Blaq Vixen Beauty

Yay - another Janelle Monae post! I was searching for more hair and beauty breakdowns when I came across a post from celebrity hairstylist Ted Gibson. He was "elated to tend to [Janelle Monae's] epic mane" for the 2011 Grammys. Don't forget to check out how to get her makeup by Oslyn Holder!

I can rhyme with the fellas and rock a stage acapella...

By far, this has to be my favorite shade of red on Rihanna. Celebrity hairstylist Ursula Stephen said, "First, I looked for a new red color and brought a variety of options to try but ultimately felt this one really stood out as the best." I completely agree - this shade stood out in a great way.

“When Rihanna and I collaborate, we are always searching to recreate her image through her hair. Since we’ve recently done a lot of texture and length, we wanted to mix it up. While we talked about going shorter,  I wanted to try something a little newer on her than the sleek bob that you are used to seeing."

What's her name? Red.

Jada Pinkett-Smith's voluminous crown of curls was the work of none other than celebrity hairstylist Marcia Hamilton. Achieve this look with White Sands and IT&LY HAIRFASHION products:

• Begin by using the White Sands Vegan Moisturizing Shampoo and Moisturizing Conditioner.
• Towel dry hair and spray White Sands Porosity The Fix from roots to ends. Celebrity hairstylist Tiffanie Dixon used this same product to enhance Whitney Houston curls for her January 2010 InStyle cover. This spray helped her curls to "dance with every move."
• Section the hair vertically - from the center of the forehead to the nape. Cornrow each section straight back - again from the forehead to the nape.
• Dry the cornrows with the IT&LY HAIRFASHION Ionic Blow Dryer.
• When the hair dries completely, apply IT&LY Pure Water Drops in the palms of your hands. While gently unraveling the cornrows, massage the drops throughout the hair.
• When all the cornrows are completely undid, flip your hair down and over to create dramatic volume like Jada's.
• For the finishing touch, finger comb the hair and massage more IT&LY Pure Water Drops.

Unfortunately, we don't have her complete beauty breakdown, but we do know what she used on her skin: La Prarie Cellular Power Infusion. At $475, this treatment keeps her skin revitalized and glowing.

photo: source

I'd like to think that the reason why Kimora Lee Simmons looks so off on the April/May 2010 issue of Los Angeles Confidential Magazine is because someone went a little too PhotoShop-happy. I may be blatantly wrong but her cheekbones almost overwhelm her face. In my opinion, Kimora is a gorgeous woman. I'll always appreciate the fact that she introduced fabulosity to the masses. Makeup by celebrity makeup artist Christopher Michael, who is also Kimora's makeup artist on her show, Life in the Fab Lane. Manicure by Jenna Hipp.

Celebrity hairstylist Marcia Hamilton created soft, romantic waves by using White Sands and IT&LY Hairfashion products. The hair looks Absolutely Phabulous:

>>Start out by spraying a volumizer from foot to ends, then brush product evenly throughout the hair.

>>Take small sections of hair, starting from the bottom of the head. Blow dry each section using a medium round bristle brush.

>>Next set the hair with using the 1.33 Inch White Sands Curling Iron. Pin each curl at the base then spray with a medium hold thermal hairspray for added hold and shine. Let the curls sit for a few minutes.

>>Unpin the curls then brush out while head is suspended upside down. This position creates added volume at the root.

>>Flip head back and shake the curls into place for a soft tussled look. Finish with a light mist of IT&LY Hairfashion Pure Definition Hairspray.

This past Friday, I got my hair cut again. However, this time, instead of a bob, I opted to go shorter. My inspiration was a picture of Ciara in Sophisticate's Black Hair Styles and Care Guide. It was back when she debuted her short pixie cut back in July of 2009.

Of course, it turned out to be a wig but I think it was cute look for her.  My hairstylist Esther thought that her cut would look just as cute on me. I was worried that the crown wouldn't be as full but Esther assured me that I had more than enough hair for the style.

Love, Sex and...Hair??

Macy Gray is back with a new album titled "The SellOut." Her promotion pictures have a bit of a Tim Burton type of vibe, especially the one below. She looks like an edgy Bride of Frankenstein or a bride at Dracula's Wedding. According to OPUS Beauty, hair stylist John Blaine has a few tips on how to recreate the look:

For full control of any type of texture - from straight to extremely coarse hair - you must blow dry with a product that has an oil or silica base. The amount depends on how much of the existing texture you want to change and the desired end look. Once hair is blown dry, reset it by hot rollers, curling iron, wet set, or flat iron. Top it off with a cocktail of styling creme and thermal setting spray.

As for makeup, celebrity makeup artist Rea Ann Silva is the one that created both looks with the beautyblender.

I'm actually waiting with baited breath for the release of "The SellOut." Did you hear she did a duet with Bobby Brown? Definitely curious to hear that single!

After Lauryn Hill (1998-1999), the next artist that caught my attention was Macy Gray (1999-2000). While Gray recorded three albums after "On How Life Is," (her debut) I still think it's her best one to date. I hope "The Sellout" will be even better.

Naturally, I wanted to add my commentary on the sheer, but stunning evening gown that Rihanna wore to the 2009 Glamour Women of the Year Awards. I also got the deets on her hair!

Rihanna's dramatic Stéphane Rolland gown from the Spring 2009 collection is stunning. I would definitely wear it as a wedding dress!

Rihanna said, "It's very incredible that you're presenting me an award. It's a real honor to be named Glamour's Woman of the Year especially because I think of myself as just becoming a woman. I just turned 21 this year."

I recently received an email detailing how to get Rihanna's flawless hairstyle. Motions Celebrity Stylist Ursula Stephens used Motions products to craft the fashion icon's Hollywood-inspired coif.

Read more!

Wow! I haven't seen Terri J. Vaughn in a minute, not counting reruns of Soul Food and Three Can Play that Game. A 3-time NAACP award winning actress and BET.com red carpet host, Vaughn was styled by celebrity hairstylist Johnny Wright. Besides setting it off in black, Vaughn sported a funky - but chic and sassy -  side swept look. Wright used products from the SoftSheen Carson Roots of Nature line:

More Soft Sheen Carson...

Of course, healthy hair is key to the start of a great hairstyle. The day before the BET Awards, Wright treated Vaughn's hair with Roots of Nature Reconstructing Deep Treatment. "Terri has been working out a lot so I wanted to reinforce the shine of her hair with a deep conditioner. The shea butter and green tea in the Roots of Nature Reconstructing Deep Treatment provide the moisture and shine she was looking for," Wright advised.

Did you know that in order for the hair look its healthiest, you should style the hair after shampooing? You should always plan to shampoo your hair the day prior when preparing for a special occasion.

If your hair is exceptionally dry, apply a small amount of Roots of Nature Strengthening Oil Moisturizer prior to styling. This will help seal the cuticle which will in turn provide a smooth, sleek look.

Flat ironing Vaughn's hair from top to bottom, Wright parted her hair in quarter inch sections. This goal was to keep the look funky yet chic while complementing her asymmetrical cut. The key to achieving Terri's look? "Have fun with it. When flat-ironing, use the iron in random sections. This adds variety to the texture," commented Wright.

Have you tried any of the Softsheen Carson Roots of Nature collection? Your thoughts?

Well, Lil' Mama has done it again - went against the grain and sported a funky, "not for the faint of heart" look. Unlike the edgy updo she constructed for Jada Pinkett Smith, the look that celebrity hairstylist Marcia Hamilton fashioned for Lil' Mama at the BET 2009 Awards could be described as "chaotic." Or, if your style is as funky as Hamilton, maybe you would say "different, fun, fresh, or unique." Your thoughts?

Just in case you want to experiment with a new style, here is a step-by-step blow of how Hamilton created this look:

Start by parting a heavy fringe. This fringe should span from eyebrow to eyebrow. A mini-flat iron was used from roots to ends. This helped to ensure that Lil' Mama's fringe was smooth and sleek. Hamilton sprayed David Babaii for WildAid Extra Hold Styling Spray to keep the style long lasting and movable. As a finishing touch, mist the ponytail with a light shine spray to finish the look.

Sweep your remaining hair up and then to the side. It should rest above the left eyebrow.

Use a sturdy elastic, like a Goody Elastic Band, to hold the hair. Sweep into a side ponytail. To smooth down flyaways, spray hair with David Babaii for WildAid Light Styling Spray.

If you desire extra volume, wrap a curly/wavy human hair weft aroung the ponytail. Secure the weft with a bobby pin. To get smooth curls and waves in the ponytail, a H2pro HC34 3/4² Ceramic Curling Iron was used. For perfect, polished curls, take 1" sections and mist with a heat protection spray like White Sands Liquid Texture Medium Hold. Wrap the sections around the iron.

Again, I'm obsessed with Keyshia Cole....well, sort of! Instead of focusing on her makeup, I am talking about her coif, which is an ode to Janet's "Three's Company" mullet and Farrah's iconic "Charlie's Angels" flip. It was both feminine and edgy, thanks to Motions Celebrity hairstylist Ursula Stephen. "I was definitely inspired by women of the 70's," Stephen reveals.

In just three steps, with help from your mane maestro of course, you can also rock hair "sent from Heaven":

Request eye-catching layers - from top to bottom. Stephen "didn't want to take off too much length" but managed to keep the layering dramatic by leaving some sections longer in the back to boost the wow factor. Stephen aimed to give the cut "an interesting edginess to it."

While the hair is still damp, mist Motions Heat Seeker Protecting Spray Protecting Spray on each section of hair.

For the finishing touch, treat each section to a coating of Motions Light Hold Spritz. To get a smooth, sleek style, promptly flat iron each section.