For Dascha Polanco, Self-Care Is Thanking Her Feet After a Pedicure

The "In the Heights" star shares her favorite things—including the words of affirmation that motivate her.

For Dascha Polanco, Self-Care Is Thanking Her Feet After a Pedicure

Dascha Polanco talks to her feet after getting a pedicure. “I know it sounds crazy,” she says with a laugh. “But it really isn’t.” It keeps her grounded.

In fact, the actor has spent the past year using self-care and affirmations like this to overcome fear, especially in her work. Part of her self-care arsenal also includes aligning with projects that inspire her. She recently partnered with Olay Body as an ambassador, and the world has seen her stand-out performances in Orange Is the New Black, American Crime Story, When They See Us, Russian Doll and, most recently, In the Heights. 

Cuca (Dascha Polanco) is a brand-new character in the film adaptation of the stage musical. Glittery acrylics and waist bags in tow, she shares chisme with the salon squad of Daniela (Daphne Rubin-Vega) and Carla (Stephanie Beatriz). Whether lounging by the pool in a teal floral coverup and pink bikini or dancing with a Dominican Republic flag in a burgundy crop top and leggings, Cuca is always the most stylish person in the room. 

“To be able to draw inspiration from female figures in my family and my community that represented icons and matriarchs—priestesses that uplift and are necessary and essential—I haven’t been able to do that,” she says. “This was the first of that, and it definitely made me feel empowered and validated.”

Polanco says her inspiration for Cuca is her aunt, who is a small-business owner with her own salon. The relationship a customer builds with their nail tech or hairstylist creates a tight-knit community, Polanco says. One that helps raise you and builds your identity. 

“We just say ‘salon ladies,’ but we don’t understand that there’s layers,” Polanco says. “There’s a sense of intimacy when we speak about people doing your hair, when people are in your face, when people are getting body treatments. You’re in a space where you’re very vulnerable. You’re getting waxed, right? That’s very intimate.”

Which brings us back to those post-salon affirmations. In this installment of Your Fave’s Faves, read as Dascha Polanco tells you about all the tools she uses for self-care. 

During those stages in your life when you really get exposed to the idea of caring for yourself, I was taught that skin care is important. That’s something I’m very thankful for. When Olay came out with this new exfoliating and moisturizing body wash, I was like, “What?! This is what I like.” I have sensitive skin, and it’s gentle enough that I can use it every day. It massages away the dead skin cells, so it improves my skin along the way and hydrates it. I was really excited about that, and I like products that use natural ingredients as well.

Olay Body Exfoliating and Moisturizing Body Wash

I write, I speak to myself—affirmations. I should be meditating every day, but I feel like my meditation is in the shower. It's good to see a therapist to speak about things and to embrace the feelings and to be aware. Even with In the Heights, I was really scared to audition. Not being seen or seeing someone like me [on screen] has hindered me along the way. [So it’s important to] take that time to really face yourself in the mirror and say, “I’m worthy. I can do this. It’s okay; push that aside. Be fearless. Stand in your greatness. Don’t not try.”

We’re all on the go and overlook things. We tend to do that. Sometimes we have to take a moment to say, “Look, this is your time. Turn on your little candle. Massage away your negativity, uplift yourself. All that insecurity? Let it go. Wash it away.”

I know it sounds crazy, but it really isn’t. I tell my hair, “I love you. Thank you, hair.” “Thank you, body.” “Thank you, skin. You do so much for me.” We are so quick to say, “Ugh, my skin is so horrible.” If you think about it, we’re always complaining about everything that we’re not happy about, but we really don’t express the positive things about ourselves. I feel great when I’m hydrated. I feel good when my hair’s done. I feel good when I get a little pedicure. “Thank you, feet. You’re so amazing.” It really works for me.

I like bodybuilding, and I like activities. So if I’m going to work out, I have to do high intervals. It’s an hour of high intervals, or cardio, and you do 30 seconds and stop. It works for me and I’m done and over with it. What people don’t understand is that if you remain active, sometimes you don’t even have to work out. I can go for a bike ride. I can go hiking. I can go dancing. I’m dying to go jump on a bike; I’ll go down the Hudson Parkway and ride my bike and sweat.

My cocoa butter, I get at this spot in the Bronx. It’s called House of Natural. I love it. I’m definitely all about supporting women-owned businesses and also local businesses. Some other businesses I support: Grown, Ardelys Beauty, ByLolita Jewelry, Vibras by Emy, CARM.N Small Batch Jewelry, Camille Rose Naturals, Mielle Organics, Le Majestic Roses Decor, and Lacquer Room Nail.

It’s the season, the time of day, how I’m feeling. That’s my guilty pleasure. I really pay attention to the top notes and the base notes. I have a mentor: Ron Winnegrad. He’s the nose of a fragrance house, and he has taught me how to smell. #ISmellGood is just not about fragrance. It’s about me paying attention to all the little details, and it starts from the moment I wake up. When I step into the shower and when I take a bath, that’s the moment where I really enjoy me time.

This story originally appeared on: Glamour - Author:Janae McKenzie