She upgrades Charmaine’s style with a fitting top from Anthropologie that shows off her shape and shoes that are chic, but comfy. Hairstylist Q gives Charmaine a drastic cut and adds caramel color, while makeup artist Kenecia Lashae keeps her naturally flawless skin bright and glowy.

Check it out!

“5 Minutes To Fab” With Celeb Stylist Becca Alexis: “The Educator/Rocker”

“5 Minutes To Fab” With Celeb Stylist Becca Alexis: “The Dancer-Turned-Publicist”

Becca Alexis has her own styling company called Pulchritude + Concepts. She has worked with Ne Yo, Trey Songz, Valerie Ortiz, Marlon Wayans, Janet Jackson, Dawn Richards, Mark Wahlberg, Katherine Heigl, Harper’s Bazaar, Essence, Ginuwine, Jamie Foxx, Neon Trees and a wealth of others. Follow her on Twitter at@BeccAlexis!

She enhances Jovian’s rocker-chic style by simply pinning her tee and adding silk pants and a blazer from Zara. Makeup artist Kenecia Lashae applies appropriate powder (for a girl on-the-go!) and teaches Jovian how to wear makeup under a pair of glasses.

Check it out!

To enter for a chance to receive a “5 Minutes To Fab” makeover, e-mail us at 5Mins@hellobeautiful.com! And follow us on Twitter at @HelloBeautiful!

30 Under 30: Jovian Irvin

“5 Minutes To Fab” With Celeb Stylist Becca Alexis: “The Dancer-Turned-Publicist”

“5 Minutes To Fab” With Celeb Stylist Becca Alexis: “The Producer”

Becca Alexis has her own styling company called Pulchritude + Concepts. She has worked with Ne Yo, Trey Songz, Valerie Ortiz, Marlon Wayans, Janet Jackson, Dawn Richards, Mark Wahlberg, Katherine Heigl, Harper’s Bazaar, Essence, Ginuwine, Jamie Foxx, Neon Trees and a wealth of others. Follow her on Twitter at @BeccAlexis!

She upgrades Emily’s laid back, bohemian style to something more sophisticated by simply cinching her cardigan, adding a statement-making dress and ridding her of those tights that only dancers should wear on stage or in rehearsal!

To enter for a chance to receive a “5 Minutes To Fab” makeover, e-mail us at 5Mins@hellobeautiful.com! And follow us on Twitter at @HelloBeautiful!

“5 Minutes To Fab” With Celeb Stylist Becca Alexis: “The Producer”

“5 Minutes to Fab” With Celeb Stylist Becca Alexis: “Jet-Setter”

Becca Alexis has her own styling company called Pulchritude + Concepts. She has worked with Ne Yo, Trey Songz, Valerie Ortiz, Marlon Wayans, Janet Jackson, Dawn Richards, Mark Wahlberg, Katherine Heigl, Harper’s Bazaar, Essence, Ginuwine, Jamie Foxx, Neon Trees and a wealth of others. Follow her on Twitter at @BeccAlexis!

She gets rid of Lauren’s cargo pants, but replaces them with an equally comfy, stretchy skirt from Hype. And instead of keeping all the attention of Lauren’s sparkly shirt, she moves the shine to her neckline (with accessories from Sequin) and to her waist (with an affordable belt from NY & Co.)

“5 Minutes to Fab” With Celeb Stylist Becca Alexis: “Jet-Setter”

“5 Minutes to Fab” With Celeb Stylist Becca Alexis: “Girls’ Night Out”

“5 Minutes To Fab” With Celebrity Stylist Becca Alexis: “Weekend Chic”

Becca Alexis has her own styling company called Pulchritude + Concepts. She has worked with Ne Yo, Trey Songz, Valerie Ortiz, Marlon Wayans, Janet Jackson, Dawn Richards, Mark Wahlberg, Katherine Heigl, Harper’s Bazaar, Essence, Ginuwine, Jamie Foxx, Neon Trees and a wealth of others.

Hairstylist Omari turns Mia’s already-curly ‘do into a pompadour and make-up artist Kenecia Lashae keeps her face stay au naturale with Cover Girl’s Queen collection.

“5 Minutes to Fab” With Celeb Stylist Becca Alexis: “Girls’ Night Out”

“5 Minutes To Fab” With Celebrity Stylist Becca Alexis: “Weekend Chic”

Featured in this week’s episode is Cover Girl Queen Collection Lip Color in Au Naturale:

Becca Alexis has her own styling company called Pulchritude + Concepts. She has worked with Ne Yo, Trey Songz, Valerie Ortiz, Marlon Wayans, Janet Jackson, Dawn Richards, Mark Wahlberg, Katherine Heigl, Harper’s Bazaar, Essence, Ginuwine, Jamie Foxx, Neon Trees and a wealth of others.

Hairstylist Omari loosens Erica’s braids, giving her bouncy curls instead. And make-up artist Kenecia Lashae adds a pop of color to her face with Cover Girl’s Queen collection.

“5 Minutes To Fab” With Celebrity Stylist Becca Alexis: “Weekend Chic”

“5 Minutes To Fab” With Celebrity Stylist Becca Alexis: “The Working Woman”

Chriny already had an awesome asymmetrical ‘do, but stylist Omari assists with 3 need-to-know tips. And finally, make-up artist Kenecia Lashae brightens up Chriny’s complexion with Cover Girl’s Queen collection.

“5 Minutes To Fab” With Celebrity Stylist Becca Alexis: “The Working Woman”

“5 Minutes To Fab” With Celebrity Stylist Becca Alexis: “The Mother Of Two”

Featured in this week’s episode is Cover Girl Queen Collection Lip Color in See Red:

Becca Alexis has her own styling company called Pulchritude + Concepts. She has worked with Ne Yo, Trey Songz, Valerie Ortiz, Marlon Wayans, Janet Jackson, Dawn Richards, Mark Wahlberg, Katherine Heigl, Harper’s Bazaar, Essence, Ginuwine, Jamie Foxx, Neon Trees and a wealth of others.

Elle also gets treated to a quick, chic ‘do by hairstylist Omari who teaches her how to “frame her face.” And finally, make-up artist Kenecia Lashae brightens up Elle’s complexion with Cover Girl’s Queen collection.

Fab Style Tips: How To Pick The Perfect Eyewear For Your Face [VIDEO]

“5 Minutes To Fab” With Celebrity Stylist Becca Alexis: “The Male Co-Worker”

Becca Alexis has her own styling company called Pulchritude + Concepts. She has worked with Ne Yo, Trey Songz, Valerie Ortiz, Marlon Wayans, Janet Jackson, Dawn Richards, Mark Wahlberg, Katherine Heigl, Harper’s Bazaar, Essence, Ginuwine, Jamie Foxx, Neon Trees and a wealth of others.

Sometimes finding the perfect pair of glasses can be a maddening experience, so Becca’s breaking it down for you.  Check her Fab Style Tips for finding the perfect frames.

Becca Tips to Remember:

• Eyes, nose and cheekbones are all part of creating the blueprint specs for your face.

• Round faces do well with Rectangular frames.

• Oval shapes can go with almost any frame. Avoid small frames that make your face look longer.

• Square shapes should aim to soften with round or cat eye frames that take attention away from jaw line.

• Heart shapes are balanced with oval and rectangular frames that take attention away from chin.

Take a look:

Becca Alexis has her own styling company called Pulchritude + Concepts. She has worked with Ne Yo, Trey Songz, Valerie Ortiz, Marlon Wayans, Janet Jackson, Dawn Richards, Mark Wahlberg, Katherine Heigl, Harper’s Bazaar, Essence, Ginuwine, Jamie Foxx, Neon Trees and a wealth of others.

How To Find Your Body’s Perfect Skirt

10 New Make-Up Shades That Look Good On All Skin Tones

Take a Look:

Becca Alexis has her own styling company called Pulchritude + Concepts. She has worked with Ne Yo, Trey Songz, Valerie Ortiz, Marlon Wayans, Janet Jackson, Dawn Richards, Mark Wahlberg, Katherine Heigl, Harper’s Bazaar, Essence, Ginuwine, Jamie Foxx, Neon Trees and a wealth of others.

Associate Editor Sam A. gets a surprise makeover courtesy of his co-worker and friend Shamika.

Throw In The Towel & Grab A Scarf Instead
Football fans love to wave their towels, but a scarf is a more fashionable option. “Scarves are a great alternative to cliché sports items. And stripes are a huge trend for spring, so you can look for a striped scarf that features one of the team colors.”

Layer
Go for a preppy look by putting a T-shirt on top of a buttondown or underneath a blazer.

Kick Off Your Stilettos
Ditch your heels and go for a more athletic shoe with a feminine flair.

Accessorize!
The Steelers and the Packers both have gold in their team colors, so use gold accessories to show your spirit.

Add a sleek ponytail and skinny jean, and you’re good to go.

10 Super Bowl Facts To Get You Through Super Bowl Weekend

Eye Candy: Superbowl 2010 Hotties [PHOTOS]

If you’re plus-size:

Go for sexy pencil skirts that sleeken but don’t squeeze (who wants that?). Check out size-14 Muslimah Shabazz, 27, in this classic style—hot, hot, hot!

You want sleek, curvy lines, not tons of fabric. Shapely pencil skirts or A-lines with a defined waist are flattering and modern. If you want ornamentation, go for something subtle like the monochromatic tiers.

If you’re pear-shaped:

Go for a pleated A-line that hits at the knee, as seen here on Ashley Betton, 29. On top, something tailored, like this jacket, keeps the volume in check.

Fitted at the waist and swingy through the hips does your body good. There’s a reason this cut is always in style—it looks great on most women, and you can wear it with flats or heels. A hemline at the knee is most flattering. This advice is great for petites, too!

SEE MORE FOR PETITE & ATHLETIC BUILDS HERE!

Take a Look:

To enter for your chance to win a 5 Minute makeover with Becca Alexis, post one to our facebook wall or send us a twitpic to @hellobeautiful. (Must live in the Greater New York City Area)

Take a look:

5 Chunky Statement-Making Necklaces For Under $50

Michelle Obama’s Vintage Christmas Dress: Fab Or Fug? [PHOTOS]

Hey Beautifuls!

Tilane Jones here, just stopping by from UrbanBeautyCollective.com. I wanted to give you some goodies from our recent exclusive blog post from award winning author, Deborah Gregory. The fabulous Ms. Gregory is the author/creator of THE CHEETAH GIRLS and CATWALK (Delacorte Press). CATWALK: STRIKE A POSE , the second novel in her purrlicious new fashion-forward tween teen series, pounces on book shelves September 8th and has been optioned by the TEEN NICK network for TV series development.

As a former fashion model, Deborah shares some plus size tips and favorites. Check out her advice below.

PURRLICIOUS AND PLUS SIZE, PUHLEESE!

“Yesterday, I was plopped on the quaint wrought iron bench outside of my favorite Bagel Shop on First Avenue in Manny Hanny (that’s New York to non-fashionistas) with my pooch, Cappuccino, relishing a tasty turkey burger bagel dripping with chipotle sauce. Sarah, one of the ubiquitous neighborhood “bench warmers” who indulges in the same morning ritual-sans the bagel or coffee (actually, the only thing I’ve ever seen her consume with gusto is gossip), turned to me and chirpily commented, “You look like you’ve lost weight!’

The truth is, I have been on a diet for the past seven weeks-my first in three years. I hadn’t planned on embarking on the pound-reduction plan until I hit bottom with a resounding thud-literally. Seven weeks ago, I was running errands, climbing out of the danky underground with my hefty shopping bags so slowly that the agitation from the agile, impatient ones behind me was so palpable it raised the (real) hairs on the back of my neck. “Keep it moving, BIG girl!” shrieked one of the limber losers. Given my agitation at being singled out for slowness it’s not surprising that I became distracted, lost my footing and tumbled to the bottom like Alice in Wonderland disappearing in the rabbit hole. Luckily, I wasn’t hurt, but the fall from grace woke me from a deep slumber.

See, I’ve been a fashionable plus size person for twenty years-after having spent the previous years as a five-foot-eleven-inch, 130-pound slenderella who even modeled, for one memorable year, in Europe. In my opinion, the transition from slim to sizeable was, well, seamless. Sure, I had less dates-but frankly, I needed the rest, okay and I’m looking for quality not quantity. But that morning, I faced a hard truth-no way would I be comfortable being physically debilitated because of my size and clearly that was the direction I was moving into. That day, I started my ad hoc diet then (basically three meals a day and one snack). Four weeks later, I weighed myself and was shocked to see that I weighed 285 pounds-and that’s after four weeks of dieting-which means I was teetering close to 300 pounds and didn’t even realize it!

As the saying goes, too much of a good thing is exactly that. So I shared this truth with Sarah and revealed my goal weight: 185 pounds. She looked at me in disapproval. “If you weighed 130 pounds when you were a model, why not go back to that size? You would look fabulous,” she coaxed me.

I answered her truthfully: “Because I don’t want to ever weigh 130 pounds again!” I honestly, truthfully, want to weigh 185 pounds-not a pound less! Sarah was reticent about my decision, but I’m not. After having been thin and obese, I can honestly say, I want to be purrlicious and plus size, puhleese!

At the moment I’m a size 22 and weigh 275 pounds-and I’m 90 pounds away from my goal weight, but still completely interested in looking fabulous. As a matter of fact, I have just received my box of fall clothes from London, England that I ordered from my absolutely favorite designer in the whole world: Anna Scholz. If you don’t know who that designer is, do yourself a favor and check out her website: www.annascholz.com. After having worn her clothes for ten years, I can tell you this: buy less and pay more and it will pay off in fashion dividends. What I ordered for fall: 1. A pair of fabulous black fitted crepe slacks with a flared bell bottom. 2. A pink and black boucle wool singled breasted coat. 3. A long burgundy t-shirt with a black bull dog wearing a rhinestone choker! And the piece de resistance: a matching long scarf! 4. A black satin double-breasted trench coat with ruffled edges. 5. A black pullover sweater with puffed sleeves accented with pink hearts. Meowch, indeed! The one thing I have learned from my weight journey from 130 pounds to almost 300 pounds….”

Click here to finish Deborah Gregory’s exclusive blog post.

For more good beauty and fashion info, to find a hair stylist in your city, or for a daily dose of our celebrity Style Squad featuring Ursula Stephens and Wouri Vice, visit us at www.urbanbeautycollective.com.

Also, you can follow us on Twitter at UBCisFABULOUS.

Until then, stay beautiful, sisters…

Tilane Jones, Managing Editor, www.UrbanBeautyCollective.com

So… after we picked our jaws up off the floor over Rihanna’s hot-to-death hair at the “Inglorious Basterds” premiere, we hit up her personal tress guru – Motions hairstylist Ursula Stephens – for the skinny. Yes, Ursula is one of UBC STYLE SQUAD most popular pros and she was more than happy to break it down for us.

WOW! HOW’D THEY DO THAT?!

URSULA on RIHANNA

“Rihanna is actually in London recording! And her glam squad was no where around when this last minute event came up – and she worked it out!

This is actually a style I’ve created on Rihanna before. Using some of my tips, combined with her own style, she pulled it off on her own! And I’m not surprised as she is very stylish!

This is a great example of how one can recreate a hair style on their own.

- Start by blow drying hair in an upward direction

- Then mist holding spray to the entire head

- Flat iron small sections of hair until you have conquered the whole head

- Next brush all the hair forward gathering it in one, flip back and secure with a couple of bobby pins.

- Spray some spritz for an extra hold! Motions Light Hold Working Spritz is my favorite.

- Apply some pomade, like Motions Shine Enhancing Pomade, to the side and back, using a brush to smooth.

- Finish off with gloss, and you’re red carpet ready!

I would describe this style in two ways… Edgy and Back to the Future!”

****

For more on the fabulous Ms. Ursula Stephen, check out her regular STYLE SQUAD critiques on the hottest names in the business on the UBC homepage, along with Wouri Vice, Tippi Shorter, Hiyaya, Nzingha and more! Follow Ursula on Twitter at @ursulastephen and UBC @UBCisFABULOUS.

Hello Beautifuls,

I’m Tilane Jones of www.UrbanBeautyCollective.com, a social network for urban style professionals and the people they inspire. Our tips, tricks and beauty theories come from real working hair stylists, barbers, make-up artists and fashion pros. We’re happy to be here on BlackPlanet to share our secrets with the women of HelloBeautiful.

Today, we’re showing you how to pamper yourself on a budget. We call it THE RECESSIONISTA SPA. Girl, just ‘cause we’re broke, doesn’t mean we can’t look and feel FABULOUS!
So… our favorite way to pamper at-home is to spa in the shower. It’s a six-step pamper process that leaves you feeling like a new woman DAILY. Here goes…
1) Cleanse with the yummiest stuff – Indulge in organic products that’re good for your skin and the environment. We’ve got some cheap good picks for you at the end of this list.
2) Scrub to uncover your skin’s shine – Put some elbow grease into it. Your prettiest skin is under the dead cells and you have to slough them off to get to the prize.
3) Rinse with warm water – Opens your pores to allow for better hydration.
4) Oil while your body is still wet – Makes the moisture go deeper into the skin.
5) Towel dry by blotting – Girl, don’t rub. Treat your skin like silk. Blot!

6) Moisturize to give your skin its daily drink – A must-do!

Our fav “shower spa” products that won’t hurt your purse are:
- Caudale French Milled Soap ($12) – With grape seed oil & Shea Butter
- Body Shop Coconut Soap ($4) – Vegetable-based, preservative-free made with Community Trade Coconut oil and Palm oil
- Origins Salt Salt Rub ($31.00) – Sea salts in emollient-rich Macadamia Oil, Soybean Oil, Kukui Nut Oil and Sweet Almond Oil with the aroma of Spearmint and Rosemary.
- Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Apricot Baby Oil ($7) – An all over body oil made with apricot nut mineral oil, iinfused with grape seed, olive and avocado oils, added vitamin E and lanolin.
- Spa Wisdom’s Africa Spa Rich Body Balm ($25.00) – An all-over moisturizer that protects, softens and smoothes skin with Community Trade Shea Butter, Seasame oil, Coco Butter and Seaweed extract.”shower spa” products that won’t hurt your purse are:
- Caudale French Milled Soap ($12) – With grape seed oil & Shea Butter
- Body Shop Coconut Soap ($4) – Vegetable-based, preservative-free made with Community Trade Coconut oil and Palm oil
- Origins Salt Salt Rub ($31.00) – Sea salts in emollient-rich Macadamia Oil, Soybean Oil, Kukui Nut Oil and Sweet Almond Oil with the aroma of Spearmint and Rosemary.
- Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Apricot Baby Oil ($7) – An all over body oil made with apricot nut mineral oil, iinfused with grape seed, olive and avocado oils, added vitamin E and lanolin.
- Spa Wisdom’s Africa Spa Rich Body Balm ($25.00) – An all-over moisturizer that protects, softens and smoothes skin with Community Trade Shea Butter, Seasame oil, Coco Butter and Seaweed extract.
See? Simple and easy on the wallet.

For more good beauty and fashion info, to find a hair stylist in your city, or for a daily dose of our celebrity Style Squad featuring Ursula Stephens and Wouri Vice, visit us at www.urbanbeautycollective.com.

Also, you can follow us on Twitter at UBCisFABULOUS.

Until then, stay beautiful, sisters…

Tilane Jones
Managing Editor, www.UrbanBeautyCollective.com

Hey Beautifuls!

Tilane Jones here, just stopping by from UrbanThoughtCollective.com. I wanted to give you more goodies from the wonderful interview we had with acclaimed celebrity make-up guru Sam Fine, known for beating the famous faces of Tyra, Iman and Latifah, among many others.

When asked what the advice he’d give a woman who had a limited amount of time to get ready in the morning. “Each woman should work on either highlighting their best feature or helping to fix what they feel is their biggest cosmetic challenge,” Sam explains. “If you have dark spots that really bother you, make your one thing spot concealer. Or, if you love your lips, slick on a layer of gloss to add definition.”

Good advice from Sam! Here are some great “quick fix” products to maximize your best features when you have a busy morning or are on the run.

A great trick to make your face look slimmer is well-groomed brows that will always enhance your face and bring the focus to your eyes instead of the perimeter of your face. A quick way to give the brows more polish is to set your brows with a brow wax or pomade and then use a powder on top of the wax or pomade to give it a more natural look. We like DuWop’s Brow Wow kit. It is a three in one that comes with brow pomade, shimmer highlighter and brow powder. For quick application, Sam suggests, “A big mistake is when you’re filling in your eye brow and you draw a straight line, instead of using feather like strokes to mimic real hair.”

To make your eyes appear bigger and wider, try false eyelashes just at the outer corners of your eyes. Make sure not to overload your bottom lashes though because that can actually make your eyes appear smaller. Just a quick sweep of the mascara brush on your bottom lashes is all you need. A great new mascara pick for summer is Make Up Forever’s Aqua Smoky Lash which is a waterproof formula that lengthens, thickens and curls.

For a quick skin pick-me-up, give yourself a glow with a great bronzer. One of Sam’s favorite brands can be picked up at your local drugstore, Cover Girl Queen Collection Bronzers.

So… your eyes are looking great; your skin is glowing now all you need is that “layer of gloss to add definition.” Illusions Cosmetic’s Lustre lip gloss is vitamin enriched so it not only adds the gloss but it also gives you healthier lips. Since you have it on, why not make it work!

Click here to finish the Sam Fine interview.

For more good beauty and fashion info, to find a hair stylist in your city, or for a daily dose of our celebrity Style Squad featuring Ursula Stephens and Wouri Vice, visit us at www.urbanbeautycollective.com.

Also, you can follow us on Twitter at UBCisFABULOUS.

Until then, stay beautiful, sisters…
Tilane Jones, Managing Editor, www.UrbanBeautyCollective.com

Hello Again!

Tilane Jones here, popping in from UrbanBeautyCollective.com to share some great advice we just got from none other than highly-acclaimed make-up artist, Sam Fine. We recently had an opportunity to interview the legend whose art is evidenced on the famous faces of Tyra Banks, Vanessa Williams, Queen Latifah and Iman, just to name a few.

One of Sam’s big must-haves is the brush! Yes, he’s a stickler on the importance of having the right brushes and tools when applying make-up. “Tools are as important as the products you choose,” explains Fine. “It doesn’t mean you need a full collection like I have, but with every product you own you should begin to gather your collection of brushes and tools.”

He went on to say, “For example, pressed powder and loose powder need a large fluffy brush, but you shouldn’t use this same brush for blush and bronzer, this way you’re not mixing product and getting improper application. For a product like eye shadow, you might need anything from two brushes to six, depending on your level of professionalism.”

We wondered if it was o.k. to use our fingers. According to Sam, it’s a go! “It’s o.k. to use fingers for things like foundation, and concealers – cream products that can use some warming up. The oils in your body and on your hands will change or alter a powder or gel texture and its application, so I don’t recommend using your fingers in these instances.”

He explained that, “Brushes are investment pieces – like a good coat. With proper care, you can use them time and time again. Also, you should always toss out the powder puff that your pressed and loose powder comes with when you purchase it so the bacteria that it can retain from several uses don’t contaminate the product, and allow it to last longer.”

His final advice on the subject of brushes? Be clean! “I suggest washing your brushes at least once a month to remove bacteria.”

Well, taking a cue from Sam, we decided to do the legwork in search of the best, most cost-effective brushes on the market.  See how we take care of you?

Many brushes come at many price points depending on if they are synthetic or natural bristles, here is a short list of some of the favorites we found:
Our favorite natural bristle line of brushes are from STILA Cosmetics (from $24-$50) their graduated bristle brushes and easy grip all wood handles help make application a breeze.

• M.A.C Cosmetics ($11-$50) is another line that is famous for their mid to higher priced professional quality brushes. You can’t go wrong!
• A great lower priced line is Sonia Kashuk @ Target ($8-$20). These synthetic brushes are super soft and because they are at an affordable price point they are great for those who are just beginning their love of make-up application. They are also great for those who are allergic to animal hair.

Those are the basics on brushes. Now all you need is your creativity and desire to be fabulous!

Click here to read the complete Sam Fine exclusive Q&A!

For more good beauty and fashion info, to find a hair stylist in your city, or for a daily dose of our celebrity Style Squad featuring Ursula Stephens and Wouri Vice, visit us at UrbanBeautyCollective.com.

Also, you can follow us on Twitter at UBCisFABULOUS.

Until then, stay beautiful, sisters…

Tilane Jones, Managing Editor, UrbanBeautyCollective.com

Hello Beautifuls!

Just skipped over here from www.UrbanBeautyCollective.com to give you the low-down on Alicia Keys.  Didn’t she look ga-ga-gorgeous at the BET Awards?!  Well, I wanted to know how the look was put together and had to search no further than our UBC’s very own Style Squad members Wouri Vice and Tippi Shorter.  Yep, Wouri and Tippi micro-blog about celebrity style for UBC, so they’re like family.  And of course, family gets the scoop, right?  So here its is…

UBC:  ALICIA WAS JAW-DROPPINGLY AMAZING ON THE BET RED CARPET.  HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CULTIVATE THIS TYPE OF LOOK?

WV: That is really funny.  My assistant and I were sitting and looking at a catalog of the Jenny Pack collection and as soon as I saw the dress (and her performance dress) I knew we had to have them for the fitting.  The amount of time we have is really dictated by the artist schedule.  We had a fitting about a week before for Alicia.

TS: Typically I start with the type of event, the weather, and then the clothes. And all of those elements played a part in this style. It was super hot that day and I knew that her natural curl would be the best option.

UBC:  WOURI, DO YOU DO LARGE PULLS FOR ALICIA OR PRESENT HER WITH A HANDFUL OF OPTIONS?  HOW LONG HAVE YOU TWO WORKED TOGETHER?

WV: I pulled about 5 dresses and when she tried that one, we knew it was the one.

Then the fitting took about 20 minutes.  I think it was the fastest fitting of my career.

I’ve worked with Alicia since 2002.

UBC: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE HER LOOK FOR THE AWARDS?

WV: She was a cross between a Moroccan queen with Diane Ross hair and Cleopatra eyes.  It’s all Black Beauty at its best.

TS: Bohemian.  On her downtime she’s very laid back and I wanted to give her a relaxed feeling with such a beautiful dress.

UBC: TIPPI, WE ALL WANT THE BREAK DOWN.  HOW’D YOU ACHIEVE THE LOOK?

TS: I started with the Pantene nature fusion shampoo and conditioner, we love the smell and it makes the hair feel beautiful. I used Ego-boost leave-in by Bed Head to detangle and applied Pantene curls shaper anti frizz cream. This was the foundation to have those big curls last through that heat. I used an iron about the size of my pinky to refine her curls and added the Ojon serum to separate and fluff her curls. I finished the look with Tresseme 24hour body holding spray, it’s amazing.

UBC:  WOURI, TELL US ABOUT THE SHOES AND ACCESSORIES.

WV: Christian Louboutin shoes, Mary Norton clutch and the ring which was chosen at the very last minute.  We tried to keep the accessories minimal because of the jewels on the mini.  The balls on the shoes worked with the balls on the dress, then the handbag had the same embellishment, it just all fell into place.

UBC: CAN SOMEONE ACHIEVE THIS LOOK AT HOME IF THEY DON’T HAVE THE FABULOUS WOURI OR TIPPI AROUND?

WV: Find a great tunic and if you are bold enough you can wear it as an extra mini or for the larger woman you can wear it with pants.  Tunics work great with different body types.  Accessories are key.  Coordinate accessories you don’t need to match.

TS: You can definitely create this at home with the above steps. If you don’t have the length or the natural curl, you can use hair extensions.   I just so happen to have my own line of hair extensions GET GORGEOUS HAIR www.getgorgeoushair.com
unfortunately; there aren’t any short-cuts. Great styles take time.

UBC:  WOURI, HOW WAS IT COLLABORATING TOGETHER AND WITH ASHUNTA ON MAKE-UP FOR ALICIA’S FLAWLESS LOOK? HOW DO YA’LL WORK TOGETHER?

WV: Those are my sisters!  Tippi and Ashunta are geniuses when it comes to hair and makeup.  We have worked together for many, many years. There is a flow between us.

TS: I love them and love to work with them. We are a solid team and work really well together.

Heck yeah they do!  For more on Wouri and Tippi, visit us at wwwUrbanBeautyCollective.com any time.  Until again, stay fabulous!

Tilane