Hair Stories: The Braidy Bunch

Nia Long, Beyonce and Nicole Richie bring hobo-chic to the red carpet.

1. Burnt Sugar - Hair Pomade, $10.00, www.oyinhandmade.com; 2. Karen Marie - Colossal Gem Butterfly French Twist Comb - Onyx & Smoke, $17, http://mp.hairboutique.com; 3. Frederic Fekkai Wave Creating Spray, $19.50, www.sephora.com; 4. Supreme Bobby Pins, $4.99 for 60, www.sallybeauty.com; 5. Star Snap Clips, $3 for 2, http://mp.hairboutique.com 6. All Day Hold Spritz by Elucence, $7, www.culmart.com; 7. Sailboat Hair Pins, $4.90, www.forever21.com; 8. Organic Sapote & Coconut Pomade - For sheen, hold & silkiness, $9.95, www.anitagrant.com

Lazy days in the sun require an equally laid back hairstyle. This summer make your staple style loose braids held back by antique-inspired hair clips. Hobo-chic is here to stay and since you’ll probably wearing a long floaty dress this season (see these celebs), braids will finish off the look. Styling essentials include a no mess pomade to slick down your edges if you’re going for a more polished look like Beyonce. For those of you who like your hair looking a little disheveled like you spontaneously decide to braid it and put it up, Frederic Fekkai has a Wave Creating Spray that’ll give your hair that flyaway look. Naturals should braid their hair then take it out to create a braid-out/waves. You can then loosely re-braid certain parts of your hair to set off the style. Take some inspiration from Nicole Richie and Nia Long. Their hair looks elegant yet unpretentious – the perfect theme for summer.

Green with Envy

Rihanna arriving at the World Music Awards 2007, November 4, 2007 at Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Nia Long was one step ahead of the herd at the 2005 Black Movie Awards at the Wiltern Theater on October 9th in Los Angeles, California.

Mary J. Blige arrives at Conde Nast Media Groups 2007 Movies Rock at the Kodak Theater on December 2, 2007 in Hollywood, California.

Beyonce arrives at the Conde Nast Media Group presents 2007 Movies Rock at the Kodak Theatre on December 2, 2007 in Hollywood, California.

Chrisette Michele performing at her album listening party this summer just gone.

Green has never been my color. It just never enticed me in any way, shape or form. Lately however, I’ve spotted some of our favorite red carpet starlets light up the venue in unapologetically green frocks. Take one stunning dress in an emerald green hue and viola!, instance chic is born. Together the ladies have convinced me that my next cocktail dress will be satin, green and oh so sexy. If you need more convincing also check out Rihanna’s green dress at this years Grammy’s.

Nia, Sanaa & Gabrielle Cover Essence...

They look great as per usual. Read what they had to say below about working in Hollywood as black actresses and dealing with all the gossip blogs... Pick up a copy now!

ON BEING IN-BETWEEN JOBS AS A BLACK ACTRESS

Essence: What kind of year has it been for you?

Sanaa Lathan: I’m happy to have gotten a job this year. You know one of the things I decided early on in my career—especially because I only have me to take care of—is that I don’t want to do anything just for money. As a result, I can be very annoying to my agents and pass on everything. To a fault. But something came along that I’m really excited about. I’m playing a Senegalese woman, and it’s the first time that I’ll be able to do some real accent work. It’s a small, really beautiful film. Other than that, I’ve just been living my life. Living the life that you live as an actor between jobs, which is…

Nia Long, Gabrielle Union: [Immense laughter]

Sanaa: You know, at this point in our careers, we’re all in our mid-thirties. There’s an art to being an actress, especially being a Black actress. And the truth is, to have persevered as long as the three of us have, you have to have some kind of philosophy about being in between work.

Essence: Because that’s so much time, right?

Sanaa: So much time.

Nia: No matter how long you’ve been in it, there is no security. So you have to really do sort of that internal work to just say I’m going to stay true to who I am, and also to have your heart open enough to be happy when other great things are happening for other people who do the same thing you do. Because that can be difficult if you’re not in the right place. I think having that helps to attract your highest good to you.

Gabrielle: That’s a tough lesson we all have to go through. It’s like, no matter how much you hate on somebody, it doesn’t change your life. I mean, you feel kind of okay in the moment as you’re dogging somebody, and then at the end of it you feel [bad] —and you still don’t have a job.

Nia: And you won’t get one because you’re putting all that negativity out there!

Sanaa: I truly believe that. And you know the thing is also, because we are artists, we feel. We have to nurture that sensitive side of ourselves, so of course we’re going to get jealous and envious. We’re human. But the key is to have the emotion, recognize it, deal with it, and move on. That’s what being an adult is. I think in life you have to work on yourself, but it’s almost like being an actress in Hollywood is double the stress.

ON GOSSIP

Essence: How do you deal with the 24-hours-a-day gossip that comes out on the Internet?

Gabrielle: Just last week somebody gave me a baby. This isn’t Perez Hilton or the White gossip people, these are women of color, specifically Black women who, for whatever reason, don’t like the company I keep.

Sanaa: She’s talking about the gossip sites.

Essence: The blogs.

Sanaa: That are run by Black women.

Gabrielle: And now because everyone is clamoring for celebrity tidbits, the bigger gossip sites and even mainstream entities are picking up on it. No fact-checking, no nothing. And in one week’s time, there were like five different dudes, a baby—I’m a homewrecker. In literally seven days. I can’t point the finger at the White media. They don’t care about us. Paparazzi are not staked out in front of any of our houses. They are not going through our garbage because they don’t care about us in that way. So when you hear crap about us, it is coming from our own community, which hurts.

Nia: We are some of the few Black actresses whose passions are rooted in our community.

Gabrielle: There is this idea that there is integrity in journalism; if it’s written it has to be true. But that’s not the case. When blogs or any of the magazines get it wrong, there’s no accountability. In the next breath, they’ll complain on the blogs that we don’t have enough Black stars. Well, you rip us to shreds every two seconds from our nose to the weave to the clothes to the shoes to the ashy ankles.

Credit: Thank you Essence for the pics and interview.

Get Your Game Face On!

Tyra Banks and Beyonce attend the New York Knicks vs New Jersey Nets Game on April 16, 2007.

Nia Long attending the Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks Game on April 4, 2007 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Alicia Keys attends the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New York Knicks Game at Madison Square Garden on New York City, April 6, 2007.

Tichina Arnold during the LA stars celebrity all star charity weekend celebrity and NBA all star game at USC Galen Center on August 5, 2007 in Los Angeles, California.

Watching the game on television is all good and well, but nothing beats courtside seats and another opportunity to flaunt your stellar wardrobe. Better yet, if you’re on a date why not show your potential lover that you can do cute and still be “down” with the game knowledge. What man doesn’t want a lady who knows the names, history and stats of all her favorite players while still rocking three inch stilettos? Those of us who are single can bring the girls along and ogle the players. Either way it’s a win-win situation! See below for courtside looks.

Style on the Go…

Nia Long with her son Massai (not pictured) in Beverley Hills on Monday, August 13th, 2007.

Mel B. leaving live taping of Larry King with her lawyer Gloria Allred August 9th, 2007.

Rosario Dawson in Rockefeller Plaza after appearing on NBC's "The Today Show” August 6th, 2007.

Alicia Keys arriving at a special screening of 'The Nanny Diaries' August 13, 2007, at Cinemas 123 in New York City.

Nia Long was spotted yesterday shopping it up at Kitson in L.A. with her son Massai (not pictured). She’s such a natural beauty who looks flawless dressed up or dressed down. Not too sure about the head scarf but we all have those days when our hair isn’t quite as it should be and we just want to run out and get something… I‘m not mad at that.

Melanie Brown of the reignited Spice Girls (I’m not even going to front, I’m excited about the reunion!) has been keeping herself busy by airing out her dirty laundry. While I’m not quite sure where we are with the whole is-he-or-isn’t-he-the-father saga, baby mama drama hasn’t looked this good since…. Well, NEVER! Mel B. is working that dress. No comment on her lawyer Gloria Allred’s outfit. We can’t all be rich and cute. Moving on…

Rosario Dawson made a special appearance at “The Today Show” last week looking relaxed and effortlessly put together. I love the yellow flats paired with the turquoise patterned dress and charcoal wrap. I wish she would do something more interesting with her hair. Rosario has six movies coming out over the next year so we’ll be seeing plenty of her in the future.

Now I’m not feeling Alicia Keys dress and pumps at all but she does look beautiful. Whoever does her hair and make-up is always on point. Gold star to them, but her stylist deserves a beat-down. The cut of this dress is flattering but cheetah print, stockings, and purple pumps don’t belong together. She tries…

Nia Long

Nia Long arrives at the 20th Annual Kid's Choice Awards held at the UCLA Pauley Pavilion on March 31, 2007 in Westwood, California.

I am lovin' this look on Nia. She looks so cute and she knows it! I’m not too sure about the shoes. You can’t see how bad they look in this pic but click here to see what I mean. That aside this look was fresh and unique, especially for the red carpet. Can’t wait to see more of her!

Steal Nia's Style...

Shirt: Puff Sleeve Utility Pocket Shirt, $59.99, www.armaniexchange.com
Shorts: Pinstriped Shorts, $50, www.topshop.com
Shoes: Patent Pump, $60, www.victoriassecret.com
Earrings: Textured Hoop Earrings, $3.80, www.forever21.com
Bangles: Interlocked Bracelet, $5.80, www.forever21.com

I searched high and low and even in between and couldn’t find the exact outfit that Nia Long wore, but you can recreate the look with wide shorts and a wrap shirt with puff sleeves. I know it’s not exact, but you can look around in your local stores for similar items that might make the look more authentic ;)

Shifty Business...

Rosario Dawson arrives at the 22nd Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards held at Santa Monica Beach in February in Santa Monica, California.

Kerry Washington looking cute ‘n’ flirty in her silk shift.

Nia Long attending the 17th Annual NAACP Theater Awards earlier this year.

Paula Patton arriving at the 21st Annual Soul Train Music Awards held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium last month in Pasadena, California.

Tracee Ellis Ross at the Katy Rodriguez Celebration of her Eponymous Collection.

Take a cue from these ladies and shift into gear with the must-have dress du jour. A throw-back from the sixties, the shift dress is a classic style that shows no signs of disappearing. If you’re worried about looking too retro in a shift, pick a fabric with a futuristic twist like Paula Patton or try something a little more eclectic like Tracee Ellis Ross. Remember that the shift dress was made for the clutch purse, so give it what it deserves!

Note: See Christina Milian in the DVF dress that Forever 21 duplicated here.

The Eyes Have It…

Inner & Outer Corners: Both Nia Long and Alicia Keys chose to concentrate their eye shadow color in the inner and outer corners of their eyes respectively.

Under the Eye: Ashanti and Rihanna prefer to leave their top eyelids bare and let their bottom lids do the talking.

Top Eyelid: Christina Milian and Jada Pinkett-Smith prefer the conventional approach and opt for color above the eye.

Smoky Eyes: Garcelle Beauvais and Kerry Washington perfect their red carpet pose with smoky eyes and nude lips.

Nude Eyes: Sanaa Lathan and Danielle Evans keep things simple with a nude eye and a dash of eyeliner.

First of all my apologies, I’ve been so busy since the beginning of the year and I've not been posting as often as I should but as soon as things settle down the site will be back to normal.

If you’re anything like me then you’re probably on a life long quest to find the ultimate mascara or the perfect, ever illusive smoky eye - Garcelle what’s your secret? Her secret is probably her makeup artist but don’t despair, we mere mortals can huddle together and come up with some tricks of our own! I picked five of the most popular red carpet looks and they’re all achievable. Note: Any makeup artists out there should feel free to drop a little knowledge ;)