Bantu Knot Outs on My Fine, Blown-Out Natural Hair

Hey hey!

After nearly 2 weeks of rocking turbans (they’re my new thing), I had to actually do my hurr.  I have a Dr. Oz appearance later this week, so I needed to henna my sparklahs away and practice my bantu knot-outs… I get rusty with the execution sometimes lol!  I thought I’d throw it back to the Fotki days with some bathroom shots!  As you can see above, I don’t do straight parts… or any parts for that matter.  I just grab, knot, and go! I usually end up with about 8-10 slightly damp knots that I sleep in (HELL!) and release in the morning.

My products:

I tension blow dry clean, 90% dry hair after applying a bit of Jane Carter Leave-in for heat protection and moisture.

And then add 1-2 pumps of Nairobi’s foam to each section prior to knotting.  I don’t use any pins to secure, I just wrap the ends and make sure they are saturated with the foam for a less frizzy look.

I sleep on the finished knots under a scarf, and immediately in the morning, I release them in case there is any dampness that needs to dry-

Once all the roots are dry (they usually are and there’s no need to wait before this next step), I separate a little, fluff a lot, and pull my hair down into two low ponies to stretch the curls.  I use small banana clips to prevent any dents in the curls or ruining them altogether.  They provide tension at the roots without flattening the texture.

Final Result! bantu knot outs bantu knot outs 

Off to my day of Zoom calls. I love you!
Nik

What’s your bantu knot out regimen?!

While the Biden administration has been working tirelessly to maintain public focus on their ongoing COVID-19 response efforts, the growing immigration crisis at the Southern border cannot be understated. On March 15, more than 4,000 migrant children were being housed in Border Patrol facilities. As of yesterday, more than 15,000 migrant children are now in U.S. Custody. And now, per a Department of Homeland Security document obtained by Axios, 823 unaccompanied minors have been in Border Patrol Custody for more than 10 days, well past the three-day legal limit.

President Biden has come under fire in recent weeks for the government’s inability to adequately respond to a surge of migrants seeking refuge at the U.S.-Mexico border. From reopening a migrant children detention center in Carrizo Springs, TX known as the “Cadillac of migrant children centers” — with additional plans to open another for-profit child detention center in Florida — to recently restricting information Border Patrol agents and section chiefs can share with members of the media, Biden’s promise to “restore humanity and American values to our immigration system” appears to be nothing more than a failed campaign promise. 

According to reporting from The Daily Beast, 3,314 unaccompanied children have been held for longer than three days, and 2,226 have been held for more than five days.

“Just left the border processing facility. 100s of kids packed into big open rooms,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) tweeted on March 19 after visiting the border. “In a corner, I fought back tears as a 13 yr old girl sobbbed [sic] uncontrollably explaining thru a translator how terrified she was, having been separated from her grandmother and without her parents.” Sen. Murphy went on to clarify that the child had not been forcibly separated from her parents — in this child’s case, her parents were already in the United States — but went on to write: “But even though kids can now stay and apply for asylum, if they are traveling w relatives who aren’t parents, the relative can’t stay.”

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told CNN’s Dana Bash that they had established three new facilities last week and are “implementing new efficiencies in the HHS process so that we can unite these children with their relatives here in the United States.” He went on to say: “This is what we do. We know how to do it. We have dealt with surges in the past, and the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security will succeed.”

Mayorkas did say the current crisis is a result of the largest surge of migrants at the border in two decades, but could not give a clear date outside of “as soon as possible” on when the HHS would be able to provide more humane facilities for unaccompanied migrant children. 

Mayorkas cited COVID-19 as a reason why things at the border have grown significantly more “challenging,” as well as the previous administration’s policies or, in some cases, lack thereof. “Not just because the Trump administration tore down our systems and we have to rebuild them from scratch, but also because of the fact that we’re in the midst of a pandemic,” he said.

More than 5,400 children were forcibly separated from their parents under the Trump administration’s family separation policy — as of December 2020, more than 600 parents of those children were still missing. In four years, there were over 5,000 complaints of sexual abuse and harassment of migrant children in US custody.

Experts believe the crisis at the Southern border will only grow more dire in the coming weeks and months. And clearly, Biden refusing to openly discuss it and silencing those on the ground is not helping.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

I am so excited to finally announce a new collaboration with one of my favorite brands, LAKE. The collection will launch next month on LAKE’s website. Together, we have created an exclusive collection of sleepwear and daywear for women and littles in soft, breathable fabrics, just in time for the warm months ahead. I have loved and celebrated my LAKE sets for years. I find myself reaching for their pieces time and time again for effortless comfort and beautiful design. For this collaboration, we wanted to bring a bit of the outside in with a natural palette and floral prints that inspire and are reminiscent of this season’s blooming gardens and meadows. So much of the inspiration came from my home and lifestyle, my time spent outside in my own garden and the soft hues that coat my walls. I am thrilled to introduce JB x LAKE that embodies the heart of both of our brands. Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing more peeks of the collection as we lead up to the launch date so sign up here to stay in the know!

Photography by Olivia Rae James

The post JB x LAKE, Coming Soon! appeared first on Julia Berolzheimer.

On Saturday, Bella Thorne and Italian singer Benjamin Mascolo, who’ve been linked since spring of 2019, announced that they were engaged via Mascalo’s Instagram. The official post, a three-pic slideshow of the couple with a detailed explanation of the movie-themed engagement sequence and a collection of photos from the couple’s two-year-long relationship on Mascalo’s stories, was accompanied by the caption: “She said yes.” 

Following the announcement, Thorne took to her own Instagram to give her 24.3 million followers a better look at the teardrop, or pear-shaped, diamond ring. “He knows exactly my style,” she wrote on a close-up video of the engagement ring.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Benjamin Mascolo (@b3nm)

According to Mike Fried, the CEO of jewelry brand The Diamond Pro, that “style” is, specifically, a “pear-shaped diamond surrounded by a halo of smaller diamonds.” The halo gives the ring “plenty of sparkle,” he added. It’s also set on a diamond pavé band. By Fried’s estimation, the center diamond is at least four carats, which makes the ring’s total valuation $150,000 or more. 

Though pear-shaped diamonds themselves aren’t particularly rare, according to The Diamond Pro, finding one that’s properly cut is — much more so than round brilliant or princess-cut diamonds. That hard-to-find quality is likely why so many celebrities want one, with the likes of Cardi B, Sophie Turner, and Victoria Beckham all choosing pear-shaped diamonds for their ring fingers. (Although, it’s important to mention that Beckham’s shares that real estate with 14 other engagement rings from husband David Beckham — a true Diamond Pro.)

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Shailene Woodley’s Engagement Ring Is Stunning

Paris Hilton's Engagement Ring Is A Classic

The Best Celebrity Engagement Rings Of 2020

TLDR: Click here to shop the 2021 Violet Grey Violet Box or just take a peek at all the goods.

If your skin-care routine clocks in at a formidable 11 on a scale of 1-10, then keep reading. Luxe beauty site Violet Grey is reprising its blockbuster box of top products, and dare we say, they’ve outdone themselves.

Today, the Los Angeles-based retailer has unveiled its spring Violet Box, which features $791 worth of best-of-the-best goods handpicked from the Violet Grey team. What’s inside? Highly coveted brands including Augustinus Bader, Westman Atelier, Leonor Greyl, Koh Gen Do, and more. Retailing for $375, it’s still quite a pretty penny to shell out on products — but if you were planning on spending that on a handful of hyper-luxe goods, may as well get a sweet deal while you’re at it, right?

Past boxes have consistently sold out within 24 hours of hitting the website, so if you’re ready to drop some cash (or split the cost among fellow beauty-loving friends), we suggest you act fast. Shop the box below, and peruse the à la carte products if you miss your chance on the epic bundle.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission. 

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

You may have arrived at the doorstep of “luxury resale” for a host of different reasons. Maybe you’re a life-long label-lover with a desire to cultivate your Chanel collection without having to declare bankruptcy. Maybe you’re a grown-up thrifter who still loves the thrill of finding a diamond in the rough, but your taste has evolved into something more … expensive. Maybe you’re a reformed fast-fashionite who wants to lessen the impact of their shopping habits by buying better, buying less, and buying secondhand. No matter your profile; you’re here and fully hooked on the endorphin rush that comes with scoring a pristine designer tog at a fraction of the original price. Welcome!

Well, luxury lovers, your week’s end just got a little bit better. Beloved designer consignment marketplace Vestiaire Collective just kicked off a sweat-inducing up to 70% off sale on over 120,000 of their runway-ready goods. From now until midnight on Monday, March 22nd, clothing, handbags, and accessories from heavyweights like Gucci, Prada, and Off-White alongside with offbeat up-and-comers like Staud and Ganni. If you’re on the hunt for a pair of hot-pink Marine Serre leggings or pointy, royal-purple Balenciaga boots, don’t delay — you know these one-of-a-kind rarities won’t stick around for long.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Resale Is Thriving In The Pandemic

Why Luxury Fashion Should Embrace Resale