainage holes. Watering With Ice Cubes Plant labels and viral orchid care videos often recommend watering orchids with ice cubes, but Finneran warns against this practice too. “Imagine if you were a tropical plant having ice-cold water on your roots,” says Finneran. That just doesn’t make sense. Instead, use room temperature water when watering orchids, which is less likely to shock their delicate roots. Not Repotting Even if you water orchids correctly, these plants can develop root rot if you keep them in their original store-bought pots; these pots are often lacking in drainage holes and are commonly filled with a dense floral foam or moss-based substrate that keeps orchid roots far too wet. Repotting orchids as soon as you bring them home into pots with drainage holes and bark-based orchid substrate is a quick and easy way to ward against rot and prevent overwatering in the future.