Are you ready for it?
On the final shed and getting ready to gallop.
Hi there! Welcome back to Take Your Time — a space where I share pieces of my world in the hope that they spark growth, reflection, and connection for all of us.
Today’s letter is a reflection on the year so far, 46 days into this journey.
We tend to spend the end of the year (and the first few weeks of January) really locking into all that we aim to become. So, I find it’s essential to check in with ourselves right around… now!
Let’s call this the midway point of Q1. You know it well — if you’re somewhere cold, winter starts to feel like it’s going on a little too long. It’s that time of year when you catch yourself thinking, holy bananas, where did January go? How is it almost March?
It’s around now that I try to pace myself and think of time as a ramp-up to the rest of the year ahead. Try not to be too hard on yourself. Treat this season like the Monday of the months.
As time goes on, I’ve realized that giving myself grace on a Monday (oh hi, it’s Monday — and technically a holiday) is actually the key to not burning out.
Sustainable growth. Longevity. Those are the north stars. You won’t get there by grinding yourself to a pulp on a Monday — or, in this metaphorical case, a January.
But perhaps, even in the consistent work, you find yourself, mid-February, feeling a little… off.
I’m going to be honest with you — and I haven’t shared this anywhere else yet — but I was feeling all caps OFF since mid-December.
The only way I can describe it is that I’m doing the thing, and I have enough muscle memory to perform it well… but I don’t fully feel embodied in it.
Part of it is that I’ve had a mix of on-and-off sickness since December 13th (but who’s counting), and you know, the state of the world.
And I think the other part — the main part — is that I’m finally coming to terms with the fact that I might simply have too many inbounds and notifications, many of which are no longer serving me energetically!
I know — it’s truly a blessing to be busy and to have a full life. But what I’m realizing is that I need to shed, turn off, and pass on things I would have historically said yes to.
Saying ‘no’ is easier said than done for many of us.
I’m a natural people pleaser. I genuinely LOVE spending time deeply connecting with and meeting people. And I’m also someone who needs time alone — to create, to recharge, to disappear into the little universe of my brain.
So here I am, silly me, living my life by the Gregorian calendar, wondering why I’m feeling The Great Shed coming on… only to realize we’re literally in the shed according to the Lunar calendar.
Tomorrow — tomorrow! — marks our departure from the Year of the Wood Snake and our entrance into the Year of the Horse.
According to the internet, many people experience Snake years as:
Emotionally intense, but clarifying
Marked by therapy, inner work, somatic healing, or spiritual recalibration (hello, Brainspotting)
A time when old motivators — fear, scarcity, proving — stop working
This tracks. So, maybe this is your sign: the rewire of the last year may be complete.
And now? It’s time to gallop.
This shift from Snake to Horse is apparently one of the most powerful transitions in the zodiac. If the Snake was the nervous system reset, the Horse is the release of stored energy. It’s momentum. Embodiment. Freedom.
As the great lyricist Taylor Swift once asked (of course, in her snake-clad Reputation Eras outfit…she’s really good at dropping an Easter Egg)…
…are you ready for it?
I’m low-key hoping I wake up tomorrow with a new superpower: the ability to say no with clarity and ruthlessly prioritize my time.
But I know that’s not how it works. Shedding doesn’t happen overnight — it happens layer by layer.
Still, this lunar shift feels like permission. Permission to gallop. To release what’s no longer serving us — whether that’s stuff in our closets, relationships that have run their course, outdated commitments, or simply the weight of expectations we no longer need to carry.
The horse doesn’t run well burdened. And neither do we.
And in the meantime, I’ve had a lot of new projects going on (more soon!!) so been a little quieter on this newsletter (outside of our Artist’s Way group chat — I’m so proud of all of you who are sticking with it) — I wanted to reflect and recap you on the year to date...
I. We launched a new formula (!!)
Our team did it again. This is our first-ever cream formula — clinical, lightweight, and seriously effective. My hair has never felt more dialed, whether I’m air-drying or heat styling.
We went through nearly twenty iterations to get it just right: weightless but deeply hydrating. It defines your natural texture, adds soft, touchable hold, and delivers on what so many of you have been asking for. Powered by yuzu extract, coconut extracts, and squalane, it strengthens hair up to 3x within 24 hours while leaving it smooth, healthy, and beautifully defined.
I layer it after The Leave-In Conditioner and… voilà. Effortless air-dried hair with real definition. It also protects up to 450°, so whether you diffuse or add a few waves (my “Air Dry Plus+” trick), it plays beautifully with heat.
For those wondering how it differs from the Texturizing Air Dry Mousse, here’s the quick breakdown:
Mousse = volume. Airy lift, like a clean surf spray without the dryness or crunch.
Cream = definition + hydration. Soft shape, polish, and moisture without weight.
II. I went to Marfa, Texas, and it delivered on the dream art trip.
One of my favorite things to do is travel for art. If Marfa has been sitting on your list, consider this your sign. It’s perfect for a long weekend. Spending time in Donald Judd’s library alone was worth the trip — let alone the light, the space, and all the other quietly extraordinary corners of that tiny desert town. More to come in a ‘traveling for art’ Substack soon!
III. I spoke at Harvard Business School. What, like it’s hard?
I had the honor of speaking at the 35th Annual Women in Business Conference at Harvard Business School. Sharing the stage with clean beauty visionary and pioneer Sasha Plavsic, founder of ILIA Beauty, among other amazing founders, was a gift. As someone who grew up on the Elle Woods Way of Life (and knows every single line to Legally Blonde), it was a dream to remind the girlies at Harvard that:
The rules of haircare are simple and finite!
Being fabulous, being smart, and doing meaningful work are not mutually exclusive!
Our conversation centered on what it means to build something timeless — products and principles that don’t bend to trends. We talked about how a timeless brand is shaped by the people you choose to build it with. My now‑CEO was my first hire, and growing alongside each other — personally and professionally — has defined the soul of this company. We talked about trust, too, and how real trust only exists when you’re willing to release your grip.
And above all, we talked about knowing exactly who you’re creating for. Holding your point of view with clarity. Keeping the blinders up. No one else can be you — and that is your greatest advantage.
Also, I never thought I’d wear tie‑dye to speak at Harvard, but here we are. Speaking of what I wore, here’s the lineup, or a close version of it. I think it’s a good sign that you’re buying timeless pieces you love and wear for years if not everything is linkable! My tie-dye sweater was a Valentino find on The RealReal.
IV. We kicked off our first collaboration of the year.
…with Anastasio Home! Crown Affair has always been about more than just haircare — it’s about elevating the entire ritual. Putting beautiful, functional objects into the world that make your everyday feel considered.
I’ve been dreaming about a proper brush holder for years. Not an afterthought — a forever piece. And for so many reasons (full lore lives on TikTok), Gabi and her team at Anastasio were the perfect partners. They understand craftsmanship, weight, proportion — how an object can feel both sculptural and useful.
…And just like that, we have another epic collaboration launching tomorrow!!
I hope you find some time and space in these next 24 hours to reflect on what you need to shed — and know that I’m here to support you on this journey. It’s not easy releasing, letting go, saying no, but I know that what’s ahead for us is so much greater, and for that, we make space.
Take care, and take your time, always,
Dianna
And Now… Three Things I Love and A Haircare Tip
ELM Biosciences A30 Elemental Night Cream— We all know I love an overnight repair moment. I started using the A30 Elemental Night Cream before bed and have been blown away by how renewed my skin feels in the morning. It’s formulated with a modern, targeted retinoid and ELM’s proprietary A3O™ Complex to smooth fine lines, refine texture, and support firmness—without the harshness typically associated with retinoids. I’m always drawn to formulations that feel luxurious but ultimately save me time. When my barrier is supported and my skin is hydrated, my makeup sits better and I need less prep. Martha Stewart and her dermatologist, Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali, have put their touch on these formulas, and it’s impressive to see this level of technology made accessible. I like testing one formula at a time so I know exactly what’s working—and the Night Cream is an all caps KEEPER. I’ll keep you posted on the Inner Dose Daily Supplement and serum as I go.
Picnic — I don’t know about you, but even with the highest storage plan, I’m always running out of space. This app makes digital clean-up shockingly easy—and kind of fun. You swipe left or right through your own camera roll, deciding what stays and what goes. It turns decluttering into a little trip down memory lane, and my phone storage is thriving because of it. Also… I don’t even have kids yet. Digital hygiene is the future. If you want to try it, my code 8WMR9 gets you 1,000 swipes.
Dr. Stolberg’s Rest + Digest Tea — Habit stacking is my love language, especially when it comes to rituals that actually shift how you feel. This tea has become that tiny-but-mighty anchor post dinner — the thing I pair with an existing cue so my body knows, oh, we’re winding down now.
A Haircare Tip: Stronger Strands for a New Cycle
Speaking of shedding — it’s normal to shed.
Shedding is part of a healthy hair cycle — strands naturally move through growth, rest, and release. What matters isn’t stopping shedding altogether, but supporting the scalp so new growth emerges stronger.
Ceramides help fortify that process. They reinforce the hair cuticle the way they strengthen the skin barrier: sealing in moisture, reducing breakage, and giving each strand a smoother, more resilient surface. In the spirit of the Year of the Horse — all power, shine, and stamina — think of ceramides as the quiet structural support that lets your hair show up at its strongest.
Love this! Here for the Horse year being about clean yeses, protected time and building in a way that actually has longevity. Here's to galloping!
I've been hearing more and more about this tea!! What habit to do you pair it with?