Sometimes natural hair can seem dull (even after conditioner, creams, and butters). From the start, tightly coiled hair has a harder time reflecting light. But if you want your curls to shine like Solange Knowles's, there are a few tricks to try for glistening (not greasy) curls.
We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty.
Tippi Shorter, who has tamed the tresses of Jennifer Hudson, Rihanna, and Alicia Keys, knows there is no exact formula for curly hair. "All curls are different," she says. "You must experiment to find the perfect product that gives you the result you are looking for." But this doesn't stop her from having an arsenal of easy-to-follow tips and tricks up her sleeve!
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Products Natural Hair Will Love
Curly hair constantly craves moisture, and when the temperature drops, hydration can be hard to come by. Don't allow your kinks and coils to suffer, though. Heed these five tips to maintain the best curls possible — no matter what Fall blows your way. Get seasonal styling advice when you read more.
When it comes to achieving a natural makeup look on deeper skin tones, avoid reaching for something too neutral. While it might seem counterintuitive, experiment with shades rich in color to find something that enhances, all while blending seamlessly into the skin. Think of your color palette like your favorite Valentine's Day treats: grab up some roses and chocolates to achieve your most natural look.
Have you ever taken a makeup quiz and fit neither on the warm nor the cool side of the spectrum? Well, you might be dealing with a third, less-common undertone. "Women of color and olive skin tones tend to have a lot of gray, so look for a foundation with orange in it to warm up the complexion," explains makeup artist Trish McEvoy, who is set to make her debut on HSN this Saturday.
In addition, women of color tend to have many different undertones around the face. Some areas may have a sallow tinge, while others have more of a golden tone. In these cases, it's often best to use two to three foundations to achieve the perfect match. But if it's an all-in-one fix that's desired, skip red- and yellow-hued foundations and go with orange. Not only can orange pick up a dull complexion, but this tint will also work to erase redness and disguise under-eye circles.
Tips: Blend foundation downward on the neck and décolletage for a cohesive look. You can even press the foundation into the skin with fingers to get more coverage. Or use a powder puff to lightly blend for a soft-touch effect. As a bonus, the puff will help remove excess moisture and oil from the face.
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Bronzer is considered a safe way to "sun," and it gives the complexion an instant look of warmth. But for those who have a deeper skin tone, have you ever felt that instead of leaving you with a sun-kissed glow, your bronzer disappears or otherwise falls a little flat? Well, it doesn't have to be that way. All it takes is a few tricks and the right color choice, and you can make a bronzer work for you. Keep reading for more.
It's a nice day for a white wedding — and a blue one or a red one, too. Different cultures have different customs, many of which extend to bridal style. We've searched the globe to find some of the most beautiful big-day looks, both contemporary and traditional. Read on.
For this week's iPhone App of the Week, we look at GoNappturale ($1). This app allows you to find natural hair salons — a godsend for any woman who's ever searched for an expert with natural Black hair. There are no bells or whistles here, just a pretty straightforward Yellow Pages-like service.
Upon opening the app, your phone will search for nearby businesses, and spit out a list of salons. You're provided with each establishment's distance and phone number, and by tapping the blue arrow at the right, you'll be sent to a map where you can get directions. Eventually, it would be nice to be able to add reviews and to search by zip code — in case you're wondering what's around elsewhere. But for $1, this app definitely fills a void in the natural hair market, and I can see it coming in handy during travel, if you're new to an area, or if you're just in need of a new stylist.
The recession may have sliced into cosmetic surgery profits, but, according to a recent survey released by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS), more people of color are going under the knife. More than half of those surveyed said cosmetic surgery has become more popular in their racial or ethnic group over the past five years. (The study measured perception of popularity, not actual numbers of patients.)
Naturally, the AACS is pleased by these results. "Cosmetic surgery is en vogue no matter who you are," said Mark Berman, MD, president of the AACS. "Feeling better about yourself and making improvements to your looks is thankfully not limited to a specific race or culture," he added.
Thankfully? Sigh. While yes, people of all shapes, sizes, and appearances can feel better about themselves, doing so doesn't require cosmetic surgery. We take a to-each-her-own approach at BellaSugar, but I wonder why surgery is perceived as more popular. (When Asian-American women have eyelid surgery, for instance, it's sometimes done to make the eyes look more Caucasian — not exactly the most self-loving reason to go under the knife.) What's your take on the study's findings?
Weddings have been around at least as long as humans have been able to write about them, and in almost every culture, brides are the focus of their own traditions and rituals. But through history, the way brides have prepared and beautified themselves has changed drastically. Some traditions have survived for thousands of years and still make up a big part of our ceremonies, while others now seem truly bizarre (just check out the story on ancient Sparta). From mehendi to boqtas, see how being a beautiful bride has changed over the last three millenia.
