
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
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Roscoe Dash joined xoMan host Kiara Walker to share the journey of his personal and spiritual evolution—from the party anthems that made him famous to a deeper life rooted in faith, family, and purpose. This episode offers an honest look at how the artist has grown beyond early fame, addressing fatherhood, masculinity, creativity, and healing.
Dash opened up about the internal transformation that has guided him away from chasing the spotlight and toward seeking peace. “Faith and fear can’t occupy the same space,” he said, underscoring his shift toward a more spiritually grounded life. Throughout the interview, he emphasized the importance of self-reflection:
“The most important conversations to me, honestly, outside of the ones you have with God, is the ones you have with yourself in the mirror.”
Dash is focused on the man he’s become. “I’m not the accolades I’ve achieved—I’m the person who achieved them,” he added, pointing to a broader understanding of identity and worth. A large part of that growth has come through fatherhood, especially raising daughters, which he said has deepened his understanding of love. “Love is unconditional and love loves to love no matter what,” he shared.
He also spoke candidly about the pressures of fame and its impact on creativity. “Chasing fame can kill your creativity as a musician,” he warns. Instead, his advice to other artists is simple but clear: “Keep your focus on your art form, whatever that may be, and stay passionate.”
The conversation also touches on gender dynamics and emotional safety in relationships. “Safe men make soft women. If she feels safe, she’ll melt like butter,” he said, challenging traditional notions of masculinity. Roscoe also offers wisdom on discernment and spiritual testing: “Sometimes the devil will give you what looks better than your blessing.”
Ultimately, Dash has learned to embrace peace over chaos. “All I can do is control what I can control. And that's how I respond to things and what I'm giving out,” he said. It’s a thoughtful, soulful side of Roscoe Dash that many may not expect—but one that leaves a lasting impression.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube
I Tried It: 3 Low-Maintenance Wigs That Will Elevate Your Look This Season
There's nothing like the feeling you get when your hair is done. It can instantly boost your confidence and put you in a great mood. I've never been a stranger to hair trends and I often experiment with the latest braided styles and colors.
But there are moments when I just don't feel like doing my hair. I'm natural and a lot of times I will braid or twist my hair up and cover it with a scarf or turban. However, when I crave a different look without the hassle of styling, I reach for a wig.
I've always had a love-hate relationship with wigs. Sometimes, I struggle to get them to lay flat and don't get me started with the bonding glue process. So when it comes to wearing wigs, I like to keep it nice and breezy around this b--- (word to Katt Williams), especially in the summertime.
That's why I jumped at the chance to try these three versatile wigs from Luvme Hair. Each one offers a unique look and is surprisingly low maintenance, which aligns perfectly with my philosophy that wearing wigs should make life easier. Let’s dive into the three styles below.
Headband Wig
Courtesy
This was the first wig I tried on, and I instantly fell in love with it. So much so that it took me weeks to even consider trying the other two. I’m partial to colored hair, especially blonds, browns, and reds, so I was skeptical about the jet black hair. However, I think the color, combined with the curl pattern, worked surprisingly well for me.
One of the things I really liked about this wig was that I didn’t have to braid my hair down first. I could simply throw it over a low ponytail, which is the epitome of a low-maintenance style. The headband has combs inside and velcro on the ends, ensuring a secure fit.
Half Wig
Courtesy
I had never worn a half wig before, so I faced some challenges. I cornrowed the bottom half of my hair where the wig would sit, but I believe this made it more difficult to use the combs. It might just be me though. I straightened the top part of my hair to blend it with the wig, which looked cute for about five minutes.
Firstly, I have a brown/blonde color mix on the ends of my hair, and the half wig is black. So, I had to hide some of the color (I didn’t have time to dye the wig). Secondly, straightening my hair myself is always a hassle because it never lasts long. Add to that the summer humidity, and you get a hot mess. Despite all this, I managed to get some cute pictures before things got out of control, and that’s all that matters, right?
Would I consider this a low-maintenance hair style? Yes and no. I think it’s unrealistic for me during the summer, especially since I enjoy summer activities. However, when the weather cools down, I’ll definitely rock it, dyed, of course.
Bob
Courtesy
Now, this is the wig I was nervous about. I never had a bob and I didn't think I would like it. But once I put bobiana on, my mind instantly changed. I finally understood why the gworls rave about the bob so much. It was giving boss. It was giving grown woman. It was giving the bob means business. Iykyk. It was the ultimate statement.
I will say when I first put it on, one side of my wig just would not lay flat. It took some trial and error, but I finally managed to get it to look good. With the bob, I highly recommend braiding your hair down first as small as you can so it can lay as flat as possible. I really liked the ash blonde color, which is perfect for summer. The length also makes it a great low-maintenance style for the season, so you don't have to worry about the hair making your neck sweaty.
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