This a great show from The Mane Talk, a podcast dedicated to stopping breakage in the black community. Check it out ladies! The show is hosted by Deshawn Bullard, also known as The Hair Coach, from Another Look Salon in Atlanta. DeShawn is a noted author and speaker in black hair issues and growth. She has even going as far in her career to be able to give seminars at Bonners Brothers major events, as well as international and stateside hair shows. A few more accolades for Bullard is her consultation on creating Sally's line of products, Silk Elements, and a contributing columnistin Salon Sense magazine and Essence. Her celebrity clientele include Lynn Whittfield and T-Boz of R&B multi-Platinum selling group, TLC.I highly recommend her for advice and I highly recommend her salon.
This year, 2007, was the year of umbrellas. No, we're not for the bad weather, but the constant saturation of stylish celebrity hair. Everywhere you turned was hair inspiration, and the competition was so stiff that I could hardly decide who was the Queen of the perfect 'do. Today, I count down the cream of the crop and you can let me know in the comment box your thoughts. Also, if you didn't see your fave hair fashion on the list, tell me about it below.
I've had a couple of experiences with Petroleum or Mineral Oil that when terrible. Case in point: Organic Root Stimulator. No matter what product I use from this line, my hair always becomes brittle and hard. Eventually, it would break off, causing my problems with dry scalp and hair to just increase. After I stopped using Petroleum-based products, I've notice a change in my hair. Its never as dry as it used to be and has become strong and resilient. I've also gotten many compliments from people about its shine and darkness. However, not ever moment spent with petroleum has been a horrible one. Some products that I have used have worked moisturizing wonders on my hair, and they have Petroleum in them.What gives? Well, I've noticed that these products don't always have petroleum at the very top of the ingredients list. I've also noticed that they were leave-in creams and worked best when applied to wet hair. Go figure! I guess I learned not to judge a product by its ingredients alone. The best thing to do when you are faced with a dilemma is to consult a professional. My stylist uses Arosci Ultra Shine Hair Dress on my and my hair always looks and feel moisturized. . This feeling even last days after the salon visit. Also, try experimenting with the product. Can it be applied to wet hair? What about putting it on the scalp alone and using an oil with it to make it work better. Or, it can make a wonderful heat-styling cream. Most importantly, read the directions on the back. Some product work best with those from their own line, or must only be used one way. Some products aren't a universal fit for all hair textures. If it says for wavy or oily hair and your hair is kinky, you might want to leave it alone.
Lovely Introduces its Flagship Publication, the Online Home for Beauty, and Women's Fashion
New Magazine Brings Readers Page-Turning Fashion Without the Paper
Boston, November 30, 2007-Lovely Magazine (www.lovelymagazine.com), a monthly beauty and fashion publication in its fifth issue, is taking the online fashion-driven reader on an aesthetic and thought-provoking journey. Designed, written, and photographed with the reader in mind, Lovely brings the look and feel of a glossy online. Beauty and Fashion have never been so sleek, accessible, environmentally-friendly, and page-turningly interesting.
Ingrid Skousgard Cordeiro, editor-in-chief, has a background in fashion in the professional make up industry. "As a reader, I was getting bored with fashion magazines and felt like they just weren't getting it right. Either the articles were clichè or the styling and photographs seemed geared toward what men would find sexy. I wanted a place that would appeal to a woman’s ideal of beauty and where women with an interest in fashion could go to find great styles, gorgeous pictures, and read relatable content." Cordeiro, a self-taught web designer, also hated the wasteful stack of glossy paper at her doorstep every month, so she set out to do on her own what other magazines weren't doing for her--and save some paper in the process--by building an online magazine with a network of talented people she has worked with during her career.
Lovely focuses on usability for the reader with little consideration for search engine marketing like most web sites. "We were concerned that making search optimization a priority would water down the creativity of our contributors and we did not want that," says Cordeiro. Instead they rely on word of mouth marketing and a unique design and layout that allow you to "flip the pages" of the magazine and visually scroll through them to find the page you are looking for, as well as a "no questions asked" subscription method. Anyone can read Lovely free of charge, no log-in required, by visiting the site, and subscribers to the magazine, who receive an email on the day the new issue goes live, are only asked for their emails and first names upon subscribing, no password or personal information required.
Among Lovely's creative goals, they hope to attract writers, photographers, models, and even advertisers who share a passion for its distinct esthetic. "You're not going to find and ad, photo, or article in Lovely that is incongruent with our overall look," says Cordeiro. Their aim is to attract talented people who want to contribute to a fashion magazine that appreciates their creative minds and their creative work. "Our hope is to find talent we believe in and who share our style, then bring them together to create a great issue."
From an article on how to find the perfect fit in jeans to a stunning cover model who survived breast cancer and turned her scars into a work of body art, this season's most lusted-for handbag and innovative beauty products, Lovely Magazine offers style-oriented women of all ages a place to find all things...well, lovely. Read or subscribe at www.lovelymagazine.com.
LOS ANGELES -- Remember laughing at hairnets worn to bed? Rollers around the house?
They're nothing compared with the hair tools that some women are willing to endure today.
In the pursuit of perfectly pin-straight, rootless tresses, some women are hoarding expensive hair gadgets, even water filtration systems made not by Culligan but by a Hollywood hairdresser. Instead of paying their credit card bills, they are handing hundreds of dollars to their stylists for blowouts.Read More
"Men have power suits, women have power hair," said Allure editor-in-chief Linda Wells in an article called "Women Spare No Expense for Hair" in today's Indianapolis Star. "Women want strong, straight hair because it makes them feel confident." She's right. I've seen a few articles lately on "last minute beauty," Read more
Controversial and Grueling Procedure Lengthens Limbs, Risks Lives
Leg-Lengthening Procedure Can Cost Upwards of $120,000
By ANNE MARIE DORNING
Dec. 7, 2007 —
Imagine, if you will, a surgeon breaking your leg bones in four places, then attaching a steel scaffold frame to the outside of your limbs with metal pins jutting into your bones.
Every day for months you rotate screws attached to the pins in your legs. There are many moments of excruciating pain and the constant worry of infection. After that there is a grueling regimen of physical therapy. Now imagine, this was all completely voluntary in fact, it was your idea.
It's called limb lengthening and for years the procedure was done almost exclusively to correct developmental deformities or repair damage to limbs after an accident. But more and more often the surgery is being done for cosmetic reasons to help people primarily men grow a little taller.Read more
“I’M not in a position to give you advice on that,” Mario Russo will say when one of the clients at his hair salon in Boston complains about her children. Or if a client disparages her ex-husband, he’ll say, “That’s a matter that needs to be discussed with a different professional than myself.” Then he’ll ask what styling products she uses.Read more
There's a little-girl memory that Najoh Tita-Reid recounts, as a way of explaining what's behind a new campaign by the nation's biggest advertiser.
A young child in suburban Pittsburgh, she goes to play dolls with her neighbors, all of them white. Her doll stands out with its black color and features, and one girl says pointedly: "Najoh, our dolls can't play with yours."
Why not? "Because your doll is ugly," comes the reply.
Fast-forward 30 years, and Tita-Reid is helping lead a Procter & Gamble Co. campaign called "My Black is Beautiful," which combines marketing with forums meant to foster dialogue about black women and the way they are portrayed in popular culture.
The marketers involved say it's a movement, not just advertising. But it aims at a group with growing buying power, estimated at more than $400 billion and is tied to brands that include Olay skin care, Pantene shampoo, CoverGirl cosmetics, and Always and Tampax feminine care products.
P&G has placed a special advertising section in the Essence December issue that's now on newsstands, and is working on store and community promotions. There's a Web site, plans for a multi-city "conversation tour," and grants to community organizations to support young black women.
The campaign has similarities to rival Unilever's "Real Beauty" initiative for Dove, which focused on women's self-image. It also fits with a marketing push by P&G, which spends $7 billion a year on global advertising, to build brand image and good will -- and sales.
"It's getting beyond the selling of the product," said Mike Robinson, who heads Cincinnati-based LaVerdad Marketing & Media, which is focused on ethnic marketing. "You're going to get more share of the heart, more share of the mind, and ultimately, more share of the wallet."
Experts say mass marketers generally have been slow to target a black female population that is increasing in income, education and professional advancement. They say gains by black females are a major reason black spending clout is growing at a faster rate than the overall U.S. population's -- the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia estimates that black buying power of $799 billion in 2006 will be $1.1 trillion in 2011.
"There are a lot of different ways to talk to her, and I think a lot of companies are still way behind," said Pepper Miller, of Hunter-Miller Group Inc. consulting in Chicago.
"We like to be courted," said Pat Tobin, who runs a public relations firm in Los Angeles. "We want you to come after us; don't take us for granted."
"My Black" began with P&G research that showed black women were frequent users of beauty products, spending at three times the rate of the general female population. A P&G/Essence poll found black women overwhelmingly say they are portrayed worse than other groups in the media and pop culture.
The campaign was already in the works last spring when talk radio host Don Imus' racially offensive comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team caused a furor. P&G was among major companies to yank advertising.
"Don Imus just added another vector," said Eric Higgs, of P&G's multicultural marketing team. "It was really a loud and clear message that this was right for us to do."
Tita-Reid, associate marketing director of the multicultural team, sees "My Black" helping pave the way for her infant daughter. "I see an incredible future for her; I see African-American women celebrated for their beauty and diversity and being empowered to challenge the way they are portrayed," she said. "I would have played a small part in that."
As an accountant at Ernst & Young in Manhattan, Melissa Theodore knows the uniform when it comes to corporate America: dark suits and sensible shoes. But when it comes to hair, Theodore, 33, wanted a little flair, so she wears hers in long, thin, braided extensions.
Her family, however, told her to be careful. Not everyone thinks ethnic hairstyles are professional, they warned. Theodore, of Huntington, didn't agree. Not only did she keep the braids, she threw in some burgundy highlights.
"My hair has never been a problem as far as my career goes," said Theodore. "It's neat and very professional."
To be sure, but black hair historically has been controversial -- especially when worn in its natural state in styles like Afros, braids, cornrows and dreadlocks.
Glamour magazine still is trying to put to bed an ugly matter that erupted five months ago when a staffer made racially insensitive comments about the appropriateness of black women's hairstyles in the workplace.
A panel on race and beauty
Tuesday, the magazine will host "Women, Race & Beauty," a panel that will explore the culture of beauty, with an emphasis on ethnic hairstyles in corporate America. About a hundred people, including selected readers who wrote in about the incident, will attend. The event is not open to the public, but the magazine will write about it for an upcoming issue, said Samantha Rosenthal, a Glamour spokeswoman.
"It was important to open up a dialogue on personal issues related to women, race and beauty," said Rosenthal.
"We wanted to do something to address the issue raised by the incident."
The incident that Rosenthal is talking about involves Ashley Baker, a white associate editor at Glamour, who touched off a firestorm last summer when she told a roomful of female attorneys at law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton in Manhattan that Afro-styled hairdos and dreadlocks are Glamour "don't's."
"'No offense,' she sniffed, but those 'political hairstyles really have to go,'" reported American Lawyer magazine, which broke the story.
After Don Imus' "nappy-headed hos" comment about the Rutgers University women's basketball team in April, the remarks were shockingly hard to believe; some actually thought them a joke.
Glamour received hundreds of letters from angry readers, Rosenthal said. Editor in chief Cindy Leive posted an apology on the magazine's Web site. Baker resigned shortly after.
Still, the anger over her comments continued to foment, prompting Glamour to assemble tomorrow's panel in the Conde Nast auditorium in Manhattan, moderated by Farai Chideya, host of "News & Notes" at National Public Radio. Panelists include Essence magazine's executive editor, Vanessa Bush; Lisa Price, founder of Carol's Daughter, which creates natural haircare and beauty products for black women; Jami Floyd, news anchor and legal analyst for Court TV; Daisy Hernandez, managing editor of ColorLines, a magazine on race and politics; celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal, as well as professors Venus Opal Reese, who teaches aesthetic studies at the University of Texas at Dallas, and Barbara Trepagnier, who teaches sociology at Texas State University.
Contesting the 'facts'
Baker declined to comment for this article, but she did send Newsday an e-mail:
"The so-called facts in this story have been misrepresented and sensationalized since the onset, and the media has already vilified me for opinions I do not have and statements I did not make."
"Black hair is sensitive," said Anna Holmes, who is biracial and the managing editor of Jezebel, a celebrity, sex and fashion blog for women, who followed the Baker story closely. "What Baker said was inappropriate, but was she inaccurate? No. She hit a nerve ... society is uncomfortable with ethnic hair, and it is uncomfortable about race. And it's tough talking about all of it because emotion gets in the way."
An undertone that natural hair is unacceptable, unprofessional and even ugly continues to exist in society.
Image experts, both black and white, subtly advise black women to remove their braids, dreadlocks or other ethnic hairdos before interviewing at corporate jobs, experts confide. A scan of major black magazines, among them Ebony, Essence and Black Enterprise, shows that, despite burgeoning pride in ethnic hairstyles, many black women -- especially those in high-ranking positions -- continue to chemically straighten their hair.
Newsday reached out to a wide array of people on the subject, including stylists, career experts, authors, journalists and a handful of high-ranking black women executives. A black executive at a well-known non-profit, who asked not to be identified, said a story on the subject was "irrelevant."
"Nobody is going to talk to you about this subject," said another high-ranking black woman.
Almost true. Calls to many were not returned. The calls that were brought mixed news: More corporate environments are accepting ethnic hairdos, but others quietly regard them as "unprofessional."
As long as "hair is neat and put together, there is no natural hair texture that is inappropriate for corporate America," said Jill Herzig, executive editor at Glamour. In fact, "it is increasingly important to show your personal style, no matter where you work."
Natural hairstyles are becoming more mainstream, said Donna Wallace, 52, a pharmaceutical sales representative from Westbury, "But there is still the misconception that straight hair is beautiful." Two years ago, Wallace got tired of straightening her hair and decided to get a braided style.
Her hairdresser, Beverly Joyner, owner of House of Hair in Freeport, gave Wallace a braided honeycomb bun, which was elegant, but understated. "Corporate America is still conservative and demands a certain look, "said Joyner.
Styles can be professional
Wallace wears her hair straightened now, but said she would return to a braided style because she knows it's professional. Patricia Mitchell, director of the Center for Career Development at Adelphi University, noted that the corporate world still largely reflects the tastes of reserved white males.
"I would never tell anyone with dreadlocks or braids to cut their hair," said Mitchell, who is white. But, she said, corporate image can be tricky. Mitchell recalled how one young woman was passed over for a second interview because "she was wearing a beige suit" and how a young man got low marks from a recruiter because his top shirt button was visible above his tie.
Not for job-hunting?
It's possible, said Mitchell, that an ethnic hairstyle, especially in regions where there is little diversity, could hurt a job applicant in a similar way.
Concerns about ethnic hairstyles aren't isolated to white-owned firms. Carl Dameron, who is black and owns a public relations and advertising firm in San Bernardino, Calif., said he has told his black female employees that, outside of short-cropped Afros, most ethnic hairstyles are a "no-no" in his office.
Hairstyles that distract are not considered professional, said Dameron. "White guys can't wear mohawks, women can't wear dreadlocks like Whoopi Goldberg."
Illegal skin bleaching products a "major problem" among ethnic groups in UK
Skin bleaching common practice in Americas, Africa, Asia and now Europe
Psychologists blame "colorism" on media's focus on fair-skinned blacks
Dermatologists say abusing products can be dangerous over time
By CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Accompanied by body-armor vested London police officers, Lambeth Senior Trading Standards Officer Ray Bouch walks into a beauty and cosmetics shop on Brixton's Electric Avenue.
Bouch works for the London borough's Public Protection Unit -- tasked with keeping everything from faulty condoms to illicit vodka off the streets.
Today, he's in search of contraband cosmetics: illegal skin bleaching creams British authorities say can be harmful to consumers. Within minutes, he's found almost a dozen bars of soap listing a banned bleaching agent on the box.
"Illegal bleaching creams and soaps are a major problem," Bouch says. "And once we eradicate it from Brixton, it will go to another borough where there's a big Asian or Black population."
Skin bleaching -- using chemical or natural products to lighten skin color -- is common practice in the Americas, Africa, across Asia, and increasingly, in Europe.
Psychologists say consumer demand can be traced to perceptions that lighter skinned or white people are more successful, intelligent and sexually desirable.
And as the UK's Asian, African and African-Caribbean communities grow, so too -- cosmetics industry experts say -- does ethnic spending power for products promoted to lighten skin tone.
But some of these creams, soaps and solutions contain hydroquinone, an ingredient that is banned in cosmetic products sold in the United Kingdom.
The United States Food and Drug Administration says based on experiments done on animals, it "cannot rule out" hydroquinone's potential cancer risk in humans.
Use of the ingredient in over-the-counter cosmetics is restricted, but still legal, in the U.S., South Africa and other countries. And some of these products are making their way to store shelves across the UK.
The police officers say they are stationed to keep the peace, as Bouch asks the store manager why the banned products are for sale.
She says the bleaching soaps were an oversight: "The soaps are just something that's come on our shelves without us realizing. To sell this would be stupidity," she says.
But Bouch believes some shops are continuing to sell illegal skin creams despite the risk of fines because demand for the products is so high. "The only thing I can say is that it is demand-led. Shop owners are making a great profit from it," Bouch says.
Cosmetics industry analysts say cosmetics companies are realizing there's money to be made here. They argue minority communities are an underserved market with a long tradition of buying bleaching products -- legal or otherwise.
"Ethnic consumers in the UK account for around one in 10 people," says Alexandra Richmond, Senior Health and Beauty Analyst with Mintel Research.
"We've noticed the number of launches of not just skin creams, but soaps and deodorants that contain whitening and bleaching agents."
Dr. Dele Olajide, a leading psychologist at King's College London, blames consumer demand on the media centering on fair skinned blacks like American pop singer Beyonce and British actress Thandie Newton.
"The image that the media presents about black people is that we are inferior, we are not as good as everybody else. But those who are successful and going places are those who are light-skinned people. So one might say that the desire to be like white people underpins people's wanting to be fairer-skinned," Olajide says.
Recently in the U.S., an African American D.J. was roundly criticized for offering light-skinned women free admission into a Detroit nightclub.
So-called "colorism" isn't limited to blacks: A commercial seen on Indian satellite channels and on YouTube stars Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan promoting a skin cream called "Fair & Handsome."
The commercial shows a remarkably glum dark-skinned Indian man who, after using the skin lightening cream, turns many shades whiter. He now walks with confidence -- and with a lovely lady running to his side.
But other skin specialists say abusing products, for example by rubbing the product on the entire face, neck or body can be dangerous over time.
"There is no safe way to bleach your skin beyond your natural color," says Sujata Jolly, a research scientist.
"Initially, [the bleaching cream] will appear to lighten the skin," she says. "The reaction between the sun and chemicals triggers an oxidation reaction, which then starts turning the skin darker ... and as the skin gets darker, one uses more cream more vigorously.
"By doing that you start to break the skin, and then the chemicals will then penetrate into the bloodstream and reach your liver and kidneys. And that's where it could cause more damage," she says.
Every woman has one and every woman dreads opening it. Overflowing with shampoos, moisturizers and miscellaneous products,"the wasteland" is the area where good products go to die. After we've defamed them, cursed them, and despise them, we toss them into a bin or somewhere in the back of the bathroom cupboard. No flowers nor tears on their grave. You know it's time you revive those items. Today, I was looking for a strong protein treatment for my mother's horribly over-processed hair (when will she ever learn?), and I decided to pick up my Paul Mitchell Super Strong Treatment. Now before LHCF, I was an avid Paul Mitchell fanatic. I collected his products as if they were prized glass menageries; most cherished and wondrous in every way. Money burned a whole in my pocket once I saw the sight of anything with Paul Mitchell's logo. When I joined Long Hair Care Forum, I wanted to purchase every single item referenced on the board... and I almost did. I bought the Joico, the Garnier Fructis, the Carol's Daughter and Aveda. Now, after being a member of the board for a year, I've learned that products are only as good as the application. How you apply them, when you apply and how often you apply them helps to influence your growth; it's all about the technique. Back to tonight:
Pre-poo'd my hair with Pantene Pro-V Moisturizing Essential Nourishing Rinse mixed with the Paul Mitchell Super Strong Treatment and coconut oil. When I rinsed my hair, it was very soft and silky, with no strands in the tub. The problem with the Paul Mitchell before my knowledge was that I didn't understand how to maintain the balance between protein and moisture. I also didn't realize how STRONG this product was and I used it every week without a follow-up of moisture. My hair would get so strong that it would just break off and I couldn't understand why! Now, I know.
I left this in my hair for about 45 minutes and then did my first rinse with Creme Of Nature's Detangling Shampoo. I continued my second rinse with Phytospecific Intense Nutrition Shampoo and detangled with Creme Of Nature Conditioner. After, I applied the Pantene Relaxed and Natural Breakage Defense Hair Mask and then the Pantene Pro-V Nourishing Mask, with a smidgen of the Rinse for added moisture. Before we throw a product out the window, try reevaluating it according to these steps.
1. Read the descriptions, instructions and ingredients properly. Usually, the back label is a good indicator of how to use a product. The description will tell you the purpose of the product so you can better determine how to use it. If its a deep conditioner that moisturizes and your hair is dry and brittle, the add an extra 15minutes under the dryer. If its a leave-in and the label recommends you use a dime-size amount, then use only a dime size. Some products have an ample amount of protein in it; silk amino proteins; hydrolyzed vegetable proteins; human keratin or egg ovum powder. These are very strong and need to be followed up with something moisturizing or nourishing. Be careful not to use these too often, either.
2. Do your research. Maybe someone else came up with a more productive way to get results out of a product you didn't think worked. Who would have thought to add heat to Kenra's Moisturizing Conditioner and use it as a penetrative mask, or use Carols' Daughter Healthy Hair Butter as a baggy cream? Try researching on the Internet or reading in magazines for tips on these misunderstood products or reviews on their results. This will help you determine if its really the product that is bad, or your handle on it.
3. Try mixing it up. I might add coconut or Amla Oil to a conditioner than need more slip. Sometimes vegetable glycerin makes a leave-in even better. Get creative by adding two conditioners or shampoos together or Aloe Vera gel to turn a hair moisturizer into a putty.
4. If all else fails.... toss it. No use in letting your hair suffer. Try selling them or giving them away to friends as birthday or Christmas gifts if the store will not take the product back. Some items are either poorly made or just not right for your hair.
Britain's beauty industry accused of ignoring black and Asian women
By Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondent
Published: 15 November 2007
Black and Asian people are largely ignored by the £3bn-a-year beauty industry which concentrates on selling products to white women, a report says.
Few cosmetics giants produce ethnic ranges and few large retailers stock them, meaning that black and Asian women have to rely on outdated American imports and specialist shops.
Because the market in the US has changed little since the 1980s this leaves the emphasis on white teeth and big hair, a look "out of kilter" with today's young black and Asian women, says the market research company Mintel.
Overall, the market for black, Asian and other minority make-up, skin and haircare is £65m, 2 per cent of the £3.7bn British beauty industry, despite ethnic minorities comprising 7.9 per cent of the population. Black people trying to buy make-up, haircare and skincare products are being frustrated, the analyst Alexandra Richmond believes. She says: "A lack of new product developments on the part of the manufacturers as well as limited availability has undoubtedly been a major barrier in the ethnic beauty market.
"Although there are luxury beauty ranges for those with darker skin tones, mass-market alternatives on the high street are still few and far between."
The report also warns that companies are missing out on lucrative business and follows concern that ethnic minorities are under-represented in the visual industries of beauty, fashion and advertising.
Few black or Asian models stride down the fashion catwalk, with the high-profile exception of Naomi Campbell, according to the London Assembly member and former fashion executive Dee Doocey, who has called a summit next year to address the issue.
Non-white people make up more than 20 per cent of the population in London yet only 1 per cent of the models in the capital, according to one estimate.
The last census by the Institute of Advertising Practioners in 2003 found that only 4 per cent of people in adverts came from ethnic minorities. When black people do appear, they are often there to emphasis their ethnicity rather than to represent the general population. Ethnic minorities are also under-represented in creative roles at advertising agencies. Mintel says that interest in looks is universal in a modern media age where women feel compelled to make the best of themselves by investing in clothes and make-up. "However, amongst the black community, it goes much deeper," the report says.
Ethnic women have very different beauty needs because their complexions require specialist foundation and might also suffer more from pigmentation damage. Yet few major cosmetics companies have ethnic make-up ranges. Clinique, Bobbi Brown and Prescriptives all have foundations for darker skin in their general range. If the industry launched new products, the ethnic minority beauty business could surge in value by 35 per cent to £88m by 2012.
The industry is targeting anti-ageing creams for different age groups and shampoos for specific hair types to the general population. "There is clearly the potential for the industry to apply this approach to the ethnic beauty market, which would undoubtedly be welcomed by ethnic consumers and give the market a much needed boost," says Ms Richmond.
When we think of L'Oreal, we imagine shimmering blonds, radiant redheads, and brilliant brunettes. White women have always been viewed as the image of sheer perfection in the beauty world. Photos of smiling alabaster ladies have always graced the faces of the most recognizable lines of hair products. Often, women of color tend to discredit these same popular brands--assuming that because they are marketing to whites, they cannot possible help black hair. On the contrary! Most of the black hair industry is owned by whites, and ethnic companies have been purchased by larger hair conglomerates. Here's a breakdown of the little- known connection between major brands and ethnic hair care.
Did you know that L'Oreal manufactures Mizani and owns... and Soft Sheen/Carson?
Or, that Proline was purchased by the same folks that own Alberto V05?
Some might argue that the takeover of the black beauty industry by whites is a strategic acquisition to remove money from our communities and put it into their pockets. That argument is completely irrelevant to me or this topic. I wanted to show you that you shouldn't limit your product choices simply because theirs a white face on the front. You never know! They same ingredients in Mizani could also be in L'Oreal professional line. Think outside of the box when it comes to your hair.
Nappy. Kinky. Picky. Hard. Ugly. These were all common epitaphs used to describe the "hideousness" of black woman's hair texture. I remember the days of sitting between my mother's legs as she furious snatched comb through the mass of strands and slathering grease unto the scalp. Grumbling the whole time, she complained of the toughness of maintaining my thick shapeless blob of tresses. I remembered being heckledincessantly by friends and family when I was less than four weeks from my "touch-up" time. I remembered burning myself on the neck, ears and sometimes face, trying to get those little naps in at the edges of my hairline. My friends choose Dominican Blowouts in their coif-arsenal, but had the driest damaged stresses on the block. I got relaxers and was always over processed. Didn't matter if we were leaving little broken hairs on the street sidewalks, like breadcrumbs to find our way home--It had to be STRAIGHT!
Now, kinks and curls are the new "waves". Once reserved for the Afrocentric, Neo-soul college crowd or biracial women, more and more fresh, young teens are leaving the hot combs behind and accepting their god-given texture instead of hiding them. This year, we have been bombarded with weaves; the good, the bad, and the mediocre. The beauty industry is now becoming more in-tuned with black women's natural curls, offering products, book and websites dedicated to transitioning and post-transition shock. No longer is wearing non-straight hair a symbol of anger or a tell-tale sign of racial mixing, but is a steady and growing part of black beauty.Girls are switching it up by adding funky braids, long Afros and color to the traditional viewpoints of natural hair and making it fashion forward. Remember BET's hit reality show, Baldwin Hills? Well, I know you counted, at least, three ladies rocking what god gave them instead of a perm. One of those ladies include Gerren Taylor, who was been shaking up the runway since the age of three with her luscious texture and shining dark complexion.
Willie, the golden-hued optimist, let her multi-texture coif shined, in all its natural glory. I know you, too, were fighting the urge to envy her lovely locks.
Stacy was the hood-tough girl who made natural hair effortless. Every time she hit the scene, she was rocking a new 'do.
The versatility and low-maintenance of natural hair is its biggest appeal. You don't have to worry about constantly replenishing protein that was diminished during the relaxer process. You can also go from curly to straight, braided to loose, Afro to blown-out with ease. This month, we are dedicating the board to the care and appreciation of kinky hair. Don't be afraid of your new growth, and seriously consider going natural. Put the hot comb down and let your true beauty free.
To Dye or Not to Dye in a Salon? http://www.care2.com/greenliving/to-dye-or-not-to-dye-in-a-salon.html by Annie Berthold-Bond The first time I dyed my hair I used a dye product I bought at the health food store that was made of roots and seeds. ... SIMPLE SOLUTION: My sister helped me, and we followed all the directions exactly. When I stepped out of the shower after washing out the dye, I could tell in one glance at my sister that the result was a disaster! My hair was as orange as a carrot. Thank goodness my daughter wasn't yet a "tween," or she wouldn't have gone out with me in public (although as a teenager she might have been proud!) I tried one more natural plant dye brand to use at home, and while the results were nice, they were inconsistent, and it wasn't long before I began to research dyes used in salons, for convenience and better results. I quickly discovered that as of yet, there are no salon hair dye brands that are 100 percent plant-derived. I didn't want to put toxic, petroleum-based ingredients in my hair and on my scalp because petroleum products can be a risk to your health and are nonrenewable for the environment. In my research to find an acceptable alternative for a hair dye that could be provided within the ease of a salon, I discovered that Aveda salon dye products seem to be the best solution available today. Ninety-nine percent of Aveda's demi-permanent dye is plant-derived, and the permanent dyes are 97 percent plant-based. The results are nice -- the hair color is surprisingly natural looking, and the dyes aren't nearly as drying to the hair because they don't contain harsh petrochemical solvents. . Salon brands of hair dye are almost all 100 percent synthetic and petroleum-based. The dyes are usually the controversial oxidative dyes. Aveda uses oxidative dyes like the rest of the industry (albeit in a small percentage), because so far there are no plant formulas that can provide consistent, long-lasting dyes. Oxidative dyes make up the 1 to 3 percent synthetic ingredients of the Aveda formulations. For an overview of the cancer risks, and controversy associated with synthetic permanent dyes for dark hair, click here. have no pre-existing colors until they are combined and joined with oxidizing ingredients. Most dyes use a synthetic to do this, but Aveda did research into and plant extracts, and have found and patented a process to oxidize the dye using . Not only is the end process less petroleum-based, but the result is more natural looking. The common base formulas for dyes are petrochemical solvents, and in this process Aveda has substituted protective and lubricating plant oils in the formula so that it is significantly less drying to the hair than the solvents normally used. Permanent hair colors are the harshest for hair, and pose the most potential health risk. For more on this, here is a glossary offering the choices and safety of the different hair dyes -- permanent, demi-permanent, and semi-permanent.
Most of us have probably never read Andre Walker's "Let's Talk Hair", so you don't know much about the hair typing system. Growing up, there was only two types of hair in the conscripts of African-American textured tresses;" Good" hair and "Bad" hair. "Good hair" is still alive and very much so in the black community; this notion of a particular hair type being easier to maintain and grow, while a more prominent type amongst blacks is least likely to grow great beautiful lengths. I'm going to break down the different categorizations of hair textures so that everyone is familiar, because knowing your type is essential to proper growth. By knowing the texture and density of your individual strands, it will be easier for you to develop a routine and find products that work to satisfy your everyday hair needs. All of these are unique in their own way and equally capable of growing long luscious length, but they also have their setbacks. The less kinkier types must maintain a strong balance of hydration without overpowering oils. Oily hair will cause damage, and the hair to look limp and dirty. The more kinkier hair types require moisture at ALL TIMES! Although this type of hair is usually more voluminous, its the easiest to break due to extreme dryness.
1A-Straight Hair
Usually occurring in Asians or Caucasians. The only way an African-American can achieve this look is through heat styling, a weave or relaxing. If you relax your hair to the point where its "pin" straight, you are severely over-processed.
