Author: Admin01

Somewhere between the beginning of stay-at-home orders and that first sign of actual summer weather, I decided to let my hair just be. You know–cutting myself off from an abundance of products, letting the curls live their best lives without gel, and putting more intention into my routine, which inevitably shrunk in size. This ultimately led me down a very long rabbit hole of rice water hair products and rice water challenge YouTube videos, because Sunday afternoons are just like that sometimes.

The fascination with rice water within the natural hair community isn’t new, but when a global crisis caused most of us to stay put and cancel appointments, hair growth and overall health seemingly became everyone‘s goal. We want to take better care of our scalp and strands. We also want to look fly as ever when stepping out becomes the norm again. And so the comments under YouTube’s most-watched “rice water challenge” videos picked up steam after a dormant, years-long phase.

Though there’s no scientific data to back up its efficacy, rice water has been used for hundreds of years in China to treat and grow hair. The specific community credited for this DIY method are the women of the Yao tribe known for their nearly floor-length hair. Over time, Westerners have adopted their practice of fermenting rice in water and in recent years, it’s become the DIY recipe du jour for natural hair bloggers. In short, most challenge themselves to use rice water over the course of weeks before measuring and displaying their hair growth (or lack thereof) to subscribers and skeptics alike.

Monique Rodriguez, the founder of Mielle Organics, once counted herself among the throngs of curious onlookers before formulating a Rice Water collection of her own. “I am intentional about researching the pros and cons of an ingredient before I form an opinion regarding it,” she told StyleCaster. After concluding research and delving into the DIY concoctions making their rounds on YouTube, she “took an ample amount of time to research and develop a solution…that eliminated the tedious process.” She also dedicated time to trying rice water recipes on her own hair, too. “An essential step in the process to creating products is to try it on myself first,” she added.

Mielle Organics.

Mielle Organics Rice Water Clay Masque

The result is Mielle Organics’s Rice Water Collection; a Rice water Moisturizing Milk, Rice Water Clay Masque, Rice Water Split End Therapy, and Rice Water Shine Mist. So what exactly does rice water do for hair? According to Rodriguez, it “reduces split ends, strengthens hair, improves hair elasticity, aids in hair growth, and has been recognized for leaving the hair soft and silky.”

In the context of rice water, however, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Depending on the state of your hair, an excess of rice water can easily translate into protein overload. “While researching the benefits of rice water I also spent time learning the adverse effects DIY rice water concoctions that had taken place for some curly girls. Many shared in vlogs and Instagram stories that their DIY recipes over time left their hair hard and brittle,” she said. “This happens due to a lack of balance of moisture to the amount of protein.”

This is why Mielle Organics’s rice water products are formulated with ingredients that can counter-balance those effects, such as yuzu. Furthermore, some of the products omit protein altogether for those prone to excessive dryness. “Those who are considered protein-sensitive should use rice water in moderation. Two of our four products that have protein are the Rice Water Moisturizing Milk and the Rice Water Split End Therapy. Our Rice Water Clay Masque and Shine Mist do not contain protein.”

Ultimately, the “will rice water work on my hair” question can’t be answered the same way for everyone. Before embarking on any hair adventure, it’s important to know the individual state and needs of your hair. If you want to do it right, this takes time. You’ll want to know how efficiently your hair retains moisture, the type of products that boost definition instead of weighing it down, and most importantly, what your goals are, to name just a few. But if you’ve already done a DIY rice water challenge and want results without the time-suck of a DIY recipe, browse the Mielle Organics collection or get familiar with some other notable hair savers below.

Briogeo.

Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo

A sulfate-free shampoo made with naturally-derived ingredients to lock in moisture and soften hair.

Buy: Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo $24

Kerastase.

Kerastase Reflection Mask for Color-Treated Hair

A color-safe mask that promises to nourish hair and stabilize color with rice bran oil, zinc gluconate, and more.

SheaMoisture.

SheaMoisture Purple Rice Water Shampoo

Antioxidant-rich rice water, moisture-retaining wild orchid extract, and softening sweet violet extract make this cleanser ideal for addressing damage and tangles.

Fekkai.

Fekkai Super Strength Shampoo

French Camargue rice water and vegan keratin power this strengthening shampoo is clinically proven to decrease breakage by 50% after just one use.

Buy: Fekkai Super Strength Shampoo $19.99

Girl + Hair.

Girl + Hair CLEAR + ACV Rinse

No need to sacrifice a strengthening cleansing routine if you’re wearing a sewn-in weave or braids. This protective style-friendly scalp rinse comes with a nozzle so the rice water and apple cider vinegar formula can get to work.

Buy: Girl + Hair CLEAR + ACV Rinse $12.99

MyKirei By Kao.

MyKirei By Kao Nourishing Shampoo

One of Amazon’s top-selling shampoos is this vitamin-rich cleanser formulated with rice water and protein-rich Japanese Tsubaki.

Buy: MyKirei By Kao Nourishing Shampoo $18

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Hair salons have been shuttered for months. Ditto for nail salons and retail beauty stores. While in many regions of the country these establishments are just starting to open their doors again, one thing’s for certain: there’s no going back to business as usual. That means makeup artists, hairstylists, nail techs and others in the beauty industry may not have full-time work to go back to, even after months of surviving without a paycheck. It’s something that’s been gnawing at celebrity hairstylist Michael Dueñas and beauty publicist Melody O’Flaherty. So they created Support Creatives, a new nonprofit for and by artists in the beauty industry set up to offer financial aid, mentorship programs, and continuing education to beauty creatives, in the wake of COVID-19 and beyond.

One of its first orders of business? Beauty Together, a mammoth fundraiser to benefit artists financially hit by COVID-19. The virtual event runs June 16-26 2020 and taps top-of-the-industry talent (like Danessa Myricks, Bobbi Brown, and César DeLeön Ramîrez) to share their skills with the rest of us, including insight on how to forge a beauty career in a pandemic-affected world and tips from Beyoncé’s longtime makeup artist, Sir John, on how to apply foundation that won’t wear off on your protective mask.

Starting today,dozens of sessions will be available live and on-demand starting at $10 a pop (though it pays to register early: sponsoring brands are donating highly-covetable swag, like $300 Beachwaver Kits, given to the first 20 people who sign up for one of Sarah Potempa’s sessions and donate $100 to the nonprofit). Ahead of the marathon event, we talked to nine featured artists for details on what to expect from their Beauty Together class and why now is the crucial time for industry players to band together in support of beauty professionals financially devastated by the global health crisis.

Source: Instagram

Michael Dueñas, hairstylist and co-founder of Support Creatives

Why He Started Support Creatives: “Artists of all kinds need help. The salon industry has salon artists covered, but not much exists for freelance artists. We want to bridge that gap,” Dueñas says. “Support Creatives has become our way to give back to a community that is in dire need of help even without the recent events that have happened.”

The Impact of COVID-19 on Stylists: “I have spoken to a few artists who are actually moving out of California because they can’t pay their rent or other bills. Most of us have not received a paycheck since March and to my surprise, many still are not eligible for unemployment even with the CARES ACT enacted,” Dueñas says. “I know of at least 20 people who will not be going back to makeup or hair because they can’t afford to build back up. If I know that many, how many others are there?”

Why Artist Solidarity Matters: “I think the industry is going to change massively. I feel it’s going to become very competitive for jobs since no one has worked for a while and people are going to be open to taking any rate, which will drive down rates in general and hurt everyone in the long run,” Dueñas says. “I do think artists need to stick together and be firm on our rates to keep our industry going strong and people wanting to work.”

Source: Instagram

Sir John, celebrity makeup artist (clients include Beyonce, Joan Smalls, and Karlie Kloss)

What to Expect: A masterclass in applying wear-though-anything foundation and playing up the eyes from the artist who creates makeup looks that don’t budge through hours-long stadium shows. But that’s just the start. 

“I’m not just in the business of makeup,” Sir John says. “I’m in the business of making people feel good.” To that end, the artist plans to also talk about forging a deeper connection with ourselves. “I’m excited to talk about this with people who are uncomfortable talking about race, depression, or anxiety. Now’s the best time to have the conversation that people wouldn’t usually have because that’s where the internal growth happens. I think now’s a really good time to start doing a temperature check about that and ask: ‘Before I go back out into the world and hear all this noise again, what am I really trying to say to myself?’  So we’re going to have a conversation and I’m going to sprinkle it with some fun stuff, some stories about Coachella and crazy stuff that happened backstage.”

Why Community in Beauty Matters: “I’m a huge advocate for Support Creatives because what it’s doing is a game-changer and so needed. In this time when everyone feels so singular and possibly marginalized because of the revolution in this moment that we’re having in society,  it’s great to have a community and it’s great for artists to rally around other artists and weave a bit of activism or charity work and philanthropic efforts in our artistry,” he says. “It’s the most modern direction forward.”

Source: Instagram

Bobbi Brown, makeup artist and founder, Evolution_18

What to Expect: A lively Q&A that covers everything from freelance makeup artistry to launching a wellness brand to forging an entrepreneurial life.

Why She Champions Freelance Artists: “I am a makeup artist at heart, and always will be. I was born one, and I understand that other artists are my people,” Brown says. “I can only imagine how difficult it is for people to not be able to do what they love, and how they support themselves. I’m here for them.”

Source: Instagram

César DeLeön Ramîrez, hairstylist (clients include Kylie Jenner, Ciara, Demi Lovato)

What to Expect: Expert wig application (including the adhesive he can’t work without) and savvy business tips for how to make it as a freelance hairstylist in Hollywood.

Finding Creative Solutions in Tough Times: “Sometimes tragedies wake us up and make us stronger. I think that this experience has made us look inward and think outside the box to stay creative,” says DeLeön Ramîrez. “I personally feel excited and inspired again, whereas before this pandemic, I was feeling burnt out and uninspired. I think we have also realized that we can accomplish so much with a lot less than we thought. Things can not go back, we are always moving forward.”

Source: Instagram

Danessa Myricks, makeup artist and founder, Danessa Myricks Beauty

What to Expect: A showcase of trending makeup looks from around the world, featuring makeup artists from Brazil, Australia, Greece, Romania, and Mexico

COVID-19’s Personal Toll: “I personally suffered not just financially, but physically from contracting the virus,” Myricks says. “There are no words to explain how I was emotionally affected by the combination of those two things happening at once. Watching both my hard work and dreams and my health slip away in a way that is completely out of my control was a feeling I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I feel so blessed to be here, on the other side of it, and to have the ability to support other creatives to make it through as well.”

The Importance of Support Creatives: “Myself and so many artists have been stripped of their ability to earn an income, their identity as creative entrepreneurs and providers and their joy and passion in an instant. So many artists all over the world did not benefit from unemployment or stimulus checks and were left to survive off limited savings. For many of us, we had to rely on our community of artist friends to share resources. Whether it was in the form of food, PPE supplies, financial donations, or even just emotional support, we had to lean into our relationships to make it through.”

The Power of Artists Supporting Artists: “I know how the support of my artist community helped get me through one of the roughest periods of my career. I want to pay it forward and make sure that as many other creatives as possible have the opportunity to feel and experience that as well.”

Source: Instagram

Sarah Potempa, hairstylist and inventor of the Beachwaver

What to Expect: Expert advice on how to build a brand, work with celebrities and create unique content, along with tips on recreating red carpet looks (like snake braids) or a 5-strand braid mantra at home.

Post-Pandemic Industry Changes: “This time has brought out so much change. In order to adapt, we need to be more digitally savvy and connect in ways we might not be used to, from creating unique content to making our social media shoppable to collaborating,” Potempa says. “It was really fun to do Instagram Lives with other artists, as well as watch so many live digital shows. I believe there will be a bright, more aware and more understanding future ahead of us and I am so hopeful for education, enlightenment, and positive change.”

Source: Instagram

Sam Villa, hairstylist and Redken global artistic director

What to Expect: Time-saving hairstyling hacks, like preventing flyaways with a shine spray and powder brush from your makeup drawer.

Why Support Creatives is Essential: “In my 44 years as a hairdresser, I’ve never felt a greater need to support our industry,” Villa says. “So many of my salon owner friends have been hurt by the COVID-19 shutdowns. They desperately need support. Unfortunately, many did not get the financial support needed to survive and reopen, so now is the time for all of us to do what we can to assist the most at-risk group of salon and beauty professionals.”

Source: Instagram

Melanie Inglessis, makeup artist (clients include Ana de Armas, Olivia Wilde, and Amber Heard)

What to Expect: How to create a day-to-night smokey eye with minimal tools.

The Challenges of Freelance Artistry: “I have been a freelance makeup artist for over 20 years and I have struggled for a good amount of years, so I know how terrifying it can be when work is not there,” Inglessis says. “A lot of artists live check-to-check and when the jobs stop, the checks stop. I also know from experience that we don’t always set ourselves up properly for dry periods and have many times nearly quit my passion because of not being able to pay my rent. So it’s important to me to be able to support and help my community going through this crisis so artists can continue being artists.”

Source: Instagram

Katie Jane Hughes, celebrity and editorial makeup artist (clients include Ashley Graham)

What to Expect: An in-depth tutorial on how to nail Hughes’ signature graphic winged liner, no matter your eye shape.

Beauty As a Catalyst For Social Change: “It’s so important to support the artists that have been greatly impacted by this pandemic and we all have to do our part,” Hughes says. But she also notes there’s a larger need for allyship and change that extends beyond the effects of the pandemic. “We need to take action and my participation is one small way that I’m putting my words into action. I’m so grateful that this program allows people to both support artists but also that a portion of the proceeds for my session is being donated to Black Lives Matter.”

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Tamra Judge’s Purple Snake Print Off The Shoulder Top on Instagram

Real Housewives of Orange County 2020 Instagram Fashion

Tamra Judge’s purple snake print off the shoulder top in her Instagram post about her pantry re-organization (done by @simplyseasideorganizing) is cool and chic, just like her new pantry. I know I just moved in to my apartment, but honestly I need to do some serious organization and Tamra’s post was definitely a good reminder of that. Mainly for my closet that I need to get a dresser for. Currently everything that doesn’t hang up is either in a suitcase or a bin. It is very unorganized and unappealing for everyone that sees, but mainly my BF.

Speaking of hanging—this cute off the shoulder top is something I would love to have hanging in my closet. Off the shoulder tops and dresses are something I absolutely love. They can look so delicate and feminine and are really comfortable. I will say they are quite hard to keep hanging on a hanger, at least for me. That’s alright though because I can always keep a special place for them in a bin suitcase nicely organized dresser drawer.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here To Shop Her Vici Steady As She Goes Purple Snake Print Off The Shoulder Top

Organizing: @SimplySeasideOrganizing

Photo Credit: @tamrajudge

Originally posted at: Tamra Judge’s Purple Snake Print Off The Shoulder Top

Whether you’re out and about or still at home isolating, you might be starting to feel like putting on a little makeup now and then. We’ll all really different in this sense. For me, I like a little concealer and mascara and just lip balm underneath my mask. Maybe a fun eyeshadow color if I’m in the mood. Tarte’s Custom Kit Sale for 2020 is the perfect way to pick up those few products you need in your kit and maybe one or two more for a special occasion.

Here’s how the custom kit works. For $63, you can get seven full-sized items (six products plus a makeup bag). After choosing a bag (they’re all really cute!), you choose one product from each of the following categories: foundation, face, eye, mascara, lip and skincare or brushes. This usually retails for more than $200! Not all products are included but many are, including: Babassu Foundcealer Vegan Skincare Foundation SPF20; Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush; Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara; Busy Gal Brows Tinted Brow Gel; Baba Bomb; and H2O gloss.

Image: Tarte.

It’s a truly awesome deal all around. Tarte’s iconic Shape Tape Contour Concealer isn’t included in Custom Kit sale, but it is on sale. It’s a whopping $8 off so feel free to add it to your cart when you’re finished filling up your bag. Now, this is a one-day sale but the brand often extends it another day so keep an eye out on the website and Instagram. Happy shopping!

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.