SHOOT DAY!!!
I’ve been planning this shoot for months and the day was finally here!!
The day before the shoot, I ran around town grooming my eyebrows, adding some lashes and polishing those nails. I even added some hair before the shoot. Once we all arrived, we smelled the aroma of hot curling and flat irons burning as Janet patiently tried to add some body and bounce to her tresses — by any means necessary. Powder scattered and eyeshadow sprinkled as Sharise transformed her eyelids into a jewel-tone, golden hue. Meanwhile, Réal was on a rampage looking for something, anything to pin her dress in the back –she lost a lot of weight and needed a snug fit on her newly petite physique.
I asked, “Réal are you ready?”
She answered, “I have to put on my eyebrows and my lips, then I’ll be ready.”
I just laughed. I love girl talk.
I filled in my eyebrows and made sure my bold, bright lips were luscious. I even changed my lip color since, I didn’t think it was the right shade of purple. I added a fuschia-pink color, but everyone was convinced that it was still the same purple hue. (eh, I tried.)
Here’s the first photo. L to R: Sharise, Rashidah (I’m cheesing mad hard), Janet and Real
Réal said the best part of the shoot was vibing to good music with good people. She also said that it is always fun to feel like a celebrity for a day – getting all dolled up and striking your best pose, of course.
“The vibe of the shoot was fun and over the top. I really enjoyed myself. The best part was striking a pose. It really allowed me to bring out my personality among the three other women.”
L to R: Sharise, Real, Rashidah, Janet
Janet thought the best part of the shoot was being able to freestyle our poses and just move to the music. And, boy, did I freestyle. 
And, this is why we love beauty and fashion:
“It allows you to express yourself in a non-verbal way. You can have five different women in the same dress; but, allow them to choose their own accessories, hair and make-up and you will see five different looks.”
“Fashion and beauty are art, and as with most art forms, you can use both to express who you truly are. Beauty isn’t about the products you put on your face; but the pleasure you get from indulging in things that please you. Fashion is what you wear from season to season. Style is how you use fashion to bring the inward you outward — and it is eternal.”
-Réal
“I love beauty and fashion because it is so subjective. There are no rights or wrongs, it’s a personal reflection of who you are and how you feel. It affects your mood and when you think you look great; you’ll always feel great.”
L to R: Sharise, Rashidah, Janet, Real
I consider myself a very personable being, but sometimes it’s hard to connect with someone on even the most simplistic level…. that is until you give someone a compliment. If you are in an elevator with a client and stuggling with small talk, compliment his tie or rave about her skirt and instantly, you will break the ice, loosen stress and be able to connect. More often than not, you’d find out that the tie was a gift from a cousin who traveled to Milan or the skirt was the last item at a Tory Burch sample sale that was snagged for 80% off.
The other day, my Asian manicurist ate the most smelly, black soup-like substance. She leaned in and whispered, “It’s for youth. See, I’m 55 and I don’t have any grey hair.” Instantly, we connected and I learned what I needed to keep my strands from going colorless.
“I love beauty and fashion, because of the bridge that connects people living in different worlds, both figuratively and literally. It helps you to identify. If you put a woman from each country in a room and ask for the secret to staying youthful and beautiful; honey, you better get a pen and pad, ’cause you won’t be able to retain all of the information that resulted from that conversation. Women love to share…. more distinctively, women love to share fashion and beauty advice.”
Top Row L to R: Janet, Sharise; Bottom Row L to R: Real, Rashidah
We are all really passionate about and dedicated to Beyond Black Beauty. I have very little time between living, loving, playing and working. But, a huge chunk of my free time is devoted to researching material, liasing with the writers and updating this site frequently. Look out for the Beyond Black Beauty staff writers. This year, we will keep our eyes on the streets and our ears to the waves to bring you the most funky and fresh updates in beauty, fashion, style and relationships.
It’s me, Rashidah!
And, I applaud the people that made this day come together:
Photography provided by Sean Carter Photography - hit like on his Facebook Page.
Shirts were designed by This Respek Wear - also hit ’em up on Facebook and Twitter. (FYI: Women’s line coming soon.)
Check out more photos here
GIVEAWAY: I would like one lucky winner to receieve a $50 Sephora Gift Card. Enter the giveaway by sharing your beauty secrets in the comments section of this post.
MANDATORY ENTRY: You must follow @ByondBlckBeauty on Twitter and/or like Beyond Black Beauty on Facebook. This contest is open to United States residents and will close on Monday, July 30. I will announce the winner on Tuesday, July 31. The winner will be chosen at random and notified via e-mail.
You must follow @ByondBlckBeauty on Twitter and/or like Beyond Black Beauty on Facebook.
@redrum1965
kelly n
moderate how long you stay in the sun,but remember to get some sun
@pandahugger76 is following you on twitter and my tip is to keep out of the sun as much as possible.
kelleyc76(at)live(dot)com
follow you on facebook a Denise Donaldson
itsjustme62613 at gmail.com
Drink lots of water and always wear sunscren. Thanks for th giveaway.
Use a good moisturizer with SPF everyday (like you on facebook Jeannine drenchek-scavo)
I like Beyond Black Beauty on FB (michelle s)
Use moisturizer underneath your makeup to keep your face hydrated, and also use on with an SPF.
my tip is to moisturize, moisturize and then do it again!
like you fb Richard Hicks
brich22 at earthlink dot net
Following on Twitter (@bionicanic)
My beauty secret is to always take your makeup off at night and moisturize!
I like to use visine to leep my eyes clear and fresh before I use eye make up I also moisturize. following @tukibird 22
My beauty secret is Cocoa butter, it seriously helps me in so many ways!
Twitter Follower of yours @Xizelle
My tip is to use the same routine on your Face and Neck to avoid uneven skin tone in the future
bakergurl02 (At) yahoo (Dot) com
I liked you on Facebook.
Following you on twitter as @wordromancer
twitter @xferriza2
Twitter follower. ladyt64
My tips are to moisturize, use sunscreen and make sure to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water.
I’ve been using anti-aging products in my daily skincare routine since I was 18 years-old due to the fear of lines and wrinkles, it’s never too early to start preventing
like you on facebook kathy pease
kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com
fb fan tony l smoaks
twitter follower @fdp4life
Twitter follower @sarohioan – my tip is to stay hydrated.
I am a FB fan – Stephanie Adkins and Twitter follower – @sadkins2
I never wash my face with soap.
I like to use Sweet Almond Oil as a face/body moisturizer, also to make my own sugar scrubs…I like your FB page as Kelly Commerford (kcthelush@yahoo.com)
following @ByondBlckBeauty on Twitter @tanyawhite16 My beauty secret is to moisturize daily to keep my skin from getting dry.
I follow @ByondBlckBeauty on Twitter and like Beyond Black Beauty on Facebook @angevege.
My tip is to protect your hair from the sun as well as your skin.
Like you on FB (Annette E). My beauty secret is to wash your face before bed, use moisturizer with SPF when you go outside, and use lip balm.
I drink plenty of water and get at least 8 hours a sleep each night, following ByondBlckBeauty via twitter @Hotsnotty2
i like you on fb as mary gardner and follow on twitter as @carolina_blu_
moisturize every morning and every night, always use sunscreen, drink lots of water daily, and the best thing i have found to keep your skin soft is shea butter
jagar0047 at yahoo dot com
My tip is to avoid super-cheap beauty products and invest in a few quality items.
followed on twitter (twotil)
twitter fan bbrittbrat1398
facebook fan brittney house
FB like you: Slehan
My tip: drink lots of water & get plenty of sleep.
Thanks for the contest.
I like Beyond Black Beauty on Facebook. My secrets are just sunscreen and lotion each day to protect my skin.