Fable & Mane's Founders Share Their Must Haves: From Hair Oil to Hoka Sneakers

Akash challenges himself with puzzles and has been obsessed with solving things since he was a child. He prioritises solving one or two puzzles a day from the Mensa 10-Minute Brain Teasers ($8) as a part of his daily routine. It's a practice he says he learned from the CEO of Dior when he worked there. "This is the CEO of one of the biggest companies in the world, and he's kind of subtly teaching me you should still always do puzzles no matter what; no matter where you are, stimulate that brain, test yourselves," Akash says. Solving puzzles is a way for Akash to train his brain to help him solve problems in the real world, whether it's in everyday life or when you're building a business. "It also disciplines my day into a routine, because I'll start my day with puzzles when I wake up, and I go to sleep with puzzles, too," he explains.

Pro Tip: Akash recommends having a variety of puzzle books. "Some can be brain-teasers, some can be riddles, and some can be mathematical equations, and they all stimulate different types of brain work and have different benefits," he says. He also recommends Puzzle Page if you're looking for an online alternative.

Niki uses the Heritage Store Rosewater & Glycerin Hydrating Facial Mist ($10) every day, head to toe. It makes her skin feel super soft and hydrated, she says. And because she has a drier skin type, she likes to use this hydrating toner as a part of both her morning and nighttime skin-care routine. "The scent is relaxing. I'd say it's like you're breathing in roses, but it's not overpowering," she says. She also sprays it on her body and hair for an extra boost of hydration everywhere. Niki recommends spritzing it on your roots and scalp, especially when they get greasy: "It's my version of dry shampoo, in a way. It's weird, but you just put it on your scalp. It just cools it; it leaves your hair moisturised." She adds, "People probably wouldn't think to put rosewater, especially with glycerin, because that's hydrating, which is amazing for your hair."

Pro Tip: Niki recommends decanting the rosewater out of its original bottle and putting it in a longer-mist spray bottle for a more even, fine application.

After trying out Fitbits, Apple Watches, and other fitness devices on the market, the Oura Ring ($299) impressed Akash the most. For starters, he loves that the ring actually looks stylish and can be worn at all times without looking too sporty. "The battery life is incredible. The interface on the app is phenomenal, and it's got a lot more data than just sleep, of course, but I think it was very important for me to see the data, then to actually make a change," he says. After starting to use the Oura Ring, Akash improved his quality of sleep in just three months. "I've honestly been able to use the data to discipline me into making positive changes, so that means things like sleeping earlier, maybe reducing blue light before I sleep, giving myself more of a window to sleep in more if I'm sleeping in late," Akash says. This wellness device is an editor favourite as well; read our in-depth review of the Oura ring here.

Pro Tip: Akash points out that having too many metrics can get overwhelming, so he suggests prioritising a few that you want to improve first. He also recommends only looking at the app every other day, so you won't be prone to getting too consumed with the data. It should enhance your life, not control it.

The 20-minute full body sculpt from the Melissa Wood Health Membership ($99 annually) is Niki's go-to for at-home workouts. "Your whole body feels like you've had a massage," she says. These workouts are a yoga and Pilates blend, which is great for improving your posture, flexibility, toning, and incorporating mindful movement. Niki discovered the Melissa Wood Health program during the pandemic and says she lost nearly seven kilos practicing every day. "What I like about her is she does it for people who are busy with time. So everything's under 20 minutes or half an hour, and it's using your own body weight," she says. Niki does these workouts whenever she can squeeze them in, even at midnight. The best part is that because it's all online with no required equipment for the most part, you can stay on track with your workouts even while travelling.

Pro Tip: Niki recommends always focusing on form and going at your own pace. "You should really learn the form and go slow before anything, because if you do Pilates with the wrong form, you can mess up your posture," she says. This is also something she recommends for those who are self-disciplined, because you'll need inner motivation to actually spend 20 minutes a day with this program.

"I don't have a day where I don't put Fable & Mane MahaMane Smooth & Shine Hair Oil ($38) in," Akash says. He noted that his hair is on the drier side, so he likes to add a few drops right before he blow dries it in place. "Once I put my hair oil in there, my hair is frizz-free and super shiny the whole day," he says. This post-wash hair oil is best used on towel-dried hair and is a heat protectant. You can also use it to add shine and tame flyaways and frizz. Like most Fable & Mane products, the scent is a huge part of the experience, and this oil is no exception. It's a warm blend of floral and spice with notes of saffron, nutmeg, midnight rose Damascena, Indian jasmine sambac, and a touch of incense. "It kind of calms me down in the morning. I don't need to buy fragrance anymore, because it's just got beautiful fragrance there," he says.

Pro Tip: "A little goes a long way, and that's like the best thing, because when you buy the bottle, you can make it last super long," he says. It's best to use one to two drops of this oil for shorter hair and up to four to five drops if you have long hair. "If you feel you need more, you add in more," Akash advises.

"I think I just love rose," Niki says. And that's why her mornings start off with a cup of Organic India Tulsi Sweet Rose Herbal Tea ($14) along with a spritz of the Heritage Store Rosewater & Glycerin Hydrating Facial Mist. She likes this blend because it contains Tulsi, an adaptogen herb from India that helps to de-stress and calm your mind. "The rose flavour adds that sweetness because tulsi's a little bit bitter, but it's just calming," she says.

Pro Tip: Although Niki

loves using a kettle, if you're in a rush or don't have a kettle, she recommends boiling a pot of water on the stove. "It's the best way and how it should be done in Ayurveda," she explains. She also recommends grating fresh ginger into the tea for a nice kick.

"The thing that helps make my sleep so good is a consistent sound, but I've found white noise machines sometimes [get] quite loud," Akash explains. That's why he opted for the Levoit Core Mini Air Purifier ($50). "It's a bit more of a subtle, nicer white-noise sound," he says. "Because the air is cleaner, I breathe 10 times better, and because the sound is better, I sleep better, which also helps with breathing because you move less, your brain is not stimulating as much from these different sounds," he explains.

Pro Tip: The Levoit Core Mini has an aroma pad where you can add a few drops of essential oils for a relaxing scent that calms your mind.

Niki's nighttime routine involves the practice of hair oiling once or twice a week, and she uses one to two drops of the Fable & Mane HoliRoots Pre-wash Hair Treatment Oil ($36). "The best way to begin your hair oiling is to start on your crown because if you put it right here in the middle, it's going to help calm your whole body because of this marma point, and then you just massage it in," she explains. After massageing, she wraps her hair in a bun or braids it and keeps the hair oil on overnight. "It's a strengthening hair oil treatment; super hydrating as well for your roots, so it leads to hair growth," she says. "My hair feels really silky and soft, and I just love the smell." This hair oil is an editor-favourite as well. Read our review of the Holiroots Pre-wash Hair Treatment Oil here.

Pro Tip: Niki recommends warming up the hair oil for an extra relaxing, sensorial experience. She also suggests using a scalp massager to give yourself a deeper or concentrated massage. Although the Holiroots Pre-wash Hair Treatment Oil is great on its own, you can combine it with other treatments like a hair mask or rosemary oil for a customised treatment.

From CrossFit and Barry's to strength training and running, the Nike Pegasus 39 Men's Road Running Shoes ($78, originally $130) are Akash's go-to pair of sneakers. These sneakers are supportive with underfoot cushioning and deliver a bounce with each step thanks to lightweight, durable foam at the forefoot and the heel. "They're very comfortable from day one, so you don't really need to break it in," he says. As someone who is on the go constantly, he appreciates the sneakers' lightweight feel and how easy they are to travel with.

Pro Tip: "You have to remember, trainers should be worn mainly daily and regularly, so always get comfort first," he says. "Nike can tend to have a mix of comfort and good look as well."

Niki has flat feet, and she's a fan of the supportive Hoka Bondi 8 sneakers ($165). "They give your feet support; it's like walking on clouds," she says. Niki's go-to workouts are usually Pilates and yoga, which she prefers doing barefoot, but that doesn't mean she doesn't appreciate the support of good sneakers for everyday life. "It's got a nice arch, it's not heavy. It's got a nice bounce to it and grip, very easy to walk in. They come in a variety of colours. The laces last, they don't untie themselves. I just love them. I think they're really well-made," she says.

Pro Tip: Although she's not much of a runner, Niki recommends Hokas for those who enjoy a daily jog or for people who are on their feet continuously for long periods of time. She loves to wear them while travelling, too.