Naked Beauty

Charlotte Mensah, the first Black woman inducted into the British Hairdressing Hall of Fame, once turned her kitchen into a laboratory to develop products for her clients. Raised in her grandparent's Ghanian compound, Charlotte was exposed to her grandmother’s boundless creativity and her grandfather’s corporate acumen. Unsurprisingly, she harnessed their wisdom and built an award-winning career i...

Another edition of beauty rant and beauty rave, including a hot take about luxury skincare and my recently acquired membership to LA's Erewhon and why I was so reluctant to join the cult of this hyped upscale grocer. Tune in to hear my thoughts on: How clinical research and development separates luxury brands from competitors  The question of whether or not a product is 'worth it' What a cons...

Tune in for a rerun of one of my favorite Naked Beauty episodes with Charlotte Palermino, co-founder of Dieux Skin and self-proclaimed skincare fairy godmother. This episode was all about unpacking and debunking ALL of the beauty rules that so many of us subscribe to. From daily exfoliation, to DIY skincare, to beauty regulations, there’s a lot to get into!  Link to Products Mentioned:  ...

We need to process together! Last week, we all heard the iconic Ms. Tina Knowles bless the Naked Beauty podcast with her wisdom, wit, life, and beauty knowledge. On this episode, Sir John and I sit back and unpack our takeaways from that intimate conversation. Tune in to hear all of the behind-the-scenes details, what resonated with us most, how Ms. Tina inspires both of us, and how it felt to int...

Ms. Tina has been infusing bold and beautiful Texas style into global pop culture for decades. Sir John and I talked to Ms. Tina about her successful career as a stylist, her beauty regimen, building Cécred, and the significance of early exposure to images of Black beauty and power. We learned how she carries her mother's lessons about honoring creativity in yourself and your children. She told us...

Excited to share that the multi-talented Sir John will be joining me as our new Naked Beauty co-host. We’ll be doing a limited six-episode series in which we interview guests who are impacting the culture and delve into their life stories and POV on beauty and self-expression. Please join us in giving Sir John a warm welcome to the Naked Beauty Community! See me Live in NY 5/20  ( limited tic...

It is almost time for the most iconic Monday of the year, the Met Gala. This week I spoke with several talented people in the beauty industry about their Met Gala prep, red carpet predictions, and what happens behind the scenes to make the magical event happen. Master hairstylists Nikki Nelms and Jawara Wauchope gave insight into how they build trust with clients like Janelle Monae, Solange, and P...

Cyndia Harvey is the force behind some of the most iconic hairstyles in luxury runway and editorial campaigns. From lace baby hair at Mugler to screen-filling curls for Jacquemus, Cyndia takes creative risks because she knows that trusting the process always leads to success. During our conversation, Cyndia talked about cultivating this radical sense of self and trust by giving herself exactly wha...

Tarek Ali is no stranger to sharing his healing and trauma with the world. Tarek has been creating content online for over a decade as a YouTuber, advocate, author, writer, and healer. In a radically vulnerable approach to engaging online, Tarek’s audience has journeyed with him as he healed relationships with others and himself. This week we sat down to discuss how his initial goal of being seen,...

Kendra Bracken-Ferguson knows that Black beauty brands and their founders need capital and community to circumvent systemic racism at the heart of venture capital funding. As the Founder and CEO of Braintrust Founders Studio Kendra uses her experience identifying talent and innovation to provide companies the support they require to succeed. In this episode, Karen and I explore how her legacy of b...

During our initial conversation, Erica Chidi shared so much knowledge about intimacy, wellness, and how to develop positive sexual experiences with our partners and ourselves. That conversation led us to discuss some common myths about sex and vaginal health. Tune in as we discuss: Why she believes “sex is food and food is sex” How to prioritize comfort during sex The differences between water-bas...

“Our culture isn’t designed for intimacy or time with your partner…it’s about capitalism.” To have positive experiences with sex and intimacy Erica Chidi knows that we have to “keep in contact” with our bodies. Erica is a Wellbeing Guide and the CEO & Founder of Loom , an app that provides reliable information about women’s reproductive health. It was so interesting to learn about how our sex...

Exploring beyond the limits of topical beauty treatments, and into the world of cosmetic technology can often feel daunting, or even deceptive in today’s social media landscape. So, I wanted to use this episode to break through the clutter and take you all on an audio tour of an increasingly popular treatment: PRFM or PRP. For those who may not be familiar, PRFM stands for Platelet -Rich Fibrin Ma...

"My Skin Didn't Start To Change Until I Changed The Energy Around Me." - Alicia Keys, Grammy-award winning artist, beauty entrepreneur and today's Naked Beauty podcast guest! I could not have been more excited for this interview! With braids and makeup choices that have influenced beauty culture for decades, I had the opportunity to go deep with Alicia about her own self-care practice. Tune in as...

So often, what we define as “wellness” in today’s world, can end up feeling like an expensive and unnecessary set of demands that leave us drained rather than fulfilled. Fortunately, health coach Daphne Javitch is here for real talk on how to feel more (as she puts it) “resourced”. After a long and painful journey with endometriosis, Daphne was inspired to better understand her body and how to thr...

Before there was a “clean” beauty movement, there was Indigenous beauty. Before sustainability and naturally-derived ingredients were cool, there was Indigenous beauty. Jenn Harper , Founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty , is here to remind us that Indigenous culture’s contributions to beauty have always been and continue to be at the center of this industry. Tune in as we discuss her:  Anishin...

After months of eager anticipation, Beyoncé, Ms. Tina Knowles and a team of hardworking experts have delivered on arguably one of the most important celebrity beauty ventures that we’ve seen in a long time: Cécred (pronounced “sacred”). Having received an invite to attend the debut of this haircare line and going home with all of the products, tune in hear me break down:   Why this is th...

“It feels like love is being stitched into your head” When it comes to Black beauty culture, braiding is arguably one of the most important rituals that we can participate in. Not only is it a form of wearable art, but it’s a way to build relationship and community with others. Tune in as I sit down with Naked Beauty producer Mbiye Kasonga and soon-to-be Douse founder Utibe Mbagwu to discuss their...

“I had been waiting for her to 36 years…there was a lot to say.” - Crystal Anderson The relationship between love and beauty is an inseparable one. Whether it is self-love or love for another human being, beauty is almost always the end result. Producer Crystal Anderson and her partner Kiesh Herman couldn’t be a more exemplary model of this truth. Tune in as we discuss the evolution of their...

One of my favorite things about traveling is exploring another culture or society through the lens of beauty. As founder of global and evergrowing makeup brand Violette FR , I knew that Violette would also have a rich perspective on this topic. Tune in as we discuss her favorite cities, how to protect your skin while traveling and how she derives inspiration from the countries that she visits.&nbs...

As the beauty industry continues to overload the market with new products and new “problems”, dermatologists like Dr. Naana Boakye are becoming even more essential to the skincare conversation. Having coined the term “lifestyle dermatology”, Dr. Boakye strongly believes that stress, diet, exercise, and all of our daily habits show up on the skin. Tune in as we discuss how to optimize your nutritio...

MUA, creator, and  businesswoman Violette has built a reputation as one of the most hardworking and dedicated women in the beauty industry - and for good reason. Despite having no formal training, at just 19 years old, Violette had the vision to create one-of-a-kind pigments and to build a career on her own terms. Today, the red lipsticks, blue eyeshadows, and serums found within her eponymou...

Episode Description: As many of us jump into the new year with high hopes of reevaluating and shifting our daily habits, my relationship with alcohol has been top of mind. While drinking has always been in the background of my social and professional life, its side effects have never been particularly enjoyable. And after moving to LA, now more than ever, I’m questioning its necessity. If you find...

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of hosting a number of world-renowned dermatologists that can speak to the common skincare issues that we all face. From addressing hyperpigmentation to creating a solid routine with products that work for your skin type, we discuss it all. Tune in as we tune back to interviews with: Dr. Elena Jones on hyperpigmentation, Botox and fillers Dr. Ranella Hirsch on...

The conversation continues with Telsha Anderson-Boone, who discusses how she manifested her perfect cool bride look. As we step into 2024, what vision of your elevated self do you want to achieve in the new year?  Naked Beauty x Garin Robe Lessons in Style & Motherhood ft. Telsha Anderson-Boone, TA Telsha Anderson-Boone Wore a Dance-Ready Danielle Frankel Design for Her Miami Wedding...