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On the chair with: Pekela Riley – Essence

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courtesy of Pekela Riley

Although she grew up with a mother who was a hairdresser and who often styled her hair in elaborate braids and beaded ornaments, Wait for RileyThe desire to develop into a hairdresser didn’t really come until she attended nursing school. “My desire to become a hairdresser was fueled by my strong beliefs about hair that I had while working in nursing school as a secretary for the cosmetology program,” Amika Stylists Collective member tells ESSENCE. “I found myself spending more time helping students in the classroom than I did focusing on secretarial duties.”

After several years of studying at Florida State College in Jacksonville, the Florida-born student pursued skilled hair styling, working with legendary Oscar James AND Chuckie Amos in New York. She has since opened a hair salon of the same name, PK Loungewhich is already over 20 years old and was even featured in ELLE’s rating of “100 Best Salons in America”.

In addition, her area of interest in textured hair and editorial styling has earned her three NAHA nominations and a win for Texture Artist of the Year, in addition to work in publications comparable to and ESSENCE. As an advocate for diversity and integration“I have a passion for creating artistic and editorial work that celebrates the expansion and boundless beauty of diverse cultures,” says Riley. “While we work with our hands to create external transformations, we truly serve as vessels for healing. That, to me, embodies the essence of beauty.”

Below, this talented hairstylist shares what hair means to her, the truth about hair oils, and why we shouldn’t ignore scalp care products.

On the chair with: Pekela Riley

Her current favorite products:

I’m currently deeply focused on hair products that help repair hair bonds and promote scalp care. Scalp care is an area that has often been missed, especially in products for black women. One of my current obsessions is Smooth Over Amika Systemwhich played a key role in taming frizz and enhancing curl definition. The most significant thing for me is that these products are secure, gentle and suitable for all hair textures.

Her favorite hairstyles:

My preferred hairstyles deal with color and shape. I’m open to each curly and straight hairstyles so long as they make the person feel comfortable, but I pay special attention to the overall shape of the hair. In addition, I even have a powerful passion for incorporating natural hair extensions to enrich hairstyles. I consider that the importance of matching textures is usually neglected in the market, which is why I founded and use True And Pure Texture Hair Extensions in order that they mix perfectly with natural hair, emphasizing its overall appearance.

On the chair with: Pekela Riley

Her top tip for healthy hair:

My primary tip for keeping your hair healthy is to maintain your scalp clean and balanced. Your scalp is just as essential as your face, and when it’s clogged and dirty, your hair follicles can suffocate, resulting in hair damage. I really consider that neglecting your scalp health can lead to unhealthy, dull hair.

A hair myth I need to bust:

One of the myths I need to debunk about hair care is that heavy oils are good on your hair. They can actually lock in moisture and create buildup in your scalp, suffocating your hair follicles. Another misconception is that if someone has extensions, they will’t have real hair. However, extensions are like fashion accessories today, supplying you with the freedom to alter up your look every time you wish. You do what you wish, no matter what others may assume about your hair!

On the chair with: Pekela Riley
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What she learned from her clients:

One of the strongest lessons from my clients that has deeply moved me is the realization that we may be healers for one another in the right setting. Building a nurturing atmosphere at Salon Pk has fostered each personal and collective healing. Interacting with clients over time has given me invaluable insights into achieving goals, staying focused, and persevering in the face of life’s challenges. I even have learned this through personal communication with many ladies I even have had the privilege of touching and caring for.

How it supports its clients:

I all the time remind my clients that their uniqueness is their superpower. No one can wear or act like them. Their individual beauty inspires me, not only my talent. Their beauty shines through, and my talent is merely a celebration of that beauty, not the other way around.

I even have no doubts about my role as a healer. I even have lost count of the times I even have comforted clients as they shared their emotional journeys, whether it was cutting their hair because of cancer, transitioning to a brand new job, or getting hair extensions to re-enter the dating scene. While we work with our hands to create external transformations, we truly function vessels of healing. We are holistic healers, working to nurture and heal from the inside out that others see on the outside.


This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit

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Lauren Sánchez has apparently gained a popularity for her fashion hits and misses as social media users began following her every move.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ current fiancée stepped into the highlight long before she met the Amazon co-founder, after years spent as co-host of “Good Day LA,” a reporter for “Extra” and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he even starred in a number of movies like “Ted 2.”

She faced criticism for posting a sultry selfie in November in a negligee-inspired gown by designer Laura Basca. In October, the 54-year-old again faced backlash when she showed off her latex Halloween costume as Catwoman.

Now, weeks after being deemed “cheap” and tasteless, the founder of Black Ops Aviation has turn out to be a subject of discussion.

Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez shows off a “winter white” look, weeks after critics slammed her busty latex outfit. (Photos: @laurenwsanchez/Instagram, Theimagedirect.com via Page Six)

On December 5, Sánchez and the business mogul attended The New York Times’ DealBook event in New York City. For the occasion, she wore a white Alexander McQueen suit and a white lace corset. The beaming bride-to-be sent two mirror selfies of her outfit, which she signed: “winter white.”

One follower particularly was stunned by the whole look he ejaculated that she was “very attractive and beautiful, gorgeous and stunning, charming and fantastic young lady, sexy, charming, charming and elegant” in the photos that Sánchez took.

Two other people swooned over the photos and wrote: “So chic and elegant!” and “You look great.” But as you would possibly expect from online viewers, not everyone was impressed.

When Page six published paparazzi photos from the trip, the critic commented: “It’s 30 degrees in New York and she gets out of the limo in a white Miami smock, her bra visible to everyone. No taste. Nothing. A cashmere turtleneck, flannel trousers and a wool jacket can be classy.

Someone else sharply asked: “Who can be the first to tell her that she looks tacky and not elegant and refined? Does she even know what sophistication means? A 3rd person noted: “She looks more like she’s wearing a bathrobe.”

Another person wrote in a comment from a licensed pilot: “White means…” possibly referring to rumors that Sánchez and Bezos are scheduled to exchange vows over Christmas. At least one person doubted the couple would have the opportunity to say “I do.” This person said: “This will be the longest engagement ever. They will NEVER get married and we all know why!!!!”

Sánchez told the “Today” show hosts that she was in the process of planning the big day last month. She didn’t comment on speculation about exchanging Christmas vows.

Renewed interest and scrutiny of Sánchez has increased as the pair have been spotted in various locations in recent months. The couple reportedly began dating in 2018. Their engagement was announced five years later, in May 2023. Their upcoming wedding can be a second journey for each of them.

Sánchez was previously married to celebrity agent Patric Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She can be the mother of a son, whom she shares with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Bezos was married to the mother of his three children, Mackenzie Scott, for 25 years once they divorced in 2019.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Apart from the song with singer-songwriter India Shawn – Andscape

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India Shawn is a contemporary muse with a chilled nature, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales in smooth, charming songs. With over a decade of experience in the music industry as a singer-songwriter, Shawn has incredible strength. She was born in Los Angeles, and her musical roots reach throughout the country. Beginning her profession in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep-rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.

“I transferred to ATL, I was in 10th grade, and that’s when my music journey really started,” Shawn told Andscape. “I met people who were trying to get by, so I ended up recording and learned what songwriting was really early on.”

Before releasing her debut EP in 2012, Shawn wrote songs and collaborated with artists similar to Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson and Monica. In 2013, she gained much more notoriety when Solange Knowles published her song “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilationmarking her as an artist value watching.

Following the release of the single “There Must Be a God” from the Andscape soundtrack, she caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.


Singer India Shawn grew up singing in church with her family. “I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” she said.

India Shawn

Name:
India Shawn

Hometown:

Los Angeles

Artistic soundscape

Airy, soft, telling a story, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, atmospheric

The oldest musical memory

Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences drawn from her childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time, and I also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the leader of praise and worship. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I had these little solos in church, and I believe what made me consider in it was that after the service people got here as much as me with tears of their eyes and said, ‘You really moved me while you sang.’ “These early moments of connection with music and audiences laid the foundation for conveying depth and sensitivity through her music.

Influences

For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has all the time held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister are harmonizing in the living room, just picking some of our favorite songs, including for me Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men and (and) Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.

Creative process

Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships that influence her music. She weaves this into the authenticity and atmosphere of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration got here from. “It’s funny that it took me so long to make that connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and presenting my business through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m giving people a lot to understand here… these aren’t just songs. This is truly the life I live.”

Challenges and development

As Shawn’s profession grows, so do his moments of appreciation and reflection. “I literally just thought about a very gradual progression of my career. It’s like step by step, but there are more breakthrough moments. My first tour, which was so beautiful, I just knew I could pack a room and people knew my lyrics and sang my songs to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”

Shawn has plenty of recommendation for up-and-coming singer-songwriters. Her biggest sacrifice? Collaboration is essential. “I think (cooperation) is really why I’m still here. So find your people… you’ll know when it feels right, you’ll have that freedom and fluidity, and you’ll be able to really create things and create without having to think too much.” He also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient during the journey. This has been a theme throughout my profession. Let it develop. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present reasonably than forcing all of it.

Current project

There should be a God”, the lead single from Andscape , now streaming on Hulu, also serves as a teaser for Shawn’s solo album. “(This song) is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you find yourself in a place of waiting, you can feel very hopeless. So when you see glimpses of God’s love again, or the fact that you know there is a higher power, there is a source that is thinking about you, has you in mind, has a perfect plan for you, it’s just like the clouds parting. And this is the moment, I understand. I understand that I had to go through all this to get here. And that’s exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”

Sheila Matthews is a digital producer at Andscape and a proud HBCU graduate. She believes “Return of the Mack” must have won a Grammy, and her Twitter mentions are open to all debate.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence

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With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is anticipated to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.

Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.

From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.

In case you missed it, take a take a look at 17 of the very best celebrity beauty moments from the week below.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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