Meggie Dials is one of those women whose name constantly pops up as an individual making an impact in her community. Her work life is spent in sales at a major Indianapolis-based tech company. Outside the 9-to-5 she’s running The Sussy Project, which gives small gifts to nominated individuals who deserve a little something special, volunteering for local events and organizations, blogging, and training for marathons. On top of all that, she still had a little time to answer a few questions about her life and style.
Where do you live and play? I live downtown Indianapolis in the Herron Morton neighborhood with my husband and two dogs (Dexter and Harper). I play downtown – I love Fountain Square and Mass Ave.
What do you do? I spend my days as a Strategic Channel Sales Manager for ExactTarget, a Salesforce.com Company. I moonlight as the founder and president of The Sussy Project and volunteer on various social media committees (Noble of Indiana, DigIN, Zoobliation, Herron Morton Oktoberfest). I blog at seemeggierun.com. I run marathons and do crossfit.
How would you describe your style when it comes to hair? In a word, “varied.” I love being able to change up my look day to day. Some days I wear it straight, others wavy. Sometimes it’s parted down the middle, other times on the side. I wear it up every time I exercise so tend not to when I am not sweating. But I am a sucker for a top knot. I have very thick hair so when 1980s calls and wants it’s hair back, I am ready.
What’s your typical hair routine like? My goal is to go 2 full days between shampoos to give my strands a break, but given my exercise routine, that’s not always possible. I am a full believer in “no shower Sunday” so love experimenting with different styles that day! I try to minimize the blow drying by washing my hair on the weekends and at night when I can let it air-dry. I use a leave-in conditioner a few nights a week. When I do blow dry, I finger comb my hair until it’s almost dry and then use a round brush to smooth the layers. I like big hair and I cannot lie so I use a curling iron to curl my hair, let it set and then use a light hairspray to give it a boost!
What products can you not live without? My stylist has convinced me on using shampoos and conditioners that don’t have sulfates so I am obsessed with anything from Benniefactor. Their “Excellent” Hair Oil is a must for glossing the strands – it makes my hair so smooth and shiny.
Tell us about your stylist & salon. How did you find them? I had some damage issues and thought a Keratin treatment would help. My former stylist didn’t do them so I asked a friend who she goes to. She referred me to Phil Salmon. Phil is right off Mass Ave in an adorable blue house and studio. Instead of highlighting my hair, he dyes it blonde which is better for my hair. My favorite thing about Phil is the first time he met me, he asked what my dream hair was. We are working towards that with every appointment! He “dusts” the ends vs cutting to keep the length but has transformed my hair with product and style recommendations. And he can do a mean updo! He made me look like someone right off the red carpet for a gala this spring!
Do you like to experiment and try new styles, or do you have a beloved mainstay? My goal is to grow my hair longer so we aren’t doing any major style changes right now.
What’s the one thing you’ve always wanted to try with your hair but been too scared to attempt? A perm. Just kidding – been there done that in elementary school and it wasn’t a good phase. I have often wanted to cut my hair in a pixie style. But then I saw Miley Cyrus on the VMAs and changed my mind.
Any hair horror stories? (We all have one…) Oh yes! When I was in high school, I tried to get lowlights along with my regular highlights. The “stylist” dyed my hair a darker brown and then highlighted it. The combination of the dye and the bleach turned my hair an olive green. My boyfriend at the time came over and lovingly brushed my army-green-colored locks while I cried. He said to me “Remember the story of the ugly duckling? It thought it was really ugly and it was actually beautiful.” I choked back tears as I corrected him that the ugly duckling was in actuality, ugly.
Who is your hair idol? Blake Lively. I want everything about her hair.
How would you describe your overall style? Girly. I love dresses and skirts. I love jewelry and high heels. I love pops of color. I am also very purposeful – rarely will you ever see me in something I just “threw on” for comfort. My clothes represent me and I want to look put-together wherever I go. You never know when the paparazzi are watching!
Where do you find style inspiration? Mostly from other women. I check out women more than I do men and love when I see a style walking down the street that I know I can replicate. I also love Pinterest and search fashion for both men and women often.
You’re an avid runner, which you discuss on your blog See Meggie Run. Do you have any favorite workout attire? Are there any items or accessories you can’t live without when working out? The Lululemon obsession for athletes exists for a reason. Not only are their clothes so comfortable, they are cute and practical. There are pockets where runners need them but also have ruffles, lace, color to make you feel cute while sweating. I could spend my paycheck there easily. I also am obsessed with TwistBands. I first discovered them in my Birchbox and now can’t live without both the hair tie and the headbands. They keep the sweaty hair from my face but don’t break my hair the way regular hair ties, too – keeping me damage free!
We noticed you’re frequently sporting some great dresses (like this stunning white gown for a charity event) in pictures throughout your blog. What draws you in to a dress? Any particular spots you love to shop for one? I love bold and when shopping for an occasion dress, I want to stand out. Whereas I hate drama in my relationships, I want lots and lots of drama in a dress. I have found BCBG can put out some incredibly bold dresses. I also have Rented the Runway often and my only regret is that I don’t get to keep their amazing dresses!
We’re getting to ready to transition into fall. Are there any trends or seasonal staples you’re looking forward to wearing? I love dresses and boots. I probably have 6 pairs of brown boots that look very different to me and exactly the same to my husband. I like patterned tights. And for a professional look, I love a blousy blouse tucked into a tight pencil skirt with a pair of smart heels. It’s what gets me through the cold months.
The person whose hair I’d love to have for a week would be… Jessica Chastain.
The person whose closet I’d love to raid is… Taylor Swift’s Red Carpet closet.
I spend way too much money at… RueLaLa.com. It’s a problem.
My purse is never complete without… multiple lipglosses and hand lotion.
My secret beauty weapon is... Benefit “They’re Real” Mascara.
My celebrity crush is… Ryan Reynolds. His dad has Parkinson’s, too, and he ran the NYC Marathon for Team Fox!
My favorite place in the world is… London.
The best advice I’ve received is… nothing is ever as good as it seems and nothing is ever as bad as it seems.
I dream of… puppies, kids, travel, Ellen DeGeneres featuring The Sussy Project on her show, Christmas trees, being in a Broadway Musical, having ridiculously long hair.
Thanks for sharing your Mane Details with us, Meggie!
