b.l.a.c is beautiful

I have so much admiration for sistas who are out there doing it for themselves, entrepreneurs making a name in the cosmetics biz by specializing in makeup made for bellas like you and me.

The ethnic market has become big business, and many of the leading cosmetics lines are offering makeup for a deeper and wider range of skin tones. Everyone already knows how wonderful MAC, Prescriptives, and Bobbi Brown products are, which is exactly why I love to shine a light on the new, niche businesses on the rise. You all remember Valana, Shea Radiance and Ohm Body? Great! Here are some more products by bellas for bellas that have come across my radar.

For any woman of color who’s been seeking simple, pure beauty solutions for her skin tone, b.l.a.c minerals is the bomb. This is truly natural makeup that doesn’t rely on the use of fillers and fragrances. Owner and Creator Merced Manning truly is dedicated to making a range of products that bring out black beauty — their items come in shades that exist compliment deep, warm skin tones to a tee. Take for example, the toasty blush. I was skeptical when I first saw it in the package — too burnt orange, I thought. But when sparingly applied to the apples of my cheeks, it gave me a subtle, gorgeous glow that didn’t scream “I’m wearing blush!”, which is exactly what I’m always looking for. Subtlety is key when it comes to cheek color.

The lip glazes are made with shea butter, and are as smooth and soft as you’d imagine them to be. Plus the colors are true to description — the Spice shimmer gloss really shimmers. If you’re a mahogany-skinned bella who prefers a shimmery, nude gloss, I’d advise you try the Cocoa shade. It just gave my lips that slick of sophistication that finishes off a well-done un-made up look. It would look effortlessly beautiful with bronze eye makeup. Speaking of which…

b.l.a.c’s Carnival eyeshadow is the perfect shade of gold for my complexion, and it’s flecked through and through with sparkles. Just a little stripe with a wet brush along my upper eyelid is stunning for day, and the full lid in gold at night is a bold, bright look. Royal is the kind of blue that really brings out the brown in my eyes — try it, I bet you’ll love the power of blue eyemakeup to amplify your baby browns.

b.l.a.c specializes in mineral foundation, and they offer a dazzling array of shades. From butternut tan to mocha deep, there’s a whole lot to choose from. The coverage is light and really flattering, but would be most ideal for a bella with unblemished skin.

b.l.a.c minerals is sold online (the company is based in Atlanta), and the prices aren’t scary — $22.50 for mineral foundation, $11 for blush, and $6.50 for a pot of lip gloss. Good deal, great little company. Click here to read Urban World Online’s interview with Merced Manning, creator of b.l.a.c.

I had the honor of meeting Kiley Russell, the gorgeous, creative bella behind Big Girl Cosmetics in person, at the Makeup Show Miami. She is stunning in person, and wears her locks like a true queen. And her makeup was to DIE for!

I admired Big Girl’s big display of items — that Mosaic Bronzer looks kind of amazing, right? And their eyeliners and eye shadows come in a great range — $10 a pop for the shadows. Their Diva Gloss is smooth and slick like a regular lip balm, but gives great shine and glimmer. I was very skeptical about the sheer peach, but it just gives such a beautiful natural glow to my mouth, I’ve been completely won over. Even prettier over a lip stain. Love it.

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Yikes - It’s Almost Mother’s Day!!

I knew this date was creeping up on me, but oh no — Mother’s Day is this Sunday and I am so not ready. I’m gonna have to hit the mall sometime this weekend — Mama Bella’s actually going to be here on Monday and I want the post-Mother’s Day shebang to be just as special as Sunday will. I know I’ve waited until almost the eleventh hour, but I wouldn’t be a very good Afrobella if I didn’t let you all know about the sweet Mother’s Day deals I’ve been noticing. Maybe this will be a gift for your mama. Maybe it’ll turn into a little gift for yourself. Either way, there are some great discounts and specials in store!

Curls is offering 15% off through May 10 (if you use the promo code ilovemom), and free shipping on orders over $75 (with promo code free4mom). Could be a great time to stock up on that Milkshake.

Of course you know Miss Jessie’s is offering a free value pack with the purchase of a 16 or 8 ounce Baby Buttercreme (which is my favorite, and Little Afrobella’s too!) The deal ends May 11, so get to clickin’.

There’s all kinds of gorgeous gift sets at Sephora, my favorites of which are the Givenchy Very Irresistible gift set for $60 (I love this scent! So floral and pretty. Then there’s the Cannabis Rose gift set for your ex-hippie baby boomer moms, and the Philosophy Breakfast in Bed set, for those moms who dream of bathing in heavy cream.

Philosophy’s also gone the extra mile for mama, with their “mom’s philosophy” interactive website where you can celebrate your mothers’ wisdom while also creating a unique online tribute to her. Click here to celebrate your mom, and enter for the grand prize — $1200 shopping spree on philosophy.com. Sweet!

If you can afford to splurge, Yves St. Laurent has a great gift package — $80 for the Elle Mother’s Day coffret, which contains an eau de parfum and a body lotion. That’s the kind of gift my Mama Bella always crosses her fingers for.

For a limited time, Kiehl’s is offering limited edition collections for mom. I need that gardenia in my life! The Hand and Body Lotion costs $19.50, the Liquid Body Cleanser is $15.50, and the Gardenia Candle is a little steep at $28. But I’m sure it smells heavenly. Love me some Kiehl’s.

Carol’s Daughter has a great Mother’s Day contest which I really should have mentioned earlier… it closes May 11. And, even cooler — Lisa Price, one of my favorite entrepre-bellas, is making her Home Shopping Network debut on May 8, 9, and 10! Show her some love by tuning in!

Need even more specific suggestions? Check out Someone Spoil Me, a site that’s got your gift organized to a tee. Is your mom sentimental? A fashionista? Is she into gourmet food, or organic living? They’ve got your back, bellas.

What do you plan on giving, or getting for Mother’s Day?

Ask Afrobella — Growing Up Afrobella

I got a question last month that made me smile. Here tis —

Hi Afrobella,

L

Hey L — love your question. Obviously there’s no way I could ever recommend straightening your little bella’s hair, ESPECIALLY not now — she’s only four years old!!! That’s old enough to be own-way and finicky about how her hair is combed, but waaaaay too early to consider using creamy crack on her tender scalp. The same chemicals that remove the kink from natural afro-textured hair, are used in harsh household products like Drano, which you use to de-clog your sink. Would you slather that on your little one’s head? Or your own, for that matter? Millions of women of color do just that, in order to alter the texture of their hair as it naturally grows. And we pass these messages along to our kids, thereby reinforcing a message that their natural hair is unkempt, unattractive, and unfit for public eyes. It’s kind of insane, if you really stop to consider it. OK, I’ll get off the soap box and answer your question!

I’ve been seeing more and more little afrobellas wearing their hair wild and free. On that note, allow me to introduce you to my favorite new model on the Trinidadian scene — my niece, little afrobella Dominique! Here she is, posing off on the beach for an advertisement for Trinidad clothing company Westport. My favorite little afrobella is such a big girl now! She’s going to pre-school, and the other day she sang “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” for her aunty Afrobella over the phone. YAY! (Click here here and here to see earlier photos of little miss gorgeous). Little afrobella Dominique is going to be three soon, and she’s got such a big bright personality. It goes with her big, beautiful hair!

I had to ask her mom — my sister-in-law, Lindsay, what they were using at home to keep her hair combed and presentable.

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Summer Footwear, Having a Blast

Too much politics gets me down, bellas. Time to lighten up with a shoe post!

I don’t know how the weather is where you’re living, but for me in Miami, it feels like summer already. It isn’t quite at the point where I feel like I’m melting as soon as I open the door to leave my house, but we’re just around the corner. Summer in Miami is hot, sticky, and almost unbearable. (Don’t get me started on hurricane season, I’m nervous about this year). To combat the humidity and oven-like temperatures, you’ve got to dress like a native. Think light, flowy fabrics — linen is great. And flip-flops and comfortable shoes that breathe are a must! Here’s some of the sweet summertime shoes I’ve been spying.

My shoes of the Summer? I adore these toe strap flip flops from Old Navy. You might look at these and wonder, are they as comfortable as regular flip flops? I say yes. Actually, for me they’re even more comfortable. I’ve had chic cloth flip flops that basically cut the thin and delicate skin between my toes before. These won’t do that. When I first got them it took some getting used to, but now I am definitely planning on purchasing a second pair. Why? Because they’re chic — I’ve gotten quite a few compliments and questions on them — comfy, and just $5!! Holla! I currently own a pair in basic gray, but my second pair will definitely be one of the multicolored pairs. Love those.

I’ve been a fan of mary janes for as long as I can remember. Don’t interpret that illegally — I’m talking about shoes here! I rock a pair of mary janes at least three times a week. I’m a flats-only lady (OK, maaaybe you might catch me in a kitten heel at a party). They’re cute, funky, sometimes clunky, and always in fashion, if you ask me. My current favorite mary jane shoes are Crocs. Yeah, you heard right. Crocs!

I resisted them for so long. I still think the big Crocs are crazy ugly — it’s one thing to see a cute little kid in bright orange or pink clunkers, but for a woman like me… not so much. I’m sure they’re comfortable, but they didn’t appeal to me. I actually didn’t get the appeal of Crocs until I laid my eyes on Alice. Now these, I could wear! The Alice crocs are low-key, comfortable as you can imagine, and come in a slim-fitting style that goes great with jeans, skirts, whatever your fancy.
I finally get the appeal of Crocs — they are perfect for beach, outdoors, an afternoon stroll… they’re just really easy slip-on shoes. One word to the wise — take your time to make sure they’re the perfect size for you. I thought the 10’s were too big, so I got a 9 instead… and they are definitely super snug. They’re meant to be a bit big, I think — to let your foot breathe to the max. So my next pair will be in the right size, and I won’t question the Crocmeisters. (My next pair might be those Adara cross front flip flops. Tres chic! And for my ladies who love heels, did you know Crocs cyprus are the first high heels made by the popular brand? They’re kinda cute, no? I don’t wear heels, but I’d love to hear from any of you bellas who have tried these. Are they as comfy as you’d hope they would be?)

I saw these on My Air Shoes and flipped out! I have loved Reeboks with the straps for years upon years. These are the Milkfed Reebok Freestyles, created in honor of the Reebok Freestyle’s 25th anniversary. I love the pastel brightness of these — they make me want to get outfits to match! Yes, I am a dork like that. These shoes are super fun, and take me back to being 9 years old and absolutely dying to have a pair of high top Reeboks to wear to school. These make me want to jump rope and play hopscotch again. I want these just for the retro value, but I haven’t found a price point just yet… so for now, I’ll admire from afar. Did any of you own Reebok freestyles back in the day? Reminisce with me!

Which will be your shoes of the summer? Do you have any sandals or flip flops you absolutely can’t do without? Share!

… But Is It Worth It?

There’s something really intoxicating about shopping at Sephora, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, or Nordstroms, and stopping by the makeup counter of the brands you see mentioned in Vogue or Elle or Harper’s Bazaar. I remember my first Chanel lipstick — a deep chocolate berry brown I wore down to the nub back in high school, when almost-black lips were the hottest thing. (Raise your hand if you owned a black lipstick!) Fancy makeup makes you feel the part. If you lived your life like the glossy magazines dictate, you’d have a dresser covered in MAC, bedecked with Shu Uemura, and decorated with Dior. But in these days when gas prices are escalating, homes aren’t selling, and we may-or-may-not be in a recession, maybe you can’t afford a lipgloss that’s $25. Maybe a $50 giftcard at Sephora needs to get you the maximum bang for your buck. Maybe you yearn to pull that YSL lipgloss with the gold sparkles in it out of your purse, just to be flossy for once, but you need to pay the bills and can’t afford to splurge on a product that may not be perfect. So you’re asking yourself… but is it worth it?

Recently, I’ve gotten the opportunity to try out some of the fancier makeup brands. Some of them really are everything you’ve dreamed of, and make you feel like the epitome of luxury with each application. Some of them, not so much. Sometimes you might be better off spending $10 on two-for-one drugstore lipglosses than blowing $20 on just one. This is the beginning of some really honest reviews about the products you may have been saving up to purchase. I’ll start with the Fafi collection from MAC.

Ask just about any woman of color what their favorite makeup brand is, and you’ll get almost the same answer — MAC. It is the gold standard for women of color. Why? Because MAC has a reputation for high quality products with pigments that work with and last on darker skin tones. Their new Fafi line is super fun, with distinctive, graffiti-inspired packaging all designed by the makeup’s muse, French artist Fafi. Makeup Loves Me scored an exclusive interview with Fafi, check it out to learn more about her.

Click here to explore the super cool Fafi website, click here to peep the products. The Fafi stuff is funky, youthful, sparkly, and muted all at once. Some beauty bloggers love it. Some don’t quite feel the same. And apparently, Fafi isn’t selling as well as Heatherette, so you can still find Fafi stuff at the counter. So, is it worth it?

Mostly yes, sometimes no.

The thing that draws everyone to MAC is the quality. You know if you’re buying an item, be it a $14 lip gloss or a $34 eyeshadow kit, will be a well-made, wonderfully packaged, highly pigmented item. Fafi lives up to the quality standards, and some of the items in the collection are awesome. I think the paint pots are amazing. My favorite is Rollickin’, a subdued ice blue that looks great on my skin tone. Cash Flow is a buttery green-gold that looks better on than it does in the pot. But here’s the thing with Fafi. We’ve got lots and lots of pink happening. Is there such a thing as too much pink? This brown skinned bella says yes.

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The Afrobella Guide to the Florida Keys

Hello, bellas and fellas! I’m back, and this is where I spent most of my last weekend. On the beach in the fabulous Florida Keys!

This year will mark a decade that I’ve lived in Miami, and consequently, I’ve gone on many a jaunt down to the Keys. We typically go camping in Big Pine Key — my husband’s family has been doing it as a tradition for more than a decade now — and it is always a good time. Here’s the thing. I am a lady who loves luxury. I need a bed. I need a private bathroom. I enjoy having four walls around me and a door to lock at night. I am not particularly outdoorsy, but I can be a trouper when it’s required. The benefits of camping in Big Pine versus shelling out bigger bucks for a hotel in Key West, becomes more than apparent when you add up your holiday expenses after the trip has ended.

The cons of camping —

if your tent’s far away, you have to do the 100 yard dash if you need to hit the loo in a hurry during the night. THAT SUCKS.

You tend to wake up super early, because the birds in the tree directly overhead are singing, and bright sunshine is beating down on you.

Bugs. Ick. Ouch. Where’s the Off?

I came home with a mystery rash on my arms, thighs, and elbows. No idea what that’s about.

The pros of camping —

Super affordable, and in a place like Bahia Honda state park, you can get a beachfront site for a ridiculous price. Sleeping in a tent isn’t THAT bad, if you’ve got a decent air mattress even better. And I absolutely adore our new Eureka N!ergy Family Tent. I highly recommend it to any reluctant camper.

I love Key Deer, so the chance to see them so up close is great. You REALLY aren’t supposed to feed them, but little kids always do. As I am sure I would, if I was six years old and a deer the size of a Great Dane came hungrily wandering up to me, batting its huge, adorable eyes. Awww.

There really is something magnificent about being in the great outdoors. The moon is so bright and the constellations so distinct. It’s romantic and beautiful and can be quite charming. But then, bugs. Ick. Ouch. Where’s the Off? And why do I have this frickin’ rash?

Every day is all about soaking up the sun, enjoying the beautiful weather, lying on the beach, and chillaxing to the max. Every night is about a delicious dinner, and there are so many great restaurants, fantastic beach bars, and great stores to check out throughout the Florida Keys. If you’re considering a vacation, allow me to point out my favorite things-to-do along the way.

On my way there, I discovered a fabulous, fabulous plus size swimwear outlet called Lion’s Lair Swimwear. Giant billboards promising special attention to measurements encouraged me to stop in on my way through beautiful Islamorada, and I was beyond impressed. It’s next to Burger King, at Mile Marker 82. Online, their selections are just alright. In store, it’s really impressive — a wide variety of colors and patterns and textures, with prices ranging at around $100 to $200, and there was like a 30% sale happening or something. A very friendly lady named Kim told me you can contact them and let them know if you’re looking for a leopard print tankini with DD cups, for example. They take photos to e mail to you and everything. I stpped by and bought an wide brimmed roll-up beach visor hat by Scala, which leaves my big afro puff poking out the top like I’m some sort of funky pineapple. It was super cute, cost $28, is made of 100% paper but didn’t melt when it got inevitably drenched in seawater.

You can find the nicest beaches at Bahia Honda state park. Peaceful, relatively shallow aqua waters, pale sand, and enough breeze for kite surfing, which is super fun to watch. There’s a little concession place that sells spicy, spicy Jamaican curry chicken patties. Don’t forget your sunscreen, your beach umbrella, and a big widebrimmed hat or sun visor — we don’t want you to get burned. I prefer a high SPF, and my current favorite sunblock is the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock with SPF 30. It really just absorbs effortlessly into your skin, and protects you extremely well. For lips, Shu Uemura’s Depsea Therapy Moisture Recovery lip balm is the way to go.

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Ask Afrobella — A $5 Makeover??

If you’ve been on this Afrobella journey with me for any length of time, hopefully you’ll realize — I am all about bellas on a budget. I believe that just about every woman wants to feel beautiful every now and then, whether they’re stacking lots of paper, or struggling to get by. These almost-recession days aren’t easy, and some of those glossy magazines would have you believe that beauty products need to cost you a pretty penny. But I’ll tell you this — you don’t need to buy all your products at Sephora to be gorgeous. There are often bargains to be had at the drugstore, or even right in your own pantry. Having said that, I also think it’s important to recognize that sometimes, you get what you pay for. Take for example, this recent Ask Afrobella question.

Dear Afrobella,
I just found your blog. I am in a wedding in two weeks. I have been told by the bride(zilla) that we can either do our own make or she will have someone there to do our make up for $5. So I’m like, what kind of make up are they doin for 5 bucks? I am worried that this make up chick will have me looking crazy, but I’m not confident that I can do my own make up.
The only make up I own is lipstick and I don’t have an appropriate color for a wedding, I don’t think. I generally prefer dark lipstick. I would just go without make-up and just wear lipstick and mascara, but I don’t want to look odd against the other bridesmaids. I’m a full-time student so I can’t afford to spend a lot on make-up, especially that I won’t wear everyday. Should I let the $5 lady do my make up? Go to the drug store and get some stuff and do my own? I don’t even know what to get or how to apply it. Or just go without and put on some lipstick? I have dry skin. I get a few pimples on my forehead and chin around my period. I’ve attached a pic so you can see what I’m working with. I’m just wearing lipgloss.
Y

OK, so I didn’t post Y’s photo in the interest of protecting her privacy — wouldn’t want the bride-to-be to find out that she’s a bridezilla on the internet! But just so you know, this is a lovely, luminous bella with wonderful chocolate brown skin. She’s got her hair pulled back with a head wrap, and from the photo, her skin’s got nary a blemish. So Y, my first bit o’ advice is, you’re naturally beautiful so don’t worry about comparing or looking odd next to the other bridesmaids. It’s entirely possible that this makeup artist is an apprentice, an amateur, or a professional family friend who’s offered an insanely affordable price…? I dunno, $5 is pretty cheap if you ask me, so I can understand your skepticism. I’ve never heard of a professional makeup artist who’s that affordable. I’d be interested to know how that turns out for the other bellas in the bridal party. So for the wedding, I’d advise you wear some fabulous accessories, and with these basic makeup tips, you’ll be the one of the loveliest ladies in the room (besides the bride, of course)!

I think it would probably stand you in good stead just to have some basic ideas of how to wear makeup in your arsenal, lest there isn’t a makeover artist handy. But we’re trying to not spend more than oh, let’s say $20. $25, tops. So let’s go to the drugstore!

I am a big believer in eyeliner, and I really think a bold eye could set this wedding look apart from your everyday style. First stop, Milani. Did you already guess? I really like this super cheap makeup line. The colors actually stand out on women of color, unlike many other drugstore brands. I seriously rock their eyeliner almost daily, and I get compliments on them all the time. So first you might want to consider the color of your bridesmaid gown. Is it bold, or is it demure? Either way you might want to start with basic black or dark brown liner along your lower lash line, and I think the new Color Brilliance eyeliners are the bomb. They glide on effortlessly, and the pencil is soft but doesn’t break easily. The black pencil is my new daily eyeliner. Love it. Also, I might be partial because I’m a Pisces, but I think aqua shades look divine on brown skin. Just lining your top lid with a thin splash of color could be a fun way to jazz up the wedding day. If I’m not using some kind of primer, I usually lightly powder my eyelid before applying eyeliner. And trust me when I tell you, that aqua pencil is FIRE. And Milani being Milani, there’s no website that tells you the exact cost, and they’re not sold on Drugstore.com… But I will guarantee you that these are less than $4 a pop.

OK, maybe you aren’t quite ready for blue eyeliner, LOL. I always tend to reach for brights, and they’re not for everyone. For a more subtle way to dazzle, consider using a touch of golden shimmer on your eyelid.

I am partial to Physician’s Formula Shimmer Strips — they’re flattering, user friendly, and can be used as bronzer, blush, and eyeshadow… but I pretty much only use them as eyeshadow. I love the warm, golden pink shades — just applying a little to your eyelid, then lining your upper lash line with black could really make your eyes pop. This Temptalia look will give you an idea of what I mean, close up. Temptalia has great makeup tips in general, and if you’re not sure which part of the eye to apply makeup to, their eye diagram is tremendously helpful.

Now. On to the rest of your face!

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Satisfy Your Thirsty Skin

In my previous Ask Afrobella about oily skin, a lot of you had really great feedback, advice, and comments. Quite a few of you mentioned that — contrary to the typically discussed issues of black skin care — you actually don’t have oily skin, and therefore, the way I’d explained the oft-repeated “black don’t crack” adage might not apply to your skin type, in terms of having an eternally shiny face. So allow me to explain further, and make some product suggestions for bellas who’ve got parched skin. No cracking allowed around here!

Like I mentioned, I have combination skin — an incredibly oily t-zone (seriously, even my eyelids get shiny at the end of the day), with dry, acne-prone cheeks and chin. My oily extremes get really oily, and my dry extremes can be incredibly parched. I’ve been getting super arid, peeling spots on my chin, and for some reason the backs of my ears get dry and flaky. I can’t stand it. So recently, I’ve been wanting to experiment with alternative face washing methods, and after a bella in the shiny skin comment thread (thanks Brownshugaz!) suggested the oil cleansing method, I was ready to take a leap of faith.

From the fascinating website: “Do not be afraid of applying oil to your face. Oil, alone, will not bring you blemishes. Pimples, cysts, zits, blackheads, whiteheads…these are a result of several different factors including hormones, bacteria, dead skin cells and the buildup of these factors. Your skin naturally produces oil because it needs it. It is not a malicious force to be reckoned with; it is there for the benefit of your skin, allowing your largest organ to function properly. It is naturally occurring. Not only does your natural oil help lubricate, it also heals, protects, and moisturizes your skin so that it may function properly. Properly functioning skin is beautiful, clear, and glowing. Learning to work with your skin, not against it, will save you tremendously.”

Well doesn’t that sound convincing! The site recommends Castor oil or EVOO, but says sunflower seed oil is the best for facial massage. The site also recommends creating your own cleansing oil by blending Castor and sunflower seed oil. But my first attempt at oil cleansing was fancy. I went for the Shu Uemura cleansing oil. This is luxurious, heady stuff. As it should be, at $32 for the small bottle!

The whole method feels like luxury, actually — before going to bed, I put a small amount of oil in my hands, warm it by rubbing my palms together, then massage it into my face. This is gentle enough to use around my eyes to remove makeup, and I adore the smell. Like perfume and wealth. After rubbing the oil on my face — kind of like a nurturing facial massage — I rinse it off with lukewarm water. When I’m done, my skin feels soft as butta. Even the morning after, your face still is touchable and smooth and fresh. Loving the Shu Uemura oil, and the oil cleansing method in general! Bellas on a budget, this method isn’t out of your reach — Castor oil and EVOO are easily accessible, and just a drop of your favorite essential oil scent will be all you need for fragrance’s sake. Be careful around your eyes, is my only caveat there.

For bellas who feel sketchy about using kitchen pantry products as cleansers, allow me to introduce you to a new line of products that I think is perfect for bellas with dry skin — the Australian-based product line called Become. If you’ve got concerns about aging or dry skin, they might be what you’re looking for.

Become is all about gentle, effective anti-aging through hydration. Their Creamy Cleanser is exactly what it sounds like — a wonderfully moisturizing cleanser that slicks on like lotion and leaves your face soft and fresh. The Face Smoothing Gel stands among the gentlest exfoliators I’ve ever tried. Teeny beads in a golden liquid polish your face without scratching your skin. My absolute favorite product in the line is the Hydration Serum. Yes, like Ryan Seacrest and Dick Clark, I prefer a serum to a cream. Become’s serum is $59, so consider yourself warned… but this stuff is the bomb. My skin drank it up like it needed it. It’s a really light, super refreshing and hydrating elixir that kept my skin radiant and dewy. I just ran out and my face feels thirsty without it!

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It Doesn’t Suck

Allow me to be totally, completely random for a minute. Yes, this is a beauty blog. Yes, I typically will switch it up with music, fashion, and/or politics. But today, I’ve got something on my chest and I need to vent. I hate the Dirt Devil Kone. Hate it. My hand-held vacuum is totally ticking me off.

I bought the Dirt Devil Kone shortly after it hit the market — the ads just spoke to me. A hand-held vac that’s pretty enough to display in my home? Get. Out! I had to have it. Then I read a review on Beauty Addict, which revealed that the Kone was designed by Karim Rashid, who created the gorgeous Kenzo perfume bottles that totally belong on my dresser. It was written.

I drove to Target — was admittedly a bit disappointed that they didn’t have a Plum Kone in stock. I bought the champagne colored one, and was thrilled to see it totally blended with my green, brown, and very naturally-decorated living room when I brought it home. I plugged it in — Kone needs to be charged up for like two days before you use it at first — and so far, so great. It cleaned up my dust bunnies without hesitation. It sucked up spilled rice and crumbs in the kitchen, or on the dining table. Random dust on the ground was no longer a problem for me. Then, I got me a cat. Lord have mercy.

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Ask Afrobella — Curly, Coily, Kinky, or Coarse

I had a really interesting experience recently. Picture this. It’s a Wednesday afternoon, I’d just finished my deadline for work. About to have a window of downtime before the cycle picks up again… Then my editor-in-chief calls and asks me to represent our newspaper on a panel at a meeting of the South Florida Black Journalists Association. I immediately said no problem, got myself together, and headed over to the venue. I had absolutely no idea what I was heading into, and I’m so glad I went. The evening turned out to be really interesting and I met a lot of cool people — fellow journalists, members of the audience, business owners.

At the end of the question and answer session, I was swarmed by people who wanted to introduce themselves, and to exchange business cards and stuff. A few people told me they’d heard of Afrobella, but had no idea I was local. Some people just wanted to ask me about my site, some people wanted to ask me about that novel I’m writing… good grief. Every time I think of my novel, I hear the voice of Stewie Griffin in my head.

So anyway, at the end of the business card bonanza, I stepped out of the crowd and wound up chatting with some media peeps. Then a tall, striking, beautiful black woman approached me to talk about hair. And the fact that she wanted to go natural, but couldn’t. Why? “My hair isn’t like yours. It wouldn’t look good natural.” She wore her hair short and relaxed, but in that stage where my old hairdresser would advise me to “touch up my roots.” “Are you kidding me? What does that mean?” I asked her. I tried to tell her that I disagreed with her sentiment. I told her a little about my own transitioning period, and that it took my hair a long time to recover from years of chemicals. I had to teach myself how to style, shampoo, and care for my natural hair. I told her that I was sure if she gave it a shot and stuck it out, she’d grow to love her hair in its natural state. “That’s easy for you to say,” she said.

She kept asking me how I got my hair to “do that.” I explained that I really didn’t do anything to it, it’s really just how it naturally grows out of my head. Some parts spiral perfectly, other parts are more kinky and own-way, some curl down, some stick up. Some of it feels soft to the touch, others feel as tough as rope, depending on when I’ve last conditioned it. That day, I didn’t even comb through in the shower — all I’d done was conditioner washed it, added some Elasta QP Mango butter moisturizer, and sped over to the venue as fast as I could. I even air-dried it with my windows down. She said she liked the natural style and the look, but she was adamant that it didn’t look good on her. Once again she reiterated, her hair wouldn’t be attractive in it’s natural state. Here’s where it got kind of vague.

She was asking me how best she should style her hair so it could “look like mine,” because her hair didn’t curl up when she did briefly try to go natural. She told me she didn’t like her natural hair when she just washed it and used a styling product. But she didn’t want to do twists to achieve the curly style she described, and it annoyed her that every quite-unquote natural stylist she went to insisted that she do twists to get what they thought she wanted. OK. So… your hair doesn’t grow naturally in spirals, but you want it to, but you don’t want to twist it? She looked at me, expectantly. But I honestly had no idea how to answer her question… or even what her question really was. I explained that even though I call myself Afrobella and I write about hair issues and do product reviews, I am SO not a hair dresser, or a hair care professional. I haven’t tried a range of natural styles, and I’m not intimately familiar with a wide range of natural hair textures. I just do what works for me, and I let people know what’s working and what’s not.

I chatted with her for quite a while and tried to explain that her hair is beautiful in its natural state, all she needed to do was to give natural another try. Stick with it, don’t give up, and take the time to make sure your hair is healthy — that’s the most important thing. I even recommended some products she should try. She didn’t seem moved. Then I realized that I couldn’t convince her of anything. I was basically trying to talk someone into loving their hair, and it felt like preaching, so I stopped. I didn’t know how to make her believe that her her hair was beautiful, or to make her understand that everyone’s natural is different, and her hair could be unique, beautiful, healthy, and strong — if only she let go of her preconceived notions of what natural hair “should” look like. It felt so strange having someone act like my own hair was their gold standard, after the comments and criticism I’ve faced in my own natural journey. I absolutely horrified my family when I decided to stop using the creamy crack completely. People have called me Brillo-pad head. To this day, I still get the occasional “what are you going to do with that bird’s nest” comment from people who have known me for a long time. And even now when I am a proud and self-described Afrobella, sometimes I still have fleeting moments of doubt. Sometimes I wake up in the morning, comb through it, add product, look at myself in the mirror, and feel a quavering in my self-confidence meter. Is my hair too big? Too puffy? Too crazy for work? That’s when I put on more lip gloss, add some jewelry, and convince myself I’m the flyest chick on the scene before I leave the house. I wanted to tell this lady that she had to believe in her own beauty and learn how to own her fro on her own terms, but I didn’t have the presence of mind, the energy, the time, or the knowledge to say what I think she needed to hear. So, I went to an expert.

Bellas, I’d like to introduce erin shell anthony, author of Nappturosity — How to Create Fabulous Natural Hair and Locs. Erin has conducted over 200 presentations on health, natural lifestyles and related empowering topics around the country in the last 3 years, and is the creator and founder of the adaru natural hair salon in Indianapolis. She has seen it all, and produced an e book that is chock full of photos and guidance to keeping your hair naturally beautiful.

I asked her my Ask Afrobella non-question — what would she say to a woman who is convinced that she can’t go natural? She said this.

“To the women who don’t think they can go natural because their hair isn’t __(fill in the blank)_, or those who are having a hard time loving their natural hair, I say - FIND the beauty! Countless women who successfully transitioned to natural hair had to go through the process of discovering the beauty in their own kinks and curls. The very essence of the word “transition” is movement and change from one state to another. For many, it’s going to feel very un-natural to be natural in the beginning! It doesn’t matter how many supportive women, books, or magazines you have, the experience will still be solely yours.”

AMEN, Erin!!! She said it so much better than I could.

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