Category: Haircare

Beauty /

New 90’s Inspired Indie Hair Care Line From Goes National

Maya Smith, Black-Female Creative Director, Stylist, Inventor, Innovator, Natural Hair Advocate and Mom of 5, takes her indie hair care line, The Doux® to mass market with brilliant 90’s hip-hop inspired packaging that cannot be ignored. After two decades researching and mastering natural curls; Maya delivers a brand that shows naturally curly hair who’s boss. Check out her story and this awesome new brand getting blogger buzz and blowing up online.

THE AWESOME STORY BEHIND THE DOUX:

There’s something NEW for girls with natural curls of all types and textures. The Doux® (pronounced The Do) is a “new school” modern hair care system with an “old school edge.” With packaging that is bold and bright and product titles inspired by 90’s hip-hop and pop culture, The Doux is a bold new line that took two decades to perfect for those seeking a way to smoothing curly, kinky, and wavy hair into both, curly or straight styles.

Created by Maya Smith, a 25-year celebrity stylist, and International Curl Master, The Doux was first launched in Europe in 2011 in response to her passion for helping people master the hair they were born with. STRAIGHT, NATURAL, CURLY, or RELAXED, according to The Doux, if you grew it, it’s ALL GOOD. “I was living in Germany at the time, had my own salon there and my specialty was helping clients to transition to a relaxer-free lifestyle. I’m obsessed with people maximizing the potential of the hair they were born with. Mastering curls is my passion and purpose,” explains Smith.

The people felt her passion through her products. The Doux blew up overseas so much so that it caught the attention of media in the USA such as Black Enterprise and Essence Magazine. “Once we started getting press in the states the demand for The Doux was incredible. I had to return to the states and see this vision through,” Maya Smith explains. In 2014, Maya opened The DOUX Salon™ in Macon Georgia’s historic Downtown district and started selling her professional grade products at her salons and online.

Fast-forward three years and a lot of work and dedication, The Doux arrived in select Target stores nationwide in the winter of 2017 to 2018; no easy feat for an indie brand. “We are so excited to bring The Doux to the masses. It’s 20 years in the making. We listened to 20 years of feedback from actual clients from Minneapolis to Morocco. We listened to what people wanted, a salon grade, a high quality product that delivered on its promises. Helping people to manage and maintain their natural hair and celebrate their own bold, unique style is what the last 25 years of my professional life has been about,” Maya Smith shares.

The Doux also redesigned its packaging, with the intention to disrupt the category. Maya did all the of the package design herself bold with bright colors, which is the opposite of the more subdued look you see on the shelves currently. “I’m a fan of 90’s rap so I wanted to incorporate lyrics and titles in the packaging,” adds Smith. With titles such as Bonita Afro Balm, Mousse Def, Sucka Free, Fresh Rinse, and The Light, The Doux will most definitely catch the eyes of Millennials and Gen X’ers alike.

The Doux is now available at select Target stores and online at TheDoux.com

Shampoo and Conditioner 

*SUCKA FREE™ Moisturizing Shampoo, *FRESH RINSE™ Conditioner

Sulphate & Paraben-free Shampoo and Conditioning Duo with Shea Butter & Sea Silk. A gentle cleansing system for thick, dry, or color-treated hair. Ultra-hydrating conditioner has an amazing slip for easy detangling. Sea silk smooths the cuticle, leaving hair frizz-free and full of body. MSRP: $12.99 each.

Stylers:

*BONITA AFRO BALM™ Shine Enhancing Texture Cream Delivers shine and manageability for pixies, Afro’s, tapered cuts, and twist/braid/coil sets. Certified organic botanicals, alcohol & paraben free. MSRP: $15.99.

*MOUSSE DEF™ Texture Foam Non-flaking mousse gives definition to curly styles without stiffness, cloudiness, or crunch. Soy proteins and natural humectants make this humidity-resistant styling aid ideal for thermal styling as well. MSRP: $14.99

*THE LIGHT™ Shine Mist Preserves color and protects hair from heat styling. Reduces drying time and delivers weightless shine to finished looks. Adds natural luster to natural styles. Infused with Black Cacao, Passion Fruit, and Palm Oil. MSRP: $14.99.

The Doux is now available at select Target stores and online at TheDoux.com

ABC /

Talk of Alabama Lifestyle Segment: Breast Cancer Awareness Fall Must-Haves

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  To celebrate efforts of the National Breast Cancer Foundation I hosted a Lifestyle Segment with ABC 33/40 on Monday, October 30, 2017.  The television appearance featured beauty and wellness tips to help women that are undergoing cancer treatment.

A few of the suggestions discussed on-air included the use of hair turbans, scarfs, mineral makeup, and water-based nail polish.  Companies such as STILA Cosmetics provided makeup from the Living Beauty Collection and Dana’s Bakery shipped Pink Cotton Candy Macaroons that encouraged proceeds to be donated to the Breast Cancer Foundation.

This particular segment was dear to my heart because my mother is a Lymphatic Cancer survivor.  Special thank you to Talk of Alabama for allowing me to share cancer related beauty tips with a local audience!

Hair:

Turban

Scarf

Face:

Alima Pure

Deborah Lippmann

STILA Cosmetics

Wellness:

Pill Box Organizer

Take a look at the segment clip here: Talk of Alabama 10/30/2017 Kim West

Beauty /

Makeup, Skincare, and Beauty Pop-Up Shop Recap: Erika Liles and Gizelle Bryant

EveryHue Beauty hosted a Makeup, Skincare & Beauty Pop-Up Shop in Birmingham, Alabama on Friday, October 27, 2017.  Presenters for the event included Dr. Corey Hartman of Skin Wellness Center, Chic Hair, Angela King Brows and Posh Luxury.

EveryHue Beauty founders Erika Liles and BRAVO TV star Gizelle Bryant of the Real Housewives of Potomac greeted guests.

The beauty event featured makeup, wellness stations and product sampling.  While attending, I received brow tips from Angela King Brows.  She reshaped my brows and suggested products to help them grow from waxing.

EveryHue Beauty Consultants matched the tinted moisturizer to event participants.  I discovered that my hue was #4 and very impressed with the moisturizer coverage.

After visiting all of the beauty stations, I decided to purchase the Glow Perfect Moisturizer and received a Hue Blending Sponge.

A few facts about EveryHue Tinted Moisturizer:

  • Weightless
  • Buildable formula with a satin finish.
  • Broad Spectrum SPF 25.
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin E
  • Aloe
Beauty /

5 Simple Tips to Maintain Healthy, Glowing Skin this Fall/Winter

With chilly temps on the way the battle for healthy, glowing skin officially begins. To beat winter beauty woes like dryness and a lack luster complexion, your skincare routine will require some extra TLC and loads of hydration.

1.SHORTEN YOUR SHOWER

A hot, steamy shower can leave your mind peaceful but your body parched. Instead of stripping away natural oils limit it to five minutes, and suds up with a body wash; then, seal with an oil infused lotion. Try The Mane Choice Heavenly Halo Oil+Lotion and Body Wash set ($14.99 each; Target.com). Infused with soy and multivitamins to restore and hydrate skin by protecting against moisture loss.

2.EXFOLIATE ONCE A WEEK

Proper exfoliation prevents the skin from developing a dull appearance – Especially during the colder seasons. Using an exfoliator once a week can provide an instantly rejuvenated skin tone. Try the Dear by Renée® Gentle Facial Scrub ($49.95, DearByRenee.com) This gentle gel-based scrub contains Jojoba microbeads which sweeps away dead skin cells, refines surface texture and helps decongest skin.

3.SHINE ON

Bring a little magic to your complexion by dabbing a shimmery cream highlighter onto the cheekbones, inner corners of your eyes, and brow bones. To draw out the warmer tones in darker skin, opt for a gold shade. If you’re fair, pink tones will impart a natural glow. Try Arbonne Starlight Glow Palette ($75, Arbonne.com) which contains an array of warm to cool powder pigments or Arbonne Sheer Glow Highlight Stick ($50, Arbonne.com) a multi-purpose highlight stick containing a Pearl shade to highlight and Bronze to give an effortless glow.

4.KEEP UP YOUR DAILY SPF HABITS

It might be tempting to stash your sunscreen away until next summer, but it’s necessary to wear year-round if you want your complexion to look its best. Slather on the SPF 365 days a year for skin that’s healthy enough to glow naturally! Try Arbonne RE9 Advanced Restorative Cream SPF 20 Sunscreen ($66, Arbonne.com) The concentrated formula protects against UVA/UVB rays and contains collagen-supporting ingredients!

5.DON’T FEAR THE MASK

Hydration masks are a key to giving your skin the nutrients it craves in order to reveal an enviable glow! Try Dear by Renée® Pomegranate Hydrating Mask ($49.95, DearByRenee.com) the unique gel-based formulation leaves skin super moisturized and glowing with Aloe Vera Leaf and Mushroom Extracts to nourish and soften skin.

 

Beauty /

Fall Back in Love with Your Hair with Cuvée Beauty

When the seasons start to change so does our desire to give ourselves a fresh new look and Cuvée Beauty has a few products that will keep your hair looking fresh and magnificent every day this Fall!
To help with the upkeep of freshly dyed hair, Cuvée Beauty’s Shampoo was created for daily use and is free of sulfates and parabens making it safe for color treated hair. This luxurious cleanser gently lathers to fortify and revitalize hair while creating shine. It is also infused with nutrients and protective anti-oxidants that will leave hair feeling clean and refreshed while delivering a shiny, vibrant finish.

Get it now at CuveeBeauty.com for $38

While using the shampoo, make sure to pair it with Cuvée Beauty’s Conditioner, a concentrated daily restorative treatment infused with a formula that leaves hair feeling soft, but also creating an impressive shine. The conditioner’s ingredients will help repair overworked strands and increase manageability while adding weightless hydration. Along with being able to protect color and chemically treated hair, this conditioner will renew and protect against daily wear and tear.

Get it now at CuveeBeauty.com for $38

If you’re heading somewhere this Fall, Cuvée Beauty has you covered with their limited edition, Everyday Essence Travel Kit. These kits are filled with three deluxe travel size products that will give any girl on the go the full Cuvée Beauty experience! Using the foundational steps for hair care, this kit includes Shampoo, Conditioner, and the Protective Treatment, which are all sulfate-free, paraben-free, and cruelty free! All of these products contain the Cuvée Complex, that incorporates luxurious ingredients like champagne, white truffle, and platinum, to create a one of a kind formula that repairs and strengthens for lush and shiny hair. These travel kits also provide new tips and tricks to help give you amazing results no matter where in the world your travels take you!

Get it now at CuveeBeauty.com for $30

Accessories /

The Ultimate Holiday 2017 Gift Guide For Every Personality

Coming up with gift ideas for everyone on your list can be tough – to make the process a little less stressful, I compiled the ultimate gift guide filled with new Holiday 2017 launches. See below for botanical based and celebrity adorned gift sets for every personality type in your life!

Whether you need something big for your best friends, meaningful for your mom, lavish for yourself, or heartwarming for that special someone, I’m here to help!

FOR THE BEAUTY LOVER

Flawless Brows & Lashes Limited Edition Set, $100 at Nordstrom.com

Skin Research Labs, the leader in effective beauty enhancing treatments and adorned by Hilary Duff, Kelly Ripa, Huda Kattan and more! Brings the ultimate holiday kit this season with the launch of their limited edition Flawless Brows & Lashes Set. The luxurious cosmetic bag contains a 2mL neuLASH®, 6mL neuBROW, and the brand new neuBROW brow defining pen!

Blossoming Beauty Gift Set, $48 at arbonne.com

Let your beauty shine with a new Sparkling Body Powder with a built-in brush and a prismatic Lilac Lip Gloss to show your inner sparkle on the outside too. Super cute pouch that can double as a pencil case included!

Starlight Glow Palette, $75 at arbonne.com

These shades were plucked from the sky to deliver a celestial glow! These multi-use powders can be used to highlight, blush, bronze, or contour with an array of warm to cool pigments to sculpt and shape a starlit glow. Featuring three brand-new shades and guest starring our fan favorite Anniversary Bronzer.

Rosé All Day to Night Lip Set, $70 at arbonne.com

A trio of dual-ended lip colors in blushing nudes, pinks and mauves that keep you rocking that rosé all day and night. This lip bouquet features Arbonne’s new favorite matte lip cream on one end, and a shiny lip gloss on the other. Wear alone or mix-and-match for a full bloom effect!

Spiced Vanilla Chai Candle, $40 at arbonne.com

This artisan-crafted, hand-poured candle made with a coconut wax blend combines sweet cinnamon, baked vanilla, and spicy chai aromas. Slow and clean burning, the scent will have you reminiscing about your favorite holiday moments.

Olive Blossom & Eucalyptus Gift Set, $58 at arbonne.com

Give the gift of fabulous and luxurious personal care with this shea butter, olive and coconut oil infused gift set.  The set includes a softly scented cleansing body polish that exfoliates and whipped body butter that moisturizes with natural essential oils and fragrant blossoms, topped with a cool eucalyptus touch.

FOR MEN

 

RE9 Advanced® for Men Grooming Kit, $75 at arbonne.com

The perfect set for a clean and confident man, complete with our brand new Charcoal Soap Bar that invigorates with spicy notes of turmeric and bergamot, as well as a full size of the best-selling RE9 Advanced® for Men Shave Cream and After-Shave Soothing Lotion. The set is conveniently packaged with a dopp kit that makes traveling and grooming on-the-go a breeze.

 

FOR THE SKINCARE EXPERT

 

Youth Soothing Crème ($74.95, DearbyRenee.com) Infused with the skin healing, Arnica Extract, which is known to soothe and calm skin disorders like eczema this soothing crème contains several active components that target chronic itchy, red or problematic skin leaving a radiant and hydrated complexion.

Skin Renewal Serum ($79.95, DearbyRenee.com) offers rejuvenating benefits of five bio-sourced epidermal growth factors from BioPlacenta. This premium rejuvenating serum reduces fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots.

FOR THE NATURAL HAIR GURU

Heavenly Halo Herbal Hair Tonic and Soy Milk Deep Hydration Collection, available at Target.com is a hydration savior for thirsty hair. Experience the benefits of highly concentrated hydrating ingredients such as Burdock Root Oil, Palmarosa Oil Umutanga Oil and Yucca Root that help to promote hair growth, soothe a dry scalp and strengthen the hair strands. The key ingredients saturate the hair with intensive moisture, locking it in for ultimate and deep, long lasting hydration. Includes six products: Shampoo, Conditioner, Pre-poo, Softening Milk, Serum Oil Mist & Mask.

  • Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Pre-poo, which gently melts tangles to minimize breakage, decreases moisture loss during cleansing and protects hair from cleansing manipulation. $14.99
  • Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Shampoo, which thoroughly cleanses without stripping, restores hydration in dehydrated hair and reduces breakage. Hair is left soft and tangle-free. $15.99
  • Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Conditioner, which helps to reduce breakage, restores natural luster and shine and replenishes moisture without buildup. $15.99
  • Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Mask, which penetrates the strands to restore lasting moisture, visibly calm frizz and improve elasticity, minimizes shedding and breakage and leaves hair feeling soft, supple and tangle-free. $19.99
  • Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Softening Milk, which deeply penetrates to restore dry thirsty hair. Assists with styling, restores natural luster and shine and improves texture and manageability. $15.99
  • Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Serum Oil Mist, which imparts lightweight shine to finished styles and aids in nourishing, soothing and supporting scalp health. Lightweight and non-greasy, it seals in moisture and enhances texture while reducing frizz. $14.99

 

Beauty /

Perfect Skin Challenge with Christine Chin

It’s time to kick-off the official start of summer with a few skincare tips from Christine Chin, esthetician to the celebrities and supermodels like Hilary Swank, Gisele Bundchen and Ellen Pompeo. Dubbed “Mean Christine” in the world of skincare for her extremely thorough work and brutal honesty, Christine is an incredible wealth of knowledge and has unparalleled attention to detail. To achieve beautiful and blemish free skin, follow these top three tips from Christine and take on the challenge of having perfect skin all summer long!

  1. Make sure you’re washing your face up to your hairline, especially if you’re not washing your hair daily. Hair products like dry shampoo or silicone-based anti-frizz products can clog pores along your hairline.

  1. Change your pillowcase regularly (at least 1-2 times a week). Your face is essentially resting on a bed of hair product and sweat and other bacteria overnight. If you’re low on pillowcases, take an unused tee shirt and put it over the pillow.

  1. Toner HAS to be a part of your skincare routine. It removes any residue or grime that your cleanser misses and is essential for those with oily or acne prone skin.
Beauty /

Sephora Grand Opening in Riverchase Galleria

Sephora cosmetics store will be opening on Friday, May 5, 2017 in the Riverchase Galleria.  If you don’t know about Sephora, they offer an array of beauty products such as fragrance, makeup, nail polish, and hair care.  

The grand opening will be located inside of JCPenney from 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.  More details about the event are below:

“Join us on May 5th as we launch the newest addition to our store!  We will have entertainment, door prizes and LOTS of fun for our Grand Opening!  With over 40 years of experience in the cosmetic industry and the company’s rapid expansions inside JCPenney since 2006, Sephora continues to be a leader in the beauty industry by providing unbiased, personalized service in a fun, interactive, client-inspired environment!”

Beauty /

Tweak Your Hair At Home – Quick Beauty Tip

As much as we love going to the hairdressers to give our hair some oomph, it can be a costly affair. After all, soon as you add extras such as hair treatment and dye, the price can rocket through the roof. And trying to get an appointment can be tricky too. After all, the demands of work mean we are left with little time to get our locks cut. However, you don’t have to go to the hairdressers to tweak your hair. In fact, here are some ways you can alter them at home so that you can skip the hairdressers!

Feature Photo from The Latern.com

Brave the scissors yourself

Cutting their own hair might fill a lot of people with dread. After all, if you are not great with scissors, you might end up with a lopsided cut by the time you are done! However, if just a tidy up is what you are after, you could do this yourself. Of course, if you are going to cut your hair at home, get some scissors, which have been designed to cut hair. And get a good mirror that will let you see every angle of your hair. It would also be good to get a friend or family friend to help you out. After all, they can do the back of your hair, which you won’t be able to cut easily. And make sure you get some help online before you start cutting. This article, for example, is helpful to ensure you do a good job with the cut.

 

Opt for easy-to-use hair extensions

 

A lot of people think their only option when it comes to hair extensions is to head to the hairdresser. But while it is one option, it’s definitely not your only choice. In fact, there are a lot of sites, which sell hair extensions that you can easily put in at home. For example, you might want to go for tape in hair extensions that come ready cut and taped for an easy fit. And they can last up to a year, so you won’t need to keep applying them. Therefore, look online to save yourself a lot of time and money!

Dye your locks in the bathroom

You might be considering changing the color of your hair. After all, it can boost your looks and help you to turn heads. But rather than going to the colorist to do it, you should consider dying your hair at home instead. After all, a lot of the packs are just as good as what they use at the hairdresser. And as long as you do it properly, you can ensure it looks great. Just make sure you protect your lovely bathroom before you get started. Put towels on the floor and around your bath to protect it from the dye. And it’s worth getting a friend or partner to help you with the dye! And whatever you do, make sure you use the tester. After all, it will stop you from making an error that will leave you with irritated skin.

Sponsored Post
Beauty /

Get The Look: 89th annual Academy Awards

The 89th annual Academy Awards took place in Los Angeles last night and as always the styles didn’t disappoint.  Mimi Valdes, Tracee Ellis Ross, Mary J. Blige, and Gabrielle Union all slayed the Red Carpet, Viewing Parties, and After Parties with effortless/ fabulous looks! Below, find the step by step guide on how celebrity hairstylist, Larry Sims completed each look with Schwarzkopf GLISS, Schwarzkopf got2b and Smooth ‘N Shine!

Mimi Valdes

89th annual Academy Awards

How to Get the Look

 

  1. Start off by washing hair using  Schwarzkopf GLISS™ Oil Nutritive Shampoo & Conditioner
  2. Next, blow dry the hair out prepping with Schwarzkopf got2b Guardian Angel Flat Iron Balm 
  3. Start at the nape of the neck and the back center of the head adding in grey extensions to create a loose crown braid leaving organic tendrils around the hair
  4. Create a dip over the right eyebrow and secure with silver bobby pins.
  5. Use Schwarzkopf got2b Glam Force Hairspray for a firm hold to complete the look!

Tracee Ellis Ross

Elton John Viewing Party

How to Get the Look

 

  1. Start off by washing hair using Schwarzkopf GLISS™ Oil Nutritive Shampoo & Conditioner
  2. Diffuse hair and lightly used a bit of  Smooth ‘N Shine Instant Edge Smoothing Pomade to smooth out edges
  3. Lightly smooth Schwarzkopf got2b mess-merizing putty over hair for a texturized look
  4. Created a Dianna Ross inspired bun at the nape of the neck securing hair with a hook rubber band and bobby pins

Mary J Blige

Vanity Fair After Party

How to Get the Look

 

  1. Start off by washing hair using Schwarzkopf GLISS™ Oil Nutritive Shampoo & Conditioner
  2. Next, blow dry then flat iron hair. Prep with Schwarzkopf got2b Guardian Angel Flat Iron Balm 
  3. Use Smooth ‘N Shine Polishing Instant Repair Hair Polisher and Schwarzkopf got2b Glam Force Hairspray to finish the look!

 

Gabrielle Union

Vanity Fair After Party

How to Get the Look

 

  1. Start off by washing hair using Schwarzkopf GLISS™ Oil Nutritive Shampoo & Conditioner
  2. Next, prep hair with Schwarzkopf got2b Guardian Angel Flat Iron Balm and flat iron hair starting from the nape of the neck working towards the top for a smooth sleek texture
  3. Use a half inch curling iron and curl the front pieces away from the face. Use a mini flat iron to kick out the end of the hair and blow dry all over for a windblown undone look
  4. Complete the style with Schwarzkopf got2b mess-merizing texturizing hairspray for an effortless and flirty texture