Natural Hair Rebel’s Flat Twists on Tapered Cut

So I did some flat twists. Ya'ay for flat twists. I loved my results even though it was a bit frizzy because one of my twists were a bit damp. I hope you guys like it as well.

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Must Have Essentials for Girls with Puny Lashes.

If you're one of those women who aren't blessed with a huge set of lashes, I empathize with you.  Lashes offer such a huge advantage on those days when you want to execute a five minute makeup regimen.  Healthy, lush lashes and a well arched brow can do amazing things for one's look.  Which is why it's imperative that those of us who aren't lash endowed have some tricks up our sleeve to make miracles happen.

Let's start with the absolute basics.  Lashes are just hair.  And as such, they respond positively when they receive a boost in nutrition.  Which is why you should feed your tiny lashes either internally or via topical application.  I've seen the wonders of consistently applying lash serum day and night with my own eyes.  Girls with skimpier lashes than me suddenly had an enviable pair thanks to their consistent efforts.

If you aren't into applying a topical lash enhancer two times a day, opt for an internal supplement or, do like I did and whip up a large cup of bamboo tea as part of your daily ritual.  At first, I wondered why my lashes seemed a little longer than normal until I remembered that I'd been regularly drinkng from a large (gallon size) batch tea that I'd store in the fridge.  Frequent bamboo tea refills have paid off and, suddenly, my lashes are now visible again. Don't take my word for it, check out LA Shopper's recent review on Amazon where she too proclaims the wonders of newly visible lashes thanks to indulging in the silica rich tea.

Now that I've got some lash action going, it's time to take it to the next level.  The absolute best thing you can do to enhance your lashes is to opt for cult mascaras known for situations just like yours.  On one trip to Sephora, I was introduced to Benefit's They're Real thank's to an eager sales girl who insisted that I not leave the store without having purchased it.

Actually, she was right, it was a pretty good mascara.  One reason why I love it so much is due to the unique wand which has a tiny spiked ball on the end. This little mascara ball easily finds those teenie, tiny hairs hiding in the corners.  The wand really helps me to create a more flirty look.  Especially if you're going for visibility over volume.  But then things get interesting when I layer Benefit's They're Real with MAC's Zoom  Lash.  I stumbled on Zoom Lash years ago when Kim Kardashian's make up artist used it to create her signature spidery lashes.  What I love about his mascara is how highly pigmented it is.  The wand is much smaller than "normal" which makes it much easier to maneuver through tiny lashes.  Zoom Lash is a wet formula,which requires you to use a little extra patience and care during application.  But, the payoff from this mascara makes it all worth it.

The trick to getting the most from your mascaras is to layer them for the double the impact.  If you purchased one, and aren't too happy with the results, see what happens when you layer with the other options in your makeup kit.

And when you want to go for even more va-va-voom with your lashes, get a little a help from a lash curler.  Probably, the most well known brand is from Shu Uemura.  As with any purchase, you truly get a quality product for the price.  I invested in one years ago and have been happy every day since.

Curlier lashes are just the start, if I really want to amp up the lash power, I lightly warm up the curler before use, transforming it into a lash curling iron of sorts.  Once done with the routine, you can take it to the highest level by trying out the lash trick made famous by Audrey Hepburn's makeup artist.  Basically, after carefully applying mascara, she'd go back and meticulously separate each lash using a tooth pick. This would allow every single lash the opportunity to shine and get rid of any unwanted clumping.

Then, of course, you always have the option of grabbing a pair of falsies for a quick transformation. But, truthfully, I love the idea of sporting healthy natural lashes that accentuate your eyes, adding a bit of femininity and enhance your natural beauty. Best of all, they can turn you from a doe-eyed baby doll to a cat eyed vixen in just a few short minutes.





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TK Wonder Heats Things Up for Sunglass Hut’s ‘Electrify Summer’ Campaign

Sunglass Hut featured four women involved in music for their ‘Electrify Summer’ campaign and I was chosen as one of the four selected. Part of the campaign consisted of creating our own spotify DJ playlist featuring 20 tracks from some of our favorite artists keeping in mind the theme and genre (mostly electronic) designated such as ‘Feel the Vibes,’ ‘Shock Them All,’ or ‘Heat Things Up.’ Also snippets from three tracks of my own music has been featured in three out of four of the the online campaign videos for Natalie Suarez, Chelsea Leyland and myself.
 

Now watch me ‘Heat Things Up’ for Sunglass Hut while listening to a snippet of my song ‘Not Your Robot’ produced by Gabe & Touchtalk.
 
 

 
 

Click on the spotify link below to hear how I ‘Heat Things Up’ with my brand new ‘Heat Things Up’ DJ playlist featuring twenty tracks from artists such as AlunaGeorge, Cyril Hahn, Little Dragon, Twin Shadow, Le Youth, Shadow Child, Telepopmusik, Kissey, Muhsinah, Totally Enormous Dinosaurs, Thomas Azier plus many more including my track ‘Not Your Robot’ produced by Gabe & Touchtalk in it’s entirety.
 

TK Wonder’s Heat Things Up Guest DJ Mix

 

 

Sunglass Hut

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The BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Artisan Series

My twin sister, TK Quann and I have always been exposed to the world of arts before we could even walk. A family enriched with artists, musicians and writers it seemed inevitable TK would have an innate writing ability throughout our childhood writing poetry, short stories and even a novel before becoming a singer/songwriter/rapper as an adult while I would focus heavily on visual arts in my youth, incessantly sketching portraits and painting in various mediums. Once college bound to study set/interior design it seems I have come full circle to delve in the same craftsmanship as my sister, immersed in the realm of a writer.

 

Arts play a colossal influence in what we do today and this is why we feel so passionate in supporting the field. We realize how imperative it is to to exhort children showing an interest in that direction, where it may lead them and the positive outlet it may create into adulthood, which is why we are excited to be collaborating with The BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Artisan Series; a national search to find the next big name in visual arts, created in partnership with Russell and Danny Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, the Artisan Series offers under represented artists a national platform to showcase their work. During the search thousands will submit their artwork and some will go on to exhibit at local galleries during the regional finals. Ultimately twelve artists are chosen to showcase at the grand finale event during SCOPE Miami Beach, however only one will receive a grand prize solo exhibit at SCOPE NYC. The top three winning artists from the finale will receive a stipend to help create a mural in their hometown and give back to their communities.

 

 

The ‘Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series‘ submission process is open now till August 23rd 2015 for your chance to become the top contender at the SCOPE Miami Beach grand finale.

 

Stay tuned as we update you during the submission process but until then revisit some of our favorite Urban Bush Babes Artist spotlights below.

 

Ashley Oubre

 
 

Kelvin Okafor

 
 

Kenturah Davis

 
 

Lauren Muller

 
 

 Tim Okamura
 
More of our favorite spotlights to come. Visit bombayartisan.com today for submissions

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Gabrielle Union reminds us to step our water drinking game up.

One of my favorite posts of all time is on the topic of how Beyonce, Adriana Lima and Gabby Union drink a gallon of water a day to keep their skin perfectly flawless.  That post resonated with a lot of you and it sparked off a water drinking challenge that would change lives.

You can imagine how elated I was when to stumble on this pic, while scrolling through Gabrielle's Instagram feed.

It depicts Gabby, as she shows off a partially filled gallon of water.  In her caption, she writes about accepting a 30 Day Transformation Challenge which appears to be spearheaded by celebrity trainer Luther Freeman.  Gabby--miss overachiever, is actually pictured with her 2nd gallon of water for the day.  Yes, she's upped the ante to two gallons.  And notice how she's included a couple of lemon wedges to transform the water into an ultra alkalizing beauty tonic.

If there's one tip I'd like you to take away from this post it's this: The bigger your water bottle, the more water you'll drink.    When I first became serious about my water intake,  I grabbed this huge 56 oz drinking bottle.  It was a little cumbersome at first but it definitely served its purpose.  If I could drink two of those a day, I'd reach my goal. And, to be honest with you, it was pretty easy to do.

Then I started using a smaller (regular sized) water bottles for the sake of portability and my water intake immediately went down.  This was unacceptable.  Whenever I needed to make up for slacking on my water intake, I'd drink directly from a 3 liter bottle.  But, what I haven't yet tried, was drinking directly from a gallon.  I really like the idea.  And I love how she includes a few lemon wedges in there as a way of claiming that entire gallon as hers.  Someone as consistent as Gabby is with her water intake deserves to enjoy glowing, flawless skin at 42.  Thank you, Gabby, for reminding us to keep going so we can reap the rewards of ultra-hydration.

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Styling Sessions

Test shoot with Dieynaba Diop for Adam Models

Photographer: Diego Villarreal
Stylist: Cipriana Quann

 

 

*click to enlarge photos

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Style Obsession | The Kimono

June is coming to an end and soon we'll be in the throws of summer.  Although I love warmer weather, I always seem to have an issue with attire.  It gets crazy hot/humid here which means that it's not uncommon to find young ladies wearing low cut tops and super skimpy shorts.  That's never been my thing 'cause I never felt comfortable wearing shorts in public (weird, I know).  I just don't want to attract any unwanted attention so I choose to cover up as much as possible.

But I think I've found the answer to how to look stylish and modest while wearing cute shorts and camis.  Ladies, I present to you, the kimono.

Charlotte Russe Kimono size S 

First, they make for amazing beach cover ups on your summer getaway.  A lightweight, stylish cover up is what will set you apart from other beach babes.  Even when you're not laying by crystal clear waters, the kimono is versatile enough to be worn pretty much anywhere.

What I love about cooler weather is how easy it is to amp up your look by simply throwing on a leather jacket or whatever cute jacket you have in your closet.  In the summer, things get a little more complicated, especially when you're trying to stay as cool as possible.  That why I adore this as a viable option.  Notice how it transformed my basic cotton dress into something special.

The best thing about these kimonos is how it feels like you barely have anything on. If fact, they generate a cool breeze as you move.  Flowy kimonos make you feel all glamourous like you've got your own personal wind machine.  Oh and I love this full length to add a little bit of coverage when I'm wearing more revealing attire.  I definitely have plans to pick up a couple more. One that stops around mid thigh and maybe another full length.  I'm deciding between this one from Nasty Gal or this one from ASOS.

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Listen to My Husband Carl Brunson’s Self Titled EP Debut “Saint Ranier”

I’m so excited and beyond proud to share my husbands new music with you guys! It’s been a long time coming! He is sooo humble and has so many incredible gifts! He is a true artist, creative, and musician who has been producing music and playing the guitar for over 20 years, and plays other instruments as well. A few years ago he decided to put his own vocals to his music because he wanted to make music he wasn’t hearing anywhere. Today he debuts his first self titled EP Saint Ranier featuring his band mate Zach Kuzmic playing the drums. It’s synth rock, so if your a fan of David Bowie, Twin Shadow, NIN and other great artists, then you’ll love my husbands music! Saint Ranier is now available on iTunes/ Apple Music/ Spotify/ Amazon/ Google Play/ SoundCloud. Take a listen to the 3 song EP below and please show some love by sharing the music with your friends and loved ones! Music videos coming soon!
 

 

 

 

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I've turned my Korean Treatment Essence into a high end facial mist

Hey, good to see you again.  I want to tell you about something I did which just saved me nearly $100.00.  You see, after I became addicted to Evian facial mist last summer, I discovered that Chanel carries a luxury facial mist infused with skin loving ingredients. Evian was cool and all, but I wanted to add a little something extra, beyond water, to my skin with every mist.  I fell in love with the idea of rejuvenating the skin with antioxidants and hydration at any given point of the day.  But alas, the $90.00 price tag kept me at bay.   Y'all know I have no problem splurging on higher end items but I really couldn't see myself putting that kinda money on a 1.7 oz bottle in which the first ingredient is water.

Time passed and I filed away the idea of a nutrient rich facial mist.  I figured that eventually the answer (or product) would eventually come to me.  And, I'm here proclaim that the day has arrived!

You all know how I've been indoctrinated into the Korean Skin Care Ritual.  This intense layering method has exposed me to a new type of product.  Steve Jan made me a believer in facial treatment essence which led to the discovery of Missha's First Treatment Essence.  This stuff makes sweet love to my skin every morning.  I don't know how to explain it...it's like a water that moisturizes (not just hydrates--there's a difference).  It feels like water, but then it sorta behaves like a moisturizer on my skin and it leaves behind this subtle little glow.  It's fantastic.

The other day and had this bright idea.  What if, I get a tiny spray bottle and lovingly pour a little Treatment Essence in it, to carry in my bag?  That way, I can mist my face with the blend of amazing extracts and pro-youth yeast ferment whenever mood strikes.  Let me take a moment of reiterate that Missha's Essence looks and feels like water but there's no water in the ingredient list.  This means that every ingredient is purposeful, yet it feel like you're misting your face with an infused water.

The minute the idea struck me, I ran into the room to see if it was possible.  After grabbing the bottle off the counter and taking a look, I'm relieved to find out that I can easily remove the plastic stopper and have full access to Missha's miracle water.  Because they give so much product in one bottle, I can afford to distribute some into small spray bottle.  Off I went into the land of internet shopping to find the perfect little spray bottle.  My requirements were clear, I needed a glass spray bottle, small enough to fit into my tiniest makeup bag. I chose glass because the original product came in glass and I wanted to stay consistent. Plus a glass mister would make me feel all luxurious, and stuff, every time I used it.

It didn't take me long to find these perfect little misters on Etsy for a couple of bucks.  They're super cute and come in a set of three.  I can use the others for perfumes and whatnot.  If you travel frequently, you'll enjoy these.  It took 2 seconds to fill the bottle and voila!  I had my very own high quality, high end facial mist.  I didn't realize how concentrated the Essence was until I used it as a mist.  It delivers high levels of moisture in an instant.  I think I may create a diluted version (by adding a little water) for those times when I want more hydration and less moisture (if that makes any sense).  Whenever I mist with the pure essence, I take a moment to massage the product in.  If I diluted to include more water, I could just mist and let it evaporate.

I'm still experimenting but I had to run in here and share the good news.  If you still haven't tried Missha's First Essence yet, you are missing out.  I went back and reread my initial post where I predicted that my face would improve over time with consistent use, and I was so right.  My skin looks really smooth and more even toned.  I could attribute those results to daily facial exfoliation, but I've read other accounts of others who've also experienced skin altering results from this product so it's not all in my head.

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