Ciara Opens Up About Learning To Accept Her Natural Hair
Developing a solid morning routine can be a drag, especially if you're a night owl. The struggle to get up and do your hair and a face full of makeup every morning can get old quick, but R&B singer Ciara has the remedy to your early A.M. troubles: try going natural for the day.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting you go out into the world naked faced and vulnerable, but our girl CiCi broke down the low-maintenance routine that allows her to be glam on the go without breaking out an arsenal of makeup brushes. Last weekend at the ESSENCE Beauty Carnival in New York, the singer explained:
"Life is very simple. There's just no time to do a whole lot. I go for a quick little concealer under my eyes. I get the t-zone because it does help when you have bags in the morning. [I put] a little bit of bronzer around the perimeter and then a little lip gloss or lip liner, and then I hit it. I'm out the door."
According to this 33-year-old mother of two, less is more, but she didn't always think this way. After dropping her debut song "Goodies" and becoming an overnight success only a year after graduating from Riverdale High School in 2003, the young singer had a triple-platinum hit that would ultimately jumpstart her 15-year career.
Unlike most of us, who had the pleasure of adapting to our growing bodies and changing facial features within the confines of our homes and dorm rooms, Ciara was forced to go through her journey from adolescence to adulthood in a very public way. The "Thinkin Bout You" singer opened up about how she garnered the courage to appreciate her own bare-faced beauty after years of having a negative self-image. She explained:
"Years ago when I started being an entertainer, I'd rely on [makeup] to feel beautiful. I think we all can say when we get makeup, we feel [and] look like a different person. (Enters Sasha Fierce) I can't rely on that."
Ciara explained that over time, with the support of her family and amazing partner, she grew to learn true beauty starts from the inside-out.
"I wanted to work on really loving myself at the core of who I am when there's no makeup. And thankfully my husband does. He tells me I'm beautiful when I'm super vulnerable that way."
The singer also admitted that it's taken her entire career for her to be comfortable in public without her hair extensions, and I can relate, sis. The singer explained that after having an unfortunate experience with a relaxer at a young age, she thought her self-esteem would never recover. In a post on Instagram showing her now lengthy and luxurious locks, she wrote:
"The first time I got a relaxer when I was young, it took out my hair. I was devastated. I never thought my hair would grow back. So proud ❤️"
As much as I love the smell of new bundles in the morning, I realize how easy it is to hide behind hair that isn't yours and forget how beautiful you are without it. Ciara told ESSENCE:
"I do like when I get those 34 inches, but I don't want to rely on this. Underneath it all, I still want to make sure I'm cool with myself and who I am. I feel like I'm in a really good place with understanding that and loving myself as I truly am."
Check out Ciara's full interview with ESSENCE here!
Featured image courtesy of Instagram/@Ciara.
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Megan Thee Stallion Shares Her Transformative Approach To Health And Wellness
Megan Thee Stallion is back and better than ever — both physically and mentally.
ForWomen’s Health May/June 2024 cover, the 29-year-old rapper bared all, opening up about her healing journey following the aftermath of the July 2020 shooting incident by rapper Tory Lanez.
“A lot of people didn’t treat me like I was human for a long time,” she told the publication. “I feel like everybody was always used to me being the fun and happy party girl. I watched people build me up, tear me down, and be confused about their expectations of me.”
She continued, “As a Black woman, as a darker Black woman, I also feel like people expect me to take the punches, take the beating, take the lashings, and handle it with grace. But I’m human.”
While the “Savage” artist exudes confidence through her stage presence and boisterous lyrics, behind the scenes, Megan was experiencing a silent battle with her mental health. “Before I went onstage, I would be crying half the time because I didn’t want to [perform], but I also didn’t want to upset my fans,” she says.
With pressures from the outside world piling up, Megan experienced “dark times,” that caused her to isolate from the public eye.
“I didn’t want to get [out] from under the covers,” she recalls. “I stayed in my room. I would not turn the lights on. I had blackout curtains. I didn’t want to see the sun. I knew I wasn’t myself. It took me a while to acknowledge that I was depressed. But once I started talking to a therapist, I was able to be truthful with myself.”
The “Wanna Be” rapper also details her current workout slip and diet that work hand in hand, giving her the mental clarity and stamina to perform at her highest level. For four to five days a week, Megan is locked in with one of her two trainers, Emory “Joc” Bernard and Tim Boutte, doing a variety of workouts like Pilates, running up and down sand hills at the beach, or hitting the StairMaster or elliptical for upwards of 40 minutes.
Best known for her “Megan knees,” leg day is a must — with hip thrusts, goblet squats, leg extensions, and “stallion kicks,” being included in her circuits.
With a combination of therapy, stepping away from imbalanced relationships, and daily movement, the Houston Hottie has since been able to reconnect with herself on a deeper level; putting her happiness before the opinions of others. “Working on myself made me get into working out because I needed to focus my energy somewhere else,” she shares. “I used working out to escape and to get happy.”
“I’m in a space where I feel good mentally, so I want to look as good as I feel.”
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Featured image by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images