Celebrating Mother's Day
This year, Paloma salon is celebrating Mother’s Day with our nearest and dearest. We spoke to friends and family of the salon about what Motherhood means to them, their life-saving beauty tips and of course, love.
First up, we spoke to incredible Artist, Lover & Mother of 2, Leah Fraser on self-care, career advice, and what she would want to have if she was stuck on a tropical island.
LEAH Fraser
What is your fondest memory shared between you and your mother?
Sleeping in the crook of her arm in bed when I was a little one, and the time we have shared growing up my girls....
Self-care is so important, even when you have little ones that rely on you. How do you approach self-care and what practices do you find rewarding, or that help you re-center?
I am trying to get better at making time for myself in all the craziness, but I always make time for Pilates and yoga and I walk EVERYWHERE, it makes me feel so good and clears my mind. I also meditate every morning as I find it helps me approach the day with clarity.
You have an incredibly beautiful home. Do you have any tips for creating a beautiful home that is also child-friendly?
I am very much a believer that things that we live with are made to be used. They need to be beautiful, and have care taken wherever possible but not being to precious is ok because I like things to have character and tell a story.
What is the best career advice you have ever been given?
Always make the time for your practice and work hard but within that be free and open to the creative flow
What type of mother do you aspire to be?
One that my girls can look up to and feel proud of, and who they trust.
If you were stuck on a shipwreck near a tropical island and you could have 3 things with you big or small what would they be?
A never-ending supply of paper and pencils, a digital radio with a solar charger, and a very large hat
What is the beauty hack that really saves you when you feel exhausted? Be it dry shampoo or a face mist, what’s your go-to?
I am a big believer that jumping in the ocean cures EVERYTHING, but aside from that if I need a little freshen up I use ere Perez herbal face tonic and MV rose plus face oil (the scent is so beautiful and uplifting), I find scent in general very important in shifting energy and love a candle or some incense.
You’ve been coming to Paloma Salon for so many years now, what are the hair products you can’t go without?
Oribe Super Shine Moisturising Cream and the Bright Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner. I am obsessed!
ROSEMARY PANTLING
Rosemary Pantling is a Fashion & Lifestyle Stylist & Creative Consultant, residing in Sydney with her same-sex partner, Honor and their 9-month-old babe, Lola. We picked her brains on wellbeing, values and the best motherhood advice she’s ever been given!
What about your relationship with your mother – what values has she always instilled in you?
Treat others as you would like to be treated, Be your own person, Demonstrate loyalty & kindness, honesty is the best policy.
What lessons did your mothers pass down to you on style and presentation?
Mum has always been a firm believer in “quality not quantity” and this is very much ingrained in me today.
How do you approach your own wellbeing?
Since having Lola I haven’t been so great at this but it’s a work in progress! A healthy diet, lots of water, walks by the ocean, Meditation, yoga, oesteopathy & cooking are my go tos.
How have you navigated your career and parenthood? What has been the most challenging part?
I’ve been fortunate to have a flexible work schedule being a freelancer allowing me to spend most days with Lola.
The most challenging part is being on set for a long shoot day. I miss her too much!
What is the best motherhood advice you have ever been given?
Trust your instincts!
What have you learned about love that lasts a lifetime?
It’s an unconditional magical feeling of forever that only blossoms and strengthens daily.
What is the beauty hack that really saves you when you feel exhausted? Be it dry shampoo or a face mist, what’s your go-to?
Hydrating face mask! I do the overnight one by Kora & by morning I’m feeling faaresh.
You’ve been coming to Paloma Salon for so many years now, what are the hair products you can’t go without?
Love a good hair oil. Oribe & Kevin Murphy are my favs.
TAMSIN JOHNSON
Tamsin Johnson is a celebrated interior designer, and also Mother to 2, Arthur (4) and Bunny (3). Her work manifests a certain devil-may-care energy, all the while underpinned by a rigorous planning of proportion, form, colour and texture.
What do you remember about the early days of motherhood?
Newborn bliss at home. Fuzzy mornings of tea and toast when days roll into one, an evening red wine with my best mate and her newborn whingeing about sleep deprivation, my husband cooking dinner and endless cuddles.
How do you approach your own wellbeing?
Early nights, staying active and surrounding myself with family and friends who inspire me.
You have an incredibly beautiful home. Do you have any tips for creating a beautiful home that is also child-friendly?
Teaching your kids how to live with beautiful things from a young age. We always had coffee tables full of books and vases and the kids have always ignored them. Anything out of reach becomes the forbidden fruit so I think live how you wish to go on. And plenty of storage for the toys to call home.
What’s the 1 beauty tip that your mother taught you?
Drinks lots of water, get lots of sleep and laugh often.
What is the best career advice you have ever been given?
Never limit yourself to what you already know.
Biggest life saver?
Mum!
What is the beauty hack that really saves you when you feel exhausted? Be it dry shampoo or a face mist, what’s your go-to?Omoriviza ‘Queen of Hungary’ face mist
You’ve been coming to Paloma Salon for years now, what are the hair products you can’t go without?
Oribe Dry Texturising Spray! And Glow by The Beauty Chef!
PALOMA ROSE GARCIA
As Mother’s Day rolls around we can’t help but also look to Founder and Director of PALOMA Salon, Paloma Garcia herself. Mother of 2, Teddy (12) and Charlie (7) Paloma really juggles it all! A high-fashion stylist and educator with 18 years of experience under her belt, Paloma has an enviable list of clients, ranging from celebrities to leading fashion titles.
First up, tell us about your relationship with your mother – what values has she always instilled in you?
To do things with integrity!
What rituals (small or big) do you practice and how do they help you?
Meditation and self-care are major for me! I do 20 minutes of Vedic Meditation each morning and night to keep my nervous system in check. Meditation assists me in living a calm life….well, most of the time.
How would you describe your personal style? Has it changed at all since becoming a mother?
Yes of course. I greatly value a more casual style these days. Hair is always wash n wear, make-up is kept a minimum, comfortable shoes and easy to wear clothing!
Being a business owner is a 24/7 job! How do you juggle this with also being a mother, which is also 24/7?
Well, I try my best but it’s definitely isn’t always in balance. My work/parenting schedule is black and white. When I’m in the salon I am 100% focused, and when I’m with my children I am a mother. All though things do come up and I try my best to deal with either parenting or business challenges with a solutions-focused attitude and always engaging with professional help for either when I struggle to deal with certain situations myself. Being present is something I’m always reminding myself to do.
What approach do you take to parenting?
As their teacher. Assisting them in dealing with certain situations and learning from mistakes. We are their teachers always.
What is the beauty hack that really saves you when you feel exhausted?
Moister-based facial masks, my go to is by Rationale. Applied for 10 mins, it deeply hydrates and gives you a glow.
You obviously work with hair day in, day out, what are the hair products you cannot live without?
Oribe Gold Luster Shampoo + Conditioner to really keep the condition of my hair intact. Kerastase overnight serum for an intense moister hit and to assist with getting the perfect air-dry hair!
ELEANOR PENDLETON
Eleanor Pendleton is a multi-award-winning beauty and health journalist. Eleanor has been published in a range of publications including InStyle Australia, Harper's BAZAAR Australia, and The Sydney Morning Herald just to name a few. In December 2014, Eleanor launched Gritty Pretty Magazine – Australia's first shoppable, interactive digital publication dedicated to beauty. With over 1 million views since their launch, Gritty Pretty is revolutionizing the online beauty arena. Now Eleanor has also taken on the role of Banjo’s (1) Mother.
What’s the 1 beauty tip that your mother taught you?
My mother taught me how important it is to embrace my natural beauty and my Pilipino heritage. Growing up as a mixed-race girl I experienced times where I felt different and I look back now and realise that it was this wanting to fit in, but now I am so incredibly proud of my heritage and my features that make me unique; My skin colour and my freckles, the shape of my eyes. I’ve really come to embrace who I am, and I can only ever wish that for every woman.
Self-care is so important, even when you have little ones that rely on you. How do you approach self-care and what practises do you find rewarding, or that help you re-centre?
What I have come to realise now as a mother is that self-care is not selfish. Creating moments for myself and really relishing in the rare alone time that I get is something that makes me a better mother, wife, daughter and sister. I am not able to create as much alone time as I used to but it’s about enjoying the little moments, whether it be my evening skincare routine and sitting in bed with a jade roller and a face oil and giving myself a little facial before I go to sleep or waking up half an hr before the rest of the house so I can have my coffee before anyone else. If I can make time to move my body as well and do pilates or yoga I find that I am happier and healthier all-round because of it.
How would you describe your personal style? Has it changed at all since becoming a mother?
I think my personal style is evolving in that I’m feeling more confident to wear colour and print. Throughout my 20’s I naturally gravitated towards lots of monochromatic looks – lots of black, white and denim, and whilst they are a core part of my wardrobe I’ve also really embraced colour a lot! I feel it best represents the mood that I’m in and I’m confident and happy wearing pieces that really evoke my personality.
Being a business owner is a 24/7 job! How do you juggle this with also being a mother, which is also 24/7?
Hahaha… The fact that I’m answering these questions via voice memo while watching my son is proof of that! I think what I’ve come to realise is you can have it all, but you can’t have it all at once! I think this sets some realistic expectations for ourselves and for other working mothers. I certainly experienced a huge shift in my identity after the birth of my son and what I came to realise is that my work and my business are a huge part of my self-identity and it’s what really makes me feel like me. Now that my son is 15 months old I’ve found a bit of a routine in that I work around 3 and a half days a week and my son goes to a family daycare on those days. And then on those other days, I find I am really able to be present with him and enjoy that time with him. I think it’s really about what works for you and also leaning on the support of others – whether you are fortunate enough to have family and friends to support you or whether that support looks like family day, a larger daycare centre or a nanny. Whatever that looks like, do what works for you and your family.
What do you remember about the early days of motherhood?
In some ways it a blur! But I also remember really relishing the 2 am and the 3 am breastfeeds. I remember holding my son and really thinking to myself “just savour all of this!” and I would just study his face in the night and really tried to soak up every moment. I experienced a miscarriage before I had my son which really shifted my perspective on the newborn phase. I knew that it was going to be very much fleeting and the nights would feel long, and the years would feel short, so as body-shatteringly exhausting as I was, it was also joyful and my husband and I just spent the first few weeks in this beautiful bubble at home. Then COVID happened and we stayed in the bubble for a few more months and it was a really beautiful but also difficult time.
Sadly, 1 in 4 pregnancies ends in miscarriage, a taboo that is not talked about enough. How can we break down these barriers and what can we do to support our birthing people, be it friends or partners when they experience a miscarriage?
Sadly, miscarriage and pregnancy loss are all too common. When I lost my first baby I was completely and utterly devastated. It was the most traumatic experience in my life! What got me through that experience was the support of my family and friends. My husband and I made the decision to tell our family and very close friends that we were pregnant early on and had it not been for that decision I think it would have made our loss feel a lot lonelier. I think what helped me grieve the baby that we had lost, was making space for that life and making space for the family that we thought we were going to have and the memories we thought we were going to make and leaning into the feelings I was experiencing as they arose.
I think grief is a lot like rolling waves and they come, and they can just crush you in a moment and then the water can be calm for a moment before it becomes rough and choppy again. But what I found was not to suppress any of my emotions and rather just feel what I had to feel. I went through all the stages of grief – sadness, anger, denial, and then a slow acceptance and it was a really difficult time. Because the statics do say it’s 1 in 4 or sometimes even 1 in 3 pregnancies end in miscarriage, if a woman hasn’t experienced one herself then it’s highly likely she knows someone who has. It’s important is to really consider the best way to support that person and particularly the language that is used. Saying to someone “at least you can fall pregnant” is not going to console that woman when she has lost a baby. What will provide support and comfort is just to say, “I am so sorry for your loss”.
Beyond that, some practical ways to support women or couples who have experienced miscarriage is checking in on them, sending a meal so they don’t have to think about cooking and perhaps making a note of what their due date was so that you can check in with them around that time as it may be a triggering time for them.
You’ve been coming to Paloma Salon for a few years now, what are the hair products you can’t go without?
I am relatively minimal when it comes to my hair. I always set my waves with Oribe’s Apres Beach Spray or the Dry Texturizing spray!
What is the beauty hack that really saves you when you feel exhausted? Be it dry shampoo or a face mist, what’s your go-to?
My beauty hack when I’m exhausted is to put on a sleep face mask! A beautiful, nourishing, deeply hydrating face treatment that I can put on my skin and sleep in, so I wake up with a lot healthier looking skin!!