Sassy ' N ' New York

Kerry Washington, Beyoncé, Serena Williams, Ciara, Willow Smith, Imaan Hammam, Amandla Stenberg and Misty Copeland.

These eight amazing black women grace the covers of major fashion magazines for their September 2015 issues, which just happens to be the most important issue of the year in magazine publishing. This is amazing! Why? We all know that the cultural diversity in magazine publishing is little to none. These days major white magazines such as Elle and Allure have been producing questionable material regarding black culture. I'm referring to Elle magazine's "Dashiki's are the new IT item" piece and Allures "You, yes you can have an afro even if you have straight hair" article as pictured below.

Really....REALLY?!

Needless to say, the industry has a long way to go while on the path to cultural diversity. Hopefully, these leading ladies landing major magazine covers indicates a positive shift emerging in the fashion world. Check out the lovely ladies in their September 2015 covers below.

Scandal's leading lady Kerry Washington emits strength and natural beauty for the cover of Self magazine. How beautiful is? My God. You go, Kerry!

Beyoncé The Queen of Flawless premiers on the cover of Vouge magazine and made history becoming the first black female artist to appear on the September issue.

beyonce vogue september

Tennis legend Serena Williams radiates strength and beauty on the New York Magazine fashion issue. She better pose!!

serena williams new york magazine

Ciarra shows off her sexy toned post-baby body as the bad ass cover star of Shape Magazine. She looks amazing! Check out her fabulous red glitter wrist wraps, how cute is that!

ciara shape cover

A swagged out Willow Smith covers iD's Coming Of Age Issue. I don't know why people hate on her so much, she's dope. Plus, she has amazing skin...flawless:

willow smith id cover

Dutch model Imaan Hamman stands confidently for her first Vouge Netherlands cover. I don't know much about her, but I do know that she looks absolutely amazing on this cover. You go, girl!

imaan hammam

"Hunger Games" star Amandla Stenberg stars appears confident and bold on the cover of Dazed, with a quote from well-known activist Angela Davis scrawled across her face:

amandla stenberg dazed cover

Ballet dancer Misty Copeland is the bell of the ball on the cover of Essence with her elegance and grace:

misty copeland essence cover

All of these women look amazing. How do you guys feel about seeing more black woman on national magazine covers? Sound off in the comments!

Love,

- Sassy ' N ' New York

Images:*Selfmagazine,Vougemagazine,Vougenetherlandsmagazine,NYmagazine,Essencemagazine,Dazzedmagazine,IDmagazine,Shapemagazine,Alluremagazine,Instagram*

In a society where beauty standards are associated with Eurocentric ideals, these lovely men and women have taken to Twitter to show the world that they love the skin they're in. In most cases, darker skin complexions aren't considered "beautiful" which is ridiculous, but it seems as though this generation is working hard to change that mentality.

A group of black women have made it their mission to redefine beauty on their own terms with their hashtag #FlexinMyComplexsion. The idea of flexin your melanin has been around for a few months, but #FlexinMyComplexsion has gained more than 85,000 tweets after POCBeauty requested that their 26,000 followers use the hashtag and submit photos of themselves embracing their darker skin.

Now, one would thnk that everyone would be supportive of this awesome new hashtag,but ironically enough, some white women used the hashtag to express that they didn't like or appreciate the fact that it excluded them. *sighs*

Despite the criticism, the amazing tweets exhibit the beautiful and various shades of melanin. Check out a few of the tweets below.

Woooooooh shoutout to my summer tan! haha #FlexinMyComplexion 💁🏽💁🏽 pic.twitter.com/o9DlUYIioa
— neela (@foxyneela) August 14, 2015

Don't mind me, I'm just #flexinmycomplexion pic.twitter.com/ByibVfDoCA
— Duty Free (@dutyfreecritic) August 20, 2015

#FlexinMyComplexion because I've grown to love the melanin in my skin and who i am 💁🏾 pic.twitter.com/Z3Xzz7C7Ob
— YANG ⚪️ (@Trinnnidy) August 14, 2015

#FlexinMyComplexion 💕 loving my tan pic.twitter.com/x5gk0ACd5m
— DOLO (@DolorianLynne__) August 16, 2015

Same chair less hair. #FlexinMyComplexion pic.twitter.com/6fMFBOZ3dS
— playboi barti (@OGchillnative) August 14, 2015

#FlexinMyComplexion because all my life I've been told that I was soooooooo black. Now I flaunt it cause you want it. pic.twitter.com/WCBudiq9PR
— you lint licker (@Khalilology) August 15, 2015

Images: (youtube,twitter)

Yes, I love a good wig! Ladies, this is the easiest hairstyle you could ever have, just slap it on and slap it off - what more could you ask for? Wigs are great, but you can't purchase any old wig... the whole idea behind wigs is that you want them to look as natural as possible. The last thing you need is a shiny ass wig or something that doesn't frame your face...that's a mess.

Tips for selecting your wig

Read reviews! - Despite the fact that opinions vary, feedback from people who've tried the product is extremely helpful - especially if you're ordering online. YouTube is your best friend. You can watch reviews and get to see what the unit (wig) looks like - packaging and initial openings as well as the quality of the unit. I prefer to watch video reviews as opposed to reading comments because, I am able to see the hair in motion - pictures can present a completely different view i.e. lighting, background etc.

Select textures that are similar to your own hair - It's fairly easy to find a curly wig that resembles natural hair, but if you are aiming for a sleek look you should look for wigs that have some texture to it - meaning it will look like straightened afro textured hair.

Make sure the unit has combs - I'm sure we've all seen Sister Pat in church with her wig leaning to the left... The last thing you should have to worry about is whether or not someone could easily knock your wig off. Combs are life savers, they hang on for dear life! Always secure, and comfortable. :o)

Half wigs are cool too - These aren't necessarily considered a protective style because a good amount of your hair is out. However, due to the leave out the wig looks much more convincing.

Can't find any styles that you like? Make your own wig! - I actually came across a product called the Hookie Do yesterday - It's perfect for people who have absolutely no weaving skills...like me. The Hookie Do is a wig cap with hooks on it! You simply hook hair wefts onto the cap. No gluing or sewing involved (thank god). The great thing about this product is that when your hair extensions retire and look "worn out" you can just replace the hair. BOOM!

My go to wig website - Best Lace Wigs I absolutely love this site! They have great customer service, and their units are beautiful. They're a bit pricey, but the quality of their wigs are excellent.

Well, there you have it ladies, 5 tips for the proper wig selection. Hope you enjoyed.

Happy Hair Hunting!

"You have to know that you are totally gorgeous, and not just from the forehead down." - Unknown

Love,

- Sassy ' N ' New York

(Images: dailymail)

Braids are an evolutionary style and, this summer/fall, they're not going anywhere!

With a classic look such as this, keeping your hair style flawless is key. Braids tend to get a bit on the raggedy side, but only because YOU allow them to do so. You have to show those braids who's in charge! Let me hook you up real quick!

Here are a few tips to keep your braids - and scalp - feeling and looking fresh.

5 simple rules to help keep your braids fresh and long lasting!

* Try to wash your braids every week or bi-weekly to add extra moisture to your hair. Mix half a cup of shampoo (sulfate free) with three cups of water - boom, problem solved. :o)

* Stop your stylist from braiding too tightly and avoid constantly keeping your braids in tight updo's. I know its hella hot outside and the last thing you want is to have all that hair on your neck and shoulders - but keeping your hair in high buns or tight ponytails can damage your hairline! You plan on keeping your edges...or nah?

*If you suffer from dry scalp, or your scalp tends to be malnourished from time to time, massage in a natural oil like - extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, etc.

* Create your own moisturizing serum, or use braid spray to moisturize your hair daily and keep it from locking while in the protective style- especially if you plan on keeping them in for longer than 4 weeks. I don't really like braid spray, so I make my own moisturizer (water, extra virgin olive oil, any shea moisture conditioner) or use the Karen Body Beautiful Hair Blossom Moisture Mist. - It smells amazing.

* This is optional - You can walk with a soft-bristled brush, or a toothbrush - go with the toothbrush, they're cheaper and they get in the hard to reach places. Use the brush of your choosing to tidy your baby hairs aka edges. Edge control does nothing for me ...my hair has a mind of its own. Cantu leave in conditioner, on the other hand, works magic!

FYI: After long wear, braids won't look as fresh as they did when they were first installed. If you do your own hair then you have an advantage. I do the braids around my hairline looser than the rest of my head, because of how fragile my edges are. Due to the looseness they tend to frizz more than the other braids - so I take them out, gently snatch my edges and slap them right back in. #flawless

How to lay down your edges

I'm sure most of you know how to do this but in case you don't - here's a "how - to"

1. Brush & smooth hair in the direction you would like your edges to lay. Most people aim for their hair to go in a swooping upward motion. If that's not your thing that's fine, do whatever makes you happy.

2. Apply either your edge control, conditioner, gel, etc. to the edges and brush them with the toothbrush in whichever motion you like.

3. While brushing your edges use a finger or fingers to smooth down the hair you've just brushed. This helps prevent clumping!

4. When you're done and the hair is smooth and in place, tie a satin scarf around your head - sort of like a headband. You can keep that on overnight or for about 10-15 mins - that's what I do. This summer has been brutal so when flattening your edges (with your scarf) be sure to be by some sort of air supply - i.e. AC, fan, whatever. Otherwise, you'll start to sweat, and laying down your edges will be a complete bust.

No Edges?

It is possible that your hairline has receded or your edges have been snatched off. It's stressful when your edges decided to leave you for dead, but no worries! There are a bunch of different products you can use to encourage them to come back.

Jamaican Black Castor Oil - Strength and Grow Restore Hair Serum - Girl listen, when my edges went on vacation and didn't tell me - I used this baby to bring them right the hell back. Honestly, this serum had my hair growing like weeds! My edges came in back in record time. At the time of my regrowth process, I used this product three times a week for about 2 months. My edges are long enough to wrap around my fingers... umm thank you, Jesus!

Jane Carter Solutions - Scalp Nourishing Serum - This serum is made specifically for people who have dry /flaky scalps. A lot of the time flakes and dryness can be the reason for slow hair growth. This product helps to cleanse the scalp AND improves circulation which promotes hair growth! Yes, you'll be flake-free in no time!

And there you have it, 5 simple rules for fabulous braids.

Love your hair, and the skin you're in!

Happy Moisturizing!

Love,

- Sassy ' N ' New York

Weave 101: Before you install your weave

Weaves have been and probably always will be a staple in African American culture. Though some women opt for twists or braids as a protective style others may prefer bundles of hair in a variety of lengths, and there is nothing wrong with that. If you're going to rock a weave, make sure you're fabulous and confident with your weave choice. The key is to rock your hair PROPERLY while taking care of your main priority...your natural hair.

Applying the proper braid pattern

Before installation be sure to research different braid patterns and figure out which one will work best with the type of style you desire. For example, if you know that you want to be able to part your hair on the left & right side of your head, along with the middle, then you must have a braiding pattern that allows you to do so. Otherwise, your tracks will be showing left and right - and that's not cute. If you have no idea where to start try to find a stylist who specializes in weaving and braiding.

Finding the right texture

If having a leave out is your thing - choose a textured hair that resembles your own, try to be as precise as possible. A few sites that offer natural hair textured hair are as follows

www.fingercomber.com
heatfreehair.com

Upkeep & Maintenance Tips

Some of these tips are things that I've learned recently. I used to wear weaves back in high school (God that was so long ago...) and I would literally take the hair out of the pack and hand it to my stylist. No preparation was done on my end. Just slapped it in and strolled out of the salon. BUT my hair was poppin nonetheless :o)

Check out some of these handy tips below:

1. Shampoo, deep condition and spray hair with a moisturizing leave in before installation.- Your natural hair.

2. Find a texture that is similar to your natural hair - this will allow you to have a leave out that looks great, and doesn't require much heat styling.

3. Shampoo weave extensions BEFORE installation. Sometimes virgin hair has an odd smell to it, so it's best to wash and condition the hair before installation to get all of the funky stuff out. You can do the same with your wigs. I'll cover that in another post.

4. Use an applicator bottle filled with castile soap a mild shampoo and regular shampoo (sulfate free) at least once every 2-3 weeks. You MUST cleanse your scalp. Follow this same method for conditioning.

5. Reach in between the tracks, and apply a leave in conditioner, allow braids and weave to dry properly. If you fail to do so it can lead to mold or fungus growth.

6. Try to use virgin hair - it's a higher quality of hair - plus it will last for a while depending on how well you take care of it.

7. Wear your installation for no more than 8 weeks. If you push the limits you could risk breakage and hair locking.

Now listen, I am no weaveologist, but I am certain that keeping your hair moisturized is one of the fundamental rules in maintaining healthy hair. The weave might be popping on the outside, but your natural hair still needs to be cared for. If you neglect the hair under the tracks, by the time you remove your extensions your hair will be brittle and struggling.

Make sure you moisturize!

Good luck Divas, happy weaving!

Love,

- Sassy ' N' New York

Images: (hairstylicious,Youtube - Brianna Rutter)

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8 Extraordinary Black women land major fall fashion 2015 covers

Gorgeous black men and women flaunt their looks with #FlexinMyComplexsion

Protective Style of the Week: Wigs

Tips for selecting your wig

Have you seen your edges lately?

Are your edges on vacation?

6 ways to protect your hairline

Braid Care 101

5 simple rules to help keep your braids fresh and long lasting!

Protective Style of the Week: Weaves

Weave 101: Before you install your weave

Applying the proper braid pattern

Upkeep & Maintenance Tips

Sassy ' N ' New York