On a recent flight out to Las Vegas for a trade show (p. 54), I took a deep dive into Lost J.Crew, one of my favorite Instagram accounts. It shares old pages from the printed catalogs that I poured over during my college/young adult era.

For me, @lostjcrew harkens to a time when I was gleefully underemployed and just wanted another rollneck sweater. I still do. And so does my 23-year-old daughter. She and her Gen Z cohort are wearing looks that resemble what my fellow Gen Xers rocked three decades before.

I have busted out my vintage barn jacket, but my hair isn’t coming along for the ride. It’s telling me the hard truth: that was then, this is now. 

While I may wax poetic, I know the now is better. In life, and in the beauty space.

Your industry caters to more consumers than ever before, including across generations. Maybe hydrogel facemasks for the grammar school set is pushing it too far, but aging Gen Xers dealing with changing skin and hair have more solutions than their parents did (which was zero).

This month’s cover story (p. 34), written by Associate Editor Lianna Albrizio, shares insight into how 1990s grunge and menopausal needs are colliding in the hair care space. Senior Editor Melissa Meisel’s story (p. 28) reveals the active ingredients that are garnering attention on TikTok Shop and among estheticians—places where both millennials and their moms go for skin care.

Speaking of then and now, Gina Cherelus’ recent New York Times interview with Michelle Obama offers a candid glimpse into how the First Lady thought about her hair during her years in the White House. I encourage you to read the interview and Mrs. Obama’s newest book, “The Look”—after you’ve read this issue of Happi, of course.

Have a comment or a question about something you read, saw on our socials or wished we would cover more? Don’t be shy. Send me an email or find me on LinkedIn. Let’s talk.

Christine Esposito
Editor-in-Chief