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When we were nine, our makeup skills didn’t go much beyond sneaking a smear of our mom’s red lipstick or glitter gloss that came with those dual-tipped sponge applicators. Needless to say, cat eyes and contouring didn’t make their way into our makeup proficiency well into our adulthood. But when your mom is Beyoncé, witnessing iconic glam easily puts you lightyears ahead of the beauty game — just ask Blue Ivy Carter. 

Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s eldest daughter hasn’t even hit double digits yet, and is already building her resume as a makeup artist. Beyoncé’s mom, Tina Lawson, shared a selfie on Instagram crediting her granddaughter for her impressive full beat, which included almost perfect cat eyes and red lipstick. “My talented granddaughter Blue made up my face today,” Lawson wrote. “She is only nine years old. Can you imagine her at 15 doing my makeup?”

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To answer that question: We can only imagine what Blue Ivy’s skills will look like as a teenager if they’re this good so far, and the internet agrees. “Wow, Blue Ivy is also a makeup artist…wow, her mind…so brilliant!” one Twitter user raved. “Blue Ivy is out here doing full faces of makeup at nine, and I’m 26 and still can’t put on lashes,” said another. Vivica A. Fox chimed in, adding, “NICE! Blue can paint!”

Now, the real question is, did we expect anything less than perfection from Blue Ivy, who is currently nominated for a Grammy and just narrated the audiobook for Hair Love, an Oscar-winning short film? Honestly, no.

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For Maya Hartleben, the star of Hair Me Out’s newest episode, a drastic hair change is more than physical. It represents a significant turning point in life, which is why she decided to trade her long blonde hair for a short copper bob.

Inspired by Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, Hartleben visited Spoke & Weal Salon in New York City, where stylist Akeem Ray and colorist Liz Rhodes chopped and colored her hair to resemble that of Beth’s in the hit series.

“I hope that — with being in a pandemic, sitting at home, being unemployed — having a new look will give me some motivation to put myself out there and try new things,” Hartleben says. In the past, Hartleben has tried blunt bangs, extensions, and even teal-colored hair dye, but this look would be her most drastic transformation yet.

To start, Ray cut his client’s hair into a chin-length bob that she would be able to wear straight or wavy. Then, Rhodes dyed her cut a bold ginger shade. “I started by adding richness to her roots so that her hair isn’t too light,” she explains. Rhodes used the balayage technique to add sun-kissed highlights to Hartleben’s hair after applying color to her roots. “This will make it look like she’s a natural ginger,” Rhodes says.

After a few glosses, Hartleben’s color was complete, and Ray finished her haircut by adding textured bangs for a “punkish” effect that left her almost unrecognizable. Click play to see her full transformation.

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Today marks a new chapter in United States history: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have been inaugurated as our new President and Vice President. Though circumstances are unlike ever before, with the array of familia faces in masks as a constant reminder, it hasn’t stopped the new administration and its supporters from attending the 2021 inauguration in incredible style.

Among the notable guests are former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, who set the internet ablaze for looking fly (per usual). Obama walked alongside her husband in an elegant burgundy Sergio Hudson power suit, with an equally powerful beauty look to match.

The former FLOTUS arrived suited and booted with a side-parted silk press styled in bouncy, flipped-out curls by her stylist Yene Damtew. Obama began trending on Twitter mere moments after gracing our livestreams for the first time today, and it didn’t take long before the word “LAID” (yes, in all caps) also began trending as an ode to her hair. “Michelle Obama is so perfect! That hair, that outfit, the pure class….she’s just everything!!,” one Twitter user wrote. “So far my main takeaway from the day is that Michelle Obama’s hair will be undefeated.”

So far my main takeaway from the day is that Michelle Obama’s hair will be undefeated.

— Jordyn Holman (@JordynJournals) January 20, 2021

YALL…. look at the Body-ody-ody-ody in Michelle Obama’s hair! STIFF WHERE?! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/Y2thy9mSoy

— Joy Noelle (@JoyNoelle22) January 20, 2021

Fans also pointed out the stark difference between her style choice (a low, messy bun) at Donald Trump’s inauguration and her hair for today’s ceremony. “Not Michelle Obama with a modest low bun at Trump’s inauguration vs. a fully laid & slayed look at Bidens . We love to see it,” one Twitter user wrote. “Never forget when auntie #MichelleObama attended #Trump inauguration unenthused in a messy bun,” tweeted another.

Not Michelle Obama with a modest low bun at Trumps inauguration vs a fully laid & slayed look with complimenting burgundy 2 piece/belt combo at Bidens … we love to see it 😌 pic.twitter.com/DhvoWIYpUN

— shaqqy shaqqy rumba (@ShaquelleRaevon) January 20, 2021

We honestly expected nothing less than perfection from Obama, who consistently delivers, and her look — along with many other memorable moments from the inauguration — felt like a breath of fresh air on this historic day. Politics aside, we hope stylists get their barrel curlers and rollers ready, because the Michelle Obama blowout is about to be in high demand after today.

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There's no magic spell that we can recite to recover from 2020 instantly, but hitting the "reset" button on different areas of your life can help birth a new outlook as you look ahead to 2021. If you've already purged your closet of all of the "could-have-been" outfits and cleansed your fridge of all the half-eaten takeout left over from December, your makeup collection is the next place that deserves an upgrade.

That's right: It's time to throw away your dried-out mascaras and crushed highlighter compacts and make room for all the fresh makeup hitting shelves this month. Luckily, there are plenty of new products in the makeup aisle that'll make getting ready for Q1 Zoom calls a breeze. From barely-there lip stains to updated brow pencils that'll make you look more put-together in seconds, find our favorite new makeup launches, ahead.

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Instant gratification is an unrealistic expectation with most things in life, but when it comes to hair, wigs and weaves are arguably the quickest, easiest ways to experiment with your look. Just ask Sabrina Yates, the star of Hair Me Out‘s newest episode, who channeled her inner witch with tonal grey extensions.

“Growing up, we were told you wouldn’t get a job if you’re a Black woman who walks in with red hair, blue hair, or grey hair,” Yates says. “So I’ve kind of actively gone against that.” Yates, who currently rocks her naturally curly hair, hasn’t been shy about experimenting with hairstyles. Before her Hair Me Out transformation, she dabbled in grey-toned box braids and a grey ombré dye job.

This time, Yates tapped Koni Bennet, professional stylist, and owner of Vanity Boutique Salon, for a customized closure weave. Bennet used the watercolor method to apply a custom grey formula on pre-lightened wefts to create the look. “The watercolor technique is where you heat water in a bowl with semi-permanent color,” Bennet explains. “Then you dip the hair in the bowl as many times as you desire until you achieve your color of choice.”

For Yates, Bennet mixed platinum and silver to create a stormy grey hue. Once Bennet completed the color, she braided Yate’s hair down into small cornrows so that her unit would sit as close to her scalp as possible. “A lot of people think that your hair should be tight or should hurt when you braid it down,” Bennet says. “It should be the opposite.”

After gently securing Yates’ natural hair, Bennet sewed on a lace closure and the dyed wefts. “The closure will ensure that all of her hair is protected underneath and nothing is left out to be compromised,” she says. The final results were bouncy grey curls fit for a (really cool) witch. Click play to see Yates’ transformation IRL.

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Some parts of our beauty routine are non-negotiable, and a good, thick, potent moisturizer that leaves us looking more dewy and glowy than we feel internally is one of them. Instant gratification aside, a moisturizer with good ingredients will pay off in the long run, making your skin healthier and improving your concerns over time. In short, don't cheat yourself in the moisturizer department.

There are many new formulas on the market for a range of concerns, and we sifted through the clutter to pick out the best. Ahead, we rounded up our favorites — including three of our 2020 Refinery29 Beauty Innovator Award winners — worth making a permanent part of your skin-care routine.

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If you've ever wondered if body care in the shower should stop at simple bar soap and water, TikTok has an answer: It doesn't. The app is flooded with elaborate shower-care routines, proving that bath time is really whatever you make of it.

In the world of TikTok, there are a handful of key shower staples — and body scrub is one of them. In just about every shower routine clip, you'll find a variety of body washes, butters, and oils, but the same few scrubs appear in nearly every lineup for a good reason. Body scrubs are considered the unsung heroes of the shower routine: Experts say scrubs help buff off dead skin that soap and water wouldn't remove otherwise.

Dove dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, says that all scrubs aren't created equally, so it's essential to pick one with nourishing ingredients. "I like exfoliators that are coupled with moisturizers so that your skin remains healthy and nourished as you buff away the 50 million dead skin cells that we lose daily," Dr. Gohara explains. "I always advise my patients to start slowly and use an exfoliator once weekly, then gradually work your way up to more frequent use."

Ahead, we rounded up the viral scrubs on TikTok worth spending your money on, so you can add to your cart and your shower caddy to see what all the hype is about.

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Hats like baseball caps, knitted beanies, and felt fedoras are wardrobe staples for numerous reasons. Typically, they come in clutch as a form of protection from the elements; other times, a chic hat is the icing on top of a simple outfit. But most of the time, they're our favorite (and easiest) way to hide a bad hair day.

While hats are cute and functional for most people, they aren't always beneficial for those with natural hair. Many of the materials in these headpieces may work against your curls. According to Michelle O'Connor, Matrix Artistic Director, bulky knits and fabrics like wool, often used in winter hats, can cause dryness and brittleness in curly hair. Plus, nothing is worse than putting on your favorite dad hat only to be met with a flat 'fro full of creases. 

The good news is there's a new wave of hats on the market made especially with curly hair in mind, and many of them were created by Black women themselves. Ahead, we rounded up our favorite curl-friendly hats to keep your hair safe and stylish this season. 

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As adults, we’ve learned that slightly changing small habits can make a huge difference, especially in our beauty routines. We diligently transition our body- and skin-care rituals when cold weather rolls around. We swap our oil-absorbing moisturizers for moisture-rich creams; exchange our fruit-scented perfumes for musky gourmands, and yes — we pull out of all of our holiday-friendly red lipsticks.

You might forget about your hair in the ‘Winter Transition,’ but you shouldn’t — especially if it’s naturally curly. “Changing up your hair routine is important as you enter a new season,” Larry Sims, celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of Flawless by Gabrielle Union, says. “For much of the year, we’re exposed to the sun and our natural environment, leaving the hair cuticle vulnerable. It’s essential to give your natural hair some extra love in colder months.”

For curly hair, extra winter love starts with a simple swap of your deep conditioner, but it also includes keeping up with haircuts and treatments. Ahead, we spoke to the pros for the tips they give their clients so that your hair can thrive this winter.

Double up on deep conditioner.

Rebuilding. That’s the word Sims says to keep in mind as you shape your winter hair care routine. “Your cuticle gets damaged from chemicals, and wear and tear from daily styling,” he explains. “This creates pockets and holes in the cuticle that can eventually result in shedding and breakage.”

To stop breakage in its tracks, Sims says that adding a nourishing deep conditioning mask to your routine can drastically strengthen your curls. Sims recommends picking up this deep conditioner backed by him and his muse Gabrielle Union, who also frequently changes her styles. “This conditioner has Brazilian Bacuri Butter, Olive Oil, and Castor Seed Oil, which instantly replenishes moisture and protects against future breakage,” Sims explains. 

Matrix Artistic Director Michelle O’Connor, a fellow curly girl, says that your sweaters and hats can exacerbate frizz and dryness. “Bulkier knits can cause more friction on the hair, leading to more brittle ends,” she explains. “Using a moisturizing treatment once weekly can help prevent that.” O’Connor recommends slathering on a packet (or two) of this treatment once weekly, in addition to your conditioning routine, to smooth cuticles and add shine. 

Make sure your hair is dry after styling.

Most curly-hair experts would say that the best time to apply styling products is when the hair is drenched. That remains true even in cooler weather. However, while many of them would encourage air drying in the summer, they advise against going outside with wet hair when it’s cold. O’Connor suggests dusting off your diffuser to dry your curls without disturbing them. “Moisture can escape from the hair as the air becomes dryer,” she says.

Devachan Salon Senior Stylist, Mia Emilio, has also told her clients to invest in a microfiber towel to protect and define curls. “Be sure to remove as much excess water as possible to ensure maximum volume and to reduce frizz,” she says. “Use a microfiber towel like Devacurl’s new DevaTwist or any microfiber towel wrap to create less friction while removing extra water out of your hair.”

O’Connor says that regular towels can disturb the cuticle, leading to frizz and tangles. She says the key to effectively using a microfiber towel is to use the “plop” method, which helps absorb water and maintain definition. “Lay the towel flat, flip your head over, and gently place your curls in the towel,” she explains. “Grab the ends of the towel and start twisting, creating twists on each side and clip them together to secure.” For maximum definition and to get the most water out of your hair, O’Connor says to wait 30 minutes before removing the towel.

Use thicker styling products.

Cold weather can quickly absorb all the moisture out of once-juicy, hydrated curls. To keep your hair from getting dull and frizzy the moment you step outside (or put on your hat), O’Connor says to start practicing the LOC method if you’re not already. “After washing and conditioning use a leave-in conditioner, followed by an oil, then seal in your moisture with a cream,” she says. Using the LOC method will not only give you the most poppin’ curls, but it’ll make sure they stay glorious for extended periods of time.

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Your leave-in conditioner of choice depends on how thirsty your hair is for moisture. Emilio says that if your hair isn’t too dry, you can leave in some of your conditioner from the shower, or you can opt to mist on a lightweight formula instead. “I personally love DevaCurl’s B’leave-In Miracle Curl Plumper for this time of year because it’s light and leaves hair shiny and bouncy,” she says. “Focus on applying the product on the ends and mid-shaft if you’re worried about volume.”

For tighter coils, opt for thicker formulas with ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter to hydrate and define. Finish with lightweight oils to add just enough shine without making your curls feel heavy or greasy. O’Connor used the Biolage R.A.W. Replenish Oil Mist on her client’s twist-out in the video above to add natural shine that still kept her curls bouncy. “Hair oil is always a must for curls,” O’Connor explains. “It helps maintain a healthy level of moisture that is needed in cooler weather.” Ultimately, moisture will be your curl’s best friend this season, so the more of it you have, the more good hair days you can count ahead.

Look for curl-friendly hats and pillowcases.

Materials don’t only matter when it comes to the type of towels you use on your curls. They’re even more critical when you’re looking to protect them from the elements. Most experts recommend trading your cotton pillowcase for a satin or silk option to avoid drying out and snagging on your natural hair, especially during the winter months. Phoenix Gonzalez and Sandra McCurdy created Silked, a line of satin and silk-lined accessories that include a line of mulberry-silk pillowcases to protect curls and reduce frizz.

“Satin is your secret weapon to protect your hair from bedhead and breakage,” says Grace Eleyae, founder of Grace Eleyae Inc, a collection of satin-lined headwear. “Fabrics like cotton and wool suck the moisture right out of the hair strand, causing dryness and damage.” Winter hats are a huge friction culprit since most of them are made of thick wool and cotton materials. Instead of your standard hat, opt for something satin or silk-lined like Eleyae’s collection, which will protect you from the cold without giving you a bad hair day.

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Everyone’s natural hair journey is unique, and Carly Danner, the star of the latest Hair Me Out episode, would best describe hers as an “emotional rollercoaster.” Danner, who has natural curls, went through a series of phases that included hot tools and chemical treatments. “I got perms and all of these chemical treatments, but it took me all of these years to finally accept my hair,” she explains. “I told myself I would let it grow out and live the natural life, and then I started experiencing hair loss.” 

Danner’s experience with hair loss resulted in scarred self-esteem but piqued her curiosity to try out wigs. “I never viewed wigs as an option or alternative for my hair issues,” she says. “Back in the day, it just seemed taboo. But now it’s all over Instagram, and I’m hopping on the bandwagon.” Danner went to Daily Green, the owner of H2 Salon Brooklyn, to get a customized unit tailored to her face and style. “I got into custom wigs ten years ago,” Green explains. “A lot of women were transitioning out of relaxers, and instead of doing weaves, I thought a safer approach would be doing wigs.”

To prepare Danner for her new style, Green braided her client’s hair loosely into two plaits. “I don’t like tension or tightness, and for her texture, I don’t think there needs to be this braid down that needs to happen,” she explains. “I also want her to be able to take the wig off and wash it and put it back on when she wants.” She then fit the custom-colored unit on Danner’s hair and trimmed it to create a natural-looking finish. “One of the most important aspects of getting a wig is cutting it to the person’s face and style,” Green explains. “It’s important to have a bespoke experience and tailor it to the need of the client.”

‘While hair loss is a deeply personal experience that is different for everyone, it’s safe to say that Danner’s final results are proof that a dope wig can be a great confidence booster. Click play to see her complete transformation.

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Winter may be classified as cozy sweater, hot toddy, and holiday season, but the downside is it's also dry skin season. While the skin all over our bodies may be more parched than usual, certain areas are especially prone to be dryness, and the hands are one of them. Throw increased hand-washing in the mix as a protective measure during a global pandemic, and your hands might be drier now than ever before.

"Your hands are one of the most at-risk parts of your body for developing dryness and irritation because of constant exposure to environmental aggressors," Joshua Zeichner, MD, of Zeichner Dermatology, says. "Factors like hand-washing, weather, household cleaning, and even friction from weightlifting can disrupt the skin barrier."  Dr. Zeichner says that those factors may create microscopic cracks in your skin's outer layer, making hydration disappear. "This translates to dry, itchy, cracked hands," he explains.

Hadley King, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist, says that increased use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer has resulted in a spike in hand dermatitis. However, she stresses that even if you're dealing with dry skin, you shouldn't stop thoroughly cleansing your hands. "Don't stop washing and sanitizing," she says. "After you've sanitized or washed, and your hands have dried, apply a moisturizer to replenish your skin."

A good moisturizer with the right ingredients can make all the difference in how your hands feel this winter. Ahead, we asked the experts everything to look for in an effective hand cream that gets the job done.

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Since launching a Kickstarter campaign in 2017 to bring his vision for Hair Love to life, Matthew A. Cherry has taken his children’s book to incredible new heights. In 2019, Cherry and Sony Pictures Animation partnered to turn the book — which is about a Black father, Stephen, learning to style his daughter Zuri’s hair — into a short film. In February, Hair Love won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. 

Now, the critically-acclaimed story is available in an audiobook version, and the narrator is Blue Ivy Carter herself. Cherry announced that Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s eight-year-old daughter would be the voice of his book on Instagram. “Our Hair Love audiobook is live. Narrated by Blue Ivy Carter. Link in bio and available everywhere audiobooks are sold.” He shared a clip of Blue Ivy introducing the book, and we’d be lying if we said we didn’t listen to it nearly 20 times. 

Fans immediately took to social media to share their excitement for Blue Ivy and point out the more profound significance of her narrating a book about natural hair. Blue Ivy, who is only eight years old, was subjected to cruel cyberbullying and mocked about her natural hair for years, a painful experience all too familiar for many young Black girls and women. The partnership is huge for Blue Ivy and sends a broader message about the importance of empowering Black girls and women to recognize their beauty and power — despite what society says.

Blue Ivy at such a young age, faced so many attacks and comments about her hair from adults who should have known better.
Even television stations like BET joined in publicly on the mockery.

To have her narrate a story on “Hair Love” is just so fitting and perfect. ❤️ https://t.co/iPuSKhXakx

— ✨Doreen✨ (@DoreenGLM) November 9, 2020

Matthew Cherry booking Blue Ivy to narrate Hair Love. iconic. & not only because she’s Beyonce’s child but also, too many people dragged that baby for her natural hair. get that check Blue. 😭

— 𝐌. (@askaboutmaya) November 9, 2020

blue ivy being mocked for her hair since she was a baby and then choosing to narrate an audiobook based on an oscar winning short film about hair love!! she’s really making graceful power moves at 9 years old https://t.co/9y0EPIFOec

— nahsˣ (@nahscontrols) November 9, 2020

Blue Ivy Carter reading a book called “Hair Love” after being bullied online for her natural hair is really just touching my heart

— 🎄𝑑𝑎𝑒✨ (@bey_dae) November 9, 2020

It also marks another part of Hair Love’s epic legacy, which goes far beyond the written word. Cherry has used his platform to advocate for The Crown Act, legislation that would legally prohibit discrimination based on a Black person’s hairstyle or texture nationwide. The United States House of Representatives just passed The CROWN Act, which now goes to the Senate for approval.

With Blue Ivy aboard the Hair Love train, there’s no better time to download the audiobook and continue championing The Crown Act to protect more young Black women and men from discrimination and bullying based on their natural hair. 

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