Beauty Buzz
Archived: Keeping it Clean Fellas? Don’t Develop A Stench Now…
This trend is literally everywhere we turn. Here are two hints:
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They are right in front our faces!
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They’re right under our noses!
Yep you guessed it, BEARDS!
Say goodbye to the clean-shaven nice guy because it seems like every guy we know is rocking, or wants to rock a beard. Men are ditching their razors and leveling up their style game by letting it all grow out for the world to see. As you know in fashion, one day you’re in…and the next day, you’re out. In the blink of an eye beards were all the rage and not a naked face. However these beards are not your average “I’m too lazy to shave” beards your dad may have sported. The modern day man is meticulous about his beard care. You have to be, if you want to earn membership in the elite #beardgang.
Oh, so you thought you could just let it grow all willy-nilly and that’s the end of it? So wrong! Thankfully Beauty Buzz is here to save your day and share a few things you should know about joining the #beardgang.
1. It’s not for everyone.
Yeah I said it. Just because something is trending, it doesn’t mean everyone can. This isn’t a pair of sneakers or a fedora hat, you can’t buy your beard in a store! (well, technically….never mind.) Men need to know their facial hair situation before they make the decision. If you’re follicle-challenged in the face, don’t do it. Patchy beards are just not cutting it… and you may need to do just that. Opt for a less invasive beard and stick to the “stubble” look which requires shorter hairs.
2. Clean it!
Your beard doesn’t only capture the attention of people, it captures germs, dead skin cells and even dandruff. Joining the beardgang means investing more time and effort into your personal hygiene. With all the excess facial hair, getting the pores underneath clean is paramount. Not to mention getting rid of all the unwanted particles stuck between your webs of hair. There’s a growing market of products of soaps, shampoos and conditioners being made specifically for beards. Always remember to use organic products as much as possible and sulfate-free shampoos that won’t dry out your hair and skin and cause breakage and eventual patchiness.
3. Your beard is alive. Treat it as such and care for it.
Beard-care in four words: Brush. Oil. Balm. Wax.
Brush your beard, but not with that plastic comb you found in your mom’s dresser. Investing in a boar brush or any brush with real hair is a good tip. Plastic can split the hairs and leave it frayed and broken. With a good bristled-brush, you can tame and shape your beard, stimulate the follicles, and get rid of any excess particles that got trapped in your man-nest.
You can opt to use oil for general treatment of the beard, and balms and waxes for sculpting. Some opt for jojoba oil or even coconut oil to be massaged into the beard which works fine. Remember not to put too much as you’ll be left with a greasy, unattractive beard. This is simply to soften, condition and sculpt your beard for a seamless look. Again, there are new products specifically for your beard entering the market every day. Go check it out and add it to your grooming regimen. Or if you need some more tips check out number 4 below!
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4. Akimbo- Get Groomed
This event takes place tomorrow, Saturday 2nd July, 2016 and it’s a man’s world. It features everything you want to know about men’s fashion, health and wellness, grooming and technology.
Akimbo’s an Arima based culture hub. You guys should check them out. This weekend’s event is just one of many well thought out events they’ve hosted.
-Reiana Bharat
Health and Fitness
Is Your Favorite Caribbean Artiste Really OK? Dr. Latoya Lewis Says Artistes Must Pour Back into Themselves.
Unlike International artistes, Caribbean Soca artistes in particular are on a constant hamster wheel. They’re mandated to deliver season after season, and with constant pressure from fans on and off social media, the challenge to remain relevant presents itself.
From online gimmicks and forced engagement to keep their fan bases alive, to touring commitments that keep them away from their families for weeks on end, the job of an artiste in the Caribbean is no easy feat. Still, they do what they must without public complaint, aiming to please fans and take their culture to global audiences. The question though remains, who’s looking out for the artiste? Who’s checking in with your favorite entertainer to make sure he or she is as good as they seem to be on social media?
DR. LATOYA LEWIS BREAKS IT DOWN.
Dr. Lewis is a Trinbagonian award-winning speaker. In addition, she’s a leading voice in healthcare equity, end-of-life dignity, and soul-centered leadership. She serves as an Associate Professor of Clinical at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies. Her chat with Ebuzztt.com was centred around mental health and cultural subjectivity in dealing with what is a very serious health issue, globally.
Caribbean artistes and even international artistes, she admitted, are prone to feel the immense pressure of ‘expectation.’ “As creative individuals, at times you have to put on a mask and it’s not only in the artiste space. You’re putting on a mask where everything is perfect, all the time,” she highlighted. Dr. Lewis cautioned that while creatives generally put their audience first, ensuring that they show up and give their best no matter what, there must be consideration given to ensuring that there is reciprocation. “Because of that high desire to please their fans, they’re constantly pouring out. There must be balance though. There must be systems that allow them to pour back into themselves. Some artistes may not have a community of people to pour back into them,” she said.
In a recent interview, when asked how she had been doing and where she draws her strength from, soca artiste, Patrice Roberts told journalist, Dionne Baptiste- Clarke of Your Caribbean Guide that she had never been asked that question. Roberts became a single mother when her fiancee, fellow soca artiste, Ricardo Drue suddenly passed away almost two years ago. Since that time, the entertainer has continued hard on the soca circuit, performing at multiple major International venues and remaining consistent musically. Dr. Lewis says artistes are always dealing with the weight of the world’s expectations. She suggested that creatives in the Caribbean look beyond the Caribbean-centric stigma associated with rest, and do what is necessary to fill their mental health cup.”They may not be talking to a therapist, but there are other mental health coping mechanisms that may be useful to anyone really. Spending time in quiet places and also spending time with family that doesn’t require you doing something for the family, are just two considerations,” she explained.
On the concept of ‘rest’ in the Caribbean and the long standing Caribbean view that resting equates to laziness, Dr. Lewis said this hidden stigma could go all the way back to Caribbean ancestry. “It’s a traditional concept. If you want to rest you can’t do that. You can never say you’re tired, and you’re expected to be resilient and strong all the time. That can create mental health challenges that can impact creative expression,” said the medical practitioner. She added to her suggestions for self healing, noting that journaling one’s thoughts, sketching, and even recording voice notes for personal documenting, are ways to shift the creative energy inward to support healing that’s not dependent on other people.
STAY TUNED FOR PART II
Health and Fitness
Gymnast Thema Williams Hosts Wellness Wednesday, Beginning Tomorrow.
Former Olympic Gymnast and Founder of health and wellness-based company Stretch4Stress, Thema Williams is partnering with Welcome Week Festival 2023 as its Director to host a new edition of Wellness Wednesday. The event will take place during the first installment of a thrilling 4-day series of events for Trinidad Carnival 2023, beginning Wednesday 15th February in Macoya.
Ms. Williams’ Stretch4Stress, a robust mobility program, is focused on improving the overall well-being, productivity and quality of life of individuals. This year, she has been named Event Director of ‘Wellness Wednesday’ which will focus on a holistic approach to health.
Williams explains that the theme of the Wellness Wednesday program is “Lewwe hold ah MEDS – Mindset, Exercise, Diet, and Soca,” which represents all the things truly loved by Caribbean people. Her wellness-based initiative – established to teach and encourage positive health-conscious decision-making in an exciting way, will be held at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya from 4pm- 8pm. General admission is $300.00.
Welcome Week Festival 2023 promises to be a much-needed addition to the exciting line-up of entertainment, culture and wellness, which includes food, wellness, technology and music during Trinidad Carnival week. With a special guest performance by Soca Artiste Ding Dong and a host of exciting live experiences in yoga, meditation, Zumba and more, it promises to be an experience that brings fitness with a difference to the national landscape.
For additional information, please visit:
Website: https://welcomeweekfestivals.com/
Instagram: @welcomeweekfestivals
