Her look draws reactions ranging from “wow” to “amazing” to simple curiosity as people respond to the unexpected use of real plants as hair decoration. It is eye-catching not because it is artificial or elaborate, but because it is entirely natural.
What makes this nature-inspired fashion stand out is its simplicity and originality. Plants usually found in gardens (HOME GROWN BAY LEAVES) or kitchens become part of personal expression and identity. In Ms. Nava’s case, they become a living style statement, something not copied or manufactured but created from her own connection with nature.
Instead of conventional hair accessories, fresh botanical elements are used directly in Ms. Nava’s styling. Leaves, herbs, and flowers from her Zen Garden appear naturally in her hair. Curry leaves, calamansi lime leaves, kaffir lime leaves, moringa leaves, sweet leaves, and others are used in her styling.
Seasonal blooms such as
Rangoon Creeper, Ylang Ylang, and Kesidang are also part of her nature based
looks.
Each styling moment depends
entirely on what is available at that time. Nothing is permanently fixed or pre
designed. Sometimes it is a bunch of herbs like basil leaves or mango leaves,
other times ivy gourds or even long strands of Indian pennywort (BANANA LEAF USES IN COOKING).
Ms. Nava also uses different captions on her social media reels such as Botanical Beauty, Forest Magnet, Mother Earth Style, and Gaga Style.
Initially, there were unwanted and difficult-to-accept comments, mainly on TikTok where Ms. Nava’s social media presence is strongest. Some comments were harsh and emotionally difficult, but over time, the responses began to shift in a more positive direction. There is still a segment of people who mock her, but it no longer affects her in the same way. She is also aware of cyberbullying through her experiences and speaks about it from a personal perspective.
Now, many followers are
intrigued and actively engage by guessing the names of the plants used in her
styling. Some even look forward to seeing what plant will appear next. There
are also light-hearted suggestions, with people joking that she should try durian
or mango in her hair.
Ms. Nava is currently working on building a stronger presence on Instagram and Facebook, positioning herself as the “plant lady,” known for using plants as natural hair decorations and accessories.
Before this visual expression appeared online, Ms. Nava had already spent more than two decades living closely with plants. Gardening was never treated as a separate activity or interest. It was part of daily living, something that naturally existed alongside everything else (NATURAL GREEN JELLY RECIPE).
The lady who goes to great
length maintaining her Zen Garden, and does not realise how the hours can pass
by doing gardening. In fact, her Zen draws aplenty claps within the same area
where it is located.
Her eco living practices also
include rainwater harvesting, with rainwater collected in a large barrel for
practical use.
Even during her earlier
professional years as a lecturer, she was known for her distinctive floral hair
accessories made with ribbons and cloths. These small details became part of
her identity in the academic field, where her presence was remembered visually
as much as professionally.
That sense of expression was always present. Over time, it simply shifted from decorative styling into something more natural and grounded in her environment.
At first, Ms. Nava’s hair styling on social media reels began with artificial flowers. Gradually, these were replaced with real flowers taken from her own garden. Eventually, even flowers were replaced with leaves and herbs picked directly from living plants. It was not something planned, but developed slowly through daily interaction with gardening and nature.
Over time, styling and gardening began to
overlap, and the boundary between the two became less defined.
Nature
& Eco Fashion Styles
Sustainable lifestyle practices are increasingly being adopted
across different creative fields, from fashion designers using recycled
materials to interior designers working with eco-conscious concepts. In this
broader context, Ms. Nava’s approach reflects a personal interpretation of
nature-based fashion, where plants become part of styling rather than something
separate from it.
Ms. Nava’s journey is not about creating a trend, but about expressing a way of living that has always been close to nature. It continues to attract attention online as a form of nature hairstyle and botanical hair accessories shaped by her personal connection with plants.
Her approach stands out for
its simplicity, using real leaves, herbs, and flowers as natural hair
accessories directly from her own garden. It reflects a form of eco fashion
that is unplanned, evolving, and rooted in everyday life.
Whether seen as plant hair accessories or a
personal style statement, it remains consistent in one way: a quiet connection
between nature and self-expression. As interest grows around sustainable
fashion and nature-inspired fashion, her work naturally finds its place in that
wider conversation.
