Relaxed Vs. Natural? Does relaxed “black hair” count as natural too? Are they apart of the natural hair movement? This is a very controversial topic.
With all the talk and movements centred around becoming a natural, shade is often casted on the ladies with relaxed hair, which may lead to some of them feeling guilty for not allowing their roots to run freely.
I personally think that needs to stop. A movement that is as important as this should not be hijacked by hair politics.
I figured that the natural hair journey was to step away from some of the practices that have a way of washing away a rooted part of our identity as black men and women – our hair. You know, ‘black pride’ because there are so many unique and special things about who we are and our history that should not be striped away and hidden. However, taking a vow to stop relaxing one’s hair is not the only act that matters in such a movement.
Throughout the natural hair journey uprising, fingers have been pointed and stares have been pelted at the African American women who still have relaxed hair. I’ve observed through some social media comments, posts and in friendly discussions that relaxed hair women are predisposed to backlash (not necessarily harsh or vile), because somehow they might be viewed as ‘not conforming’ to the expectations that have been created out there. Of course this does not go to say that everyone goes around judging relaxed hair women, however there’s a lurking expectation that hovers over them.
This blog post only serves to express my opinion that it is okay to have relaxed hair.
I think there’s enough love and appreciation to pass around in the African American community, and that’s where the strength and peace lies – in unity. That’s when people will notice the change that we’re trying to display – when we embrace our African culture in more ways than one, and create a strong, loud voice crying out against our marginalisation.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a woman who prefers to tame her mane with relaxers. It makes her no less of an Empress, Black, African, Negro, whatever you want to call it. It doesn’t erase her melanin one bit, nor does it cast away the history that grew her.
The segregation and profiling should not be. Some women actually keep their hair relaxed because it’s far easier to handle because their natural hair may be too unruly, leaving them to struggle and become unhappy with it.
I believe that we’ve gotten too grand and powerful that some of us took our eyes off of the mission and have turned on ourselves by frowning upon our sistas for other reasons beyond the realm of hair.
Fontana pharmacy welcomes relaxed hair women with open arms, with products that can help you to maintain and love your hair, and skin just the same. You do not have to conform. If relaxed works for you, there’s no need to be ashamed or feel marginalised. For the ladies that want to become natural, we welcome you as well.
Become a part of the discussion and lets us know what you think. Comment down below !
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LA Girl is blazing the beauty trail with their newest Metal Liquid Lipsticks.
That’s right. You read correctly. LA Girl is killin’ it out here.
Bronzed
Molten
Treasure
With all the competition in the makeup realm, when this brand is mentioned, some of the experienced makeup enthusiasts may scoff, cringe or even laugh at the thought that LA Girl can slay in comparison to all the others in the game.
We decided to give the new line a twirl in the hope of introducing women to the relatively inexpensive brand and product so that they can ball within a their budget.
We asked award winning makeup artist, Keneisha Bryan, to try a few and give her feedback on her first impression and interaction with the product.
The line features up to 18 different colours that are designed to give sass, dimension, and flare to any look without stripping the lip of its moisture. The formula is infused with argan oil and vitamin E to comfortably give the lips a smooth metallic finish.
Smolder Prism
Amongst the things that stood out to her, Keneisha recalled that the formula was so lightweight that she forgot she was wearing it; so much so that she was able to eat her dinner comfortably without it being removed.
This seems perfect for a girl’s night out or dinner with the hubby. You wouldn’t have to pull yourself away from the fun to reapply ever so often, and you’re free to flirt the night away without fear of chapped lips or patched lipstick.
The only downside, which may not even be a downside is that one application would not be enough to pop the colour. Keneisha advises at least two applications to extract the vibrancy and glam that the product can deliver. But let’s be real, we never apply just one coat of anything, not even nail polish.
Treasure Flashy
By being exposed to a wider variety of products within her profession, Keneisha confessed to initially thinking that LA Girl was not going to deliver as much as it should or promised. However, she was quick to swallow her words when the product did what it promised and then some. She admitted that “of recent, the formula has been getting better than it was”, and that she would buy it again as well as recommend it. Why? Simply because “the formula is good. It’s a good matte that won’t crack or chip. It’s a matte that’s long lasting and moisturising” Keneisha remarked.
How cute is the Metal Liquid line? Below are a few lip swatches.
Which one is your favourite ? You can find these shades and so much more at the Fontana Pharmacy branches or at fontanapharmacy.com.
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We all know that the natural hair gurus on Instagram and Youtube swear by certain steps that helped them reach the ultimate hair goals. If you’re anything like me, you’d binge watch all their Youtube posts and make mental notes of all their steps. You’re now motivated to do everything that they’ve said, but now that you’re up and about, hand in hair … that feeling hits you.. ‘I JUST CAN’T. IT IS TOO MUCH CHILE’.
With trying to check every box on the hair to-do list, you’d much rather just shave your head and be done with it. Below are some hair rules that seem to aggravate the natural hair journey.
1) Pre-poo?
Isn’t the point of shampooing to get product build up and oils off my hair? For crying out loud my hair was already drenched in product and oil. That’s why I wanna wash it.
2) Drink lots of water and eat right.
I’m in University and I survive on a steady diet of Ramen Noodles and burgers; I’m lucky if I finish one bottle of water in 3 days.
3) Scalp massages to increase and encourage blood flow to get longer hair in the long run. But long is just too long
4) Hanging upside down to direct blood to scalp to aid in hair growth … I think not.
5) Trim every 3 months… girl.. I’m trying to get my hair to grow !
6) “Just be patient”, they’d always say. It’s been two days since I drenched my scalp in castor oil … where the growth at?
7) Coconut oil. Perhaps you’ve seen some of the memes celebrating the marvellous wonders that coconut oil can perform.
or 
Almost every naturalista and every healthy hair care Instagram account praises the miracles that it can do for the hair, skin and overall health. But! … There’s no need to feel guilty or excluded if you can’t relate. If you find that the ‘miracle oil’ does nothing for your hair, there’s nothing wrong with using another oil like castor, olive or jojoba oil etc etc. I’ve been using coconut oil for a while now, and if I’m being honest I don’t know if it’s even doing anything for my hair. I now mix olive, coconut and castor oil and hope for the best.
8) Deep condition at every wash. This is truly a goal of mine. While this step is important and beneficial, how many of us can testify that after shampooing and conditioning; sitting back, watching a show and allowing our hair to air dry actually doesn’t seem like a bad idea at all. There’re just too many steps to this natural hair journey.
9) Wash your hair every 3 days or at least once a week. We all know how our weekday schedule can be packed, and by the time the weekend comes around, we’d rather just cuddle up under our favourite blanket and fall asleep to our favourite show. Sometimes just about two weeks pass before I’d muster up the strength to tame and cleanse my mane. But hey, I believe by doing this the hair has a better chance to relax, recuperate and show you how long and healthy it’s been getting.
10) Stay away from products with sulphates, silicones, parabens, petroleum and a bunch of other ingredients I can’t spell. Sometimes I manage to get products without these ingredients, but if I don’t, I’m pretty sure my hair will survive and thrive.
How many of the 10 healthy hair rules have you broken? How many do you swear by?
Comment down below and let us know.
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Father’s Day is upon us …
And if you’re anything like us here at Fontana Beauty Vibes you would have already had an amazing idea put together on how to surprise the old man. But if you’re also like 75% of the human population, time went by, and 1,000 different things have happened since you last planned the shindig. Before you know it, it’s the day before Father’s Day and you’ve got nothing in place. So you speed down to the nearest store, cash in pocket ready to buy the old guy a pair of socks, a pack of white tees, a tie, a card and his favourite alcoholic drink. But let’s face it … This is the 5th year in a row. Dad now has a vast collection of tube socks, white tees, and the cliché template Father’s Day cards. So now you’re thinking ‘yeah that’s true’. We’ll treat him to dinner instead. For crying out loud !! It’s 2017! Let’s shower dad with some new gifts that’ll set the trend for the coming 5 years.
Give him something he’s never seen or used, something that he would actually use everyday, and something that’ll make you feel proud to offer him.
Try giving him a product or two from Cantu’s Men Collection. We all know women have been raving about Cantu, and we’ve even tried it ourselves. Why not give dad some products of his own. Cantu effortlessly moisturises and awakens the kinks, coils and curls in natural hair.
The Cantu Men’s Collection has: Beard Oil, 3 in 1 Shampoo, Leave-In Conditioner, Cleansing Pre-Shave Scrub, Smooth Shave Gel, and Gel Soothing Serum.
Dad isn’t a fan of Cantu? No worries. The Neutrogena Men’s collection also offers an Invigorating Face Wash, Razor Defense Shave Gel, and Face Scrub. Help keep dad razor sharp.
For the dads that aren’t so big on hair and skin care, try giving him other gifts that he’d appreciate. How about a Power Bank for his phone or tablet, a stylish pocket knife, or a pair of speakers.
To really knock things out of the park, trying giving him a gift combo. Give dad a throwback by pairing his favourite Bob Marley hit CDs with the Marley Liberate earth friendly headphones; and for the ultra-stylish dads, say I love you with Calvin Klein’s Eternity cologne, a leather Dopp wallet, topped with a dapper Father’s Day themed card.
Here are some gift ideas for the different types of dads:
The combination could truly be endless and fitted in accordance to any budget and dad type. Get all these products and so much more at the Fontana Pharmacy nearest you, or go online to fontanapharmacy.com.
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Activated Charcoal is the current rave in beauty spaces. Many bloggers have been singing its praises about its amazing results so we here at Fontana Beauty Vibes decided to try it for ourselves. Activated Charcoal is available in soaps, masks and capsule form. My skin has been experiencing sporadic breakouts so I wanted to really see what kind of results I would get. For this review I tested the Bel Espirit Activated Charcoal mask and soap.
Activated Charcoal Mask
Initially when I heard about activated charcoal I imagined it having a very strong obnoxious smell. I was pleasantly surprised when I tried this mask and it was the complete opposite. It had a very faint charcoal smell that was not overwhelming. I applied it in thick layers all over the perimeters of my face and made sure to avoid my eyes. After a few minutes the mask began to dry. I felt a pulling sensation as if the product was lifting particles from my skin. My face really seemed to tighten up and I could barely move the muscles in my face. Following the activated charcoal mask fully drying I rinsed with warm water.
So did it work?
Well immediately after rinsing, my face felt really smooth. However I noticed there was a lot of white particles that surfaced on my face which would explain the pulling sensation I experienced. So in that sense it did work because it removed the impurities from my skin. I recommend using a facial moisturizer as you will experience dryness.
Charcoal Soap
I used the soap consistently for one week so that I could be able to give a fair review and it has fast become my new fave. Over the course of one week there has been a noticeable change in my skin. My acne is slowly clearing up and overall my skin feels softer and smoother.
To be honest when I decided to test these products, I was thinking to myself that this was just another trend and I had little confidence that it would work for me. Turns out I may have found the perfect solution to all my acne troubles.
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It’s no secret that finding “Your True Shade” for many black women can be an extremely difficult task that is quite frustrating. Dianne Plummer knows this struggle all too well and she exemplifies what it means to use a challenge as an advantage. Fontana Beauty Vibes had a little chat with Dianne. Here’s what she had to say:
Why did you decide to create “Your True Shade”?
Your True Shade (YTS) inception was actually out of a personal need as it started while I was studying engineering in Stockholm. I have very sensitive skin, and as a black woman who was living in Northern Europe, it was difficult to find products that could match my skin tone as well as not irritate my skin. As a result, I decided to use my background in chemical engineering to create my own line of makeup and skincare products, and that is how YTS was born. Now back home in Jamaica, I want to share this secret with you. My vision for YTS is for it to be the leading cosmetics brand of the Caribbean and its diaspora.
What’s the biggest challenge you have had to face being an entrepreneur?
The biggest challenge I faced was getting persons to actually believe in the brand Your True Shade and actually want to purchase a product that is just as good as an international brand and even healthier for the skin. However, once someone sits in the chair and tries our foundation, they quickly accept that it is a good product.
Why should women support Your True Shade?
Your True Shade is a brand for those who want to take better care of their skin while having that flawless finish. Supporting Your True Shade is a positive direction towards healthy skin. Its made by a woman who understands the different skin tones in addition to the chemistry of makeup and skincare, as a result will ensure that the best ingredients are used. Wear your true shade.
What do you enjoy most about being an entrepreneur?
The best thing about being an entrepreneur is being able solve someones problem through our products and services and this is normally followed by a smile from our clients when they find their true shade.
What’s the single most valuable advice you wish someone had given to you when you just started out?
I have been an entrepreneur for about two and a half years and now I have learnt that following your “gut” is very important and can save a lot of time.
You can find the entire makeup line “Your True Shade” at Fontana Pharmacy’s Kingston and Montego Bay locations or you can order online at fontanapharmacy.com.
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Under eye circles are the biggest informants of being tired. What reason is there for everyone to know that you didn’t get enough sleep last night? So, how do you get rid of these bags and the darkness? Well, for now, I can tell you how to hide them.
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Hello there Beauty Vibers!
Happy new year!!
Am I the only one feeling like we’ve been in 2017 for a while now?! Just the other day we were popping champagne, ringing in the new year and now it’s almost spring!
The times of dark, vampy looks are almost over and I am absolutely ready to take on the bright, bold and pastels that come along with Spring. But what do we do until then? We embrace the transition!
Here are a few tips for the transition.
Liquid or cream foundation
Choose liquid or cream foundation to keep your skin moisturized! If you have oily skin, that’s not a problem, you still need to stay moisturized.
My go-to foundation now is the Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless. If you’re more for a Dewy look then give the Maybelline Fit Me Dewy and Smooth. I have normal skin, for the most part and I tend to get oily throughout the day and this foundation set with a loose powder, like the Sacha Buttercup powder, the Mary Kay translucent powder or the Black Opal Deluxe loose setting powder, keeps me looking great throughout the day- often only getting a bit shiny towards the end of the day.
Mix up your nail polish!
Right now at Fontana you can get Pink Princess Nail Polishes for 50% off! Yes! 50% off!
This nail polish brand carries beautiful spring-ready nail polishes. Try out a few of the colours!
Bold and beautiful lips!
So before we even get into putting on lipstick, during this dry and cold time, we need to keep these lips moisturized. Before applying lipstick, exfoliate to get rid of any dry patches and dead skin.
Tip
Mix a little brown sugar with some honey or olive oil and apply to your lips; wipe with a wet cloth and voila! Apply a little lip moisturizer / balm and then apply your lipstick.
Pink Princess Lipsticks are also on 50% while supplies last so you need to go get them before they run out!
These are just a few ways I’m getting ready for spring!
Share your thoughts! Comment below!
Nixx
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Dry, chapped lips are the worst! No one wants crusty looking lips and I am here for you if you’re not about that life!
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Hello loves!
Today I’ll be sharing with you my experience using the Black Opal Even True Conceal and Brighten under-eye concealer. Long name right!
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