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Fetes honoring the faces of “young hollywood” used to be just a sea of blonde starlets with stick straight strands and their cookie cutter boy band counterparts. But slowly but surely the red carpets in tinseltown have been making room for the melanin and textured manes that teens everywhere are starting to embrace. Enter stunning child star Skai Jackson.

After spending a fair amount of time consistently sporting her now iconic and meme-inspiring high ponytail the Disney Channel star has stepped out of her comfort zone towards another age appropriate slay. The young actress arrives at Variety's "Power of Young Hollywood" party this year wearing a charming and simple style that was perfect for the occasion.

She finished the look off by lining her bright eyes with an electric blue liner and adding a pure pink lip. 

We’ve got the details on how to recreate her look for the next red carpet moment in your life in just a few easy steps.

1. Part front of hair horizontally
2. Braid the back of hair so it can easily attach to our kinky bulk hair
3. Separate the front of hair into three sections using our tortoise shell rat tail comb,  make sure that the middle section is significantly larger than the two side sections and don’t worry about parts being super straight a little curve looks great here 
4. Pull each of the three separate sections into an individual ponytail using rubber braid binders that match your hair color
5. Twist each of the ponytails loosely
6. Manipulate the twists into loose individual buns
7. Add our kinky bulk hair to the back of your hair using crochet or diy clip-ins  

8. Add gold or silver charms to the front of each of your buns

9. Using a toothbrush or another thin soft bristled tool emphasize your baby hairs with your favorite edge control

10.Complete the look with your favorite finishing spray!

Jackson and her classic self-satisfied expression might have already taken over social media but her modest yet modern dress selections and smart beauty choices are bound to land her on more than a few best dressed lists.  We can’t wait to see what this rising star does next!

Wigs are a busy girl’s best friend. Whether you’re a carpool driving and couples game night hosting wife and mother or a single college student trying to cram four years of study groups and coffee runs into three one thing is for certain-a wig can save you valuable time. But while this low maintenance styling option can relieve some serious styling pressure it still requires a little TLC. We tapped celebrity hair stylist and Lucid Bliss founder Tiffany Lamb to give some tips on how she prepares her clients including “Power” actress Naturi Naughton, “Refill” songstress Elle Varner, and "Girls Trip" star Tiffany Haddish for getting the hollywood treatment on their (often removable) hair.

1. Keep it Clean

Tiffany doesn’t allow her clients to neglect undercare. She stated “the first thing is definitely keeping your hair clean. You need to be washing your hair. You want to make sure that your hair is clean before putting the wig on. A lot of time people put wigs on and think because it’s an easy go-to style they can do whatever but keeping your hair healthy up under the wig is the most important thing. What I have my clients do is come in and get their hair washed at least once a week.”

2. Lay Then Play

She believes that a strong start will ensure a flawless style saying “Braiding the hair under the wig is important as well. The foundation is important. You want it to be natural and look as flat as possible. So having your hair braided in the proper size braids is very important. And if you’re wearing lace wigs parting it right is important as well. If you’re wearing a middle part it’s important to part your hair down the middle when braiding it down, because you want that part to match up with your natural part to make your hair look as realistic as possible. That goes for side parts as well and hair length doesn’t matter. I have clients whose hair is short and they still part it where the wig’s part is perfectly.”

3. Don’t Forget The Details

While some stylists advocate for physically sewing together the braids in preparation for wig application Lamb says paying attention to hair texture prevents those extra measures from being necessary saying “No matter what I pay attention to hair texture. For someone who has fine hair it’s okay to for them to get a regular cornrow. But for someone who has thick hair they should be getting their hair under braided. It makes your hair very flat so you don’t need all that. I don’t braid all of the braids together. I don’t want the hair to be so tight. That’s the whole point of wearing a wig. You want to feel free and loose.”

4. Choose Custom

One size fits all wigs may be more affordable but they’re certainly not the most comfortable Lamb says  “You shouldn’t be getting a headache. We all know if our hair is too tight. If you have to keep popping an Advil or something like that, the wig is too tight. What makes a custom wig special is it fits your exact head shape. If fits perfectly.  If I was to give you my wig it wouldn’t fit. A Lot of time people aren’t properly measuring. If you measure properly you don’t need anything else. Also the number one mistake I see with lace front wigs is the lace color and the hair line! They drive me crazy! With any style weave or wig it’s supposed to look as natural as possible. Some people they I don’t know what they be doing! Anything custom is going to fit you nice. It’s going to fit you to a tee! It’s just like buying a custom suit. It fits you better than a suit out of the store! That's what makes it so special. It fits you and it fits you properly.”

Check out some of our custom creations in our crown collection and considering keep them fresh with some of Lamb’s Lucid Bliss OOOH and AAAH refreshers!

Now that the natural hair movement has picked up some serious steam it’s easy to be fooled into thinking that kinks and curls are now considered the norm across the nation. But not all women of color feel comfortable embracing their natural texture or even experimenting with textured protective styles. For some the hesitation is related to fear of judgement by their families. Others cringe at the thought of uncomfortable exchanges with their co-workers and supervisors. Many flinch at the thought of learning a new routine and the accompanying lingo (TWA, ACV, EVOO it’s enough to make your head spin.) But a select few hesitate out of concern for their significant others.

Now that social media has given everyone a platform people are able to express every idea that pops into their heads. And some of those ideas are a strong “preference” for women with relaxed hair.  

On the surface going natural is purely an aesthetic choice but the unpleasant history associated with hair can make it a deeply personal one-with the potential for personal consequences.

In response to an inquiry by someone writing her advice column author and relationship expert  Demetria Lucas D’oley advocated for communication between partners sharing the opinion that she  unequivocally did not think women had to ask permission before doing the big chop but that it would be thoughtful of them to inform their significant others so they weren’t shocked by the sudden change to their appearance.

We asked Girl & Hair Founder Camille Vevoric if she consulted with her husband and eventual business partner before making the big chop that sparked the idea that birthed her line of undercare products. “No. Not at all!” she said “I literally got home and was like ‘I’m tired of this. I’m going up the street.’ I went up there and I cut my hair and I came home. My husband is not that involved. He’s never been vocal about my style. He says as long as you love it I love it.”

Clearly her husband’s approach represents the ideal but sadly not all men feel this way. It seems every few weeks there’s an article on Clutch or Madame Noire asking whether women's styling choices are required to stay within men's comfort zones (who could forget the outrageous debate over Keyshia Kaoir’s trend setting lipstick?)

What do you think? When it comes to your hair should bae get a say?

Photo Credits: Black Enterprise, Good Housekeeping, The Source

When a hair stylist attempted to slander her client on social media she was met with a collective “oh no baby what is you doing” from the natural hair community. The “internets” did what they do and rallied the troops in defense of her unsatisfied customer attacking everything from the woman’s character to her closure. Comments ranged from the slightly dissapointed to the full on infuriated. Women couldn’t believe that a stylist would turn on her client in such a public fashion.

A staple in every community, a visit to the hair salon is sacrosanct.  As a result the stylist/client relationship is a trusted one, built on a mutual investment of time and trust, but when it goes south the situation can be difficult to salvage. And once the drama is made public the same can be said for the stylist’s reputation.  We’ve prepared a list of hard and fast rules to ensure you lose a client in sixty seconds that any stylist can benefit from NOT following.

Be A Chatty Patty

Clients see their stylists as part service professionals and part therapists. While they may indulge in petty gossip about their friends, family, and even fellow patrons don’t join in. Keep it cute and they’ll always trust you enough to keep coming back. This cone of silence extends to dissatisfied customers as well. No matter what was done or said make it a policy to keep news of client drama limited to relevant staff and for God’s sake DO NOT share it on the internet.

Throw Some Shade

Hair salons are generally pretty informal environments. Because of this it may feel like your client is your friend and sting when they hurt your feelings by criticizing your work or offending you in some other way. Still that’s no excuse to get snippy or sling insults. Call up your man, mom, sister, or a girlfriend if you need to vent and remember that a clean reputation is the best revenge.  

Cuss Up a Storm

Save the potty mouth for off hours. No matter how well my edges are flourishing I’m not recommending you to my boyfriend’s mom if you're going to be handing out four letter words like they’re penny candy. She doesn’t want to hear that and frankly no one else does either. Having trouble following this one? Challenge yourself with a swear jar. You can give the proceeds to charity in the salon’s name.

Apply Peer Pressure

We know you think Trina would look great as red head. Trina knows you think she would look great as a redhead. All the shampoo girls and the Portuguese barbecue delivery guys know you think Trina would look great as a redhead. But Trina asked you for highlights, so give her highlights. Suggest, don’t oversell or soon Trina might be gone.

Be Tardy for the Party

Time is valuable for everyone not just those in the service industry. We all know accidents happen but if you know you’re not a morning person don’t book a 7:15 appointment and show up an hour later with coffee. Your client won’t be amused.

Embrace False Advertisement

The temptation to fake it until you make it has never been stronger than in 2017. Fear of missing out has everyone claiming to do everything. Here's a valuable secret --lying about something won't improve your skills. If you’re unable to accommodate the latest trend let your client know that you care too much to set her up for failure. Use the clean reputation you’ve maintained by not being messy to refer her to another stylist you’ve connected with and use your free time to brush up on some new techniques! Hair isn't a situation where it's cool to fake it until you make it. 

Photo Credits: Healthy Black Woman, Pop Sugar, Uptown Magazine, Hello Beautiful, Bravo 

This weekend New York City’s Randall's Island hosted the Governor’s Ball Music Festival. A staple in the city the annual festival featured performances from Chance the Rapper, Childish Gambino, and Cage The Elephant. But while the crowd was mesmerized by the stars on stage we were stuck on their style. Melanin and textured manes literally stole the show. See our favorite showstopping beauty looks below.

It used to be all about gelled down baby hairs & frizz free blowouts but the natural hair community is embracing imperfections in new and exciting ways.

The volume on this electric style is almost as sexy as this sheer cage tank. Get into how she finished the look by adding an oversized jacket and the perfect “don't wish you could find a shade that makes you look this good without seeming like you were trying” lip color.  

Sidebar: are we the only ones who are noticing how global warming is impacting festival style? We predict parkas & crop tops will be the wave all season long. Thanks a lot congress!

Brightly colored hair has always been a festival staple and it looks like this season is going to be no exception.

Get the look with our purple rain hair.

This young lady paired a royal button down shirt with a tiger printed tank and pendant necklaces. Her short curls are a great low maintenance pick for a music festival. Not only does the lack of fuss  get you to the ferry on time, you can to jump up and down without needing to take your hair out of your eyes.

Short styles are gaining in popularity as more and more women discover how freeing they can be. 

 Recreate the lock using our McKenzie extra small curls. Go with a longer length so you can taper the cut to suit you.

This queen looked unbothered as she swung her ombré locs. Recreate the look by using our kinky bulk hair to add faux locs. If you're not looking to make as quite a bold a statement as the one made above ombré is a great way to ease into color. It also works well in a conservative office environment which is a plus because sadly not every day can be about tunes, sun, and style. Though for the record, we totally think it should be. 

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram to check out our take on festival beauty all season long!

Photo Credits: Essence, Governors Ball 

The best part about our hair extensions is it's easy to install. But, just because you can easily latch and hook on your own doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a little luxury! Getting your hair done can turn you into a whole new woman! After all, who doesn’t need a break from their routine? For years women of color have been conditioned to feel that visiting a salon in somehow a chore--a wasted day. We’ve traded truth bombs as we cracked jokes about doubled booked appointments and excessive dryer times. Luckily with the launch of targeted pop-up shops and innovative apps you’ve got more choices than ever. Looking to switch things up? Here are five things to consider before choosing a new salon home.

1. Wifi Access

Today we’ve got to stay connected 24/7. There’s nothing worse than missing a major e-mail or not being able to catch up on your instastories because you’re out of data and afraid to refresh. Stay in the loop while you’re keeping it cute by choosing a salon with courtesy wireless access.

2. The Quality of Its Recommendations

Growing up, a favorite aunt of mine was prone to saying “consider the source” and nowhere is this advice more prudent than with hairdresser suggestions. Your co-worker’s cousin might have been cool that one time you guys met up for a group happy hour but do you really want someone with no edges recommending someone to maintain yours? Yea didn’t think so.

3. Price

That $49 full install might seem like it’s a good value but a couple of trim and deep condition fees later you might wish you had shopped around. Consider what’s important to you and ask questions before you make a commitment.  

4. Availability of Additional Services

Nothing beats the convenience of a one-stop shop. Consider choosing a salon that offers facials, eyebrow threading, or other services that are vital to your beauty routine so that you can save time and possibly some coins!

5. Willingness to Accept Input  

A quality stylist will welcome inquiries about the products and techniques his or her salon uses and not spurn them. Make sure to pick a salon that will respect and address your questions and concerns about your hair’s health. If a salon’s staff makes you feel like you’re being annoying they’re probably not the place for you. 

Ready to install your own perfect perm rods? Check out one of our latest tutorials below. 

Photo Credits: Curly Nikki, Black Enterprise, The New York Times 

The glory that is black girl magic is peeking out from behind Ivy covered walls, stomping through the courtyards of historically black college campuses, and taking a strong stance on serious issues. It’s also getting ready to slip on caps and gowns. But as easy as it is to walk single file across that stage to finally collect what’s yours on graduation day it’s not as easy to fit your curls under that cardboard contraption.

But that doesn’t mean you have to cast aside your personal style to be considered suitable for this special occasion. We’ve got a few suggestions for working with your mortarboard instead of against it.

First consider working with the current trend of half up/ half down styles. Celebrities like Issa Rae, and Anika Noni Rose have embraced this look for personal appearances, premieres, and award shows. This style will allow you to slip the cap over the top of your head while allowing the back and sides of your hair to spring free.

This style also works really well with locks (authentic or faux). So feel free to get a protective style for your #gradcation before the big day. 

You can also pull your hair to the side and let a voluminous ponytail flow over one side of your robes. Or even slip charms or ribbons into an oversized braid or some Zoe Twists so that they can catch the camera flashes as you have your moment. Check out how Mini Marley pulled this off the perfect side pony here. 

Plan on sticking with your fail-proof twist-out routine? Twist the sides towards each side of your head and have them meet with bobby pins to accommodate the mortarboard without crushing it.

Looking to show up and show all the way out? Stand out by boldly puffing up your ful fledged fro for all to see and simply pinning the mortarboard to the top of it. The trick to making this option work? Choose straight pins instead of the traditional bobby pins so they will reach all the way into the middle of your fro. Just make sure to remove them and reshape it with a comb before it’s time to pose for pictures.

The number one accessory that you’re going to need is confidence. Since we were little girls we’ve been taught that special occasions require press and curls but what we really need to feel special is self-love.

Congrats to the class of 2017. May your curls shine as brightly as your futures!

Photo Credit: Essence 

While formal events like the Academy Awards and the Met Ball bring out wig snatching couture and breathtaking ball gowns from some of our favorite stars less formal occasions provide the perfect platforms for sharing their personalities!

On-trend styles like mini dresses and metallics may have ruled the night at Sunday night’s 26th Annual MTV Movie Awards but supermodel Jourdan Dunn made a splash by choosing to combine textures. She crushed it in wide legged satin trousers and a velvet off the shoulder blouse from designer Johanna Ortiz.

But what really made the brown British bombshell stand out wasn’t her supple skin or snatched waist it was her showstopping waist-length ponytail. Recreate her look for your next big night out with our kinky bulk hair using the steps below!

1. Start out by washing and blow-drying your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo.
2. Part your hair to one side of your face. Don’t forget to place the part on your best side for selfies (and don’t you dare try and act like you haven’t figured out which one that is)!
3. Treat your hair with a leave-in conditioner and then brush it down on both sides with a bristle brush. Remember the focus is on the added hair here so make the base of your initial ponytail as neat as possible.
4. Slick your hair down with an edge control. Try Palmer’s Coconut Oil option if you don’t want one that makes your hair hard and inflexible.
5. Secure your hair with a ponytail holder.
6. Wrap the edge of ponytail with strand of kinky bulk hair.
7. Add additional bulk hair to ponytail. Secure the hair to the initial ponytail with bobby pins. Be careful not to poke yourself by jamming the pins into your head. Insert them at an angle and check to make sure they're secure. 
8. Moisten your fingers with oil or leave-in conditioner and separate hair with your hands.
9. Tease your hair to add volume with a rattail comb.
10. Top off with your favorite lightweight finishing spray!

Finish the look by adding your favorite oversized hooped earrings and a bold lip. We like The Lip Bar’s “Bawse Lady”. Try this look the next time you’re trying to spend your Saturday night styling like one of the original “ Yonce’ “ girls.

Photo Credits: Marie Claire, Malayan Mail, FashionBombDaily