Rondell Johnson Beauty: Women of Color Masterclass Recap

Hello Beautiful People!
      Still filled with so much inspiration and knowledge from the workshop that I was present for yesterday with the talented and knowledgeable Rondell Johnson of Rondell Johnson Beauty.  What can I say this man's calling was definitely to teach, because like clock work he didn't miss a second.

Smilez Unite! Dell and I (Photo courtesy of London Wright)

Dell gave us a wealth of information from the under utilized Color Theory Wheel, to the hot mess that some artist have made popular the Concealer eyebrow special. He also covered important ingredients to look out for in great beauty products as well as the various skin types and the do's and don'ts of maximizing on your make up kit.

                                                                                 

 Eyebrows check! He did a demonstration on how to get a great looking eye brow without even touching a lick of concealer with Felicia and an amazing job he did.

What an eyebrow Dell did and all it took was focus, maybeline eyebrow pencil in two shades, a great slant tweezer and eyebrow scissor. Taking it back to basics where no concealer is necessary just precision and time.


Dell even spanked Lexi's face taking her from natural to ultra fierce with a smokey eye and red lip (chosen by moi).

 Five hours definitely was not enough for me since I was like a sponge soaking up everything. Though I've been in the field for a minute I almost felt like I was crawling again. There were things that as an artist I inadvertently didn't pay attention to, one thing was assuming as long as lots of people liked a product then that's all I needed to understand... NOT!  Dell explained "No your stuff, research, google, ask the artists at the counter what's in a product before you buy and if you don't like it RETURN IT!" You ain't said nothing but a word Dell. That in itself is what separates an artist from a consumer.

 Finally it was time for us to use some of the new found information and implement it on our models as always my chosen was my partner in crime Chantal who gladly allows me to have free reign to practice my talent. I didn't let her or Dell down and with some critiques along the way I beat her face up! She's going to hate me for the before pic but it really does her after pic so much more justice. Love you Chan!

His technique, focus, and experience is seasoned well beyond his natural years and I'm honored that he chose me to assist him though I didn't do anything at all (He is such a Southern gentleman :-). I'll keep you updated as I receive more information on future 2012 workshops but below you can find some taking place soon... Word to the wise if he is in your town you should do yourself a favor and go check him out, trust me Dell has lots of tricks up his artistic sleeve. Follow him on twitter as well @rjohnbeauty. For more information on classes click here

Women of Color Master Class (Model Required)

Jacksonville, Florida

October 30th, 2011

3745 Southside Boulevard  Jacksonville, Florida 32216

"Basics of Beauty" Class

Suffolk, Virginia

November 6th, 2011

Clutching My Pearls Boutique

602 West Washington Street Suffolk, Va 23434

Photo Session Lesson (Model Required)

Richmond, Virginia

November 20th, 2011

8 West Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220

Women of Color Master Class (Model Required)

Atlanta, Georgia

November 27th, 2011

Location announced upon confirmation

Photo Session Lesson Washington, DC Model Required

Washington, DC

December 4th, 2011

206 South Union Street 2nd Floor Alexandria, VA

All of these artists were amazing lets do it again! Felicia, Merli, Dell, Tanica, Lexi, ?, and Anna (Photo Courtesy of London Wright)

Going Natural the Journey to the Big Cut

       So it's been quite a process not only has it been an adjustment physically emotionally. You  don't realize how much of an impact your physical has on your mental the outlook you have on yourself until you make a drastic change. For me that was making the drastic of going natural and dawning a low hair cut with just natural hair. Why did I do it? Well for a long time I wanted to go natural but always had a million and one excuses as to why I couldn't do it my scalp being tender is number one and the second being that I felt like more grade of hair was not good hair grade and that it wouldn't look good on me. 
     Before the big chop I had a mohawk cut that had grew out and my plan was to grow out my hair but I'd have to go really short in order to do so. I thought to myself that maybe that if this was my chance maybe I should take it. What pushed me over the edge was the event I went to in Harlem for master artist Sam Fine who was promoting his amazing DVD Fine Beauty (which you should def buy) and I was in my wig and surrounded in a sea of beautiful sistas whom all seem to be natural and just lovely. Was this a sign from God that it was time to let go of the creamy crack that had taken over my life? I think so and from that night I was on a mission, I knew that with the momentum I had from that night I had to cut all the straight hair off and make the change. So after some advice I went to a  natural salon in downtown Brooklyn called Sol. Rob would be the one to the honors and he made it a not so bad process by talking to me and telling me how beautiful I was. It still didn't stop me from tearing up at the finish product i looked at myself and quickly put my hat on left. I didnt want to look at myself in the mirror longer than a second which is not the norm for me I was almost certain I looked like a feminine boy. 
       In the days to come after I was still beautiful the very features that people say are beautiful about me are still the same now my real features are on display for the world to see. Thanks to my friends and ladies I met at the makeup show who began to guide me as to the products I should use and Sam Fine who said girl youre glamorous just put your big earrings on. So I've finally embraced my new look but still haven't found the right products so I'll take advice below and will update you on the status. So far I've used Shea moisture shampoo which is good but the curly concoction (whose name escapes me) leaves my hair looking white. Ugghh! What I thought would be a whole lot easier is not as easy as I thought it would. I'm also thinking of coloring my hair what color should I do? I'm a daredevil if you didn't know. Thanks for reading beautiful people. :) 

 

        Live, Laugh, Love and Learn

     Miss Merli