Download Now: 5 New Wallpapers for Abstract Art Lovers

Your laptop background is in dire need of a makeover. Even though the image of Yosemite that came with the latest Apple update is pretty boss, it’s the same as everyone else’s and… it’s time to change things up. And that pixelated photo of your parent’s pup on your smartphone? Yeah, that’s gotta go too.

Lucky for you, our featured maker of the week My Friend Court has not one, not two, but FIVE pretty and painterly options for you to choose from. Scroll on to download your favorite one!

DESKTOP WALLPAPERS

Getting lost in a sea of brush strokes is totally acceptable in the summertime.

>> Download Abstract Wallpaper

>> Download ARTY Hard Wallpaper

>> Download Brush Strokes Wallpaper

>> Download Make Your Mark Wallpaper

>> Download Make A Mess Wallpaper

We feel yuh, girl.

SMARTPHONE WALLPAPERS

>> Download ARTY Hard Smartphone Wallpaper

>> Download Brush Strokes Smartphone Wallpaper

>> Download Make Your Mark Smartphone Wallpaper


Creative Crushin': How This Designer Quit Her Day Job and Became a Nomad

First off, are nomads still a thing? Yes. Yes, they are. And in the case of Cat Coquillette, they come in the form of an insanely inspiring artist! Self-described as “a location-independent designer,” Coquillette’s story is one that will certainly inspire a healthy combo of hard-workin’ hustle and dreamy wanderlust. In just two years, Coquillette has lived in 13 different countries, and she’s barely scratched the surface when it comes to all the places she wants to check out.

Coquillette’s most recent adventure brought her to the exotic land of San Francisco (!) where she filmed Brit + Co’s newest online class on Stylizing Lettering in Photoshop. Check it out, and get ready to up-level your lettering skills :)

Anjelika Temple here, Founding Partner and Chief Creative Officer at Brit + Co, and unofficial Cat Coquillette fangirl. Read our latest installment of Creative Crushin' to learn all about how Cat got started, what sparked her nomadic life change, and some of the wildest things she’s experienced over the last couple years.

Brit + Co: First, the basics. Where are you from? Big or small family? What did you study in college? Did you always know that you wanted to be a professional artist?

Cat Coquillette: Despite only having one sibling, the house I grew up in was bustling with energy– we had dogs, cats, bunnies, guinea pigs, doves, frogs, turtles, and more gerbils than I could count. My brother even had a pet snake that lived in the basement — until my mom found out about it. Growing up in this environment is probably why I’m such a huge animal lover today.

I grew up near Kansas City, which has a top-notch art and design community. I’ve always gravitated towards creative paths and have been drawing for as long as I can remember. My art teachers encouraged me to pursue my passions, so by the time I got to college, I double-majored in graphic design and illustration at the University of Kansas.

B+C: What types of day jobs did you have before you were able to go all in on art and design?

CC: If you want to go way back, my first job was at a paint-on-pottery studio when I was 16. It was short and sweet — I was canned after a few months because I spent more time painting the merchandise than doing my actual job. So I guess this was pretty foretelling of my future career as a self-employed artist.

Fast-forward to the more recent past: My design professors in college had great industry connections, so I hounded them to help me get connected with Willoughby Design, an award-winning branding firm. Willoughby offered me an internship during my senior year, followed by a job offer. I was ecstatic.

I worked as a designer and art director there for four years and loved every minute of it. The founder, Ann Willoughby, is an incredible mentor to me. She started the business from the ground up back in the '70s, when women in design were few and far between. She continued to grow and cultivate the firm into the success it is today.

I had so many opportunities while working there and learned from the best in the business. I worked alongside a team of talented creatives as we whipped up logos, branding identities, websites, packaging, photoshoots — you name it.

My job was incredibly fulfilling and challenged me in all the right areas. A lot of the methods I use today are based on the things I learned during that job, like crafting the perfect proposal, working with clients, and laying down a solid strategy before diving into the creative process.

B+C: Was there a turning point when you realized you could turn your side hustle into your main hustle?

CC: The turning point for me was fairly straightforward. When I started earning more with my side hustle than I did at my regular job, I made the decision to pursue self-employment. It was a slow-build, so I had a lot of the logistics worked out before I put in my two-weeks notice — I’d incorporated as an LLC, worked with my CPA to establish how much I should expect to pay in taxes, and saved up a “nest egg” of income just in case things went south.

It was incredibly difficult to leave behind a job that I loved so much, but ultimately it was the right choice for me.

B+C: What inspires you? Why do you love to make things?

CC: Travel has become my primary inspiration for the artwork I create. I snap photos of the interesting things I encounter around the globe, then use the photos as references for my paintings. Because of this, each of my paintings holds a special memory for me — my alpacas watercolor is more than just a set of six cute alpacas; to me, it’s a memory of my trip to Peru with my family when we hiked up to Machu Picchu.

B+C: On your website, you note that education is a huge focus for you. We’re so thrilled to launch your class here on Brit + Co (more deets here!). Tell me more about what drew you to teaching.

CC: I believe in community over competition and have devoted a large part of my brand to creating resources that allow fellow artists to thrive. After all, I sought help from artists’ blogs and entrepreneurial programs when I was first getting started.

Before I got involved with art education, my focus was on growing my art portfolio and business. I have to admit that education wasn’t even on my radar. However, as my brand expanded, I began receiving emails from people that were seeking guidance about how they, too, could find success in creative fields. This was the first time that I ever considered that I might have advice worthy of sharing.

Initially, I was pretty timid about marketing myself as an educator. After all, I’d never taught anything in my life and wasn’t sure how to go about doing so. However, I saw a need in the realm of art entrepreneurship — so many creatives had the potential to succeed, but weren’t sure where to begin. This is exactly how I felt at the beginning of my career, so I decided to focus on helping this audience. I realized that I could use my experience to help other creatives reach their full potential.

B+C: When did you take the plunge and become “location-independent”? Did a specific event spark your decision?

CC: One of the best perks about working online is that I have complete freedom over where I do my work. As long as I have a steady WiFi connection, I can pretty much do my job anywhere.

After the lease expired on my Kansas City apartment, I packed up all my belongings and stored them in my brother’s basement. I tossed the rest into a duffel bag and spent the next six months road-tripping from Colorado to California. I worked in coffee shops and stayed in Airbnbs.

My goal was to spend those six months testing the waters and figuring out where I ultimately wanted to live. There was only one big problem — I didn’t have just one favorite city, I loved the entire experience of exploring every new place. It took me the entire six months to realize that I didn’t need to pick a new permanent home; I could make this nomadic lifestyle work instead.

Since that moment, I’ve worked and traveled through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Norway, Italy, Switzerland, Mexico, and the USA.

B+C: How long have you been a nomad?

CC: Only a few short years — I’ve been location independent since July of 2016.

B+C: Alright here’s a tough one. Top five craziest/best/most inspiring/incredible moments from your travels so far?

CC: 1. Staying up 'til Midnight on My Birthday: What made it particularly unique was my location — I was looking at the midnight sun’s reflection off a fjord in Norway. My birthday is in June and the summer sun never sets that far north. My boyfriend and I were staying in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, just 12° away from the North Pole, the furthest north we’d ever been in our entire lives. I never imagined I’d be celebrating my (summer) birthday by hiking up a glacier and petting snow dogs. Fun fact: any time we left the town perimeter, we had to be accompanied by a guide with a high-powered rifle. The last thing they want is for one of their tourists to wind up eaten by a polar bear.

2. Eating a Fried Tarantula in Cambodia: I chewed and swallowed the legs, but I chickened out when I got down to just the body. I was too squeamish about it potentially being gooey inside! Since then, I’ve eaten loads of crickets. Those don’t bother me and are surprisingly tasty when deep-fried.

3. Getting First Place in a Halloween Costume Contest in Thailand: I’m really really into celebrating Halloween. It’s the one time of year where I get to have fun with SFX makeup. I was in Thailand last October and convinced my friends to let me give them gory makeovers. I’ll never forget the looks we got on our motorbikes on our way to the Halloween party.

4. Earning My Scuba Diving License in Ko Tao, Thailand: I was so focused on following the instructions and doing everything right that I completely forget to reapply sunscreen between dives. By the end of the week, I’d receive both my scuba license and the gnarliest tan line you could ever imagine.

5. Hiking With My Family in Sapa, Vietnam: We were led by a local Hmong guide named Ze. She told us stories about growing up in a small village and how her life eventually led her to learning English and becoming a guide for foreigners. We hiked from village to village and spent the night in locals’ homes, ate with their families, and learned about their culture. The entire experience was beautiful and unforgettable.

B+C: Is there a place that you’ve stayed in that you could see returning to for a longer stint? Why? Or why not?

CC: I’m absolutely smitten with Mexico City. It was never really on my radar, but I recently visited CDMX for a conference and left with a solid appreciation for this city. Between the street food, friendly locals, art culture, great coworking spaces and cafes, and nearby mountains, I’m adding this CDMX to my list of “must return” places.

B+C: Given that you’re on the move all the time, what does your support system look like?

CC: I’m so grateful for my family for providing such a solid support system. Without them, this lifestyle would be much more challenging to maneuver through.

My brother is a computer genius, so he helped me set up a remote server that backs up to the Cloud every night, so even if I lose my computer somewhere in the world, my files are always safe. My brother also set up an alert system so that if I ever go 24 hours without opening my laptop, he gets an email. I’ve gotten a few phone calls from him over the years asking if I’m alive. On those occasions, I’ve had to sheepishly explain that I’m taking a *rare* weekend away from working.

All of my personal and business mail goes to my parents’ house in the US. They also let me keep all of my staple belongings there so I always have a place to crash when I’m back home. I’m also incredibly grateful for my mom, who spoils me every time I’m home by stocking the fridge with my favorites — brie cheese and dill pickles. Yum! My brother and sister-in-law also let me store all my extra belongings at their place (and trust me, I have a lot of shoes.)

B+C: How do you manage your time? Do you come up with set hours for yourself or just go with the flow?

CC: I keep my schedule fairly flexible. I work when I have things to accomplish and step away from my computer when I need to recharge. If I’m working in a coffee shop and catch myself idly browsing through Facebook, I close my laptop and take that as my cue to go for a walk and get some fresh air.

I’ve never been a nine-to-five kind of person; instead, I take plenty of mini-breaks throughout the day and get the bulk of my work done in the evenings. I feel most creative at night, so that’s when I spent my time painting, drawing, and brainstorming new creative avenues. Ultimately, I’ve found that this is how I am most productive.

B+C: When you’re feeling creative burnout, how do you reset?

CC: The best cure for creative burnout is to get out of my comfort zone, even if that simply means exploring the other side of the city. It can be refreshing to get lost in your own city and to discover things for the first time.

Another remedy for burnout is to head into nature, whether it’s a walk along a nature trail or a day in the mountains.

B+C: What’s on your studio playlist?

CC: I’m a huge fan of podcasts. My favorites: Radiolab, The Daily, How I Built This, Reply All, This American Life, Planet Money, Lore, The Moth, TED Radio Hour, Stuff You Should Know, Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History, Freakonomics Radio, Creative Pep Talk, and Home of the Brave.

B+C: What advice do you have for emerging artists who are ready to take the leap and work for themselves?

CC: Explore various avenues and find what works best for you. One person’s success won’t be the answer for everyone. Once you find your jam and hit your stride, capitalize on that momentum and hustle hard.

Embrace the business side of your career. Being creatively talented got me far, but my interest in business got me to where I am now. Andy Warhol said it best, “Business art is the step that comes after Art. I started as a commercial artist, and I want to finish as a business artist.”

I get so amped up over the entrepreneurial side of my career. I’m constantly trying out new tactics and it’s exciting to see what sticks. For every hour that I spend painting, I typically spend another marketing, promoting, corresponding with clients, or doing any number of tasks like adding new content to my site or updating financial spreadsheets and tracking invoices.

B+C: Any tips/tricks/tools you’d recommend for someone who wants to try their hand at a modern nomadic lifestyle?

CC: Adaptability isn’t just great for my business, it’s also key for my location-independent lifestyle. My best advice for anyone that’s interested in traveling full-time is to be flexible, open-minded, and curious. Some of my favorite adventures happened after I took a wrong turn or had to change plans at the last minute.

You don’t need to have every little detail planned out before you embark on your journey. In fact, when it comes to both traveling and running my business, sometimes it’s better to work things out along the way as I strive towards my larger goals. If you would have told me a few years ago that I would have quit my stable job, left the United States, and spent 24/7 exploring the globe and working on my laptop, I would have had a million questions about how this was even possible. What about all of the minutia it takes to do this, like not speaking the local languages, finding a place to live, and ensuring that I can continue earning enough to support myself? When you consider all of this at once, it can be overwhelming, which often leads to inaction. Instead, I prefer to envision large goals and deal with the small steps it takes to achieve them as they arise.

B+C: In five years, where do you see yourself? :)

CC: The world is a big place, and I’ve experienced a sliver of it. In five years time, I hope to still be traveling with the same zest and curiosity as I do now.

“And at the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair messy and your eyes sparkling.” ― Shanti

Wow. Talk about inspiring. You can follow Cat's adventures @CatCoq on Insta, check out more of her work at CatCoq.com, and school yourself on how to stylize lettering in Photoshop in Cat's online class.

For more crush-worthy creatives, be sure to check back on our Creative Crushin' series. We've got lots of bold, brilliant, badass stories to share with you!

Let us know if you have a creative crush you want to share @BritandCo.

Author: Anjelika Temple (Photos via Cat Coquillette and Brit + Co; Design by Sarah Tate)

Reminders of Him isn't the only Colleen Hoover movie we're getting next year — we finally have the Verity release date! After confirmation that Dakota Johnson was starring as Lowen in Colleen Hoover's Verity, I totally wasn't expecting to open my phone and see a video of Dakota in the middle of New York City...covered in blood. It was even more shocking than seeing that crazy The Summer I Turned Pretty leak that's not in the books! If this Verity movie leak proves anything, it's that this movie is going to be just as insane as the book — if not more.

Here's your first look at Dakota Johnson on the set of Verity, coming to theaters May 15, 2026.

When is Verity coming out?

Verity is coming to theaters May 15, 2026 thanks to Amazon MGM Studios. We already know Reminders of Him is coming February 13, which means we're getting two Colleen Hoover movies in the same year! And I'll be seated for both.

Who does Dakota Johnson play in Verity?

Dakota Johnson plays Lowen, a writer hired by Verity's husband Jeremy to finish the author's work. Here's the rest of the Verity cast:

  • Anne Hathaway as Verity Crawford: a renowned author who's hiding a secret.
  • Josh Hartnett as Jeremy Crawford: Verity's husband.
  • Dakota Johnson as Lowen Ashleigh: a struggling writer given the chance of a lifetime to finish Verity Crawford's work.

Ismael Cruz Cordóva, Brady Wagner, Irina Dvorovenko, K.K. Moggie, and Michael Abbott Jr. will also star in unconfirmed roles.

And the first leak tells us just how crazy the 'Verity' movie is going to be.

@mickmicknyc Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett filming a graphic accident scene for 'Verity' in NYC 🎬🙈 #dakotajohnson#joshhartnett#verity#bts#behindthescenes#entertainmentnews#nyc♬ original sound - New York Mickey

We got our first look at Dakota Johnson as Lowen when she walked around New York City in burnt orange trousers, a beige top, and a gray coat. But there's one accessory that low-key makes my stomach turn: a splatter of blood on her face.

In this extended leak from @mickmicknyc on TikTok, Lowen's taking a stroll through Manhattan when a car accident with a biker covers her (and a few very-expressive extras) in blood. The movie nerd in me immediately clocked that the camera does a 360 around Dakota as she looks at the accident, and I LOVE a 360 so I'm excited to see this in the final movie! Especially if the composer gives us some incredible music!

We also see Josh Hartnett's Jeremy approach her and make sure she's okay before the leave the scene.

"This is exactly how I pictured it," says one TikTok user in the comments, while another adds, "I actually forgot this is how the book started with how crazy the rest of the book was."

"The way I just screamed ahhhh I’m so excitedddddddddd," a third user says. I cannot wait!

Stay tuned for even more Verity movie updates on Brit + Co and our TikTok!

Where can I watch the Verity movie?

Verity is coming to theaters, which means you can relive the craziness of the book surrounded by 150 of your closes friends ;).

Loving these set leaks? Check out Zendaya Throws A Drink At A Car (Before Robert Pattinson Drags Her Away) For New A24 Movie The Drama for more.

This post has been updated.

Obsessed with geometric patterns and bright colors as much as we are? Then this week’s featured maker should need no introduction. Meet Joy Cho, the brilliant gal behind the Oh Joy Blog, a treasure trove of creative inspiration.

Not only is this impressive woman a creative force, but she’s a blogger, designer, author and mother. Well as of today, we’re happy to add curator to that list — we’ve got a brand new collection in the Brit + Co shop curated by Joy Cho herself. And guess what? Her latest book, Oh Joy!, is also in stock. How awesome is that? You can shop the collection right here.

I spent a morning in Los Angeles with Joy at her favorite breakfast spot, Republique. We chatted about how she got her start, what her typical day looks like and what inspires her. Read on to learn more about Joy’s story — we’re sure it’s one that will inspire you to find more creative moments on the daily.

Have you always been drawn to creative pursuits?

As a kid, I always leaned towards creative things. I was never into playing with dolls or dressing up like a princess — I was more interested in things that let me create something from start to finish. I didn’t realize back then that it had to do with creativity.

Did you know that this love of making things would turn into a business?

In a way, yes. When I was a kid I had about a dozen different businesses before I even graduated high school, including a calligraphy business and a banana bread business! My parents moved here in the mid ‘70s from Thailand and started a Thai restaurant, so I’ve always been surrounded by self-starters and entrepreneurs. (photo credit: Casey Brodley)

Okay so let’s fast forward a bit — what did you study in college? And what were your first couple of jobs after graduating?

I didn’t know that I wanted to be an “artist” but I did know that I didn’t want to go down a doctor or lawyer path. I went to Syracuse and studied graphic design, because in my mind it had a practical side but was still artistic. After graduating, I went to New York for graduate school and ended up getting a job at an ad agency for a couple years. The agency gig was a great start for me, but I quickly became tired of designing for businesses. I wanted to design things that help normal people add delight to their daily lives. That’s when I started to get super interested in patterns, though I hadn’t officially studied them in school. This led me to getting a job with Cynthia Rowley as a designer for her small line at Target. I designed two years worth of collections for her line.

Wow, so that’s really come full circle with Target!

Creating an Oh Joy line at Target was definitely a dream project, especially after working on Cynthia’s line. Getting to see my products in store has been incredible. Unlike a blog post, actual products don’t disappear. They’re in people’s homes and part of their lives, and that feels really good.

What inspires you? Why do you love to design, create and make?

I’m inspired by people and the desire to make people happier with something I can ideate, design, create, and put out into the world for others to enjoy.

What’s one piece of advice you’d share with other makers?

Just do your thing. It can be so easy to get caught up in what others are doing or compare yourself to who’s doing things bigger or better. But I find when I focus on challenging myself and trying new things, then I feel satisfied with my work and I don’t worry about comparisons as much.

How do you get into the creative flow? How does it feel?

I surround myself with stuff. Whether it’s materials, colors, fabrics, food, objects. When I see a lot, my brain starts churning, my heart starts racing, and ideas begin to surface. Those initial ideas aren’t always the final idea, but they usually snowball into something magical.

Looking for more Joy in your life? Be sure to follow Joy on Instagram (Warning: Heart-melting videos of the cutest kids ever await you), buy her book (photo credit: Casey Brodley), and check out her curated collection in the Brit + Co shop!

Millennials are defined as being born between 1981 and 1996, but if you were born at the tail end of that time frame and endured your teenage years during the 2000s or early 2010s, you most definitely suffered through some arguably rough fashion trends.

Wearing Abercrombie or Aeropostale brand name t-shirts, sporting chevron dresses, and going to parties with "concealer lips" was (regrettably) the vibe at the time! Today, most teens wouldn't dare wear the outfits and accessories us millennials wholeheartedly loved.

We're here to revisit fashion's past and call out the top 8 millennial style fails that are just super cringeworthy today.

1. Flower Crowns

Etsy

Rainbow Flower Crown

When millennials wanted to look 'boho chic,' they immediately busted out the flower crowns. This accessory infiltrated practically every occasion, from high school dances and music festivals like Coachella – or even (sigh) regular trips to the mall.

While the trend might've felt fun and carefree at the time, flower crowns are super cliché today and just remind me of Tumblr's heyday (IYKYK).

2. "Geek" Glasses

Amazon

Black Nerd Glasses

It's funny to think about how popular wearing fake "geek" glasses was, particularly since so many teen movies of the time, like Mean Girls, sensationalized being "cool" and "popular."

Nonetheless, plenty of millennials set out to appear quirky by topping off their outfits with thick, oversized hipster frames, even if they didn't actually need glasses. Some people even used their leftover 3D glasses from movie theaters and simply popped the lenses out – guilty!

3. Hair Feathers

Etsy

Feather Hair Extension Clip

Similar to flower crowns, hair feathers emerged as a bohemian-inspired way to add a pop of color and texture to your locks. Some people opted for thinner solid or multicolored strands; meanwhile, others went full-throttle with larger feather shapes or even bead attachments.

This is another "hipster" trend that, while maybe still appropriate for some music festivals, should stay in the past when it comes to everyday wear.

4. Jeggings

Halara

Halara Flex High Waisted Stretchy Leggings

Jeggings were supposed to be the perfect blend of comfort and style... or so we thought. The idea seemed genius at the time, but in retrospect, they were just a fashion mistake.

This pant style attempted to blend two completely different types of garments and created a result that's now considered a fashion faux pas. Jeggings are just too tight to ever be flattering and don't deliver that same classic denim look.

5. Converse Sneakers With Anything

Converse

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Canvas Sneakers

Skinny jeans, skirts, maxi dresses, and mini dresses. Today, you'd probably pick different shoe choices for all of these outfits, but millennials undoubtedly had a go-to: Converse.

These sneakers were the perfect footwear for practically any look, but the trend quickly became overused. Even celebrities were showing up in low-cut Converse to walk the red carpet, a statement that would leave younger generations scratching their heads today.

6. Belts Over Shirts

Amazon

Grommet Leather Belt

Along with the excessive layering of tank tops and t-shirts came the addition of belts on top. While this might've been an attempt to add some structure or flair, many belts in the 2000s were more clunky than chic.

This trend is making a comeback, particularly with oversized outerwear. But, again, younger generations today are making more pattern- and color-conscious decisions (and not just cinching their waists while wearing Hollister v-necks, LOL).

7. Ombré Hair

Polina Semernina / PEXELS

Ombré hair is often associated with balayage, a hair-painting technique that remains insanely popular in 2025. However, many millennials didn't hit the salon to achieve their ombré – and took matters into their own hands at home.

Regardless of whether they tried to darken or lighten, it typically resulted in a not-very-well-blended horizontal line of color across their hair.

8. Fedoras

Julia Volk / PEXELS

Finally, I believe that you should be entitled to compensation if you've been personally victimized by a fedora. Everyone from Justin Timberlake to Paris Hilton wore these hats, making millennials think they were cool. In hindsight, perhaps everyone (including the A-listers) blundered with this fad.

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

I’ve done everything in my power to try to alleviate my back painstretching, self-massaging, hot baths, self-cracking my bones (don’t come for me), yoga — but nothing has truly given me the relief I've been looking for more than the Theragun.

And it’s not just my back pain that irks me. It's symptoms of tech neck from working long days at my desk (or, more often than not, my couch), muscle soreness from indoor bouldering 3-4 times a week, and honestly, the movement everyday life requires, like walking my dog and taking care of household chores that mandate multiple trips up and down three flights of stairs in my old sans-elevator apartment building.

What Does The Theragun Do?

Meredith Holser

The Theragun (more specifically, the Prime model) claims to provide a multitude of benefits. According to Therabody, the Theragun Prime can:

  • Relieve pain and soreness
  • Reduce tightness and tension
  • Accelerate recovery
  • Improve circulation and flexibility

All great stuff, right? After seeing and reading lots of rave reviews about this beloved percussive therapy tool, I just had to put it to the test.

Can The Theragun Help With Back Pain?

Meredith Holser

More than anything, I was concerned with two major problems – back pain and muscle soreness – I hoped the Theragun would help with. I attribute a majority of my back pain to a slight bout of scoliosis along with an unfortunate compression fracture I experienced a couple of years ago. These two reasons are likely to have exacerbated my tech neck aches, too. I’m talkin’ stiffness around my entire neck and some chronically achy traps.

Piling on my passion for indoor bouldering only adds to the discomfort: sore forearms, lats, and calves and sharp knots along my shoulder blades. The sport requires that I put my body in all sorts of odd positions, use my muscles to sustain those unnatural stances, and brace for 6-foot falls (albeit safely, on well-padded floors). Needless to say, it all takes a physical toll.

After just a week of use and 5- to 10-minute-long sessions a day, the Theragun Prime has significantly lessened that burden and provided my back and upper body muscles with some super satisfying relief.

Here’s my full review, including what I loved and everything I didn’t.

Day 1

Meredith Holser

My trial began with lots of sharp pain between my shoulder blades, which I was worried about not being able to reach with the Theragun on my own without someone else to help me. My worries instantly melted away after giving it a go, though – the patented triangular handle design (which claims to help you reach “80% of your body with multiple hand positions”) helped me quickly locate the most painful points in between my shoulder blades. Not only was I able to accurately pinpoint my discomfort, even the lowest of the 5 available speed settings delivered immediate relaxation. I was shocked at just how powerful this tool was!

I felt like a crazy woman in my apartment, groaning alone out of relief, but it felt so good. I also noticed that my back felt warmed after use, which I observed as the improved circulation the Theragun claims to encourage.

Days 2-4

Meredith Holser

My shoulder blade pain carried on into day 2, along with some insane forearm soreness from bouldering. I took the Theragun to my arms at the lowest speed and found the same instant relief I did with my shoulder blades.

I repeated a routine of running the tool along my shoulder blades, entire back, and arms for days 3 and 4, too. By day 4, I could tell that the most painful points weren’t as sore as they were before I started my Theragun trial.

Day 5

Meredith Holser

Day 5 was quite the opposite, though. I had attended a concert the night prior, and I think standing hours on hard floors reawakened every stiffness, soreness, and sharp pain I had been experiencing before. I woke up feeling geriatric as ever (I’m freakin’ 25, for crying out loud!) and knew I’d have to try out the Theragun on my screaming lower back and sore calves.

My neck felt extremely tweaked, too, likely from sleeping on it in a less-than-ideal position (tummy sleepers, unite). I went at all of these areas with the Theragun’s wide-set dampener attachment as I had the 4 days before, but turned the tool up to a higher speed. Oh, it felt like heaven! Again, I was surprised by how powerful of a punch the tool provided. It felt like a luxe massage technique, all possible by my hands.

Targeting my body more globally felt really nice at the faster setting, up until I was hitting my neck. The tool had a very heavy vibration that viciously rattled my teeth, ears, and eyes, which honestly distracted me from the relief I was looking for in the neck and traps area.

Days. 6-7

Meredith Holser

I was met with sore legs from a long bike ride and even more bouldering-induced stiffness on days 6 and 7. I found similar relief to what I experienced the week prior and was able to relax really well after a long, activity-filled weekend. I also tested out the multiple attachments the Theragun Prime came with on my neck and traps, like the thumb and cone toppers, which are sharper-shaped to hit more specific trigger points. I found these more-targeted attachments way more effective than the rounder dampener and ball, which didn't do as great a job at getting into the deep-set knots I deal with.

Theragun Review: The Results!

Meredith Holser

While I can’t claim my back pain and sore muscles are entirely gone with the help of the Theragun Prime, I can say that they’re noticeably lessened after 7 days of consistent use. I think it’s a very effective way to relieve any pains and aches you may be dealing with, especially if you have tried all other avenues of pain reduction.

It was easy and intuitive to use myself, and I really enjoyed the range of relief I got from the tool, thanks to the customizable attachments and varying speed settings. The only quirk I didn’t quite like was the intensely distracting vibration that occurred in my head when I brought it up to my upper neck and traps.

Therabody

Theragun Prime

At an original price point of $299 (it’s also HSA and FSA-friendly!), I certainly understand it can be a steep investment for some, but given that the average cost of a massage or chiropractic visit hits around $100 (sometimes more), I believe the Theragun offers comparable relief to those methods.

Plus, you can use it anytime you like, as opposed to having to wait weeks for an appointment. It definitely is not a dependable replacement for more serious structural or muscular issues (which experts can better address), but it’s certainly appropriate for tackling everyday tightness, soreness, knots, and more.

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This post has been updated.