Zoe Saldana Is Doing Her Own Hair And Makeup Because Hollywood Glam Has Failed Her
When it comes to industry beauty standards, it appears there still isn't a solid foundation, with the biggest shade being thrown towards women of color.
Recently, actress Zoe Saldana revealed that when it comes to getting glammed up on set, she still does her own hair and makeup on a need-be basis. Yep, the multi-million dollar actress and mother of three is also a DIY queen by default, due to the industry's limited knowledge - and products - for women of color.
"[In Hollywood], you have to learn to do your own hair and makeup so that you won't fall victim to a bad image of yourself or a misunderstanding of who you are or of your skin tone or of the texture of your hair. It's quite disheartening when you are told that you're going to be working with 'renowned this' and 'renowned that' and then you get there and they don't know how to do (it) and they don't understand diversity or their creativity is rather limited.
"It's disheartening because you still have to... find a way to feel beautiful even though you're not in control of your face and you're not in control of your skin and you're not in control of your hair that day, someone else is, and they're not really interpreting it the way that you would like to see it.'"
The 39-year-old movie star says that in order to "beat" the odds of a bad makeup job, it's a must we know how to slay our face, when no one else will:
"If you know how to do your face and makeup, and your hair, then you know how to repair yourself last minute, whatever needs to be retouched, so that you still come out winning and still feel confident and still feel beautiful."
Unfortunately, the issue of Hollywood not meeting the beauty needs of Black actresses does not only discriminate against the dark and lovely, but brown women of all hues.
Just last year, actress Zoe Kravtiz complained about the lack of products on set that that work with her hair type and skin tone. She even said that bringing her own hair and makeup artist to do the work ended up being counterproductive for the them:
"I've also had experiences where I'll be on a shoot, and there will be a well-known hair[stylist] who doesn't really know how to do Black hair. So I'll bring someone that does, and that person will really do all the work — but the other person gets the credit...It's really sad.
"I've had [makeup artists] not even bring the right colors for me and then try to put it on. It's OK if you haven't done a lot of darker skin — but people not wanting to respect and acknowledge that there is something different going on here? I've been in situations [on] a movie set or a photo shoot where I feel uncomfortable having to say, 'This isn't right.' Now I'm the difficult one because you don't acknowledge that I do have a different skin tone, and you can't just put a" bunch of light-colored makeup or a bunch of products that work for straight hair [on me]."
It's crazy to think that in 2018, and with the rise of Black Hollywood, that there would be an issue with meeting the smaller demands of actors of color. With the countless makeup artists, beauty YouTubers and #BlackGirlMagic on our timelines, you'd never guess there'd be a shortage of MUA's skilled to meet the industry needs of the brown and the beautiful.
Perhaps with the most recent sell-out power of Rihanna's Fenty Beauty products, the message will soon be clear that Black beauty matters too, and we'll see more MUA's of color working within the Hollywood space. Until then, learning how to adjust, is a must.
Featured image via Zoe Saldana/Instagram
- Zoe Saldana on Putting Rum in Her Hair and the Secret to Perfect Skin ›
- A to Zoë: Everything You Wanted to Know about Zoë Saldana | Allure ›
- Zoe Saldana's Top 5 Hair, Makeup & Beauty Secrets | Girls Talkin ... ›
- The Scoop on Zoë Saldana's Makeup in *Guardians of the Galaxy ... ›
- Zoe Saldana Proves That Switching Up Your Beauty Look ... ›
- Zoe Saldana Beauty Transformation & Makeup ›
- Zoe Saldana Shares Hair Secrets, Zoe Saldana beauty | PEOPLE.com ›
- Zoe Saldana on why black women struggle with makeup in ... ›
- Zoe Saldana on raising 3 boys and her 'fangirl' moment on ... ›
- *Star Trek*'s Zoe Saldana Drops the Mic | Allure ›
- Zoë Saldana | PEOPLE.com ›
A modest goddess who keeps it humble between mumbles. I'm a journalism graduate with a HERstory in digital media, print and radio. Roll the credits: Power 96, VH1, xoNecole, EBONY, SOHH. Deemed "Top 20 Women in Media" by Power 105. Bronx made me, Broward raised me.
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.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
Courtesy
I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
Courtesy
That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
Courtesy
So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
Courtesy
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image courtesy