Search Results: NaturallyCurly

Nicole Richie Reveals Her Favorite Nail Polish
Nicole Richie
Nail Polish

Nicole Richie recently shared her preferred brand of nail lacquers, SpaRitual. SpaRitual is a brand that is committed to creating eco-friendly products that promote beauty from within. Richie says she likes dark, sophisticated shades like I Feel the Earth Move, Health, Wealth and Happiness and Endless Possibilities. SpaRitual offers a wide range of shades, from sheers to bold metallic colors.

SpaRitual has amassed a committed following of women who are aware that the products they use affect their well-being and the environment, including Drew Barrymore, Christina Ricci, Eva Longoria and Hilary Duff.

The line embraces an ethical approach to beauty. They are dedicated to the environment by using eco-friendly packaging and printing processes. The bottles of the nail lacquers are also made from reusable glass and natural elements that are fully recyclable.

Skincare Basics

Caring for your skin includes knowing what products are, and how they can help you. It helps to start by formally defining cosmetics, drugs, and cosmeceuticals so we can appreciate the distinct nature of each.

Skincare

Cosmetics are products applied to the body to cleanse, beautify, or alter appearance. They do not require U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA”> approval and can be purchased over the counter. Drugs are products intended for treating or preventing disease and must undergo testing to get approval from the FDA. These include products such as tretinoin cream and tazarotene (Tazorac”> cream. Cosmeceuticals are cosmetics that claim the action of a drug, such as restoring youthful appearance. Cosmeceuticals are not subject to FDA approval, and no testing is required. Technically they cannot claim drug-like action. Examples of cosmeceuticals are creams containing vitamins, lower-strength alpha hydroxy acids (AHA”>, and retinols. Cosmeceuticals may be sold over the counter or dispensed in a physician’s office. Cosmetic dermatologists are familiar with the studies that have been performed and can help lead you toward products that will improve your skin.

Patients always ask which products to use. The truth is, no one magic potion will stop aging or transform your appearance. The products that will make a difference are not glamorous. They include daily sunblock, a nightly topical retinoid, and a moisturizer.

Whatever brand, consistency and smell you prefer (and will use everyday”> is the best choice for you. When choosing a product, look for ingredients proven to work and vehicles that are not irritating. For example, if you are acne-prone, make sure the product is labeled “non-comedogenic,” which means it won’t clog pores. Being aware of products and their ingredients will help you on your way to healthy, youthful skin.

— Dr. Paul Friedman, author of “Beautiful Skin Revealed: The Ultimate Guide to Better Skin”

After Chemotherapy: When Will Your Hair Grow Back?

Losing one’s hair to cancer drugs is often one of the most traumatic side effects of the treatment. Many patients wonder when their hair will grow back.

If you had chemotherapy, here’s a typical timetable:

  • two to three weeks after chemotherapy ends: soft fuzz
  • one month after: real hair starts to grow at its normal rate
  • two months after: an inch of hair

How long it takes to grow back a full head of hair (and pubic hair, lashes, and brows if you lost them too”> varies from person to person.

Generally, the hair most likely to fall out is the hair that tends to grow back the fastest. The hair on the top of your head grows faster than your eyebrows or eyelashes.

Your new hair may be just like your old hair, or it may be thicker and curlier, or straighter, than your original hair. And your hair might grow back a different color. Women who dyed and processed their hair might not remember what their hair was like originally and may be surprised by the new natural color and texture. Eventually, your hair usually goes back to the way it used to be after the effect of chemotherapy on the hair follicle wears off.

cancer

The answer depends on the treatment: chemotherapy, whole brain radiation, or tamoxifen.

If you lost your hair after whole brain radiation for brain metastases, it may take four to six months before even an inch of growth appears. Your new hair will probably be thinner than it was, and you may have a small bald spot on the top of your head. So you may want to hold on to the wig or other headgear you’d bought for special occasions.

If your hair started thinning from tamoxifen treatment, the loss usually levels off after the first year. But the thinning may last as long as you take the drug, which might be as long as five years. You can use Rogaine (chemical name: minoxidil”> for tamoxifen-induced hair loss. It’s safe and effective, but a messy daily chore, and it’s expensive. However, many drugstores and superstores carry generic versions of Rogaine that are less expensive and just as effective.

Very, very rarely, permanent baldness occurs after many years of strong chemotherapy: Hair follicles get “burned out” and shut down, so there is no new growth. Remember, this situation is extremely rare. If you are one of the very, very few women who remain bald, you may mourn your hair for quite a while. But you can become an expert on what to do to make yourself feel attractive, and help other women deal with their new loss.

Breastcancer.org

Ingredients Commonly Found in Hair Care Products: Preservatives

Preservatives are added to products in order to protect them from changes in composition.

Butyl paraben

Diazolidinyl urea

DMDM Hydantoin

Ethyl paraben

Imidazolidinyl Urea

Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

Isobutyl paraben

Methyl paraben

Methylchloroisothiazolinone

Methylisothiazolinone

Phenoxyethanol

Propyl paraben

Sodium benzoate

Ingredients Commonly Found in Hair Care Products: Emollient Esters

Emollient Esters provide conditioning to the hair and give a soft, smooth feel.

Butyl myristate

Butyl stearate

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

Caprylic/capric triglyceride

Cetyl octanoate

Cetyl stearate

Cetearyl stearate

Decyl oleate

Dimethyl Lauramine Isostearate

Glyceryl Stearate

Glyceryl adipate

Glyceryl arachidate

Glyceryl arachidonate

Glyceryl behenate

Glyceryl caprate

Glyceryl caprylate

Glyceryl caprylate / caprate

Glyceryl citrate / lactate / linoleate / oleate

Glyceryl cocoate

Glyceryl Diarachidate

Glyceryl Dibehenate

Glyceryl Dierucate

Glyceryl Dihydroxystearate

Glyceryl Diisopalmitate

Glyceryl Diisostearate

Glyceryl Dilaurate

Glyceryl Dilinoleate

Glyceryl Dimyristate

Glyceryl Dioleate

Glyceryl Dipalmitate

Glyceryl Dipalmitoleate

Glyceryl Diricinoleate

Glyceryl Distearate

Glyceryl Erucate

Glycol stearate

Isocetyl stearate

Isopropyl Myristate

Isopropyl palmitate

Isopropyl stearate

Isostearyl stearate

Octyl palmitate

Octyl stearate

Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate

Sorbitan benzoate

Sorbitan caprylate

Sorbitan isostearate

Sorbitan laurate

Sorbitan Tristearate

Stearyl stearate

Tocopheryl linoleate

Top 10: Healthy Hair Foods

Whip up a meal with any of these foods, and watch your hair improve over time! They add a boost of vitamins and the strength of proteins for strong, healthy hair.

Spinach

Your hair is like Popeye, except not really.

    Salmon, cold-water fish, sardines

    Eggs

    Lentils

    Wheat bran and germ

    Kale, spinach, watercress

    Unpolished rice

    Cantaloupe

    Blueberries

    Citrus fruits

    Seaweed

How To Create Your Own Runway Messy Bun

Every fashion week there is one hair style that looks great on the runway, but when you try to re-create the look at home it never comes out the same. At STYLE360’s Gudnitz Couture presentation, we were floored by the modern take on the classic chignon.

Luckily for everyone, Sebastian’s lead stylist, Michelle Catralanello, gave some great how-to tips on how to create this amazing look on our own.

  1. Subdivide the back and front of your hair, parting just behind the ear.
  2. Secure the back section in a ponytail with a rubber band.
  3. Curl ponytail with a curling iron and then tease the hair up a bit.
  4. Create an exaggerated chignon, by twisting hair up and pinning back up with bobby pins. (use Sebastian’s microweb fiber to hold the chignon in place.”>
  5. Take the front section of your hair and twist, add Sebastian Re-Shaper hairspray .
  6. Cross section over back and pin to add a modern looking texture.

Style from the front:

Front

Front

Style from the back:

Back

Back

If you try out this great runway look, take pictures of it and post it in our curly hair photos area so everyone can see how it looks on different hair types!

Tips for Getting Ready For A Job Interview

September is officially “Update Your Resume” month, so in this time of new beginnings, we think it’s important to put your best foot forward. Hey, job interviews are nerve wracking, so make your first impression a great one by following these simple tips. With a “go get em” attitude and just 10 quick minutes of prep time (minus studying up on the company history!”>, get ready for that human resources orientation in no time!

Job Interview

The path to success begins with you.

  • For your face, you probably won’t need much more than concealer and loose powder. If you have blemishes or uneven skin tone, by all means, use a foundation! But if you don’t need much coverage, just skip it.
  • Wear lipstick, not lip gloss. Gloss is too shiny and youthful for a formal occasion like an interview.
  • Well-groomed brows show that you pay attention to details. Tweeze any stray hairs, and if you have brow gel, use it to set your brows in place. (A tiny bit of hair gel, diluted with water, can do the same thing.”>
  • Applying a little bit of blush makes everyone look healthier. Use this rather than bronzer for a natural-looking, healthy glow.
  • Don’t wear any perfume. “Oh, but I love my signature scent,” you might be saying. Yes, and it probably smells lovely, but what if your interviewer has an allergy? Skip it.
  • Unless you have naturally clean, even, hangnail-free nails, get a manicure. It doesn’t matter whether your nails are long or short, but they should be neatly filed. Don’t opt for a French manicure — many find it dated.

— Anna De Souza

Video: Special Occasion How-To: Curlformers

In this video Alicia does a how-to video for Curlformers. She has naturally straight hair and these gave her a great curl that she later used for her wedding day hairstyle.

Video: Alicia’s Wedding Hairstyle How-To

In this video Alicia shows you how her stylist created the perfect wedding hairstyle for her naturally straight hair just by using Curlformers.

Brow Tips From Brett Freedman

Brett Freeman with Vanitymark Cosmetics recently did a brow event at The Cosmetic Market in Nashville. Here he gives 14-year-old Meredith her very first brow shaping. Listen to Brett explain the process, step-by-step.

  1. First things first: tidy up your brow area. Use tweezers to take away any of the ‘cobwebs’– those feathering hairs that grow downward in the areas above and outside of your brows. Your brow line will instantly look cleaner!
  2. Get in the middle. Tweezing the middle of your two brows is easy because there is no shaping involved! Anything that’s in between your two brows needs to go.
  3. Where should the brows start? No need to use a pencil to ‘line up’ the brow line – nature knows what it’s doing. Your brows should start right where the majority of your brow hairs begin growing; don’t take away too many rows or it will look unnatural.
  4. Trim the brows. Do this very carefully to avoid a mishap! Use a brow spoolie or a clean mascara wand to brush all the brow hairs up. Use cuticle scissors to trim the tips off, and then brush back down.
  5. To arch or not to arch? A drastic brow arch is too much for teens or those who never tweeze their brows. Lightly tweeze out a row or two underneath the brow if hairs look too out of place. Remember to start slow—just a neatened brow line will look fab!
  6. The finishing touch. Teens don’t need to fill in their brows, but if you have any sparse areas, feel free to touch up with a brow pencil one shade lighter than hairs – Brett’s Vanitymark line has seven shades to choose from, so you’re sure to find a great match. Clear brow gel is helpful for unruly brows — it’s like hair spray for your arches!
Anderson Cooper Offered $1M to Get Rid of Gray Hair
Anderson Cooper

There’s a new pill that makes gray hair disappear, promising to reverse and prevent gray hair at the root. Rise-N-Shine, makers of Go Away Gray, produce an all-natural pill containing the enzyme Catalase, which replaces the decreasing amounts of Catalase lost in our bodies as we grow older. Featured on ABC News, BBC, NBC and FOX, the company wants to spread the word by offering $1,000,000 to Anderson Cooper to get rid of his gray hair for five consecutive years.

The product was developed by Cathy Beggan, a mother of three and long-time proponent of natural remedies: “We feel like Anderson Cooper is a really visible, and well-respected figure and thought he would be a great spokesperson for the product and the company.” The company is willing to deliver the cash to Cooper after using the pills for 60 days and sharing his experiences with the new look via social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Beggan thinks Cooper might just go for it: “While Cooper may not need the extra cash, he may decide to go ahead with it and donate the million dollars to a worthwhile charity.”

In the comments area below, tell us if you think Cooper will do the deal!

Rinse with Cold Water to Lock in Conditioner
shower

Hot water fades color! We all feel the need for a hotter shower in winter but try to turn the temperature down. Before stepping out of the shower, rinse hair with the coldest water you can stand, as it helps lock in conditioner for great shine.

James Joseph Salon owner William George

Top 10 Foods for Shiny Curls

You are what you eat — and that goes for your hair too. Add these foods for healthy hair to your diet for shiny curls, coils, or kinks!


Food for Shiny Curls

Tangerine Nails

Check out this great tip from Essence.com:

tangerine nails

Fall officially begins in just a short while, but you have a good month before your sexy tan starts to fade! Nothing enhances sun-kissed skin like bright tangerine nails. This juicy, tropical hue pops next to bronzey-brown skin, and looks incredibly chic paired with rich, dark blue shades (rock your orange nails with dark denim, you’ll see what we mean!”>.

Right now, we’re loving Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Orange Fizz ($23″>—this sumptuous shade is impossibly glossy and lasts up to a week without chipping!

Skin and Makeup Must-Haves from Essence

Check out these great tips from Essence.com.

ahunta sheriff
With so many new products on the shelves, revamping your makeup bag for fall can be a tad overwhelming. Ladies, we went straight to the top for answers! Here, super-famous celebrity makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff (Keri Hilson, Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keys are devoted clients”> gives us her picks for the top ten makeup and skincare products every Black woman should have in her arsenal this season. Hope you’re taking notes!

Smith’s Rosebud Salve

smith
“Smith’s Rosebud Lip Salve ($6″> is an old-time favorite,” says Sheriff. “It adds instant moisture and helps soothe chapped lips and elbows. “Plus, when I dab it on top of eye shadow, it gives a gorgeous, glowing affect.”

Cover Girl Queen Natural Hue Pressed Powder

Cover Girl Queen Natural Hue Pressed Powder
“Cover Girl Queen Natural Hue Mineral Pressed Powder ($8,”> is affordable but gives great results,” says Sheriff. “The shade match for women of color is awesome, it’s long-lasting, and it controls shine up to 30 percent better than leading brands.”

Dior Hydra Life Pro-Youth Sorbet Creme

Dior Hydra Life Pro-Youth Sorbet Creme
“Dior Hydra Life Pro-Youth Sorbet Creme ($56″> is my favorite moisturizer for normal or combination skin, which many women of color have,” says Sheriff. “It plumps, softens, smooths and gives a red carpet radiance that’s truly amazing.”

Palmers Olive Butter Formula with Vitamin E

Palmers Olive Butter Formula with Vitamin E

“Palmers Olive Butter Formula with Vitamin E ($6.99″> is my go-to product for instantly hydrating my clients’ skin,” says Sheriff.

Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For Platinum

Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For Platinum

“Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For Platinum ($115″> gives you dense, gorgeous lashes in as little as 8 weeks,” says Sheriff. “I even saw changes on some of my clients in a month! It’s a once-a-day treatment, so use it at night before bed.”

LipFusion InFatuation Liquid Shine Lip Fattener

LipFusion InFatuation Liquid Shine Lip Fattener

“LipFusion InFatuation Liquid Shine gloss ($18″> gives you the luscious, plump lips of a goddess…without the surgery,” says Sheriff.

Black Opal Foundation Stick

Black Opal Foundation Stick

“Black Opal Foundation Stick gives great, buildable coverage, from light to heavy,” says Sheriff. “I use it for quick touch ups or to mask dark circles. The matte finish makes it awesome for all day wear.”

Girlactik Beauty Lip Gloss in Stunning

Girlactik Beauty Lip Gloss in Stunning

“Girlactik Beauty Lip Gloss in Stunning is a universal flattering on all women of color,” says Sheriff. “It’s great for day…and for night, just add lip liner to make it more bold.”

Whole Foods Implements New Sustainable Packaging Guidelines

Whole Foods Market recently announced it has implemented new responsible packaging guidelines for all of its more than 2,100 body care and supplement suppliers companywide and, to spearhead the change, has switched to post-consumer recycled (PCR”> content bottles for several of its store-brand supplements and body care products.

“We’re thrilled by how responsive our vendors have been in making changes to provide even more green options for our customers,” said Jeremiah McElwee, global Whole Body coordinator for Whole Foods Market. “More exciting still is that through the development process, Whole Foods Market has created a forum for vendors to share best practices, helping the whole industry move forward with our environment top of mind.”

Beginning in the summer of 2008, McElwee and his team worked with 25 of Whole Foods Market’s largest personal care product suppliers to develop the new guidelines, which became effective Sept. 1, 2009. The guidelines mandate that suppliers reduce the use of plastic in product packaging, encourage the switch to glass when possible, limit acceptable packaging materials to those that are easily reused or recycled, and/or feature the highest percentage of PCR content. Suppliers were given one year to transition to more environmentally friendly packaging.

All new body care and supplement suppliers must meet the packaging guidelines before their products can be sold in one of the company’s more than 300 locations in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.

“At Whole Foods Market, we’re committed to reducing, reusing and recycling waste on all levels of business, and we’re thrilled to be leading the green packaging charge with our store-brand products,” said McElwee. “We knew that PCR-content bottles were the way to go. They require less energy and water to produce and generate far fewer greenhouse gases, while diverting reusable materials out of the landfill and reducing reliance on virgin plastics.”

recylcing

New recycling symbol indicating that bottles are made from 100 percent PCR plastic.

While the switch to PCR bottles began last Sept., the company expects to switch all of its house-brand Whole Body products, which now use amber plastic PET No. 1 bottles, to PCR packaging by late 2010. The new bottles bear a leaf symbol indicating that they are made from 100 percent PCR plastic.
Video: Ivan Zoot The Curly Minute – Blot; Do not Rub!

The Clipper Guy, Ivan Zoot, shares another Curly Minute. Blot—do not rub— your hair to dry it. Have a look at this video. More information at Zoothair.com

What other subjects would you like to see a Curly Minute about? Share below!