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https://www.themarysue.com/who-is-brisket-powell-help-were-all-obsessed-with-glen-powells-dog/

Celebrity dogs are my favorite thing to talk about, and now I have a new favorite: Brisket Powell. This dog is sassy, has been on red carpets, and is literally beloved online. Now, Brisket has his very own Entertainment Weekly cover with a story about his adoption.

Powell (who also did a video cover with co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones that broke the internet) did a cover with his dog as wind is blowing at the two of them. Within the piece, he talked a lot about where he was when he adopted Brisket on the set of Twisters. “I was going through a breakup at the time and was in the middle of Enid, Oklahoma, and I had always wanted a dog,” Powell said. “It was something I thought about a lot, but it was somewhere in this coffee shop in Enid … I don’t even know how to describe it, I just had the desire to be a father.”

The post Help! We’re All Obsessed With Glen Powell’s Dog appeared first on The Mary Sue.

July 15, 2024

Help! We’re All Obsessed With Glen Powell’s Dog

https://www.themarysue.com/who-is-brisket-powell-help-were-all-obsessed-with-glen-powells-dog/

The post Help! We’re All Obsessed With Glen Powell’s Dog appeared first on The Mary Sue.

July 14, 2024

Are Lash Businesses On The Decline? Here’s What Techs Say

https://www.essence.com/beauty/current-state-lash-tech-businesses/

By India Espy-Jones ·Updated July 11, 2024

After being attacked for her lash extensions, Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett went viral for her clapback over the weekend. Naturally, this stirred up the existing conversation around the price we pay for our lashes. With the cost of living in the United States rising and grass wall salons offering less for more, justifying the price of lash services may be more difficult now than four years ago. And while Texas natives (cue: Megan Thee Stallion and Revlon’s lash collaboration) may be able to come out of pocket, clients in New York and California could be turning to affordable DIY lashes as an alternative.

According to Los Angeles lash tech Alanah Sahaba, lashes experienced a major surge in popularity during the pandemic in 2020, which was the year she started. “With masks covering most of our faces, the focus shifted to the eyes making lash extensions way more sought after,” Sahaba tells ESSENCE. However, “before lash extensions grew in popularity to the masses, the standard lash set was $300 dollars as it was hard to find someone that did lash extensions to begin with.”

At that time, extra-full one-length lashes were all lash techs offered, making it difficult to find looks other than classic, hybrid and volume lashes. Now, with education significantly more accessible, it has allowed many techs to expand their services. But, not without a cost. “The almost over-accessibility in knowledge has made it so some people will jump into the lash industry without proper training,” Sahaba says. “It has given such a bad reputation to extensions as a whole,” she explains, citing the “get-rich-quick” lash courses cluttering the market.

Other than the techs only concerned with a quick buck (often at the expense of quality service), the generational shift from a traditional 9-5 to entrepreneurship is not cheap. “Inflation has made it increasingly difficult to maintain low prices,” Houston lash tech and wispy specialist Aria Smith says. “When clients see a higher price tag, they often assume we’re overcharging, unaware of the many expenses we face,” with services in HTX ranging from $100 to $120 dollars. From rent and taxes, to the cost of supplies and professional training, “the financial burdens of running a lash business are significant.”

With that, it makes it more difficult for clients, particularly in expensive, high volume cities, to find a lash tech that can provide a service that is worth the cost. This is why they may prefer to do it themselves. Statistics show strip lashes account for 65.9% of the global false eyelashes market, a market expected to grow from $1.50 billion in 2024 to $2.70 billion by 2032. “There are options in every industry,” says Jas Imani, a licensed esthetician in New York. “DIY lashes aren’t new and they will get better and better, that is a fact.”

Having to compete with DIY lashes and an oversaturated market, lash techs are more susceptible to burnout, unable to turn clients away even if their books are full. “There’s a pervasive culture of hustle that can lead to burnout,” Smith says. Sahaba agrees, saying the hardest part about being a lash tech is not being able to say “no” to new clients. “I end up working on my off days or at the most insane times to get everyone in,” she says. ”It is so important to have strong boundaries and set off days as a lash tech, especially if you want to do it long term because it is a very physically taxing job.”

Known for their affordability, convenience, and easy application, drugstore lashes are the quick fix we’ve even seen on celebrities for red carpets and award shows (think: KISS lashes). However, their popularity may be behind the perceived decline, weeding out inexperienced lash techs that only offer simple services. “I think [DIY lashes] are the main cause of the decline in business for lash techs that still offer the same ‘copy/paste’ lash >Valencia Koger, the rise of custom designs is replacing standard sets. “”I think the most difficult part of being a lash tech starts with how much you know and how confident you are in the craft,” Koger says. For example, her most popular lash service called “lash color matching” includes clients with albinism who may not be able to find DIY lashes in their shade. “The technique is popular because it’s inclusive,” she says. “It opens up the opportunity for anyone to wear lash extensions even if it is a one time thing.”

Imani notes lash services are just like selling any other product. “If a lash artist feels they are losing clients then they need to adjust the treatment or experience around it,” she explains. From offering all original lashrel="tag">Beauty Business eyelash extension false eyelahses KISS eyelashes

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July 14, 2024

How To Strengthen Your Nails This Summer

https://www.essence.com/beauty/strengthen-nails-summer-manicure-tips/

Tips To Strengthen Your Nails This Summer, According To A Manicurist Rick Gomez / Getty Images By India Espy-Jones ·Updated July 11, 2024

As nail care turns into spring and summer’s big beauty trend (cue the popular “no-nicure” nails), building strong nails are a can’t miss step for mani-pedi season. Whether you’re into the Lori Harvey-approved micro-French tip, or prefer decorated, extra-long Nicki-like nails, a healthy cuticle, nail bed, and fingernails are always a must. “Nail health can affect the longevity of a manicure,” celebrity nail artist Aja Walton tells ESSENCE. “Stronger nails are less prone to chipping or lifting, resulting in a longer-lasting manicure.”

Below, Walton shares her top tips to strengthen your nails this summer.

What causes weak nails?

“Weak, brittle nails are often the result of dehydration, poor nutrition, too much water exposure, or other serious medical conditions like thyroid issues or psoriasis,” Walton says. Although the key to healthy nails are regular manicures, according to CND, using improper techniques creates a fine line between strong and weak nails. “90% of my encounters with brittle nails are the effects of improper removal and/or application of nail enhancements including gel color, gel extensions, acrylic or glued on tips.”

Other causes such as “a lack of essential nutrients like biotin, iron, and vitamins A, C, and E can lead to brittle, discolored, or weak nails.” Meanwhile, frequent exposure to cleaning products, acetone, and other harsh chemicals can weaken and damage nails. Excess nail biting, and improper trimming can also impact how your nails look with “fungal or bacterial infections causing discoloration, thickening, or separation of the nail from the nail bed.”

If none of these factors affect you, aging might. “As we age, nails can naturally become thinner and more brittle,” she says.

How to tell if your nails are weak

It may be difficult to tell if your nails are weak, especially under nail enhancements. “You should consider strengthening your nails if they are constantly peeling, breaking, or have visible signs of damage, such as ridges or splits,” she says. Splitting is the tell tale sign of weak nails, so “it may just be time to change up your nail shape to a more tapered or rounded look,” as square nails may chip more easily.

How do you strengthen your nails?

Noticing if your nails are weak is just the first step. Implementing a routine to help rebuild your nails is the key to a healthy mani-pedi. “My tips for strengthening nails include keeping the nails hydrated with cuticle oil, steering clear of harsh chemicals, using nail strengthening treatments, and accessorizing with gloves for chores,” she says. Other than avoiding excess drill use and poor application techniques, “don’t forget to indulge in a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals.”

Adding products packed with powerhouse ingredients like keratin, biotin, calcium, and vitamins A and E are essential for healthy nails. “My ride or die picks are Essie’s Hard to Resist Advanced Nail Strengthener and Essie’s Hard to Resist in Glow & Shine, which, as a bonus, has a beautiful sheer pink tint.”