Matthew McConaughey Is Back In The Latest Esquire

Edited by McArthur Joseph

It seem like an eternity ago when you couldn’t get a shirt on Matthew McConaughey. It seems like fatherhood tamed The Lincoln Lawyer actor in the April issue of Esquire.

How to Not Be Fat: The Skinny on Being Skinny

Edited by Lester Brathwaite

Oh No They Didn’t! tells us how celebrities stay painfully thin, however, shockingly/suspiciously/facetiously missing from mention is a diet of cocaine, amphetamines and bulimia.

Is the Brazilian Blowout and Keratin Treatment Good for Black Hair?

Edited by The Fashion Web

Link Love:Is the Brazilian Blowout and Keratin Treatment Good for Black Hair?

Hello Fashion Bombshells!

Reader Andrea from Cali recently wrote in asking about the Brazilian Blowout or Brazilian Keratin Treatment and if it’s good for Black hair. She said, “I’m in the process of trying to find a good salon that can help me get my hair healthy, but that’s hard to find in San Francisco. But a few of my co-workers are getting Brazilian Blowouts done and I was interested, but I don’t want to damage my hair anymore. Any information you have would be great.”

Having heard of the treatment and knowing fellow beauty bloggers who have had the treatment done but never trying it out myself (sounds too expensive for my blood…lol), I dug in to do some research.

Turns out the ‘Brazilian Blowout’ is actually a trademarked name. According to www.brazilianblowoutblog.com, it’s often misconstrued and explained wrong as there are a number of “Brazilian” hair techniques on the market at the moment. In fact they ask you to not confuse the process which uses keratin with processes that use formaldehyde. Yes, formaldehyde–the stuff used to embalm dead bodies. *shivers*

So what is it? According to the official Brazilian Blowout website:

The Brazilian Blowout is the most innovative and effective professional smoothing treatment in the world! Through the use of a Brazilian Super Nutrient Complex and a proprietary polymer system, the Brazilian Blowout actually improves the condition of the hair by creating a protective protein layer around the hair shaft to eliminate frizz and smooth the cuticle. The end result is smooth, healthy, frizz-freehair with radiant shine!

So what makes them different?

What makes us different? The ONLY Professional Smoothing Treatment that improves the health of the hair. No Damage! and No harsh chemicals! NO FORMALDEHYDE!! Entire treatment completed in just 90 minutes! No down time! The minute you leave the salon, you can wash and air dry your hair, and it will be smooth, frizz-free and radiant! Results last up to 12 weeks. Leaves hair smooth, shiny and frizz-free! Acai aftercare products ensure longest lasting results.

What’s with all the exclamation marks? *shrugs*

So what’s the procedure?

After the hair is shampooed and conditioned with special Brazilian Blowout products (the hair must be squeaky clean in order for the products to work effectively), the hair is then towel-dried and sectioned into four parts. Then the Brazilian Blowout Professional Solution is applied and combed through the hair. After the solution is applied, the hair is blow-dried and then flat-ironed. The hair must be as smooth as possible.

After heat is applied, the hair is then rinsed and the Brazilian Blowout Mask is applied and then rinsed out. Brazilian Blowout Leave-in Conditioner is applied and then you style the hair as usual. Your hair might curl or kink up again when you wash it or it gets wet, but the pattern is much more loose and supposedly remains this way until the treatment wears off. According to videos I’ve seen, your hair will straighten easier and faster with the help of heat styling tools.

I had my hands folded tightly while I mouthed “We don’t believe you, you need more people” because most videos and pics I’ve seen feature non-Black women.

But then I came across this one of a stylist in California performing the treatment on a client who had been in a weave for two months.

The client seemed to have about 6 inches of natural hair with some relaxed ends. The procedure was performed like in the Brazilian Blowout training video but I couldn’t help but cringe over the excessive amount of heat used for this procedure—and even more seems to be needed for curlier or kinkier hair. I’m also not at ease with the amount of tugging done on the hair (our hair whether relaxed or natural is too fragile for all of that) and also with the hair needing to be squeaky clean (hello, hair stripped of its natural oils).

So should you try this?

Well, I’m no Wilfred Beauty Academy or Sheneneh’s Sno Nuf Hair Salon grad, but I’m giving this the side eye for now. If you’re natural and want to switch things up with a straight style, I feel you run the risk of damaging your kinks. We all know the story of a friend of a friend who had natural hair until she went to a salon and her hair was inadvertently heat trained. And if you’re relaxed, all the added heat and tugging with this treatment seem to be excessive. Arguably, some might say a relaxer just might contain more chemicals than the Brazilian Blowout. Might be a point there.

Remember the Rio perm was also supposed to be safe, too. I bet there’s still ladies out there recovering from the bald spots.

Would you try this?

Have you tried the Brazilian Blowout? What were your results?

~Danielle

Jane Carter Solution Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner

Edited by The Fashion Web

Art On The Street: The Spectacle of Advertising

Edited by The Fashion Web

The Best Red Dress Tip: Tart Red Cherries – Good for your Health!

Edited by The Fashion Web

www.thebestreddress.com

Who knew that one of the loveliest red fruits to ripen during summer were amazingly good for your health as well!

According to Alive.com Tart Red Cherries contain…”contain flavonoids called anthocyanins–naturally occurring pigment compounds that impart colour to fruit, vegetables, and plants. Flavonoids, which contain antioxidants, help to protect the plant from disease. Research has shown that these natural plant chemicals also help remove toxins from the body.”

Removal of toxins from the body contributes to clearer skin and better overall health and well being! Great skin and a great body will help you look your best, in your best red dress, so let’s hear it for Tart Red Cherries!

Find out more here.

Beauty Bubble: Foods for a Flatter Tummy

Edited by The Fashion Web

It is still practically the beginning of summer and you still have time to get that body bikini ready. While I was on glamour the other day, I found this great article about foods that flatter the tummy. Even though I have a small frame, I have a little belly and I am working really hard to minimize it. Here are two lists of foods that are either belly friendly or bloat causing. I am sure you know which list to stay away from. Check them out:

Belly Friendly

• Blueberries-linked to less fat
• Asparagus- Natural diuretic that helps get rid of water weight.
• Salmon-Foods high in omega-3 fats promote digestion.
• Watermelon- one of nature’s water-weight nixers
• Citrus fruit- add lemon in your water to aid with digestion

Bloat Causing

• Alcohol-heavier drinks add more belly fat
• Soy sauce-salt increases water weight
• Canned soups-high in sodium
• Popcorn-airy foods pooch out the stomach
• Dried fruit-high in fiber, but loaded with sugar

Source

Coming soon to a Walmart bargain bin near you!

Edited by The Fashion Web

I know you’ve all penned this day in your calendars, I know I’ve been waiting for this day a long time: Today, LR Health & Beauty Systems is debuting squinty tough guy Bruce Willis‘ “signature collection,” which he created in partnership with the German beauty company.

“I personally feel that the new Bruce Willis fragrance is the manliest scent in the world,” said Tilo Plöger, chief operating officer of LR Health & Beauty Systems. The Willis scent reportedly contains notes of grapefruit, pepper, and vetiver.

First announced in April, the collection includes hair and body wash, deodorant, aftershave balm, and eau de parfum–which clocks in at ~15% aromatic compounds compared to eau de cologne’s ~5%–since naturally, badasses need to smell strongly of badasses.

According to United Networker, Bruce Willis told reporters at the press conference in Frankfurt “with great enthusiasm” that “the development of my new fragrance together with the very committed and passionate LR team was really a lot of fun. The products stand for individuality, uniqueness and sustainability. That’s what convinced me, and what unites me with LR.”

The design of the perfume bottle, in the classy yet intrepid, indomitable, macho, rugged style expected of Willis, incorporates a huge metal badge which adorns “the exceptionally high-quality glass flacon,” which apparently is “heavy in the hand,” because John McClane would never use lightweight perfume bottles, damn it! And of course, the packaging mimics “brushed aluminium and embossed riveting.”

Finally, the product tagline is the stuff of Don Draper: “Smart Guys Live Forever.”

Damned straight.

scented source

Alan Cumming did it better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SHFQ5V3kZE