A clean and fuss-free beauty regimen is a must for new and soon-to-be mamas! With so many wonderful products available in Hong Kong, the transition from conventional to clean beauty can be easier than you think. Whether you’re looking for extra hydration, treating acne or sun protection, we’ve searched high and low for the best beauty products to keep you Sassy Mamas looking and feeling fabulous!

Read More: Where To Get Nail Art, Manicures And Pedicures

Bondi Sands Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+

Asos, $105

Read More: Facial Treatments – Best Spas For Facials In Hong Kong

DRUNK ELEPHANT Bouncy Brightfacial Mask

Sephora, $560

Read More: Hong Kong Eyebrows Services — Threading, Waxing, Microblading And More

The Ordinary Multi-peptide Eye Serum

Sephora, $206

Innisfree Green Tea Seed Skin Toner

Innisfree, $170

Hibernicis Seaweed Exfoliating Gel

Hibernicis, $390

Read More: Top Spas In Hong Kong – Massage, Facials And More

SKIN INC Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Sephora, $360

Editor’s Note: The Best Beauty Products for Sassy Mamas was most recently updated in March 2023 by Najuka Redkar. 

The post The Best Beauty Products for Sassy Mamas appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Pregnancy, whilst an amazing miracle can be an exhausting time in any expectant mums life. Your body is changing, your hormones are playing havoc, smells make you nauseous, tiredness is setting in, and amongst all of that there seems to be a never-ending list of things you should and shouldn’t do! Suddenly, you find yourself googling what’s okay and what’s not: is nail polish ok for the baby? Can I dye my hair? All the things you used to do without a thought suddenly require extra attention. For example, did you know that nail polishes can be 3-free, 5-free, 7-free even 10-free? This means that they are free of harmful toxic chemicals, which is especially important when you are growing a tiny human! Hair dye is next, can you? Should you? Is that massage baby appropriate? Should I get that facial? Here we have compiled a round up of some of the places that offer baby friendly treatments to give you some reassurance.

The post Pregnancy Safe Treatments: Beauty, Hair and Nail Care for Mamas-to-be appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Making her way from London to Hong Kong several years ago, Toni Ovenden found herself in a new city that excited her with the possibilities to grow her career. As a creative and passionate hair stylist who believes in making a smaller carbon footprint, she set out to start her own hair salon that reflected her deeply rooted ethos of using natural and organic products on her clients. After seeing the affects of many toxic hair products, she made a choice to use items that would be good for people and the world. And thus, Love Hair was born.

As Love Hair grew and celebrated it’s one year anniversary, Toni is now expecting her first human baby! Getting help from her friend Birgit Wahlhaeuser of W Interior Concepts, she invites us into her gorgeous nursery space and dishes on the funniest preggo moment to sharing which was her most difficult trimester. Read on in this edition of The Bump.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you ended up in Hong Kong.

Ten years ago I was backpacking around Asia and came to Hong Kong to visit a good friend who was here doing her year abroad. It made a big impression on me and I left saying, “I am coming to live in Hong Kong.”. When I went back to London to continue my hairdressing career I got caught up in climbing the career ladder there and five years flew by. Due to sudden loss of a good friend, I reevaluated what I was doing and decided it was time to pack up and finally embark on my journey to Hong Kong.

What was your first impression of Hong Kong?

My first impression was that I loved the mix of East meets West. It was a city full of local Chinese tradition that was still cosmopolitan and modern in so many ways. The fact that you could live in Asia and it’s also relatively easy to get around daily life. I am from London, so there’s no denying that I’m a city girl through and through but you can’t take a taxi to the beach there!

How did you get into hair styling and cutting?

I started as a Saturday girl at the salon whilst at school in a local salon. I was always very practical and loved being creative, so naturally when I left school it seemed like the right path to take. When you enjoy what you do, it makes all the difference.

Read more: Where to Get Kids’ Haircuts in Hong Kong 

Why has it been so important for you to adopt the organic and natural products and ethos for your salon, Love Hair?

As hairdressers, we are exposed on a daily basis to toxins in everything we use. I believe this contributed to me having high levels of metals in my body making me unwell for a period of time. Once finding out the cause and how to prevent this, I decided to take action and control what I expose myself to on a daily basis. Also, being environmentally conscious is the only way forward for new businesses in my mind. Every person and business has a carbon footprint, also it encourages others to be aware of their own impact and the choices they can make.

What was your initial reaction when you first found out you were pregnant?

Excited!

What was your husband’s reaction to your pregnancy? Did you find out together or did you surprise your partner?

I had an inkling and rather than waiting to see if my period would arrive, I took a test… at the IFC shopping mall toilet! I didn’t want to tell my husband, Ian on the phone so it was a long day at work keeping it to myself! It was Valentine’s Day too, so I put the pregnancy test in with his present. He was very happy.

Read more: Team Sassy Mama Shares Their Labour Stories

Do you know the gender of the baby? Are you keeping it a secret or doing a reveal?

We have left the gender as a surprise, which has been hard at times, but now we are getting so close to Labour Day, the suspense is making it even more exciting! Can’t wait to meet our little being!

Name a moment in your pregnancy experience where you’d like to freeze time.

When you feel the first kicks and punches.

What are your top three cravings?

I’m not sure I have craved anything in particular… I’d like to say chocolate but I crave that normally! I have actually gone off a few things like bananas and eggs.

Read more: Hydrating Foods to Keep You and Your Bump Refreshed

Name a funny moment in your pregnancy.

The amount of farting and burping!

What has been the easiest trimester and which one proved most difficult?

The first trimester was hard as you’re exhausted and feel like the baby is literally sucking the life out of you. Being on my feet all day as a hairdresser was challenging. The second trimester was great, felt very mobile and got my energy back. The third has just started to be difficult in the last few weeks as I am now uncomfortable. My fingers and toes look like sausages!

What have you struggled with most since being pregnant?

It’s like having a new identity! I was no longer Toni but my identity was overtaken by a pregnant woman. It felt like you were just generally being restricted with food while being more tired effects your social life. All the changes your body goes through is tough as right from the beginning it instantly starts to transform.

What has your experience been with being pregnant in Hong Kong? Healthcare system?

Hong Kong is a great place to access anything you need. The heat and humidity is a challenge. We are fortunate enough to be able to access the private system which has been great. Very quick and efficient with appointments. I would say I miss the personal touch and rapport with doctors in London. However, I have had some extra appointments at Annerley to give me that and they are excellent.

Read more: Antenatal Classes to Get You Ready for Labour

What do you think every woman should know before getting pregnant?

There is so much that isn’t spoken about and I think it would be more informative to have more articles on the things people don’t tell you about pregnancy. It is fascinating and the most amazing thing that your body can grow another human being from a ball of cells but it isn’t all glamorous and comes with many physical changes.

Any good suggestions on books to prep you for motherhood?

I haven’t read any books but my clients at the salon are a fountain of information and have given me enough advice to help me through.

Do you follow a specific fitness programme to stay in shape?

I am pretty active at work and was walking everywhere still up until about two weeks ago! I have done a mixture of prenatal Pilates and yoga throughout (Flex and The Yoga Room are my go-to’s).

Any fashion tips and tricks for maternity dressing?

Buy normal clothes but in a big size! Being comfortable is important, I like just being able to throw on a dress and go.

Read more: Maternity Clothes: Where to Shop for Every Occasion

Name a mama you find inspiring and why?

My mumma is inspiring as she managed to bring up three daughters all on her own.

What are your hopes and dreams for your baby?

For them to be confident and comfortable in their own skin. To be grounded, have compassion and emotional intelligence for other people and the world around them.

The post The Bump: First Time Mama and Founder of Love Hair, Toni Ovenden appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Clothes shopping while pregnant can be trying for even the most enthusiastic shopper. In the first trimester, you find yourself in that in-between phase, obsessing about when you will have a bump big enough to fit into maternity clothes and by the last, even your roomiest top won’t fit over your stomach. And we’ll leave the post-partum phase for another day! Thankfully there are some great companies (that either have shops in Hong Kong or ship here!) that have it all figured out. We’ve rounded up our top choices for a variety of occasions…

Sassy Mama Tip: First time mamas, if you plan on nursing, whenever possible, buy items that will be versatile and that you can continue to wear in the months after you give birth. While pregnant it can seem bizarre to buy and wear a top that accommodates nursing but it will seem genius as soon as you have the baby. No one wants to scramble around to find a nursing bra or top during those first few weeks.

The post Maternity Clothes: Where to Shop for Every Occasion appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Leaving the world of finance, Tania Reinert, sought a life that exemplified more calm, peace and zen. So her and her family moved away from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong island to the more serene, south Lantau. Armed with a wanderlust heart, Tania took to the world with her little one, Nika as they journeyed to over 11 countries together. Inspired by her adventures of traveling and parenting, she started a lifestyle and travel journal, Nika Kai Travel. She shares her dreams of inspiring her daughter and soon-to-be son, to live sustainable lives and make the world a better place. Read on as this inspiring mama dishes on the ups and downs of parenthood and being pregnant with baby number two!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you ended up in Hong Kong.
I was born in Moscow and moved to Spain when I was fourteen. I studied and worked in London until I came to Hong Kong with my husband just after our wedding in 2009. I studied at LSE and ended up in finance, but after 6 years of working in banks I realised that finance wasn’t exactly right for me. I quit my job and Co-founded an online sustainable fashion boutique, A Boy Named Sue. After having my daughter in 2014, and extensively traveling the world with her, I was inspired to start an online lifestyle and travel journal for modern parents, Nika Kai Travels. I am currently 5 months pregnant with baby number 2. We live in South Lantau with three sausage dogs and a parrot.

What was your first impression after moving to HK?
I found it crazy, messy and very, very humid.

What was your inspiration behind A Boy Named Sue? Tell us more about Nika Kai Travels.
The lack of recycling and air pollution in Hong Kong made me much more environmentally aware, so I decided that I wanted to move from finance into a green and meaningful business. I came across a great book by Lucy Siegle, To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out the World? that explained the dirty ins-and-outs of the fashion business. So my partner and I researched the market and came across a lot of great contemporary eco-designers, but we couldn’t find a good online platform that united these talents, so A Boy Named Sue was born out of that need.

As for Nika Kai, I started traveling with my daughter, Nika when she was just a 1 month old. She was born in Spain and we flew back to Hong Kong when she was 5 weeks old, a 12-hour flight plus a 3-hour flight with a 4-hour connection! I breastfed her for almost 20 months, so it was easy to travel everywhere with her. We travel at least every two months, usually just me and Nika. She will be three years old this July and so far she has been to Indonesia, Thailand, Russia, Spain, Israel, the US, Hawaii, the UK, Portugal, France and Belgium. These travels and all information that I was acquiring as a mother inspired me to start the lifestyle and travel journal for modern families, Nika Kai Travels.

How has being a mama to Nika (and with one on the way!) changed the way you set your priorities?
She is my number one priority. So I plan my days around spending as much time as I can with her. As a result, I am sometimes much less productive when it comes to work than I could be. Recently, I’ve had much less energy, because of the pregnancy so I have been trying to take care of myself a little more. I have been doing a really unique online course called MOTHER, that teaches you meditation, active listening, awareness it teaches you how to recharge and be positive and calm without having to go away on a holiday.

Name a moment/memory in your pregnancy or parenting experience where you’d like to freeze time for a moment.
The moment they gave her to me in hospital, the moment she smiled at me for the first time, first words, first steps. The time when I used to breastfeed her and it felt like there was only the two of us in the whole universe. The time right now, before the arrival of number two, when there is just me and her and no one else. We co-sleep and she loves cuddling in the mornings. I love waking up with her, and wish I could freeze those mornings moments. Oh and her baby smell, I wish I could bottle that up.

What has the experience of raising a child in Hong Kong been like?
Since our move to Lantau, it’s been incredible. We live next to the beach surrounded by nature in an actual house. Having a kid in the Mid-Levels where we used to live really sucked. The air quality, roadside pollution, lack of green space and crappy playgrounds were depressing.

On the positive side there are some great playgroups on the Hong Kong island like PEKIP, Baumhaus and Kindermusik with Crisel. As for Mandarin, there is a lovely space I still take her to from Lantau twice a week, called Mulberry House. The latter is a very unique educational space that is inspired by Emilio Reggio.

Last but not least, helpers run this city, without them it would all fall apart. I am forever grateful for the affordable and qualified help you can get in Hong Kong. It would be impossible for me to work, if I didn’t have my amazing, loving and really efficient helper.

Congratulations on your second pregnancy! What was your initial reaction when you first found out you were pregnant with your second baby?
I was shocked, although I do know my body very well and I almost immediately knew that something was off – even before I took the test. We sort of decided to try for number two, but it happened much faster than I expected. I am an only child (a happy one at that!) so the idea of two kids scares me a little.

What was your partner’s reaction like? Did you find out together or did you surprise your partner?
His sister was over for Christmas and so were his parents. Both me and his sister were late with our period and sensed something was happening and took a pregnancy test together and both tests were positive, so we first surprised his parents. We took the tests in a bathroom at IFC. I texted my husband the photo of the pregnancy test over the phone, as he was back at home. He was shocked just like I was!

Do you know the gender of the baby? Are you keeping it a secret or doing a reveal?
It’s a boy. Honestly the idea of having another little human in my life is already a big surprise, so I did want to find out the sex.

What are your top three cravings?
Tomatoes, avocado, multigrain toast with olive oil, and Korean temple food made by friend Mina Park from SOOK. Oh and pickled radish. I am a pretty healthy eater even when pregnant. During my last pregnancy I craved watermelons, which are very cooling according to Traditional Chinese Medicine and a big no-no in Chinese culture. Nika is quite a fiery baby so she must have needed the watermelon in the womb!

Name a funny moment in your pregnancy.
When I told my daughter I had a baby in my belly she said she had something in her belly too!

What has been the easiest trimester and which one proved most difficult?
First trimester is always the hardest because I just want to sleep. I don’t get morning sickness or anything else, I just want to sleep and with a toddler – sleep is much harder to achieve.

What have you struggled with most since being pregnant?
Feeling unfit. My daughter has so much energy and I can’t run and jump around with her like I could before. I also can’t carry her properly unless it’s on my shoulders. I feel like I am very slow all the time and I am out of breath easily.

What has your experience been with being pregnant in Hong Kong? Healthcare system?
I have a private doctor here that I love. Dr. Stevenson is super laid back and calm. So my experience with Hong Kong has been relatively positive. That said, a few years ago when I had issues with my hormones due to working in finance, I went to see a few doctors and I felt like Hong Kong is all about over-medicating and fast solutions. I quit finance, started practicing yoga and eating healthy and my hormones normalised without any doctors.

Like my first, I am planning to give birth in Spain again, as it’s cheaper even when you go private. The weather is nicer (I am due in August) and I will have my parents around.

What do you think every woman should know before getting pregnant?
Your life will never be the same… in a good way.

Any good suggestions on books for helping an older sibling welcome a younger one?
Not yet. I don’t believe in reading too much about parenting, unless its scientific or educational research. I feel like you can get so anxious from all the advice out there. I am doing an online course though called MOTHER which really helps me with parenting struggles.

Do you follow a specific fitness programme to stay in shape?
I do the occasional Pilates with a great teacher called Jill Marshall, a few minutes of yoga a day and I walk a lot. I also got an amazing nutritionist who has analysed my whole diet and has really made a difference to my energy levels, her name is Cristina Tahoces from Thrive Nutrition. I also work with a great midwife who has the most insightful and non judgmental blog for expecting and new parents. Sofie Jacobs of Urban Hatch.

Any fashion tips and tricks for maternity dressing?
COS has great affordable pieces. HATCH is amazing if you have a good budget. In terms of more sustainable fashion, Reformation has a few sexy and cool dresses that fit on a pregnant body (I just go a size or two up). I like layering and wearing cropped pieces over longer tops while slightly accentuating the bump. I feel like I look even bigger in clothes that are too oversized. In the summer, I live in dresses.

Name a mama you find inspiring and why?
My own mom. She is one of the kindest, selfless and loving people I have ever met. My great grandmother was also inspiring as she was a real matriarch right until she died at 80. Also, Vivienne, a mom of four whom I recently interviewed for Nika Kai. She just has her act together, is kind, loving and manages to run a giant household in a very effortless manner. I also have a mom’s Whatsapp group, and I feel like all moms in that group are so inspiring, despite illnesses, sleepless nights, work commitments, dramas of motherhood, they still manage to power along and remain loving and caring parents.

What are your hopes and dreams for your baby?
I want him and Nika to be happy, fearless, caring and loving people, who respect other human beings and work to make our world a better, greener place to live. I would also love for them to be surfers and scientists, or marine biologists… anything, but office workers!

Ed note: If you know a great mama-to-be who’d be perfect for our next The Bump feature, please email us at: editorial@sassymamahk.com for more information.

Thanks to the talented Michelle Proctor of Michelle Proctor Photography for all of the beautiful images above! Follow her on Instagram @michellejproctor and Facebook at www.facebook.com/MichelleProctorPhotography.

The post The Bump: Travel and Lifestyle Blogger, Tania Reinert of Nika Kai Travel appeared first on Sassy Mama.

One of the most common questions and concerns I receive from post-pregnant women in my salon is, “Is there any way to avoid or minimise post-pregnancy hair loss?” Unfortunately, while hair loss is unavoidable and just another part of the pregnancy process, there ARE a few tips that can help get you through.

Why do I experience hair loss?

It’s actually a pretty simple explanation: in general an average of 10%-15% of our hair follicles are dormant or in a kind of sleep state at any given time. You’ll most likely notice even when you’re not pregnant that you have odd short pieces of hair sticking out here and there. Well, this is for the most part a result of the new hair growth cycle. On average we lose about 100 hairs per day but during pregnancy, the increased levels in oestrogen causes the cycle to stop. Your hair will look and feel thicker than usual due to this reason but as gorgeous as it makes your hair during the carrying months, you are set to pay for it after.

Shortly after giving birth, you’ll notice your shower drains clogging up with hair and your brush filled with more than the usual amount of leftovers. This often adds to the stress of the initial child raising experience but I am here to ensure you there is nothing to be alarmed about. This process is totally normal and can last upwards of 12 months varying on how long you feed for the longer you are feeding, the higher the oestrogen levels, so the less the hair will fall during this period. Once you stop feeding, your hair will revert back to its normal cycle and make up for all the good juice it has been receiving from that extra oestrogen. Again I would like to clarify that this is a normal cycle and nothing to worry about – you are not going bald!

How can I minimise or disguise hair loss?

Now that you’ve relaxed to the facts, let me give you a few ideas that can help you keep your hair under some kind of control during the shedding phase. For those of you with short hair, you may not visually notice the difference but may feel it when touching your hair. For these ladies it’s pretty simple: have your maintenance cut to keep your hair sharp and you’ll be all good.

For the ladies with longer hair (and blocked drains) you may want to do something a little more drastic. Adding layers to mid length or longer hair is a good way to help both blend the shorter pieces that will be growing through while making the hair lighter and fresher. A cut with forward graduation (or forward layering) around the face can also help with the blending and better shaping of the hair. As the hair does start to grow through, you will notice a lot of short hairs around the face and hairline so a fringe (or bangs) is a great way to disguise these little runaways until they are long enough to join the party.

In addition to these couple of hair style tips, it’s always important to keep a good diet and enough nutrients for healthy hair. Extra doses of Omega 3 fish oil, zinc, vitamin A & B are all great for the hair and can help keep your hair growing as it should. There are now some good products on the market for helping hair grow healthier and stronger. Especially for any people with weak or fine hair these products can be quite helpful. My preferred is by a company called Bosley from the US. They have some box starter kits with a shampoo, conditioner and lotion set that are a great intro into the products. I have referred thee products to numerous clients and so far had nothing but great feedback.

Recap: Don’t stress about the hair loss – it is normal and will grow back! Style it up with some layers and or a fringe and just be your usual gorgeous self.

Colouring Your Hair During Pregnancy

Colouring hair during pregnancy is probably one of the biggest debates hairdressers usually have with expecting mothers and again probably the most-asked question I ever get regarding pregnant women and their hair. This is a kind of pet hate topic of mine as I find it intensely frustrating and have done for years as a parent myself. Most of my pregnancy clients inform me that they were advised by their doctors ‘not’ to colour their hair during pregnancy, and to tell you the truth, the fact of the issue is that there are NO proven studies that having your hair coloured while pregnant has any effect on the foetus.

Despite numerous tests over numerous years there has never been a link to any infant issues related to hair dyes. In fact there is compelling evidence now that the minimal levels of chemicals in hair dye are not even close to being significant enough to have any effect. Doctors are not specialists in hair and scalp nor are they qualified trichologists so their recommendations not to colour your hair are purely based on speculation.

Now, of course if you put colour on your scalp and you have an open wound there is a chance you could absorb a minuscule amount of chemical but even this would not be enough to have any effect (also if your stylist is putting colour on an open wound you should go to another salon!). So unless you are consuming large amounts of hair dye you can be confident to have your hair coloured during pregnancy.

Now, that being said, being pregnant can cause your hair to react slightly different to the colour or anything you regularly use on your hair. Due to the changes in hormones, it is possible the colour may not be exactly the same or last as long as usual. These variations are usually slight and not common but can happen. Again this has no effect on your baby.

If you’re really still in doubt, go for highlights, lowlights or that of a similar process. These types of colour processes do not allow the colour to touch the scalp and since the hair is dead it does not pass colour through to the scalp and blood stream so there can be no absorption of chemicals.

Style and rock that new ‘do mama!

The post Tips and Tricks to Combat Post Pregnancy Hair Loss appeared first on Sassy Mama.