I had about 20 minutes to get ready for a holiday party with Will, so this was a true quick GRWM: hair, makeup, skincare, and the outfit—all in one go. I started with what I was working with: a braidout I’d been letting “marinate” in braids for about two days under scarves and bonnets. A couple of my perm rods literally broke because they’re so old (the rubber was disintegrating), but I still had some cute perm rod curls left on the ends. Before makeup, I did a simple skincare prep with my long-time fave toner to wake my skin up, then went in with a hydrating, glowy product I love at night (no SPF) that honestly gives me that “my skin looks good with no foundation” vibe. For makeup, I kept it warm-toned and pretty classic for me—golds, bronzy chestnuts, and a lot of blending because it definitely looked intense mid-way (trust the process). My brows were cousins, not twins, but we pushed through. Then it was braidout time: I took out the perm rods, unbraided carefully to avoid frizz, and shook out each section before lightly separating. The product in my hair was so emollient and moisturizing that I didn’t even need to add oil. I also showed how the braidout evolved over the night—more volume, more lived-in, and way less “braid parts” showing—then finished with my Express outfit (polka dot skirt, velvet mock neck, and my go-to black trench).