Why This Founder Turned Her Haircare and Morning Routines Into Self-Care Rituals

What's the first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning? A well-rounded morning routine sets the tone for the day and gets you prepped—both mentally and physically—before diving into a packed schedule filled with emails, chores, happy hours, workouts, and more. Our series Morning Person profiles those who have mastered the art of the morning routine.

Tune in every Monday morning here and on our Instagram to learn exactly how the pros get it all done before the sun comes up, from their go-to breakfasts to their a.m. workouts.

If, in more ways that one, this entire year has felt like a giant, metaphorical rug being pulled out from under you, then you are not alone—far from it. We know just how easily routines, especially ones that involve taking time out for yourself, can fall by the wayside. And in these uncertain times, everyone is just trying to reclaim a bit of normalcy.

For Dianna Cohen, founder of the cool haircare startup Crown Affair, finding solace in small everyday routines, like brushing her hair, can be just as important as tackling the bigger things. In fact, Crown Affair was born from the principle that your daily haircare should be treated as a ritual.

Keep scrolling to see what other rituals Cohen incorporates into a typical morning.

8 A.M.

Now more than ever, it's my consistent rituals that make me feel whole. How I start and end my day sets the tone for everything in between. I'm a big believer in taking your time and being mindful in our often reactive world.

On weekdays, I wake up around 8 a.m. and start the day with a cup of cold brew and The Five Minute Journal. It keeps me accountable with my gratitude practice.

8:15 A.M.

I foam-roll and stretch with my Bala weights while listening to a podcast. I'll listen to a new Armchair Expert, The Daily, On Being, or The Happiness Lab while I move my body. I find that stretching is the one thing I have to do every single day. I don't feel like myself without it!

9 A.M.

Time for my skincare and haircare rituals. I keep it simple and take a no-makeup-makeup approach with my skin and hair. I’ll cleanse, layer on Drunk Elephant moisturizer, Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer, Benefit Dandelion blush, a quick eye with my tried-and-true Maybelline liquid eyeliner, Saie mascara, a little RMS Living Luminizer.

I usually brush my hair with our dual-bristle brush and do a loose braid for morning meetings—always tying it off with a soft, silk scrunchie to prevent breakage. I keep my morning care simple, but my evening hair and skincare rituals are sacred. The time you take to prepare before bed has an impact on how I wake up in the morning.

9:30 A.M.

After getting ready for the day, I’ll hang out and make breakfast with my fiancé. Every morning, we make an egg breakfast while dancing around to Bill Withers. One of the silver linings of us working from home is that we have so much more time together. I never thought we'd be able to share so many workday meals and moments.

9:55 A.M.

A few minutes before our daily team call, I’ll throw on my WFH uniform, which is often a long-sleeve knit shirt and separates from Outdoor Voices and Apiece Apart.

I'm here for easy, cozy basics that feel as good as they look. I’ll prep my desk and work station for the day. I love a clean space with our product nearby to make it feel like our office.

10 A.M.

Kick off our daily team call to run through our individual to-dos today and larger projects for the week. I love having a mood board in my space while we’re remote to show visually the direction of upcoming products and campaigns.

Up next: How the Founder of Pacifica Beauty Starts Her WFH Mornings