‘Being a Natural Hair Icon Was Never My Intention’, Says Solange
Knowles, that is! [There can be but one]. This is the interview that I’ve been waiting for!
- Fly!
Solange sat down exclusively with Essence to talk hair, beauty and style. Dope. Dope. Dope.
Solange Knowles is under the hot lights on set, but her demeanor is cool while hairstylist Chuck Amos coifs her strands into French rolls. Knowles’s now famously impulsive act, chopping off her tresses in 2009, has transformed her into a natural hair icon. But that was never her intention. “I honestly was just tired of the energy surrounding my hair,” she explains. “So when I cut it, I didn’t think about what anyone else would think.” We’ve been admiring her flair for switching up her hairstyles ever since. She’s living proof that natural hair can be versatile, stylish and edgy. In the June issue of ESSENCE, she opened up about wearing and caring for her crowning glory.
ESSENCE: Are you surprised so many people are inspired by you?
SOLANGE KNOWLES: I am! I wasn’t expecting that. I get women all the time on Twitter and face-to-face saying, “I did this [haircut] because you did.” That’s really, really humbling, and I think it’s amazing.
ESSENCE: Is there any style that stands out as a favorite?
KNOWLES: I actually love my natural hair when it’s in a twist out and it’s been slept on for five days and revived by the steam of the shower. A lot of people say, “It’s so beautiful. Why don’t you wear it like that all the time?” Well, I’m in all these different places and working with different hairstylists, so it’s important for me to wear it in a protective style.
Wanting more of Solange?! Read the rest of the interview with the diva over this way.
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Tamia’s Going on Tour!
I just about lost it when I saw this tweet from Tamia. She has to be the most underrated singer known to mankind. Ok, maybe that’s a bit exaggerated, but….you just don’t know! The vocals that the good Lord blessed this woman with is unreal! Her range is incredible, effortless, breathtaking. Just dope.
Don’t believe me? Check out these acoustic sessions with just Tamia, a guitar, two background vocalists, some keys, and a mic. #NoFilter #AutoTuneWhat?
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Beyonce Shares How She ‘Lost It’
BAWSE!
Beyonce revealed her weight loss number to fans during the second night of her Atlantic City concerts. The 30-year old pop diva gave birth to her daughter Blue Ivy just four months ago and she’s looking better than ever!
‘Y’all have no idea how hard I worked,’ she told the crowd. ‘I had to lose 60 pounds. They had me on that treadmill. I ate lettuce!’
Beyonce previously credited her weight loss to breastfeeding but there’s no doubt dieting and workout helped her shed those 60lbs – which was likely more than her pregnancy weight.
No Question!
Other than revealing her weight loss and plans to get ‘chocolate wasted’ Beyonce had some special guest in the audience. Michella Obama and her daughters Malia, 13, and Sasha, 10, were in attendance. The two ladies have a special relationship. Just last week Michelle O said she’d trade places with Bey while the pop star wrote a touching letter thanking the first lady for being a “strong” representation for African American women.
I love me some King Bey! I just hope we do not have a ‘lettuce diet’ craze similar to the uproar that the lemonade diet caused back when Bey was a Dreamgirl. My body can’t take that. Read more on King Bey’s astounding weight loss over at the Atlanta Black Star.
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Towanda Braxton Talks BFV & What’s in Store!
1Love Blog: Towanda! We are missing you on the WE tv screen! When can eager fans anticipate seeing you again?
Towanda: AWWWW, Well I’m actually missing it as well, because it’s a lot of things I was not informed about, that I find out when everybody else does (laughing), so hopefully we will not keep you all waiting to long. But as of right now, I have no confirmed date as to when Braxton Family Values will return.
Little sis Tamar, let the cat out of the bag a few hours ago:
1LB: Braxton Family Values is truly a show that reflects, family values. Granted, it showed that sisters, mothers, daughters, friends may still have their spats, but somehow it never dismissed dignity. As a mother and strong black woman, what say you about the heat that other reality shows are getting? Do you think certain shows on our screens today feed into the ‘angry black woman’ stereotype? Do you think that we as women – black women – have a responsibility to our children and each other when we decide to join a reality show cast? [I applaud you and your family for showing the world class]
T: [Well] I feel as if we should portray a positive image because you never know what age is actually watching the show. It would not be appropriate for me and my sister’s displaying fist fights when we have younger fans viewing and also as mothers. We refuse to paint that picture because our Mom always taught us self respect goes a very long way, especially in this industry.
1LB: Let’s talk hair! Team Relaxed or Team Natural and what’s your hair routine?
T: Team NATURAL!!!! Matter of fact all of us are team natural underneath. I get my hair redone every 2 weeks, or sooner if need to.
1LB: What’s in store for Ms. Towanda Braxton? Any tricks up your sleeve that you can share with us secret squirrels? *smile*
T: Welllllllll, speaking of Secret Squirrels, I launch my Executive/Personal Assistant school this summer and I am too excited about this. I will keep everyone updated on this from my official Twitter pages @TowandaBraxton & @TheSecretSquirr. Plus I have some acting up my sleeve so you all will be seeing me on more than just Braxton Family Values, because I am too determined to live my long term goal of becoming an actress.
1LB: Who is the WiseWoman behind Towanda Braxton? [Anything you’d like to share with readers in regards to who the woman, Towanda, is behind the cameras. Anything you’d like to share on what keeps you motivated, what makes you tick, what keeps you focused].
T: [Well] I am a Mother 1st. I adore my children. Towanda Braxton is a nurturer. I will drop everything I am doing to accommodate my family. I have no limits of how far I will go to make sure my family is taken care of because I know my family will and has done the exact same for me. I am also a Business Woman. I believe in ‘when you have Ideas in your head, write on paper and then react’. And I will be displaying all of that on Season 3 of Braxton Family Values.
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Matters of the Heart: Jada, Willow + Mom
”Everyday when I wake up in the morning…I think about, ‘Ok, what does Willow need today? Ok, let me check that off, handled that. What does Jaden need today? What does daddy need today? Ok, Jada, before the day is done, you better make sure you take care of yourself.”
I was trying to watch the Red Table Talks discussion with Jada, Willow and mom Adrienne Banfield-Jones all day yesterday. After seeing the trailer, I knew that this was a talk that I couldn’t afford to miss. Each moment that I attempted to watch the video yesterday, I was interrupted by either a phone call, an email, one of the children, the hubby, the tv, something. I wanted to watch the discussion – all 20 minutes of it - guilt free & uninterrupted.
*sigh*
Jada, Willow and Mom, Adrienne share their truth with one another – and the world – in this heartfelt red table discussion. There were so many words of wisdom shared throughout, but there was one nugget of wisdom so eloquently shared by Jada that I will forever cherish: Moms, take time for yourself. Without guilt. Create your balance and then watch how happy you are.
I was a wife and mother of two before the age of 22. It’s time for me to create that balance that Jada speaks of.
Willow has something to say…
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