Celebrity /

STATEMENT FROM ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. ON THE 2020 ESSENCE FESTIVAL OF CULTURE

“New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell bravely recommended yesterday that no large events take place in New Orleans in 2020, and ESSENCE fully supports that decision.  After continued monitoring of the evolving developments in the COVID-19 global pandemic and remaining in close contact and collaboration with our partners in the City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana, we are confirming today that we will no longer move forward with the 2020 ESSENCE Festival of Culture live experience – and look forward to returning to New Orleans in 2021.

 

We are excited to now announce that our ‘ESSENCE Benefit Series to Fight COVID-19’ will raise money and provide support for businesses and organizations in Black communities across the country and that our first-ever ESSENCE Festival of Culture: The Virtual Edition taking place over July 4th weekend will be included in this effort as a multi-day experience and benefit celebration.  This Festival will be hosted on our new ESSENCE Studios streaming platform, which will extend the experience to communities everywhere providing unfettered access to the power, purpose, and party that has made the ESSENCE Festival the largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience in the world.  Women across the globe and their families will engage in interactive, live opportunities to be inspired, empowered, entertained and transformed as they enter a new economic, spiritual and wellness journey ahead.  The virtual Festival will be a benefit celebration in honor and support of the City of New Orleans, which has been an incredible partner over the Festival’s 26 years and continues to be especially hard hit during this crisis.

From the beginning, we have shared that the health, safety, and well-being of our Festival-goers, local citizens and others who contribute to making the Festival such a unique experience were our top concerns and would be the foremost considerations in our decision-making.  While we initially hoped that a reschedule from our July 2020 dates to later in the fall would be feasible, current information and projections by public health officials and agencies have made it increasingly clear that any large-scale events this year could potentially and unnecessarily put attendees and surrounding communities at risk.  So, what would have typically been a very difficult decision for us was not because people come first, and we will continue to do everything that we can to serve our community during this time.  We will honor all tickets sold for the 2020 Festival in 2021 and will also offer full refunds.  Ticket holders should visit essencefestival.com for further information.

 

‘ESSENCE and the City of New Orleans have a partnership that thrives in good times and is made even stronger in challenging times,” said Mayor Cantrell.  ‘We share an uncompromised commitment to the best interest of our local community and our tourist community, and the priorities right now are providing support to those who have been affected by the disproportionate impact of the pandemic here in New Orleans and ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all.  We look forward to welcoming everyone back to our great city in 2021 for the return of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture and to once again helping to create such an unmatched and magical experience.”

 

‘We greatly appreciate the Essence family for working with the City of New Orleans and Louisiana as we face this ongoing public health crisis,’ said Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana.  ‘We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the Essence family and look forward to continuing the celebration in 2021.’

 

We continue to understand that in these times, accurate information and critical resources from trusted sources are vital.  So, ESSENCE created the ESSENCE of the Matter: COVID-19’s Impact on Black America digital platform to provide Black women and communities with the tools, information, resources, solutions, inspiration, and empowerment needed to address the multitude of issues arising from this pandemic. ESSENCE Studios will deliver these live virtual experiences and produce the content our community needs as we continue to navigate this unprecedented time together and beyond.  Experiences to date have included our first-ever virtual ESSENCE Wellness Houseä and ESSENCE CARES Act information sessions, with the next – the  ESSENCE & New Voices Entrepreneur Summit – included in our Benefit Series and scheduled for Friday, April 24.  Visit essence.com  for more information.  In addition, our editorial team is producing daily content on our dedicated page to educate our community on the coronavirus, its impact, best practices for prevention and how we can not only survive, but thrive, through this time.’

 

Beauty /

La La Anthony Releases New Facebook Series titled La La Anthony: Reclaim Your Life

La La Anthony: Reclaim Your Life is a topic-led conversation meets transformational series that follows La La Anthony, her Glam Squad and a celebrity guest, as she visits with women who are eager to share their stories, harness their power, and unlock their inner fierce female!  Each episode delves deep into a uniquely feminine subject. La La and her celebrity guest will share candid, from-the-heart stories, touching on how the subject resonates with each of them as individuals, and how it touches on the female experience at large.
 
In episode one, La La is joined by celebrity guest, actress Karrueche Tran, to give two women, Angel and Tiffiny, a well-deserved makeover who have struggled with painful choices they have encountered in previous years. La La’s goal is to help these two women rediscover their beauty and inner strength. In addition to the makeover, La La and Karrueche sit down with the two women and have heart-to-heart conversations with each other, resulting in emotional and powerful advice.

 

Tune in to watch here: 
Beauty /

Stress Relief for Challenging Times and How Essential Oils Can Help You Find Inner Calm

We are all searching for ways to deal with the stress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether that’s it’s meditating, eating immune-boosting foods or Zoom chatting with friends, just doing something for stress relief is essential for your mental and physical well-being.

Now there’s one more way to help de-stress in this trying time – with the power of essential oils.

Vitality Extracts have diffusers, car diffusers, roll-on bottles, essential oil jewelry and a line for kids.

Vitality Extracts crafts the finest essential oils that are pure, safe and free of chemicals making them the perfect aromatherapy oils for optimal natural healing. Each of its oils is tested to ensure it’s 100% contaminant free! While the company is unwavering in its commitment to provide products that are beneficial for its customers, it’s equally committed to protecting its workers and the planet as a whole. The company’s collection of products is sourced from generational farms around the world, helping preserve and protect a vanishing way of life. Farmers and the artisans who lovingly create Vitality Extracts are paid a fair wage and work in an environment guided by ethical practices.

Along with essential oils for migraine relief, stress relief, energy and more, Vitality Extracts makes stunning diffuser bracelets from natural stones, each as beautiful to look at as it is good for your soul! With all the stress in the world now, be good to yourself – and the planet and find some grounding with Vitality Extracts.

Top Picks for Stress Relief:

Immunity – a powerful way to help support the proper function of your immune and respiratory systems. In addition, it can help purify the air and disinfect surfaces to provide a cleaner environment for you and your family, while reducing anxiety and helping with mental focus.

Inner Peace – a lovely combination of oils that gives a spiritual calm even when you’re most stressed. This refreshing combination of citrus oils helps to restore energy, relieve tension and boost the immune and circulatory systems.

Breathe Easy – designed to increase the lung’s capacity to breathe and clear the sinuses. It can also help purify the air in the room and ease congestion and sinus pressure, reduce inflammation and promote a healthy immune and circulatory system.

Diffuser Jewelry – Pyrite, rose quartz and African turquoise are just some of the beautiful and beneficial stones in this collection. Each bracelet or necklace features natural stones paired with lava beads to soak up the oils and provide long-lasting benefits in a beautiful package.

About Vitality Extracts:  Vitality Extracts was created by a group of health and wellness enthusiasts who firmly believe in the natural healing of essential oils. The company crafts products of the utmost quality and offers them at affordable prices to ensure everyone can enjoy the benefits of better health. The company is so confident its products exceed expectations it offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee!

Beauty /

Lifestyle Update: Work From Home Starter Kit #Coronavirus

Owning a face mask has become a staple in everyone’s home.  Honestly, if you think about it how many times have we needed a face mask?

When we’re walking through the airport.  During the cold and flu season.  After giving birth to a newborn baby.  There have been several instances in our lives when we needed to protect ourselves or someone else.

This surgical mask has now sparked a surge of inspiration amongst the creative community!

Artists and designers are using their skills and designing “fancy” face masks.

Featured Photo from MSN.com

Something that started as a medical necessity is now multi-purpose; one for protection and the other for style.

With that being said, many of us are working from home to protect ourselves from the Coronavirus.

This sudden change has made us alter our schedule and clothing selections.  Many are logging into meetings while juggling the demands of home.

Luckily, we can join meetings while lounging in our slippers!

Work From Home Starter Kit
Jumpsuit

 

 

Essential Oils
Slippers
Face Mask

If you like this post click here:  Homebound Survival Tips

Beauty /

How Long Does it Take for Hair to Grow Back? A Helpful Guide

Tapered cut? An oh so stylish pixie cut? An asymmetrical bob? Whatever your current style, it’s only natural that after a while, you’ll want to grow it out and get some length again.

Certain factors will come into play when trying to grow your hair long. These include the length that you’re aiming for and the condition your hair is in. You will also have to take into account the types of food you’re eating and how frequently you trim your hair.

Your hair is an integral part of your beauty, and everyone deserves to feel beautiful. If you’re going for the Rapunzel look or just want some growth and length retention, you’ve probably wondered how long does it take for hair to grow back.

Read on for all the essential tips to grow your hair out.

How Long Does It Take for Hair to Grow Back?

Beauty starts on the inside; that’s true. Your diet will impact your hair growth. Ensure that you’re eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, protein, vegetables, and calcium.

You can also consider taking supplements but consult with your doctor first. Zinc and iron will be beneficial to your hair growth journey.

B-complex vitamins and biotin are also essential to your hair growth. They’ll add thickness to your hair as well as make it shiny. Vitamin D can stimulate your hair follicles to promote growth.

You may also want to try out vitamins that are made specifically for hair growth. You can use a SugarBearHair coupon to get discounts on gummy vitamins. These gummy vitamins are specially formulated to help your hair grow faster.

Right Hair Products

Keeping your scalp healthy and clean promotes hair growth. Start by using a clarifying shampoo once weekly to clear buildup as well as any excessive storage of oils.

Scalp massages do a world of good, so be sure to take advantage of this. Don’t be afraid to invigorate and stimulate your scalp with your fingertips.

Strengthen Your Tresses

Moisture is good, so ensure that you moisturize your hair to prevent it from breaking. Deep condition your tresses with a hot oil treatment once weekly. Avoid using blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons as much as possible. This will prevent heat damage.

If you must use heat for styling, be sure to use a styling serum to prevent further damage.

Trim Away

Why would you trim when you’re trying to retain length? Believe it or not, it makes your hair grow faster by removing split ends.

Split ends are the enemy of hair growth and cause unnecessary breakage that will slow down your progress. You only need to trim split ends every two or three months.

Growing, Glowing, Flowing

So how long does it take hair to grow back?

Knowing the right tips to use will have your hair growing and flowing in no time. Always ensure that you are taking your vitamins, using moisture and getting rid of split ends.

This will make your hair grow to the length you want. If you would like more style tips, please visit the style advice section of the website.

Collaborative Post

Beauty /

ESSENCE LAUNCHES NEW DIGITAL SERIES FOCUSED ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON BLACK AMERICA

ESSENCE Communications Inc., the leading media, technology, and commerce company serving Black women, today announced a new digital series focused on providing Black women and communities with the tools and information needed to address issues arising from the COVID-19 global pandemic. The series, ESSENCE Wellness House: A Virtual Summit, Episode One: Taking Care in the Wake of a Global Pandemic, will include live online experiences that promote physical, mental, emotional, occupational, financial and entrepreneurial well-being during this unprecedented time.  ESSENCE Wellness House series will be powered by Quantasy.

ESSENCE Wellness House: A Virtual Summit will kick off with the first-ever virtual ESSENCE Wellness House on Tuesday, March 31st, and Wednesday, April 1st from 9:00 A.M.–4:30 P.M. (ET).  The ESSENCE Wellness House will be streamed live on ESSENCE Studios via Essence.com and will offer resources for physical, emotional and financial wellness.  The free, two-day virtual summit will convene some of the top wellness practitioners, medical professionals, and leading experts and influencers. All participants waived their honorariums in lieu of a charitable contribution that ESSENCE will make to the partnership effort between National Action Network (NAN) and World Central Kitchen to deliver thousands of hot and cold meals daily to those in need.

Transforming a key offline experience to an online platform, the virtual ESSENCE Wellness House furthers ESSENCE’s 50-year commitment to supporting Black women’s health and livelihood. The summit’s robust digital experiences will include meditation, wellness tips, cooking workshops, fitness workouts, storytime for children, virtual dance parties and more. Highlights of the virtual ESSENCE Wellness House include:

  • Morning Meditations led by Faith Hunter
  • Uplifting inspirational messages by Iyanla Vanzant, Michael Beckwith, and Pastor A.R. Bernard
  • Get the facts about COVID-19 and boosting your immunity with Dr. Patrice Harris, MD., M.A., and Dr. Lauren Powell
  • Get tips on how to stay mentally sane with Charlamagne Tha God and advice on how to handle your loved ones with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford and Dr. Sherry Blake
  • Learn how to manage your money with Tiffany Aliche “The Budgetnista”
  • Discover hassle-free food recipes with Gina Neely
  • Get tips on fun DIY projects for your kids with Rosalynn Daniels
  • Get your body moving with Brukwine dance moves and body-sculpting workouts with ShaNay Norvell
  • And the bonus of a children’s storytime reading by LeVar Burton

“As we come together to safely get through the COVID-19 crisis, it is critical that we do not allow social distancing to morph into social disconnection,” said Richelieu Dennis, founder, and chair of Essence Ventures, the parent company of Essence Communications, Inc.  “So, ESSENCE is leveraging its platform and resources for the continued creation, convening and empowerment of the community.  We know that health disparities in our community have widened with the increase in economic inequality and that more prevalent underlying health conditions can increase the incidences of severe and potentially fatal cases of COVID-19.  We also know that necessary measures taken to reduce the spread of the virus, such as social distancing and business closures, are likely to have a more significant economic impact on our communities and small businesses.  So, more than ever, access to empowering information and opportunities is vital, and the health of Black women, their families, and our communities depends on it.”

Beauty /

JUNE AMBROSE & KIM KIMBLE JOIN TODAY’S #BETHOUSEPARTY IG LIVE

BET is engaging and supporting fans during the COVID-19 crisis with the launch of its daily curated content series, #BETHouseParty, designed to inspire, entertain, inform and empower our community. The BET Digital live series features programming ranging from musical performances and DJ sets to master classes, lifestyle hacks and more. #BETHouseParty joins ViacomCBS’ social distancing campaign #AloneTogether in partnership with the Ad Council and the U.S. government to support fans during the global pandemic. The series kicked off on IG Live, yesterday March 29, with the Grammy-award winning, Kirk Franklin, who presented an unforgettable praise party with special guests award-winning producer and best-selling author, DeVon Franklin, and award-winning gospel singer Erica Campbell. For the daily #BETHouseParty schedule, updates, and to join the conversation follow @BET.

Today, March 30, #BETHouseParty will feature ‘Real Talk,’ a conversation, with legendary stylist June Ambrose (@juneAmbrose) at 3 PM ET, and celebrity hairstylist Kim Kimble (@KimbleHaircare) at 3:35 PM ET who will both share some of their go-to tips and lessons they both have learned over their expansive career.

BET HOUSE PARTY

This week the series will feature a COVID-related health and wellness Q & A with Dr. Arabia Mollette, which will be followed by a dance/fitness class and more!

 

Birmingham /

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Launches When Resilience Speaks: A Community Response to COVID-19

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute has launched an online community participation project for people across all generations to share their views and experiences during the COVID-19 crisis. Called “When Resilience Speaks: A Community Response to COVID-19,” youth and adults can share their stories by virtually any medium including videos, social posts, telephone, email and through the BCRI website.
This participatory project seeks to attract people of all ages, races, and backgrounds to share their perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly how it is transforming their everyday lives and how it compares with other historic events during the past 100 years. Stories collected through When Resilience Speaks will be shared with the community in real-time and could form the nucleus of an exhibition to be curated and exhibited in the BCRI at a future date.
The first question to the public is “How is the COVID-19 pandemic changing our community?” People can give their answers by:
BCRI President and CEO Andrea L. Taylor said the Institute has a great tradition of collecting oral histories about the experiences of activists and eyewitnesses to history here, as in exhibits such as “Foot Soldiers” and “Voices of Alabama,” which document history through the voices of the people who lived it.
“We believe this moment of social and economic upheaval is exactly the right time to gauge where we are as a society. We want the perspectives of people who have already lived through other crises, and the voices of young people who have such valuable input and new ideas about next steps,” she said. “The physical doors of our Institute may be closed right now, but we’re throwing open the doors to community dialog that technology affords us. It’s a key part of our mission to engage the public in meaningful dialog, and future generations will have the benefit of our having it documented as well.”
Taylor said “When Resilience Speaks” gets its name from the resilience shown by leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and other human rights struggles, and that similar resilience will be needed by the present generation to cope with crises like COVID-19. She also added that the BCRI consulted with a clinical psychologist on the efficacy of the project and to help frame social questions posed by the effort. Plans are also in development for the BCRI’s Legacy Youth Leadership Program to interview Civil Rights Foot Soldiers about their perspectives on this and other issues as well, she said.
About the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI). An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, the BCRI is a cultural and educational research center that promotes a comprehensive understanding of the significance of civil rights developments in Birmingham that changed our world. Celebrating its 27th anniversary, BCRI reaches more than 150,000 individuals each year through teacher education (including curriculum development and teacher training), group tours, outreach programs (school and community), award-winning after-school and public programs, exhibitions, and extensive archival collections. For more information, visit www.bcri.org.

Beauty /

GLAMOUR REVEALS WINNERS OF 2020 BEAUTY AWARDS

In times of uncertainty, there’s an undeniable comfort in the daily rituals that bring us joy. After months of testing, Glamour today revealed the 249 winning products of its 15th annual Beauty Awards.

New for 2020, we’ve introduced a sustainability category. Whatever beauty may look like for consumers right now, from prepping for camera zoom meetings to needed self-care beauty routines, Glamour has all the products covered from sunscreens to masks to lipsticks, and more.

The winners were selected by 47 judges at the top of the beauty industry including licensed esthetician and Then I Met You skincare founder Charlotte Cho, celebrity makeup artist Carola Gonzalez, whose clients include Kerry Washington and Mindy Kaling, and New York Times columnist, Ellis Brooklyn.

Check out the full list of winners HERE, and the Reader’s Choice HERE.

Check out the Shopping Galleries below:

Beauty /

Quarantined Beauty Routine: How To Remove Dipping Powder or Gel Polish

At some point, we will leave our homes.  Why not enter the world with glowing skin and healthy nails?  During this time, it’s easy to become lazy.  The phrase that comes to mind, nobody will see me right?

Although that may be true, the effects of neglecting yourself can have an impact.  One simple self-care tip is to do a manicure at home.

Featured Photo from Good Housekeeping.com

Many people are puzzled about removing their previous nail applications.  Before being quarantined, everyone retreated to their favorite salon for either dipping powder or gel polish.  Now there’s a question, “How do I remove this?”

With a few simple steps, you can remove your dipping powder/gel polish and have a manicured hand from the comfort of your home.

Dipping Powder Removal
  1. File down the powder with a buffer block.  At least to the point, where the nail polish has been removed.
  2. Soak the nails in a bowl of acetone for 15-20 minutes or place acetone in a cotton ball and wrap with foil.
  3. Wipe away the solution as it soaks off.

Please note, the solution can be messy as it’s removed.  Be sure to place a towel underneath the nails!

Bonus Tip: The last step, soak your nails in warm oil to restore the health of the nails.

Gel Polish Removal
  1.  File the nail until the top layer of the polish is partially removed.
  2.  Soak the nails in a bowl of acetone for 10-15 minutes.  The remaining polish will start to peel up.
  3. Use a metal nail stick to scrap the remaining pieces of polish.  If the polish will not bulge, use a file on the nails.
  4. Soak your nails in cuticle oil for 5 minutes to restore the health of the nails.

 

At-Home Gel Manicure Removal Video 

 

If you want to take at-home manicure to the next level, invest in a professional manicure/pedicure kit from Amazon.

This small machine ranges in price starting at $25.00 and up.  The longterm investment is that you can have a ready-made manicure any time!

Another trendy option, in the meantime, is to try Press-On Nails.