So, we all know Rihanna has worn different hair colors, but the question is, which do you like best?  The red hair color or the new blonde?  Even though I do think the new blonde hairstyle flatters her, I have to say that she rocked the red hair!  I do not  know anyone else that could pull off wearing that color the way she did.  The red color said “sexy,” but also “I’m a rebel.”  Loved it!

Whitney Houston was born on August 9, 1963 to Cissy Houston, a gospel singer.  In her teens, Whitney sang back up for Chaka Khan, Jermaine Jackson, and other singers.  She first started singing in church as a young child.  She not only had the incredible talent to sing the way she did, but she also did some modeling.  It was during the time that she was modeling and singing back up for well known performers that Clive Davis, a veteran music mogul, heard her perform.  He went on to tell Good Morning America that when he heard her perform in her mother’s act in a club that it was “such a stunning impact.”

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From the middle 1980′s to the late 1990′s, she was one of the world’s best selling artists.  She sang effortlessly, but forcefully, with her gospel roots evident in her voice and the way she sang, but not overtly so, thus being palatable to the masses with an R & B and Pop feel to her music.  She influenced younger singers such as Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, and Christina Aguilera.  This is quite understandable, being that she could sing without any music and hit every note with perfect pitch.  Whitney could do a whole entire concert without music and just use her voice and it would be a great concert.

Not only was she the daughter of a gospel singer, but she has cousins Dionne Warwick and the late Dee Dee Warwick who were also famous singers.  The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, was her godmother.  Growing up in a family of musical greatness, and her God given talent, she was destined to be a musical success.

Whitney Houston gained acting credentials when she starred in the infamous movie, “The Bodyguard,” with Kevin Costner.  The album for that movie reached the top of the charts as well.  She also starred in “The Preacher’s Wife” with Denzel Washington.  Whitney was also great in “Waiting to Exhale,” a movie based on the popular book by author Terry McMillan.  She was set to star in a remake of the movie “Sparkle” later this year.

Her last album,”I Look To You,” released in 2009, debuted at the top of the charts and went platinum.  This accomplished artist won several Grammy awards and sold millions of albums.  She is the only performer to date that sang the National Anthem so well, that is debuted on the radio!  She performed an astounding rendition of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl in 1991 during the Gulf War.

Worth mentioning was her sense of style, always a regal elegance to her wardrobe.  Her hair was usually worn short with a brownish red color or blonde color.  However, when she first came into the spotlight years ago, she rocked what looked to be a short natural ‘do.  Below is a picture of Whitney with music Mogul Clive Davis.

On the eve of the Grammy Awards 2012, Whitney Houston passed away at the age of 48 on February 11, 2012.  She was an invaluable contribution to the music industry.  Whitney, “We Will Always Love You.”

It is normal for a man to feel a little intimidated by a woman with an impressive list of achievements.   In order to fully understand why this may be, look at the gender roles that society has implemented on us.   From an early age, most men are taught to be breadwinners, and provide for their families.   A man is seen as more powerful and has more opportunities in life when his bank account is full, and he is educated.   This issue transcends racial barriers, because it is not just black men, but men in general who may have an “ego complex” when their manhood is threatened by an accomplished woman.   This is the basic outline given and taught to us even though most of these traditional gender roles have long been obsolete.

There is a difference in challenging a man, and challenging his “manhood,” or ego.   An insecure man fears a successful woman has more options than he does, which is true.   For this reason, they may only date women who are not as educated or accomplished as they are, simply to boost their ego and have the upper hand in the relationship.   In contrast, secure men respect an independent, intelligent, and ambitious woman who can stand her ground and maintain her femininity.   A women who possesses these qualities is the type of challenge men seek to conquer.

In my opinion, I do not think that a secure man is intimidated by a woman who is more successful.   He is not threatened by anybody’s accomplishments, for he knows that he is in control of his own destiny.   I would say men are more turned off by a woman who brings that “workaholic” mentality into her love life.   Men may assume that she may also lack domestic and nurturing skills because her career and goals are the only top priority.   This is why a lot of successful women are single, because they do not know how to balance out the work and home life, unless they are single by choice.

Truth is, men like to feel wanted and useful.   Thus, having the “I don’t need a man for anything” attitude is not attractive.   A woman who constantly brags about her success or uses her accomplishments to make others feel small is emasculating and patronizing.   In the man’s eyes, she is seen not a partner or an equal, but an opponent.   She is challenging his manhood, so he sees her as competition.   Therefore, he is turned off.

So, what can be gathered from this?   Let me say that an accomplished, yet balanced woman is an asset to a relationship.   Remember ladies and gentlemen, my emphasis here is on balance!   Having that career oriented mentality is great, but do not compromise your love life or your social life.   Do not brag about your success, because it should speak for itself.

 
Photo: Steve Granitz/Wireimage

Everyone is talking about her movie, but they are also talking about her new edgy hair style.  Ms. Davis has got a new ‘do and it is fierce!  It is a very short hair style, I think it looks like she went natural in the photo.  It looks as if Ms. Viola Davis is embracing her kinks, koils, and natural beauty!  What are your thoughts and opinions on her new hairstyle?  Do you think it is just a short cut and relaxed or do you think it is natural?  My vote is natural.  What ever the style (natural or relaxed), I think it is beautiful.  It shows off the features of her face and in my opinion, gives her a much younger appearance.

Photo: Ruven Afanador

Soaps  are more alkaline (9-10 pH range) and since healthy skin’s pH sits between 4.6 and 5.5, it is important to not use soaps with high alkalinity.   Our skin has a natural acid mantle that protects our skin from environmental influences and bacteria (kinda like cellophane or car wax).   Harsh surfactants like many soaps on the market destroys the protective mantle and as a result, bacterial moves in like that broke cousin of yours who’s always looking for a place to stay.   Other drawbacks include:

1.      Soaps rob your skin of its natural oils, which hydrates the skin and locks in moisture

2.      Soaps contain thickeners (which are ingredients that hold soap together) and can clog your pores, potentially causing acne and dehydration

3.      Added chemicals in soaps are likely to increase skin irritations/allergic reactions from fragrances and/or preservatives

4.      Soaps have a tendency to leave a thin film behind, leaving you feeling unclean

If you are using bar soap, switch to a mild cleanser or calming cleaners. This will begin to balance the skin’s pH balance, be patient.   Also invest in a hydrating toner (that does not contain harsh alcohols) as well as a moisturizer and SPF of your choice.   Remember there is a difference between oil and moisture and your skin need to be moisturized for optimal skin health.   Begin exfoliating as well to loosen dead skin cells and reveal your new smooth skin.

• Wash last

This is a simple one, but can be forgotten at times; It’s a good idea to wait to wash your face after your are done using any products on your hair. This includes after co-washes and deep conditioners because the process of rinsing causes the products to run down your face and under the chin which can cause break outs in those areas.  The same is true when using oils because oils have the tendency to spread and run very easily after applying.  It’s a good idea to wait a few minutes after application and then wash the face to prevent the oil from settling.

• Use a toner

Apple cider vinegar works great as a toner for the skin, it removes dead skin cells and regulates the ph level of the skin making it less susceptible to break outs.   It can be used straight out of the bottle, but for those with sensitive skin it would be best to dilute with water before use to prevent irritation.

• Hands off

This is major, hands are covered with bacteria from day to day activities and when the hands are constantly on the face they introduce more bacteria on to the skin and in to the pores.   By washing hands regularly and keeping them off the face breakouts can be greatly reduced.

• Bentonite clay products

Bentonite clay is a clarifying agent that can be used on the skin and hair.  In regards to use on the skin, it has the ability to absorb toxins and dry out excess oil preventing breakouts.   Also it reduces inflammation and irritation seen on the skin over night in most cases.   This helps reduce dark marks and scaring from breakouts.   The clay can be purchased in bulk and mixed with water as needed for skin masks or can be purchased pre-made with other ingredients.   The best pre-made product I have found is the Queen Helen Mint Julep Mask in which one of the main ingredients is bentonite.   The mask is effective in shrinking pores, drying out breakouts, and reducing skin irritations. After use there is noticeable improvement in overall skin texture and tone.

As more and more Black women discover the beauty of their naturally kinky hair, the feud between relaxed and natural women of Color is growing at an alarming rate.  While some natural ladies feel as if women who choose to relax their hair are betraying their African roots, relaxed ladies feel that they are constantly under attack by the naturals over their choice to process their hair.   It is a silly debate as well as an unfortunate one especially that over the decades African-Americans have had an on-going riot among themselves over such insignificant issues.   Why should it make a difference how my sister decides to wear her hair?   Would the way she decides make her more or less Black?   When you think of it that way, it does sound ridiculous.

Relaxed Women

Black women who choose to relax their hair have the right to do so without being persecuted by their race.   Women of Color choose to relax for many reasons not always conceivable to natural women.  Most commonly, women who relax their hair chooses to do so because they find caring for their hair in the natural state to be a hassle.   This can be because she may not be very well educated on how to care for natural hair or perhaps she may feel the processes involved are too time consuming.   Most of us as little girls grew up having the luxury of a hot comb in our homes and loved the way our hair looked and felt after being pressed.   As adults, some still enjoy having straight hair rather than kinky hair and find heat-straightening methods more tedious.   Relaxers permanently reconstruct the texture of hair making strands straight.   This works for many women because it is a convenient way to maintain the straight texture they prefer easily, without having to compromise styling due to humidity or weather conditions.   Relaxing hair may make it more manageable but it also has its setbacks.   When the bond is broken allowing kinky hair to become straight, it also weakens the hair follicle.   Because of this, relaxed hair is more susceptible to breakage.   By nature straighter hair is less dry and if this is the deciding factor between relaxed and natural, then relaxed wins easily.

Natural Women

Natural women, on the other hand prefer the versatility of styling, being able to revert between curly and straight styles.   In some instances, women who prefer natural styling are at times frowned upon by relaxed women who sometimes jeer at their hair texture referring to it as nappy or rough.   Not all women who choose not to relax their hair are “for the cause,” so to speak.   She may simply desire to rid her hair of chemical processing and avoid the risk of damage that may follow.   She might also find processed hair to be somewhat of a nuisance and more difficult to attain fullness in her styling.   She might find that she can grow and maintain longer lengths with natural hair.  She may have conducted research on sodium hydroxide and its chemcial counterparts and decided that relaxing was not for her.  Having natural hair opens doors for endless styling opportunities and overall is a much healthier choice for your hair. However, with curly hair dryness and split ends are imminent.  Rule of thumb, the curlier the follicle, the drier it is.   Naturals find themselves working overtime to maintain the moisture and shine to their naturally dry hair.   Humidity and weather condition like rain and snow, do very little to change the styling composition of natural.   This is yet another plus in choosing to remain natural.

At the end of the day, to think that our sisters are at war with each other over the way she chooses to style her hair is almost inconceivable.   Both natural and relaxed women have preferences, likes and dislikes with their own hair.   Stereotyping within your own race is yet another vice in oppressing the Black race.   We should not allow petty and frankly ignorant issues to divide us further, for we are all related through our African roots.

If the glare of your nose blinds you as you walk out of your front door for work each morning, then perhaps you have an oil issue, or at the least combination skin.   By now, you should have heard that dabbing instead of wiping is better in controlling oil build up.   Fact ofthe matter is, no matter what you do the oil always comes right back again.   I am about to share a little secret with you that works for every skin type no matter the severity of the oil build up.   In fact, you just need to do it once in the morning as you apply your makeup.

There are countless drug store brands that claim to be long lasting matte applications, but not many actually do the trick.   Over the years, I have spent tons of cash in pharmacies and drugstores looking for something to combat my oily skin. Like you, I have tried all of the latest and greatest products only to find that they make my face look even worse!   From mud masks to toners and everything in between, still nothing worked.  I tried nearly every oil-free soap my local drug store sold but they only made my face tight, dry, and oily.   Most days, I would spend hours perfecting my make-up in the morning and feeling something fierce, but before I walked out the door, my skin was a glaring mess again!  How frustrating is that?

After doing a little research on the web, I found that a very common household product was the cure to my embarrassing predicament.  Every day I would use oil-control soaps and toners before applying my foundation and concealers.   Sure, I had a smooth matte surface to begin with for a minute or two but by the time as I was finished with my make-up, it looked a hot mess.   The solution for oily skin was so simple that I could not believe it was almost literally right under my nose! It is less than a buck in most places and you can find it just about anywhere.   Gas stations, drug stores, grocery stores, and maybe even street-side vendors sell this amazing product.   Yes, it is that common!   Are you ready for this?

Milk of Magnesia is a miracle when it comes to fighting oily skin, oh, and it is good for constipation and indigestion too.   I love it and cannot go a day without using it. Here is how you use it:

1. Wash you face thoroughly, ensuring that you wash away all grease and oil from the areas the milk of magnesia will be applied.
2. Next, clean your face with an oil-free toner using a cotton swab.   Clean until the swabs come out spotless.
3. Shake your bottle of milk of magnesia for at least 10-12 seconds, making certain to blend well.
4. Wet a clean cotton swab with the milk of magnesia and dab lightly over your entire face and to neck.   You want to apply a thin even layer and not a blotchy mess.
5. Allow your face and neck to dry completely.
6. Take a clean dry cotton swab and lightly dust off the excess milk of magnesia from your skin making sure there are no white caked areas.   This step is important because if not done evenly it will show through your foundation.
7. In assuming that you use oil-free make-up for oily skin issues, apply your make-up as usual.
8. You are done!  Enjoy a smooth matte finish all day long without having to dab.