Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Stylist Feature – Tomekia Mccoy

Ismail oubarka | 10:13 PM

Introduce yourself and which salon if any you work at… My name is Tomekia Mccoy and im a licensed stylist at Studio 4 Hair where international stylist glambymikemike and glambybabyboy of Detroit are the Owners. How long have you worked as a licensed cosmetologist (or equivalent in your country) and where did you study? I […]

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This MUA swears by Masking Cocktails to Create Her Perfect Glow.

Ismail oubarka | 6:53 PM

Every so often, I'll receive a DM from one of you lovelies informing me of an Instagram Beauty secret reveal that I wouldn't want to miss. Days ago, a reader sent a message after she witnessed the masking routine of a makeup artist known for creating the most beautiful glow on her clients.

The perfect glowy finish is nearly impossible to pull off unless you have an ultra smooth surface. That's probably why this makeup artist is so serious about her masking routine. In the stories, she created a "masking cocktail" comprised of two separate clay-based masks. The moment I saw her mix the two products together, I was instantly inspired to create a masking cocktail of my own.

Years ago, I used to prep my clay masks by hand. But then I found some really great quality premixed options and never looked back. The clay masks in my current rotation include:

Fresh's Umbrian Clay Mask
Dead Sea Clay Mask

Pre-mixed clay masks are great. They're convenient, not as messy and very travel-friendly. But, there's one problem....

You can't create your own super-mask cocktail. One that can create stellar results specifically for your skin.

A while back, I wrote about adding boosters to my moisturizers and serums enhance their effectiveness. I completely neglected to consider that I could also amplify my masks by creating my own blended cocktails.

Most , of us have a jar of Aztec Clay at home. And perhaps we've added some apple cider vinegar or honey to the mask to make it a bit more interesting. That's a great start but let's discuss other options that can take our clay mask from basic to beautifying.

Activated Charcoal // In my humble opinion, every clay mask should include activated charcoal. Charcoal's deep cleansing capability is unmatched. The primary reason why we mask is to clear out our pores. Clay is a great base but adding charcoal amplifies the experience. Once upon a time, I added a pinch of charcoal to my daily cleanser. Within days, I noticed the difference in my skin. This stuff works.

Other Types of Clay // In her stories, the makeup artist combined two different types of clay masks to create her super-cocktail. A lot of us have purchased various clay masks over the years and never thought about combining them for enhanced results. I can't wait to try this.

Green Superfoods // I've already experimented and had great success with using green superfood powders on my face. Lately, I noticed several new skincare brands launching with super greens as their hero ingredient. Feel free to add a pinch of your favorite powdered greens to your clay mask concoction to add a burst of antioxidants to your beauty routine.

Vitamin C Powder // If your skin looks a little dull, and you're still battling stubborn acne scars, maybe it's time to focus on brightening masks. If you browse around online for clay masks fortified with vitamin C, you'll notice that they can get pretty pricey. That's why I suggest you consider picking up some ascorbic acid and adding a pinch to your clay mask to boost up its brightening power.

Exfoliating Acids // The other brightening ingredient I love to include in clay masks are exfoliating acids. After learning about exfoliating masks via an IG beauty secret reveal, I immediately created a DIY version. Afterward, my skin was glowing. No clay mask alone could produce those same results. But when combined with mandelic or glycolic acid, my homemade clay mask suddenly gave me skin that looked like I just had a facial.

Turmeric // If you're still dealing acne and inflammation, you should strive to incorporate ingredients that help calm your skin. I read a few stories online of people who used a turmeric face mask daily for a week to attack their breakouts. The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, has been shown in studies to kill bacteria associated with acne. In some cases, turmeric outperformed certain acne medication in its ability to fight acne.

Collagen Powder // If you look at the sheet mask options available on the market, you might notice that collagen masks are gaining popularity. Perhaps you might want to purchase a few to try out.....or maybe you can make your own collagen-based mask for pennies on the dollar. I'm going to test a hydrolyzed collagen + vitamin C anti-aging face mask combination and see if my skin loves it.

This short list is a great place to start. I think it's important to tailor your mask to fit your skin's needs. It's not necessary to add too many ingredients at once. It's about having the ability to create a formula that targets your exact skin concerns when you need it.

from BELLEMOCHA.com http://bit.ly/2VA9qau

Monday, April 29, 2019

How To Flat Iron High Shrinkage Kinky Hair Without Blow Drying First

Ismail oubarka | 10:10 PM

We loved TheChicNatural‘s technique because she was able to stretch her hair adequately enough without blow drying it first and she used just one pass of the flat iron to get her hair straight. Heat damage is real people so if you want straight hair it is probably best that you figure out ways to […]

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from Black Hair Information http://bit.ly/2GQfvWC

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Modify Your Denman Brush To Make It Gentler On Your Hair

Ismail oubarka | 10:10 PM

The Denman brush is like the Holy Grail to many women with coily/kinky/curly hair. It’s the tool that gets the job done, the curls defined or the product evenly distributed. It’s the magic wand, the frizz destroyer, the…OK, let me calm down a moment. It’s a brush for goodness sake!! A darned brush that most […]

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from Black Hair Information http://bit.ly/2ZE1aW9

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Stylist Feature – Nichole LocStar Bennett

Ismail oubarka | 10:14 PM

Introduce yourself and which salon if any you work at… Hello! My name is Nichole LocStar Bennett, loctician and owner of Loc ‘N Roll Hair Studio. How long have you worked as a licensed cosmetologist (or equivalent in your country) and where did you study? I have been a licensed cosmetologist since 2010. I have […]

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from Black Hair Information http://bit.ly/2ZGKQUk

Friday, April 26, 2019

5 Signs That A Conditioner Isn’t Working For Your Hair

Ismail oubarka | 10:16 PM

So let me ask y’all a question: Have you ever been online, seen a conditioner that everyone is raving about, bought it, and even after not really digging it on the first, second and third use kept using it anyway? I have, as ashamed as I am of admitting it, I have. Now I am […]

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from Black Hair Information http://bit.ly/2IKj9EV

The Two Products That Got Lori Harvey's Glow Popping Again.

Ismail oubarka | 4:14 AM

Lori Harvey is one of my favorite muses. I love how she'll sometimes give us a glimpse into what products she's using to maintain her perfect skin. Last summer, she shared a couple of IG stories that I quickly captured and filed away for reference.

I nearly forgot about that beauty secret reveal until I came across the lost files today. In the stories, you see Lori proudly displaying her skin's insane glow. She then proceeds to give thanks to two products that helped create such a magnificent outcome.

Let's discuss.
First, let's talk about my most recent skin product purchase. Last week, I walked into an Ulta store for the first time in a while. After browsing nearly the entire store, I felt a sense of contentment after realizing that I didn't really need to buy anything.

But, as I made my way to the door, I happened to walk by their display of travel sized items. There, I stumbled on a small jar of Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream. Instinctively I grabbed it and headed for the checkout line. Why was I so adamant about making this purchase? Because, for months, I was making mental notes every time I saw Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream (KUFC) appear in someone's story. I never forgot how much Leomie Anderson loved this cream. I swore that one day, I would have a jar of my own.

Now that I've finally tried KUFC for myself, I completely understand Leomie's love for it. This facial cream has quickly become the favorite of all of my moisturizers. The consistency is ultra thick but it moisturizes like nothing else. Although the cream is thick and rich, it feels lightweight on the skin. The older I get, the drier my skin becomes. I don't have time to play around with moisturizers that don't have lasting power. Kiehl's claims that their cream offers 24-hour hydration protection and I kinda agree with them.

Back to Lori...

So I remember when I took a screenshot of her glow-inducing masks, I thought to myself, "here's another person who loves Kiehl's." But Lori decided to deviate from Kiehl's #1 selling item and try their Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Mask. This gel mask is formulated to soothe and hydrate the skin while leaving a behind a bit of glow.

I'm assuming that she used it as a follow up to Dr. Sebagh's Skin Perfecting Mask. This mask seems to do it all. It deep cleans pores, helps minimize breakouts, while working to brighten the skin. Since it's a clay-based formula, Lori decided to try multi-masking for optimal results. The first product deeply refines the pores, the second one brings the moisture and glow.

Seems like a winning combination if you ask me.

from BELLEMOCHA.com http://bit.ly/2GIchpt

Thursday, April 25, 2019

If Hair Is Dead Can It Be Really Be ‘Healthy’?

Ismail oubarka | 10:16 PM

Some scientists describe death of a body as the end of health. So how is it that we can describe hair as healthy or not when it’s essentially dead? Before I tackle that question let me tell you about my man’s mistress! Her name is Roxanne and we know each other, their relationship is no secret […]

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from Black Hair Information http://bit.ly/2VpEDx0

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

An Easy Detangling Routine For 4c Natural Hair

Ismail oubarka | 9:53 PM

4c Hair Chick is really gonna get me to break down and get one of these things! In this video she demonstrates how she detangles her 4C hair the easy way week to week with the use of a Q-Redew steamer and we thought it would be awesome to share. Detangling is almost always the most […]

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from Black Hair Information http://bit.ly/2GEgOJo

Try This // The Foundation Contour (for those of us with two-toned skin).

Ismail oubarka | 8:23 AM

When contouring gained popularity, I took a look at the technique and decided that contouring wasn't really for me. But, at the same time, I realize that simply applying one shade of foundation over the entire face can sometimes produce a result that's flat and monotone.

I thought there was no solution to the problem...until now.
Trying to match foundation isn't easy. Then you add the complexity of having skin that's essentially two-toned which makes it a tad more difficult. Thankfully, professional makeup artist Priscilla Ono has revealed the answer to our woes.

In a recent IG story shared on Fenty Beauty's page, Priscilla used a foundation application technique that could change our lives forever.

The method is simple, Priscilla used a common sense approach to foundation application by matching the darker areas of the lower part of the model's face with the appropriate shade. She then uses a lighter foundation on the cheeks and high points of her face.

In today's world of over contouring, you'll often see beauty gurus using concealer on the high points of the face. The end result can sometimes look a bit over dramatic and not practical for everyday life. Priscilla's method is the perfect alternative. What we love most about her foundation contouring approach is the natural looking end result once the two shades are blended perfectly together at the seam. If you want to contour to further define cheekbones, you still can. But you may find that you won't need to go overboard with the contour because your face isn't as one-dimensional after applying two shades of foundation.

Give this method a shot, I'm sure all of us have a couple of bottles of foundation laying around in two different shades. Instead of blending two shades into one to create an alternate formula, maybe this ombre foundation method could work better for you.

from BELLEMOCHA.com http://bit.ly/2GFl1N3

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

5 Naturalistas You Should Definitely Subscribe To On YouTube

Ismail oubarka | 9:53 PM

YouTube can be a wealth of information for a woman thinking about going natural, a newly natural or even a natural veteran. There must be thousands of videos on hair, makeup and Naturalistas giving their views on natural hair along with tips or techniques to do everything to your hair humanly possible. If you don’t […]

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from Black Hair Information http://bit.ly/2VqyjVK

Monday, April 22, 2019

Stylist Feature – Tiffany Anderson

Ismail oubarka | 9:53 PM

Introduce yourself and which salon if any you work at… My name is Tiffany and I am a 25 year old hairstylist and makeup artist. I am from New York and work in The Salon at Ulta Beauty, located in Westbury, Long Island. I also travel and work outside of the salon. I am also […]