Look After Your Inner Beauty

This article was written to answer lots of the most usually asked questions about make-over salons and hair stylists.

I am hoping you find this info helpful. I commence with a tale that I am sure, speaks for many: I'll always remember how humiliated I was when I walked out of a make-over salon with my embarrassed husband in tow, slinking all the way through a mall simply to get to our automobile and hide... I could not get out there fast enough! I instantly returned home and washed my hair out and did it again. Color, cut and styling was a total disaster! It was my first trip to a new spa.

I thought I had asked the right questions like, 'Is there a stylist there with experience working with natural kinky hair?', naturally the answer was, 'Yes'. I learned the person that has experience was just out of school and this was her first job. Have you gone through an identical experience? As a shopper, we prediction to leave the salon with a smile on our face, feel pretty and be content about our experience. It is my hope that similar eventualities can be stopped with some tips:

- If you admire someone elses hair, ask them the name of their salon and stylist. If not, then is the salon easy to get to from home or work?

- Inquire if the stylists have experience with your sort of hair. For instance, is your hair long, kinky or straight. You may find reviews online of spas in your area by zip codes.

- How does one feel when you enter a beauty salon? Are you greeted right away? Is the salon clean and inviting?

- Are the staff dressed appropriately? Do they look after their hair?

- You can supply footage of hair styles you want to the stylist. There are hair cut mags in all salons for you to test out.

- Do you like being with your stylist?

- Does the stylist ask you what you want and offer suggestions?

- Does the stylist debate shampoos, conditioners or special treatments that would improve the fitness of your hair?

Now you are all prepared for 'the look.' does the stylist give you the information you'll need on a way to maintain that style after you leave the salon? If you can answer nearly all of the questions to your satisfaction, then you have probably found a salon and a hairstylist that may make you look good. If not, get your data from the following makeover salon on your list. There is a talented hairstylist waiting just for you! It's now your turn to take this data and do something with it and then you will have a good hair day. Good luck!

For more beauty care tips and solutions visit Australia's leading online beauty store, [http://www.onlybeauty.com.au]

Is Hereby Predicted That Beauty Products from MLM Companies Will Find Increased Regulations

Last year, I was talking to a multilevel marketing outsourcing firm which made products which were then sold to the down line of MLM companies. After looking over their operations it occurred to me that many of these products are coming from places like China because that's where they can be bought for the lowest price to maintain a high level of markup to pay the multiple commission or royalties to the up line. Even if the products were not all bought there, most of the components surely are.

Now then, because China has previously had problems with poisonous dog food, toxic protein feed, and the toothpaste issues, you can expect that those companies which produce their products in China and any non-US factory sponsored or partnered facility will have a tough time in the US in the future. Also, Procter & Gamble plans on expanding their beauty product lines in the future. That is a lot of lobbying power and corporate might pushing regulators to go after their competition.

There was an interesting article the other day in the Wall Street Journal on January 26, 2011; "At P & G, Beauty Makeover Needs to Prove It Has Legs," by Ellen Byron. Apparently during their last fiscal year Procter & Gamble brought in $27 billion in revenue during the last fiscal year, which is about one third of their total. Now then, remember that Procter & Gamble is a multinational conglomerate and they sell their goods globally, while doing the manufacturing anywhere they can, where it is the most profitable, most efficient, or makes the most sense.

Because of these issues, it seems to me that the multilevel marketing companies will find severe headwinds in the future competing on price against companies like Procter & Gamble which are expanding their organic beauty lines of products, as well as finding high seas from regulatory bodies which will be putting additional rules on imported products from emerging nations, under the guise of increased consumer protection regulations on products.

Whereas, it is very important to make sure that the consumers are protected, and the products that they use do not cause ailments, rashes of the skin, disease, toxicity, or health risks - not all of the regulations which will be put into place will actually be due to those concerns. That's not how the world works, or how the regulatory bodies in this great nation run their affairs.

Call me cynical if you will, but I see storm clouds on the horizon, and the big boys don't wish to relinquish their market share to anyone, especially a clan of network marketers who are already pushing the boundaries of ethics in their marketing. Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this.

[Under Full Disclosure: I am not involved in any MLM companies, I do not own Procter & Gamble stock presently, and I really don't care for the regulatory agencies in this country, let's just say I know too much].

Lance Winslow is an Online Author with 11 eBooks and a co-Author of Franchising 101. The latest sBook in the "Lance Winslow Small Business Series" is "How to Start a Boat Cleaning Business" http://search.barnesandnoble.com/How-to-Start-a-Boat-Cleaning-Business/Lance-Winslow/e/2940012121691/ (a Nook Book available at the Barnes and Noble Website). Lance Winslow is semi-retired and Founder of the Online Think Tank http://www.WorldThinkTank.net - You may contact Lance Winslow by email for dialogue, discourse, discussion, or debate on interesting topics.

The Total Money Makeover

REVIEW 4 STARS - extremely good

How the blurb describes the book:

Build up your money muscles with America's favourite finance coach.

Okay, folks, do you want to turn those fat and flabby expenses into a well-toned budget? Then get with the program, people. There's one sure way to whip your finances into shape, and that's with The Total Money Makeover!

By now, you've heard all the nutty get-rich-quick schemes, the fiscal diet fads that leave you with a lot of kooky ideas but not a penny in your pocket. Hey, if you're tired of the lies and sick of the false promises, then take a look at this - it's the simplest, most straightforward game plan for completely making over your money habits.

And it's based on results, not pie in the sky fantasies. With The Total Money Makeover, you'll be able to:

Design a sure-fire plan for paying off all debt-meaning cars, houses, everything

Recognise the 10 most dangerous money myths (these will kill you)

Secure a big fat nest egg for emergencies and retirement!

Where Financial Peace gave you the solid saving and investment principles, this book puts those principles into practice. You'll be exercising your financial strength every day and quickly freeing yourself of worry, stress, and debt- and that's a beautiful feeling. The total money makeover- it's the one financial workout that assures everything will work out.

Reviews in the blurb:

"For families and individuals hoping to protect and grow their portfolio, Dave's counsel is vital. He has dispensed a fortune in good advice." Bill First, MD, Republican Senate Majority Leader

"Already a best-selling author and a star on the radio, Dave Ramsey has done it again with the Total Money Makeover" Sean Hannity, Hannity and Colmes on Fox News Channel

"Been there and back. Here is some trusty and valued input to get your mind and your money on the good foot. Dave Ramsey tells it like it is." Billy F Gibbons of ZZ Top

Our Review:

Dave Ramsey is one of America's top home budgeting advisers. He has several books, runs classes, a home budgeting radio show, and even has his own Television Show. While The Total Money Makeover is not his first book, you don't need to have read any other Dave Ramsey book to understand this one.

Dave was not always a money guy, In fact, he went bankrupt. He decided to change himself and focus on the basics. He famously declared after going bankrupt, "I did it my way, and my way wasn't working." He really wanted to be honest with himself, and he really wants you to be honest with yourself.

You can really tell while reading this book why he has become popular. He tells it like it is and gives straightforward advice. Plus he is not afraid to call ideas or ways people spend money "stupid". In short, Dave is not afraid of stepping on people's money spending ways, if he doesn't agree with them.

He lays out his easy step by step guide to reaching your own money goals. However, sometimes it feels like he lacks some of the finer details, preferring to give you the big picture.

He has quotes throughout the book which give you small glimpses into his money ideas:

"Over 97% of people don't systematically pay extra on their mortgage."

"When your spouse gets the raise you are expecting, don't raise your lifestyle with it. Save more! Invest more!"

"To make more money, you have to plan to make more money. Some people's problem is income, not spending."

The book is littered with interviews of people who have used Dave's services in the past to turn their budgets around. They tell their own tale of money woes and then their newfound budgeting talents. Most of these stories are extremely inspirational. However, due to their being a lot of them they can get a bit boring.

The advice in the book is truly great. And anyone who reads this book, regardless of if you are Bill Gates or flat broke; you will be able to take something away from it to help your money situation.

But what kept striking me over and over again while reading is he uses general ideas to describe what to do. He doesn't get down to the nitty gritty and tell you what you should be doing day-by-day or purchase by purchase. Had he included more of this, this book would have been rated the full five out of five stars. However, it still rates an extremely good four out of five.

Pros:

Very straight talk on what you should and should not do in your budget.

Has lots of very inspirational stories from people who have turned their financial lives around.

Adds a sense of humour, not only about the book, but about money in general.

Talks very openly about his past and how he became bankrupt. (interesting)

Cons:

Does not tell you how to do it on a day-by-day basis. Only gives a general guide.

Has too many inspirational interviews with people, can become a tad boring.

The Total Money Makeover

Nelson Books

Written By Dave Ramsey

My name is Adam Goulding and my story is quite simple. Four years ago my bank balance was so low paying rent was a big problem. March 15th 2005 was the day rock-bottom was hit emotionally and financially for me.

Then like a flash of lightning, a thought so extremely simple, yet a powerful realisation hit me. Whatever happened in my life with money up to March 15th 2005 wasn't working! Most decisions about my money to then were wrong.

Then my girlfriend, Renee (now my wife) let me in on her system for growing money.

Now I have written a book on getting out of debt and a free monthly newsletter. Myself and my wife have turned our household budget around. Saving money in all sorts of ways. Plus getting rid of our credit cards and loans. Find it at http://www.mrhomebudget.com.au My nick name is now Mr Home Budget.

Makeover Your Small Bathroom Within a Budget

There are several ways to live your dull and tired bathrooms without spending huge money. As several things are available in the market for bathrooms makeover within your budget, so you can renovate your bathroom easily. Every day we use our bathroom, so it's a nice thing to give your bathroom a spacious and artistic look that will relax and invigorate your self in preparation for a day ahead. Let's have a discussion how we can make our bathroom more loving and caring.

Let's start the bathroom makeover with a theme so that it can be visualized easily with a proper direction. In bathrooms design trend the nautical and aquatic themes are most popular and you can use these themes. In case if you are having trouble in getting a better theme then you can use themes from other rooms in your house. Theme such as contemporary, rustic, period and country are few of the great ideas to start your bathroom makeover.

Now this is the time for improving the flooring of the bathroom. If your carpet is old enough and looking awkward then you should replace with inexpensive vinyl. If you already have a Vinyl flooring and you want it to have a make over then use a primer and paint it with a new color best match to theme of your bathroom. You also can cover the vinyl flooring with cheap vinyl tiles.

Paints and colors are the key vehicle in the journey bathroom s design and decoration. Paint on the walls and ceilings can make a big difference in your bathroom's look and feel. Few colors can work fine in the bathrooms such as Aquamarine, refreshing blue-greens, soothing blues and purples. These are the popular colors refresh and revitalize you bathrooms

Use fabrics such as shower curtains, bath mats and towels best match to the theme of your bathroom to add some extra feels to your bathrooms. Also don't forget to use some beautiful and decorative accessories such as: beautiful wall hanging pictures, candles, pot plants and many more according to the theme of your bathroom.

If you have a small bathroom, then you have to be very careful to wards the space of the bathroom. Storage space is is the major drawback of the small bathrooms. So before go for a small bathroom decoration just think what looks you want to give your bathroom whether it is modern looks or traditional looks. So this is is your first responsibility to think of the theme you would like to give your bathroom. If you are not able to think of a better theme or design of your bathroom, you should take the help of a professional bathroom designer or decorator.

If you don't want to take the help of professionals, try bathrooms design guide, laife style gallery and interior decoration magazine. These decorating sources will provide you a lot of information about the furniture to be used, excellent color schemes and accessories for your bathrooms according to the theme.

Bathroom Storage space:

Space saving furniture is the best way of creating a clutter free bathroom, especially if you have a small bathroom where it becomes mandatory for maximum use of the space. A space saving bathroom furniture is slim which can set in your bathroom easily and no need to compromise with design of the bathroom. Due to it's slim and reduce in depth size it can be fitted easily to a small bathroom. In your bathroom furniture you can store medicines, cosmetics, towels, cleaning products and many more.

This article was written by Mr. Rudradatta Rath provided courtesy of Pure Bathrooms, which is an online bathroom shop dealing with all range and brands of products for bathrooms. Purebathrooms.net sells bathrooms, taps, showers, whirlpool baths, radiators, bathroom accessories and furniture online throughout uk.

The Newest Freshest Look With Bratz Makeover Game

Find your own unique fashion and style with these cute teenagers where fabulous is the number one term to describe them- the Bratz! The Bratz have a very busy celebrity life and yet they make each moment of their lives the best. Want to join with their dashing and expressive fashion? Join them in bratz makeover game!

Cool teenagers who are simply sweet, cool, and glamorous, Bratz give a big bang in the dolls fashion world as these pretty girls have their adventures at their TV series!

There is classy Cloe - the beauty editor of Bratz Magazine. A romantic pre-teen at the heart and total lover of chick lit with happy endings. She is an advisor in her "Ask Cloe" column. Then we have Sasha - the girl with the big dreams - her ambition is to be a record producer with her own billion dollar fashion line. As the music editor, she's got the inside track on all the cool clubs, parties, bands and dance moves. Next is Yasmin - she writes the features and have the expertise in social issues. She's so totally into worthwhile causes. Lastly we have Jade. She is the one who is always seen in the coolest outfits among the four, though all of them are fashion conscious, unsurprisingly she's the magazines fashion editor.

Now join their breathtaking lives and be a star also with bratz makeover game! Nothing can be more exciting than seeing your favorite teenage stars in their dashing and awesome dresses as they prepare for the ramp! Choose one of the Bratz in bratz makeover game. Change her dress, give her some make up and put on the jewelry. Give her the newest makeover, freshest look and see the artistic side of you!

A total make over would not be complete with just the dress and the make up. What is missing? How about the hair? See what can be done with the highlights and the lowlights. Choose a new hairstyle and viola! A new fresh superb fashionista get-up!

You may also try to give Bratz the sizzling hot look and a darker skin tone for that healthy tanned look. Learn how to put up flirtatious glance and let them project themselves with oozing confidence. It's so exciting to play the bratz makeover game!

Though the Bratz can have a very hectic schedule with their lives, now you can have a handy experience with them with just a single click. Play bratz makeover game and catch a glimpse of the new glam that you gave them.

Stephanie Bailey is a game enthusiast of http://www.bratzgames.biz an online Doll games. She create her own personalized virtual games online. She love to play with young girls which they enjoy the lovely doll and Bratz Games

Put That Magazine Down! She Isn't Real - Hollywood Make-Up Secrets Revealed

I have been a Hollywood Make-up Artist for almost ten years now. I love being on shoots and being a part of the staging of what eventually becomes a finished work of art. And that is what it is, a work of art, not natural beauty.

We know everyone is beautiful. You are beautiful! You are perfectly imperfect exactly the way you are... from head to toe. You are the only one with that nose. Your freckles are adorable. Your teeth make up an unforgettable smile. Your hair has the nicest tone and cutest cut. Your skin is soft and your feet are graceful. Could you improve a few things? Sure, maybe. But you will NEVER be perfect and that is great! How boring would it be if we all were perfect and not uniquely beautiful?

It is my job to make people close to perfect for shoots. Because of what I do, people are always asking for beauty advice. But I make it my living to point out each person's unique beauty.

Problem: When enjoying a favorite TV show, movie or flipping through a magazine, what do we see? What do we focus on? Everyone looks perfect. This is not real, they are touched up and made up...

Do you know how many people it takes to make that celebrity on the cover of the magazine in your hands look that way? A lot! It is not natural beauty - it is lighting, hair, makeup, wardrobe, etc... and PHOTOSHOP! If you saw that person walking down the street you would think to yourself, " You know who that looks like?" They are just normal, everyday looking people without all the extras that come from a styling team. They are just like you and me. And NOT perfect!

I can't believe how every magazine image I look at is over corrected. Am I the only one who notices his head is bigger than the rest of his body? That her hands are a different color than her face? There are no skin pores anywhere on her face or body? That the clothes are lying perfectly flat? Come on. When I first started in makeup, people told me NOT to rely on anything being retouched or fixed in editing. The goal is to cover and conceal everything to your natural eye, so each person looks flawless before stepping in front of the camera.

I have applied body makeup to every fitness model I've worked with - to cover bruises, spider veins, give them a tan and hide cellulite. For bathing suit shoots I have drawn on abs and cleavage to almost everyone that came into the makeup room. I have added extensions into many gorgeous heads of hair and added color and fibers to fill in many holes and bald spots. I have styled wigs and padded many bras. I added brows to eyes than were bare from over tweezing. Scars have been filled in, tan lines evened out and freckles have been covered-up. Tattoos are mainstream now, but a few years ago they always had to be covered by clothing or a lot of makeup. I have done all of this with makeup applications. When footage goes into editing, there is even more correcting that can be done. These are all the imperfections that make us unique and beautiful in life, but you never see them in photos or on camera.

Now with Hi-Definition TV our eyes do see more imperfections because the technology is clearer. I like that. The image is raw with more detail. This is more real. You feel as though you can reach through the screen and touch the actors or that they are in the same room. But don't let it fool you, we still use makeup and concealing techniques on the actors.

Let's look at a great example. American Idol. Starting in the auditions, everyone shows up looking their best and dressed to impress. They chose their own look, their makeup, their hair and their wardrobe. The looks become more polished as we move into the top 20. As they narrow down to the top 10 and even the top 5, have you noticed how the makeup increases and the hair changes? They all have a team of artists styling them and touching them up backstage, now they look like superstars. What changed? They are still the same and their talent hasn't changed? They have a team of stylists that gave them a complete image makeover! This is what we do. To prove my point, watch videos of final contestants from their audition performance to their top 10 performances and notice the difference.

If we all could wake up with a team of stylists each and every morning, we would look our absolute best each day. That is not real life. But if we take some tricks of the trade, learn to accentuate our best features (body, face & personality) and change our look every so often, we may be happier than trying to live up to the images in the magazines. I feel so sorry for anyone looking at magazine images, wishing they could look like that. Use it for inspiration to exercise, make a change in your life or improve your well-being... but please remember, those images are not real life, you are. My people have touched-up those photos and brushed a magic wand across the page.

Embrace your own uniqueness as a positive and you will be surprised at how it not only makes you feel, but how people respond.

Basic rule: When we are happy with ourselves and our image, we become perfectly imperfect in everyone else's eyes! It all shows on the outside what you are doing on the inside.

A Few Quick Hollywood Make-Up Tips:

* Brighten eyes by swiping a light loose powder over cream eye corrector under eyes. It will set the cream, blend the blush on your cheeks as well as bring out your eyes and relieve any tiredness.

* Quick fix to Lasting lips. Line lips and fill in entire area with same shade liner as your lipstick (darker liner is a no-no). You can then follow with just gloss, chapstick or lipstick and it will last throughout a meal. The top application will come off but the liner will remain.

* Better brows? Take a wax pencil and make little hair strokes in the shape you want your brows. Next, take a spiral makeup brush (like the wand in mascara) and gently brush over the strokes to soften the line and blend. Finally, take one or two shades of a favorite eyeshadow that matches your hair color and lightly add over the wax line. This will add dimension to your brows as well and set the pencil. Then lightly brush over the line again to blend.

* Lengthen lashes with a primer. Coat entire top lash with primer. Wipe wand front and back. Let dry. Follow with one good coat of your favorite mascara (I love the new plastic brushes like Cover Girl LASH BLAST). The primer adds thickness to the lash and the mascara will give the illusion of thicker, fuller lashes.

* Eyeliner won't stay? Try putting it on before your mascara but after curling. There are a few long wearing and setting liners that work great, my favorite is Styli Style (line & seal). I love using mineral eyeshadows. Just wet an angel brush and line away. In my experience, heavily pigmented shadows applied wet, last all day.

* Always forget Sunscreen? Make it easy on yourself. Finish your look with a loose mineral powder. As long as the powder contains zinc or titanium dioxide (natural SPF) you are covered. There are great mineral powders in brushes now (ex: Eminence and Colorscience), just swipe to set your face and throw it in your purse for the rest of the day.

* Last minute cure for a Breakout. Take a hot towel and apply to area for 1-2 minutes. Don't squeeze! Dry thoroughly and apply a sulfur based lotion with a Q-tip to infected area. Even if the breakout is only red. Applying the sulfur based lotion will work to dry out the problem area within 2-3 days. Sometimes it will not even break the surface. My teens and actors swear by this lotion (try BYE BYE Blemish). The lotion is usually white or pink so if applying during the day, wait until it dries and lightly brush it off. Follow with your foundation. Great skin saver.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at http://www.michellebouse.com.

Michelle Grant Bouse
Celebrity Make-up Artist, Esthetician & Beauty Expert

Plastic Surgey: The New Beauty Norm?

This is a good topic to discuss especially now since the popularity of all the make-over shows. I have always been curious as to why people, mostly women, have this idea that they are expected to look a certain way in order to "fit in" with society.

We all would like to believe that quaint saying, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", but how true and meaningful is that phrase when the beholder has been brainwashed, so to speak, into subscribing to the belief that beauty is the artificial look we see on glamour mags, in TV commercials, and even in some children's books? For some time now, that image has consisted mainly of white women and the "white standard of beauty".

I decided to take this question of plastic surgery and the search for beauty and see how it can affect some women in the African-American community. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, African-Americans make up only 6% of plastic surgery patients. Why is this? Do African-American women have a more positive self/body image or is it that many cannot afford it? And for the 6% who do have surgery, to which standard of beauty were they trying to aspire?

I chose to start my search for the white standard of beauty in 1960. I chose that year because at the time, a TV show was airing that sought to teach moral and societal lessons through fantastical tales.

Two episodes of this show were very telling and prophetic, and they both dealt with how society viewed beauty and the expectations placed on women to be "beautiful".

That show was, The Twilight Zone.

Beauty in 1960...

Rod Serling offered us a tale of beauties and beasts in episode #42 entitled: Eye of the Beholder.

Here's a brief synopsis of the show I found at The Twilight Zone Guide:

Janet Tyler anxiously awaits the outcome of her latest surgery. Janet, who's abnormal face has made her an outcast, has had her eleventh hospital visit - the maximum allowed by the State. If it didn't succeed, she will be sent to live in a village where others of her kind are segregated. As her bandages are removed, she is revealed to be very beautiful. The doctor draws back in horror. As the lights come on we see the others, their faces are misshapen and deformed. As Janet runs from her room crying, she runs into another of her kind, a handsome man named Walter Smith. He is in charge of an outcast village, and he assures her that she will eventually feel she belongs. He tells her to remember the old saying: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

Although the show was filmed in black and white, we can clearly see that Ms. Tyler is Caucasian. The doctors appear to have darker skin, nevertheless, the idea here was that the viewers empathized with Ms. Tyler because she was the classic blonde, slender beauty commonly seen in 1960's fashion magazines.

As the show closes, the narrator speaks:

"Now the questions that come to mind. Where is this place and when is it, what kind of world where ugliness is the norm and beauty the deviation from that norm? The answer is, it doesn't make any difference. Because the old saying happens to be true. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, in this year or a hundred years hence, on this planet or wherever there is human life, perhaps out among the stars. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Lesson to be learned...in the Twilight Zone."

1964: The Standard Continues

Episode #137, in Season Five, is called, "Number Twelve Looks Just Like You", and was adapted by a short story called "The Beautiful People". In this episode, we meet Marilyn, a young woman who is about to go through a rite of passage in her community. This rite is called "The Transformation" and it requires citizens to choose among several models of bodies into which they will be transformed. The message here is that this society only sees one standard of beauty and that one will not be happy unless they look and act just like everyone else. Opening Narration:

"Given the chance, what young girl wouldn't happily exchange a plain face for a lovely one? What girl could refuse the opportunity to be beautiful? For want of a better estimate, let's call it the year 2000. At any rate, imagine a time in the future when science has developed a means of giving everyone the face and body he dreams of. It may not happen tomorrow--but it happens now, in the Twilight Zone."

Once again, the beautiful people are all white and we don't see any women or men of color. What was this episode trying to tell black women about beauty? The closing narration:

Portrait of a young lady in love--with herself. Improbable? Perhaps. But in an age of plastic surgery, body building, and an infinity of cosmetics, let us hesitate to say impossible. These and other strange blessings may be waiting in the future--which after all, is the Twilight Zone."

Beauty 40 Years Later

Some aspects of beauty standards have changed, but not much. We do see more black models and beautiful black women, but when you look at the majority of the more famous ones, (Tyra, Halle, Janet, Vanessa Williams, Beyonce, a few of whom have had plastic surgery, on their noses and other body parts), you can see straight away that they have many Caucasian attributes: small, pinched noses, lighter complexion, lighter eyes, straight, lightly colored hair. It is rare that you will see a model with very dark skin, a tight afro, wide, round, larger nose, and full, large lips. Flip through any issue of Vogue or Glamour and look for that image I just described. Then look for the first image I described.

So, are black women trying to aspire to the white standard of beauty when they seek plastic surgery?

According to Cynthia Winston, assistant professor of psychology at Howard University in Washington, D.C., We really don't know much about how blacks are influenced. Most of the research focuses on perceptions related to skin color. Foe most African-Americans, perception can be shaped by their environment. For example, an African-American woman growing up in an all-white neighborhood in Nebraska may be more likely than an African-American woman raised in inner-city Detroit to compare herself with white images of beauty.

(Source: African-American Women & Plastic Surgery: Self-Improvement or Self-Hatred? By Angela D. Johnson, Sept. 2, 2003)

Now What?

I suppose, it all comes down to how one feels inside about themselves. But there is this viscous cycle of doubt that women constantly face so it's often hard to reconcile your inner voices with the outside images thrown at you everyday. Many women buy into the trends and fashions that dictate beauty. TV shows and print ads abound with images of sexy women. Fitness clubs persuade women to join not so they will lower their risk of heart disease, but so they will aspire to be beautiful on the outside. No one tries to sell things that will help them on the inside.

In the end, you can look at all of this and say that there will always be standards of beauty and those who aspire to live up those standards, and those wanting to make a profit off those standards (cosmetic companies, ad agencies, modeling agencies, fashion designers, plastic surgeons, psychotherapists). The media portrays what people want to see and apparently, it's sex and "beauty".