4 Beauty Brands for And By Women of Colour

Aug 21, 2019

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I know when we think of black-owned beauty brands, we automatically think of the “homegirl in our head” Rihanna and her Fenty Beauty line. We also can’t forget the veteran Pat Mcgrath. But there’s a long list of successful black-owned beauty brands that are making their mark in the beauty and skincare industry, that we really need to get to know.

2. Unsun Cosmetics

Known for its chemical-free products, founder Katonya Breaux created Unsun because of the lack of clean sunscreen products made available for women of colour.  Unsun’s sunscreen is a 100% natural moisturizing facial product with no-residue.  Fun fact, Katonya Breaux is also the mother of singer, songwriter, Frank Ocean.

3. House of Tara

House of Tara International was founded in 1988, their nationwide product is known for its superior quality. Founder, Tara Fela-Durotoye, started her company at the age of 20, from her living room while studying at university. Today, Tara has over 3,000 reps across Nigeria and 14 stores to her name.

4. Foxie Cosmetics

Foxie Cosmetics is best known for their healing bath bombs that alleviate physical aches and pains.  Twenty-six year old, Austin, Texas native, Kayla Phillips handcrafted over 500 bath, body, skin, and hair-care products since she founded the company in 2015. What’s even more amazing, Kayla runs and operates Foxie Cosmetics all by herself!

What other blacked owned beauty brands should have made our list?

Cheers,

Karen

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Black Seed Hair Mask

Aug 14, 2018

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By Hair Budda

Herbal hair masks are a great way to rejuvenate your hair.  Black Seed Hair Mask solves two problems:

  • It stops hair loss
  • And helps to regrow the lost hair

And the hair that grows won’t be fine or fragile that falls off easily. Black seed makes your hair grow thicker and stronger.

How to make it.

 

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A Variety of Head Wraps for Women With Natural Hair

Jul 31, 2018

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Photo: fanmdjanm.com

By Ingrie Williams (Flare)

With summer’s steamiest days upon us, humidity is a force to be reckoned with for anyone with naturally curly hair. Mere degrees can separate a fabulously full ’do from Frizz City, Population: You. Putting your hair up is guaranteed to cool you down, and adding a head wrap to your #OOTD has several benefits. Numero uno is the sartorial boost because a head wrap is downright head-turning.

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How I Improved My Dry Skin With Pure Aloe Vera

Apr 13, 2018

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I’ve struggled with dry skin for a little over a year now.  Mainly due to a vitamin deficiency (which is currently healing) but I  also blame Mother Nature since she refuses to let winter go. Like really, it’s April and it snowed outside. Geez! 

We all know it’s difficult to keep our skin moisturized during the winter. The dry air, the fluctuating temperature and use of central heat while we sleep, all contribute to suffering from dry skin.

To help keep my skin hydrated, I do two things: I wash with Pure Castile Lavender Soap (Dr. Bronner’s) and moisturize with Coconut Oil (Dr. Bronner’s, organic, virgin) or Shea Butter (grade A, unrefined, organic) on a daily basis. During the winter months, I combine both the coconut oil and shea butter to seal in as much moisture as I can.  I’ve also made it a point to drink at least 4-5 bottles of water to help hydrate my body.  Okay, so, that’s three things. But it’s nothing too complicated or exceptionally different. The simple routine worked and my skin would stay relatively soft (for the better part of a day).

A few months ago, I’ve noticed that certain parts of my body would be completely dry and tight after a couple of hours.  My little two-step process wasn’t enough. It was time to try something new. Not sure what that something new would be, I did know that I didn’t want to add another natural oil or butter just yet.

Then it dawned on me. Aloe Vera! How could I forget? I mean, Aloe Vera is known as the plant that heals and soothes the skin. 

ALOE VERA AT HOME

Growing up, I could always find a thick piece of Aloe plant sitting in our kitchen. My mother used Aloe for just about everything: to wash our hair, heal cuts and take the gel internally to “Clean our blood” as she would say. 

My mother would force me to take things like Aloe “because it was good for us.” I would constantly roll my eyes (without her knowing of course) because like most teenagers, I didn’t think my parents knew much about anything. But I listened to them anyway. Little did I know, years later, the world would live by all things natural and plant-based. 

USING ALOE VERA

Later that day I bought a small piece of the plant to use after my shower,

  • I cut the Aloe in half, scraped out the gel from the insides of the plant and put it in my blender for a few seconds. 
  • I took a small amount and applied it lightly over the driest parts of my body and let it sit for a minute. I put the rest in the fridge to stay fresh and didn’t keep a batch more than a few days.
  • I applied the coconut oil and shea butter mixture as I did before and waited. 
  • I repeated the same steps for a few weeks; Aloe Vera, then coconut oil and shea butter mixture every day and night.

There was a difference!  My skin was softer for a longer period of time during the day. I noticed my problem areas weren’t as dry even from the night before.  Applying the Aloe Vera allowed my skin to hold in the moisture much longer.

REASONS WHY ALOE VERA WORKS

  • Aloe Vera gel is light and non-greasy.  It won’t clog up your pores. 
  • Aloe Vera is made up of large quantities of water. This is what helps to hydrate your skin. 
  • Aloe Vera has approximately 75 nutrients, minerals and vitamins (combined) which all help to heal and moisturize your skin.
  • Aloe Vera, natural oils, and butter all have healing properties. When you combine them together it can act as a healing agent.

Now, if I can only get back to eating the Aloe Vera gel raw. I’m sure it would do wonders. Ugh!

How about you, have you used Aloe to heal your skin?

xo

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All Things Natural At The Textur’d Hair And Beauty Show

Oct 1, 2017

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I’ve worn my hair naturally mostly under protective hairstyles for a few years now. It just made things easier. But easier isn’t always better if you let a busy schedule and a non-existent hair care routine get in the way. If your natural hair isn’t getting TLC on a regular basis it will take a toll on the health of your hair.  Let’s just say, my hair is in need of TLC, a good hair care routine and a few good products to match. Coincidently, timing couldn’t be better. The  Textur’d Natural Hair & Beauty Show was happening right in my neck of the woods and I was able to catch day 2 of the event.

With over forty (mostly female) vendor’s, I looked forward to chatting it up with hair and beauty brands from Toronto and the United States. It was hard just to choose just one item from the variety of organic, vegan and naturally handmade products available. Almost all of the brands had a solution to maintain, repair and encourage healthy hair growth.

Not just a vendor showcase, several workshop facilitators shared their unique knowledge on everything to do with natural hair, body and skin care. Nutritional Consultant, Trisha Smith, discussed natural remedies and the connection between digestive disorders and the various effects on the hair.  Certified Shea Butter Technician, Kedar Waterman, discussed the many healing properties of premium grade Shea Butter and it’s benefits.

I ATE whole wheat roti, coconut curry chickpeas and quinoa salad courtesy of Chic Peas Veg, a plant based catering company.  I CHATTED with Ndija Anderson-Yantha,  a natural hair advocate and author of “What are you going to do with that hair?” A non-fiction book encouraging young girls to celebrate and love their natural hair. And I BOUGHT, (with so many wonderful products to choose from) En’tyce Your Beauty’s Herbal Temple Root Gro to help with thinning edges. And Muthaland Secrets’  Three Leaves Special Body Bar to help tone and purify your skin. It was a great afternoon fill with positivity and love for all things natural!

My haircare brands wish-list to definitely try,

What do you use in your natural hair?

 

 

 

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