I normally leave the celebrity gossip to the experts, but I spotted this photo of the one and only Miss Diana Ross over at DListed (photo courtesy of Wenn), and I felt compelled to comment.

The hilarious dude at DListed declares, “Diana Ross needs to behead whatever queen did her make-up.”

So harsh! Of course I can see the flaws – don’t get me started on the unblended streaks of blush, y’all know how I feel. But I think the slightly-gray paleness of her face (which really becomes apparent when you look at her neck and shoulders) can be attributed to too much mineral makeup. There but for the grace of God, go I.

There’s been many a time where I’ve gone too far in the “I need to be matte” direction, and it took a particular photo of me to make me realize how much I was overdoing it with my beloved Philosophy. The makeup I wore made me look so washed out, and I thought I looked amazing. Too much foundation can do that to a girl. I’ve actually been searching for a new mineral foundation – I love the coverage and ease of it, but too much can definitely make for an unfortunate Kabuki look.

I’ve learned somewhat from my experience — to avoid taking photos like Diana’s, make sure you have the RIGHT shade of foundation, apply your makeup in lots of natural light and blend, blend, blend. And as always, less is more. These days, I often just use foundation to cover my blemishes.

Other than the makeup excess, I think Diana looks gorgeous. Her hair is glossy and pretty, and I adore that shade of purple. And please let the record show, I personally love over-the-top drag queen makeup when it’s done right. I found this video of Diana looking stunning, alongside a towering icon of drag fabulousity, RuPaul. The song? I Will Survive, honey.

Diana looks fly, Ru looks fierce, and the crowd is drinking it all up. Love it!

What’s been your mineral makeup experience, bellas? I’m still liking the Philosophy for now, but my inner product junkie thinks I need something that’s a better match for my skin tone. Any recommendations for me and Miss Ross?

I’m well aware that I have more than a few male readers. Most of you might not leave comments ever, but I know you dudes are there, soaking up the Afrobella love. And being married to a typical manly male, I know there are some things he’s down to discuss, and some things he doesn’t get as much. One of those things is birth control, and its particular effects on the female body.

He doesn’t fully comprehend that some pills can make you turn into a total cry baby, and others make you feel like Oscar the Grouch on steroids. He just gets to bear the brunt of it while my body figures out the crazy new hormones that I’m introducing to the system.

So if you’ll excuse me, gentlemen – I’ve got some birth control questions for my ladies after the jump. Or hey — if you feel like learning something new in the company of women, by all means stick around. I’m about to put my business in the street.

Read the rest of this entry »

You know, the name “worth a click” is pretty damn lame. I couldn’t think of an alternative when I decided to do a super random post of everything that’s swirling around my brain at the moment. Got a better suggestion? Help me come up with something and if I pick your choice, I’ll mail ya something fabulous!

It’s Halloween weekend, y’all – and Miami’s about to go crazy. If I make it out to South Beach this weekend (and that’s a big IF), I expect to see more slutty outfits than usual. And it’s already difficult enough to tell the club goers from the working girls, if you catch my drift. Have you all noticed the sluttification of Halloween? I’m not a prude, but I personally prefer costumes with originality, rather than the “sexy cat/librarian/devil/angel” costumes I tend to see ladies squeezing themselves into around these parts. It’s so done to death, you know? But I really loathe the trend in children’s costumes.

How do you celebrate All Hallows Eve? Are you dressing up this year? Taking your little darlings trick-or-treating? If you’re a plus size bella looking for costumes, I found a decent selection of costumes over here (um… what does it say about me that I already own an outfit similar to the Dashiki costume shirt)?

Or you could always take Soulbounce’s suggestion and go as Erykah Badu. Hee hee! That collection of images is just hilarious to me. Butta – you a fool for that one, LOL.  If y’all haven’t checked out Soulbounce, you really need to treat yourselves today.

AND – before I forget, my girl Dede from Clutch Magazine is going to be interviewed on the one and only Cocoa Mode on XM radio (channel 169) tomorrow at 1:45 p.m. EST. They’ll be discussing fall/winter fashion and all things Clutch. Cocoa Mode is the bomb, so if you haven’t checked THAT out yet, clicky click here.

Yay!! It’s Friday! One of my favorite recent Friday rituals, is to choose the perfect song to drive away from work to. Sometimes it’s a song that just rocks, like Hypnotize by the White Stripes, or something funky, like So What the Fuss by Stevie Wonder (and En Vogue on the hook!). But this week, I already know what it’s gonna be. I’ve been rocking this song all week.

I Shall Be Released was written by Bob Dylan in 1967, and the most known version of the anthem is definitely by The Band, as featured in The Last Waltz. (on a side note, big thanks and respect to our friend Forrest for making me watch The Last Waltz. Great stuff there). Dylan’s version of the song is great, natch… but it’s so not my favorite. Call me biased, but I think Nina Simone’s is far superior. Here’s her versions of Dylan’s classics, Just Like a Woman, and I Shall Be Released. But I want to feel uplifted and bright on a Friday evening, so the version I’ll be rocking to at 6:00 on the nose today is by Jacob Miller. Here – listen, have it, let it wash over your weary spirit here.

I love-love-love-LOVE Jacob Miller. Bob Marley called him his favorite singer. He had so much more to give, but tragically, he died at age 27 in a car accident. 27 is incredibly young, and he did so much with his time. There’s something so touching about his version of I Shall Be Released, to me. And here’s a bonus shout-out to the spirit of Jacob Miller that goes with my earlier Rastabella post. I’m a Natty!

See my natty dread? I just let it grow. Grow, and grow, and grow. It feels so good. Hope you love it as much as I do, bellas and fellas. If you do, you should treat yourself to Chapter A Day: The Jacob Miller Songbook. Two CD’s of pure Jamdown goodness.

Happy weekend!

As a wee follow up to the earlier post about my relative, I wanted to shine a light on some of the cool Breast Cancer Awareness Month products that are available this month. Between The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Susan G. Komen, the list of stuff to stock up on is practically endless. This year, the range of items goes way beyond cheesy scarves, brooches, and teeshirts. I’m gonna clue you all in to the products I personally plan to purchase.

There are some really great, healthy Breast Cancer Awareness Month products available at your grocery store right now. I think I already mentioned the Fresh Express Baby Blends salads I picked up this week. 10 cents of each purchase is for the cure, and the veggie spring mix is the bomb.

I love the entire line of Emergen-C products, and they’ve just released a sweet pink lemonade flavor in honor of this month. It’s chock full of vitamins C and B, and 50% of proceeds go to the cause. Love that.

The Republic of Tea is big into supporting breast cancer research. Together with Susan G. Komen, they created Sip For the Cure, a special line of green teas. I’d drink the rose green tea hot, but just imagine the pink grapefruit, lady apple, or pink lemonade green tea served in a tall, frosty glass with lots of ice? Mmmmmm. 75% of sales benefit the cure.

Sephora has every pretty pink makeup item you want. The thing with pink is, if the shade’s too pale, it may not really pop on beautiful brown skin. Pale pink lipstick just looks silly on me, and pale pink blush washes me out. I am very particular about my shade of pink makeup, bellas!

Which is why the Clinique BCA Kit is CALLING MY NAME. It comes with a gorgeous Fresh Bloom Allover Colour compact in Peony. OK, that compact so belongs on my (ridiculously overcrowded) dresser. And I love that there’s two lush, complimentary shades of shimmering pink. And I have an almost identical lipgloss that looks magnificent when layered over my beloved Vincent Longo lip stain in Baby Boo. That’s an effortlessly lush hot pink lip that can go from the office to the after work happy hour with just a dab of extra gloss for insurance. (an aside — are those new pearlessence gel stains I see? Oh boy!). That Tarte Inside Out Vitamin Lipstick in Zen would also look incredible on brown skin of all shades, IMO. And a portion of the $22 purchase goes to the Young Survival Coalition, a non-profit for young women with breast cancer.

If you’re looking for an affordable, undeniably luxurious product for the cure, you need to check out Philosophy’s Shower for the Cure. It costs $20, but 100% of the philosophy and our profit from this product are donated to the Women’s Cancer Research Fund! Way to truly committ to the cause, Philosophy! I can’t wait to get my hands on this.

For those of you who can afford to shop at Bergdorf Goodman, fancy French essential oil producer Darphin is offering a special limited edition bottle of rose aromatic care oil this month. For $75, you can indulge in rose oil, hazelnut, evening primrose, and sweet almond oil luxury, and 10% benefits the BCRF. I’ve tried the Tangerine Aromatic Bath and Body Oil, and it. is. AMAZING. It leaves my skin feeling incredibly silky and luxurious. But… it comes in a teeny tiny bottle for $75, so I kind of think of it as the kind of stuff JLo, Kimora, or Mariah Carey would insist on filling a claw-footed bathtub with. Which is to say, it’s incredible but well out of my price league. I gotta keep it real, you know.

Speaking of stuff I want that’s out of my price league… are these Kitchen Aid appliances not freakin’ adorable? All of my kitchen appliances are dark blue. But I could go for that beautiful tea kettle! Besides appliances, they offer pink handled kitchen necessities aplenty, from a cute measuring utensil set, to the tres cute pink silicone heart pan.

Bake your loved one a Betty Crocker cake in it for extra fundraising fun. General Mills supports a number of breast cancer awareness initiatives, including Pink Together, a MySpace community for survivors. Oh, and Kitchen Aid does more than just sell adorable pale pink products this month. They also host Cook for the Cure, where passionate chefs can host special fundraising parties for breast cancer charities of their choice. Check out the website for customizable invitations, party suggestions, recipes and entertaining tips.

Have you seen any cool pink products on store shelves? Let me know! And check out the products mentioned on some of my favorite beauty blogs — 55 Secret Street (yo quiero that Smashbox brush), The Makeup Girl, and Clutch Magazine.

Wednesday = pressure, so I can’t stay long this morning. Like Vanessa Williams, I got work to do!

But I just wanted to take a moment to thank you ladies who comment and help to create this wonderful community we’ve got going here. And I’m not the only one who wants to say thank you!

First, I got a lovely e mail from Oretta of the last Ask Afrobella question. I’ll quote part of what she said here.

“This has been a great but kinda lonely journey and that is why I was so happy to read your response. I was beginning to fall into despair. Before I was laid off I was listening to The Secret and I was reminded of The Oprah Show. There was a young lady on the show that was fired and Oprah said to her that the only response that she should have told her boss is “Thank You”. Though I was not fired I will still say “Thank You” because this is a truly character building experience.

I love your blog because look at how many wonderful people commented on this topic. I know that there are many people that are out there and they are in jobs that they profusely dislike. And for a long time that was me until I found the job that I really liked and was laid off. This experience has taught me that you can’t put all of your eggs in one basket… I think that this is a great forum for intellectual women of color to get our points across and doing it in a way that we help one another.”

Oretta also let me know that she will start substitute teaching soon, and she’s already into journaling. And she is so right — your comments were so helpful and smart and nourishing. I swear, I learn something new from you bellas every day.

I also spoke to my relative last night, she had just listened to my NPR interview and was so excited about that. (me too!!! I got phone calls from people I work with who don’t even read Afrobella. It was truly awesome). She was absolutely amazed by your feedback, and awed by the range of responses — in terms of age, geography, and experience. She said to tell you all thank you so much for your kind words.

Last night she was in great spirits, and declared that life is a gift. And she wants to keep her gift, thank you very much! So she’s feeling a lot stronger and more confident. And you have something to do with that. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for your response and prayers for my family. It really means a lot to me.
I gotta go right now, but I’ll be back later with lots of fabulous breast cancer awareness products, and the follow-up to yesterday’s post on locks!

I’ve always been fascinated by Rastafarianism as a belief system, the mysticism and grandeur and ceremony of it. Although Morgan Heritage sang “Don’t Haffi Dread” to be Rasta (this is not a dreadlocks thing, a divine conception of the heart), I think most would agree that the majesty of Rastafari is most beautifully represented by dreadlocks.

A proud Rasta wears their locks with pride, long and loose, or bound up, Bobo Shanti style. Those who really believe in the particular tenets of the faith take the Nazarite Vow — Leviticus 21:5 — “They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard nor make any cuttings in their flesh.”

Now not every person with dreadlocks is a Rasta, but most of the people I know — especially my Caribbean people — grow their locks after being inspired by the belief. And even if they don’t adhere closely to the rules and tenets of Rastafari, they treat their locks with sacred care.

Check out the lovely and amazing locks on the two beautiful black women in the photo here. The sister on the left is Trinidad born, New York based dancer, choreographer and artistic director Makeda Thomas.

The sister on the right is the one and only Attilah Springer, brilliant writer, social activist, blogger extraordinare. In her own words, she “is a writer and activist, born to writer and activist parents at a time when it was still cool to be an activist in Trinidad.” She’s involved in the Rights Action Group, and is passionate about the anti-smelter movement that rallies against the introduction of aluminum smelters to the south-western peninsula of Trinidad. Attillah produces and co-presents New Voices, a weekly youth activism magazine on T&T’s first community television station Gayelle. She also writes a weekly social and political commentary column for the Trinidad Guardian and serves as Assistant Secretary of the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago. And in her free time, she’s busy blogging at Four Fingers and a Thumb. Whew. Got all that?

Attilah and I went to high school together, and I’ve known her since I was like, fourteen years old. She’s always been cool people. When I decided to do a loving homage to dreads, I had to reach out to her. Please note — I am not sure if Attilah would identify herself as Rasta in terms of her spiritual beliefs. We just talked about her fabulous hair!

The first thing I had to ask her was about the word itself. Dread. Locks. I’ve been told by readers that people just call them locs nowadays, and “dread” is no longer acceptable to some. But having grown up in that Caribbean sphere where the hair is often not just a style, I’ve ALWAYS known and referred to people as “dread.” Aye dread.” “Whappenin’, dread?”

“I don’t know about this not calling them dreads anymore. that sounds like people trying to prettify having their hair natty. I don’t have a specific name for my hair. Is mih hair!” declares Attilah. All semantics aside — whether you call them locs or locks or dreadlocks or dreads, they’re a beautiful, regal extension of self, and a proud indicator of afrocentric identity. Attilah takes great care of her hair. So I had to ask her about products and maintainance.

“I like to keep it basic most of the time. Because I’m a fussy vegan, I use this Nature’s Gate Tea Tree Shampoo and re-moisturize with olive oil that i’ve put a few drops of my favorite perfume in. When i was in Babylon-don, I used to use a Body Shop Coconut Oil hair thing which was as close to hair products as i ever got! Suffice to say i’m not a ‘Revlon Rasta,” says Tillah.

So what does this dreadlocked empress do to pamper her locks?

“My idea of a hair treat is to go to a river or waterfall and crush the pulp of a youngish cocoa pod, slather it on my hair, sit on a rock and let it soak een while I think about life. Then I take a good dip. This is classic cheesy Bob Marley-esque dread behavior,” she explains.

Cocoa? In your hair? Yup yup. Attilah explained it all. “The cocoa in its natural form is excellent for a variety of reasons, and of course it smells great. And the water makes your hair feel so soft, it’s unreal. Hmmm, i need to make a river lime soon…” she mused.

So there you have it, rastabellas — straight from a Caribbean woman’s mouth. Of course mighty mixtress Anita Grant knows quite a bit about cocoa for skin and hair use, and that link has great recipes for those of us who aren’t so lucky to have cocoa trees readily available.

This is just part one of a little feature on loc maintainance. I’ll be hitting y’all with part two — a long overdue feature on the fave hair products of the amazing Andrea Kane — later this week.

Holla back, rastabellas! What are your favorite all-natural hair products?