Here’s our roundup of the hottest hair and makeup looks worn at the Soul Train Awards held in Atlanta on Tuesday night. Keri Hilson (pictured above)

Latoya Luckett

Debra Lee

Tamela Mann

Kandi Burruss

Keshia Knight Pulliam

Claudia Jordan

NeNe Leakes

Who wore your favorite look?

Somehow we knew it would come to this. But what we didn’t expect was to kind of like it. What do you think?

Check out our roundup of some of the most stunning belles of the ball! We love the array of smoky eyes, muted lip colors, and chic hairstyles, but who do you think looked best? Jennifer Hudson (above)?

Paula Patton?

Debra Lee?

Take a look at of the stars who came out to celebrate DJ Beverly Bond’s 3rd Annual Black Girls Rock! Awards. We loved all the variety of “good hair” shown on a night that was cold and rainy in NYC: from co-host Regina King’s short bangs (above) to Janelle Monae’s natural pouf, to co-host Tracee Ellis Ross’s curls, Latifah’s ponytail and Mary’s pixie. But you tell us: which hair rocked the best?

Naomi Campbell?

Mary J. Blige?

Queen Latifah?

Raven Symone?

Janelle Monae?

Tracee Ellis Ross?

Beverly Bond?

This weekend, Ciara was alll over Las Vegas:  helping to celebrate  Kim Kardashian, her new bff’s birthday at the Venetian’s Tao restaurant, and performing for Justin Timberlake during his Justin & Friends show.  So we gathered a few of Ciara’s favorite red carpet looks and wanted to know which style do you like better? Ciara with curls, or Ciara straight?

Ciara in waves:

Ciara straight:

Want curls without the crunch? Try this product! [URBAN CURLZ]
Been looking for a blush to compliment your brown skin? Brittany just may have found one. [CLUMPS OF MASCARA]
Want a chance to win $500 worth of hair care products? Of course you do! Take this brief survey and you could! [AMBERMAG]
Use this promotion code to receive 20% off of your Ulta purchase! [LONG HAIR DON'T CARE]

Hi there,
We know much we all want to rock good hair. So we’re curious as to which products help you to get your best hair day every time. Take  five minutes to answer our AMBER Approved A-list survey and you will be automatically eligible to win $500 worth of the best hair products around.
Click here to enter.

On last night’s Vh1-Hip Hop Honors Def Jam, they brought out the rap stars who started it all. One of the best produced hip hop shows we’ve seen, ever, it was  such a strong reminder of how great and important the label has been to the music. But this isn’t the music blog, we’re about beauty and style. So with that we’d like to highlight the hits and misses. First up? Foxy Brown. The female rapper, along with Lil Kim, responsible for showing young girls that the way to the top of the hip hop crowd is by showing skin didn’t disappoint. She showed up with news breasts, over-the-top lashes and a long black weave that looked oh so, like yesterday. Not very modern in a world of Rihanna-ish edgy cuts. Didn’t she get the memo? No female artist is rocking that look anymore. It’s straight out of the ’90s.  Just look at all the other artists who were trying to step it up and look current.

Chrisette Michelle

Ashanti

Mary J. Blige

Eve

photo courtesy of drugstore.com

Need to freshen up on the go? Joi reviews Giovanni Organic Towelettes. [BEAUTY BLVD]
Want to create beautiful waves? Learn how to here. [THE ANTI HAIR SLAVE]
Anxious to get rid of s unsightly scars? See Blaq Vixen’s product suggestions. [BLAQ VIXEN]
Want a sneak peak at Pantene Pro-V’s model hopefuls? Click here. [LONG HAIR DON'T CARE]
Missed the Bronners Brother’s Hair Show this year? Here’s a recap! [URBANCURLZ]

Ciara was spotted yesterday shopping with her little pup in West Hollywood. What a cutie!  Apparently the princess of crunk has traded in her cropped quick weave for long, highlighted extensions again. We think the long tresses give her a youthful, pretty look. But what do you think? Long or short?

Photos courtesy of PicApp.com

Gabrielle Union, Sanaa Lathan, Lala Vasquez, and Nia Long stepped out looking stunning for InStyle Magazine’s Summer Soiree last night. From Gabrielle’s loose waves and bronze makeup, to Sanaa’s bold lip color, to Lala’s heavily rimmed eyes, and to Nia’s nude look, the ladies were showstoppers! We found it hard to choose, so we’re asking who do you think looked the best?

Photographs courtesy of PicApp.com

Courtesy The Daily Obsession

On September 10, 2009 Fashion’s Night Out will present The Plaza Beauty by Warren-Tricomi in New York City. This high-end beauty boutique will be offering its visitors face-to-face access to the makeup and skincare experts behind the behind the brands carried at The Plaza Beauty.

Expert makeup artists from Smashbox and Becca will be on site for makeup consultations and touch-ups, giving visitors the opportunity to preview the season’s must-have fall looks. Representatives from Sjal and Comfort Zone will be on hand to provide mini facials, hand massages and treatments using their formulas.

In addition, renowned stylists Joel Warren and Edward Tricomi will be presenting hair demonstrations to showcase fall’s key trends. Finally, visitors will have the chance to experience all the decadent indulgence The Plaza Beauty by Warren-Tricomi has to offer through special, deluxe samples courtesy of Lisa Hoffman Skincare, Tocca, Revitalash, Luzern Skincare, Kai, Santa Maria Novella, MLAB and Sponge Skincare. When you visit The Plaza Beauty during Fashion’s Night Out, you not only support a global initiative to boost our economy, but also receive the chance to win a Day of Beauty at the Warren-Tricomi Salon at The Plaza and a custom-made hair piece from Lucia Hair Designs. This is an event you don’t want to miss!

Kim K has joined the ranks of countless celebrities who have added “fragrance creator” to their resumes. The Keeping Up with the Kardashians starlet signed a deal with the relatively new beauty firm Lighthouse Beauty. The fragrance, which is yet to be named, is slated to launch in spring 2010.

About working with Lighthouse, Kardashian stated to WWD, “[It] was a really creative, innovative process. What’s so different about their approach is that they have worked closely with me on all aspects of my fragrance, the bottle, the juice, and even our distribution strategy so I can develop a product that truly represents me and speaks to my fans. Because of their commitment to including me in the process, the fragrance really captures who I am.”

Lighthouse, who has already partnered with rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson for his fragrance Power by 50 Cent, revealed that Kim K is only one of the first of many celebrities they plan to work with. Who will be next?

Which celebrity fragrance is your favorite?

Photography courtesy PicApp.com (newscom)

This weekend Ashanti was spotted serving food at the Variety Boys & Girls Club in Los Angeles. She, an official spokesperson for the BGCA’s “Be Great” campaign, was there hosting the “Million Meal Summer” event.  Beside her obvious charitable participation, we couldn’t help but notice her new ‘do. In lieu of shaving off the sides of her head, as many of her musical colleagues have been doing, the Hip-Hop/R&B princess opted for cornrows on one side of her textured faux hawk.

What do you think of her new look?

We love Mary in this new video.  Her short style, smoothed to the back gives us 80s appeal with more modern sophistication. What do you think?

This weekend Amber Rose hosted a Tao Beach Party at The Venetian Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, but it wasn’t her exceptional hosting skills that had everyone talking. Rose looked, well, scary wearing blue contacts and an unflattering orange-y blush. She, a natural beauty and Ford model, should know that less is always more. What happened, Amber?

Need to get your teeth whiter in just a few days? Try this product! [BEAUTY BLVD]
Want to make your blowout last longer? Learn how to here. [THE ANTI HAIR SLAVE]
Find out which makeup lines are on sale for up to 80% off at Beautyticket.com. [CLUMPS OF MASCARA]
Want to create loose waves in no time? Learn how to here! [URBAN CURLZ]

Tuesday night Queen Latifah was spotted on the red carpet at Paper Magazine and HP’s 25th Anniversary Gala at the New York Public Library in NYC rocking an interesting braided hump segueing into a ponytail. It’s a different take on the classic hump, but did she pull it off?

Photo courtesy PicApp.com (Splash News)

Just in case you missed the season 5 premiere of The Tyra Banks show, here’s a video of her revealing her natural hair during what she declared as National Real Hair Day. In the video Tyra says that she felt as though it [her hair] was an unsolved mystery that she needed to solve, but did anyone actually care? Her big reveal seemed more like self-liberation than a response to overwhelming inquiries about her real hair. What do you think?

Makeup artist Sam Fine gives a step-by-step on how to achieve Ugly Betty star Vanessa Williams‘ Emmy Awards makeup look.

To get Vanessa’s great face, Sam started with cream foundation. “Cream foundation will last throughout the night,” states Sam. Next, he used bronzer to contour the face, drawing attention to each feature.

Vanessa’s dress made Fine do a little shopping. “Because Vanessa’s dress choice was such a strong color, this forced me to re-address the neutrals I had in my kit,” admits Fine. “I wanted to go for a little more color in the cheek, as well as the lip, so I needed to find the perfect coral-pink shade, because true pink can be hard to wear.”

To highlight Vanessa’s gorgeous eyes, Fine says the look wasn’t about color, but really carving the eyes. “I never match the gown and there was a lot of color elsewhere so I had to balance it out with a neutral eye,” Fine says. “I used a gorgeous brown shade of eye shadow with a really great shimmer of pearl near the inner corner of the eyes. Then I lined the inside with a beige liner to bring life to the eye. Of course, a false lash, because you can’t hit the red carpet without one, then top it off with a few coats of mascara on the top and bottom lid.”

Products Sam Used:

Cream Foundation

Try: Bobbi Brown’s Foundation Stick. $40, available at bobbibrowncosmetics.com.

Bronzer (Use a matte when creating this look, stay away from shimmer)

Try: Bobbi Brown’s Bronzing Powder. $33, available at bobbibrowncosmeetics.com.

Coral Blush

Try: NARS in Exhibit A. $25, available at narscosmetics.com.

or Cargo in Laguna. $24, available at cargocosmetics.com.

Eye shadow (Use a trio with brown, shimmering pearl and vanilla to create this carved out eye)

Try: Stila Eye Shadow Trio in Gold Glow. $28, available at Sephora.com.

Lipstick in a pink/coral

Try: Dolce and Gabbana in Goddess. $30, available at saksfifthavenue.com.

Throughout the past month Rihanna has been gradually adding blonde streaks to her mane. The songstress is known for changing up her hair, but has she gone too far? Love it or leave it?

Actress Nia Long was spotted on the red carpet last night in Los Angeles at the premiere of Chris Rock’s documentary Good Hair. Up until last night’s premiere, Long had been making appearances with Rock at events such as the Bronner Brothers’ Hair Show in Atlanta to promote the film. She looked stunning sporting her healthy-looking natural tresses and nude makeup that she seems to be so fond of. Is it just us, or does she seem not to age?

We heart Tracee Ellis Ross for always beautifully representing the natural brown bellas with her lush mane. Tracee rocked this bohemian-esqe hairstyle at the special screening of The September Issue last month, but also opted to don the style for what looks like a casual night out on the town. We think she looks oh so cute ! What do you think? Are braids a good look for Tracee?

Ran into Amber Rose the other day during fashion week. And she was a very “sweet” girl, not at all like the diva her persona appears to be.  Last night at the New York premiere of Good Hair, she stepped out, showing off her new lip piercing. Tell us, is it a good look?

Rihanna tends to get quite a bit of shine around here, but we couldn’t deny how chic she looked in France during Paris’ Fashion Week. She won us over with her coif, which looks like a sleek and sophisticated spin on Janelle Monae’s, and her bold lip color. Do you love it?

Here is our roundup of whose hair was the hottest at this year’s BET Hip Hop Awards. Sheree Whitfield of Real Housewives of Atlanta.

Eva Pigford

Fonzworth Bently showed off his new ‘do.

Trina has certainly stepped up her game for a more classy appeal. But she does now resemble a cross between Beyonce and Rihanna.

Nicki Minaj showed off, her, well, the back of her style.

Snoop gets the best press and curl award in our opinion.
But what do you think?

We love her smoky eye look, the Minx nail designs and her hair pressed straight. Look for her new CD on December 1, 2009.

photo courtesy Sephora.com

Been dying to try Benefit Bad Gal mascara? Find out what Brittany had to say about it. [CLUMPS OF MASCARA]
Not sure which conditioners to use this winter? Curly Nikki tells us which ones to try and which ones to “shelf.” [CURLY NIKKI]
What is good hair? Find out how Wes defines it. [HONEYBROWNSUGAR]
Considering growing out your relaxer? Find out how to make the transition easier. [LONG HAIR DON'T CARE]
Been looking for new spa to try? ‘Cure Beauty Bar in New York City may be just what you’re looking for. [PARLOUR]
Vinegar to reduce frizz? Yes! Find out how. [URBAN CURLZ]

So in this month’s French Vogue, Dutch model Lara Stone is painted in dark makeup, a la blackface. Some are outraged. Others think it’s just art. We think it only goes to show that every body looks better with a little black in them. See some of the shots, courtesy of Jezebel.com, photographed by Steven Klein and styled by the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Carine Rothfield.
We’re not offended by this as, say those folks in Australia who performed a Michael Jackson song in true blackface.

But what do you think? Read more about it on Ambermag.com.

Girl Talk and Cobra Starship celebrate PINK Nation with performances on the Indiana University campus. Five universities across the country competed for the opportunity to host the Victoria’s Secret’s PINK Nation student event and Indiana University received the most votes. Launched nationwide in July 2004, Victoria’s Secret PINK is a lifestyle collection designed for young women that consists of loungewear, swimwear, sleepwear, lingerie and accessories. In 2008, PINK launched the Victoria’s Secret PINK Collegiate Collection- an exclusive assortment of collegiate co-branded merchandise that features VS PINK’s highly recognizable brand iconography and the names and logos of the top universities on fashion apparel.

PINK Nation is an exclusive club where members receive free gifts, exclusive offers, special access and the inside scoop on everything PINK.

WHAT: Indiana University’s Dunn Meadow will be transformed into the ultimate music festival complete with a PINK-ified pop-up shop featuring the event’s limited edition t-shirt, a Hope Wall and musical performances by Girl Talk and Cobra Starship. PINK Nation event goers are invited to participate in collegiate activities such as football toss and cornhole as well as to donate gently used clothing to benefit Middle Way House. Guests can pick up their access passes at participating local Indiana Victoria’s Secret PINK stores and from designated PINK street teams throughout Bloomington. PINK Nation members can download the access ticket now at www.vspink.com/pinknation and if you’re not a member it’s free to join. The PINK Nation B-town Bash passes allow guests access into the party on a first come, first serve basis.

WHERE: Dunn Meadow

Indiana University

WHEN: Thursday, October 22^nd

5PM

Press check-in: 4PM

Are you or do you know a high school student interested in the music industry? If so, take this opportunity to apply for the GRAMMY in the Schools program, which connects young aspiring musicians with industry insiders. The application deadline is October 22, 2009. Read on for more info:

The GRAMMY Foundation® is currently accepting applications for its 2010 GRAMMY Camp®, GRAMMY® Jazz Ensembles and GRAMMY Signature Schools programs. These programs are part of the Foundation’s GRAMMY in the Schools® offerings. Gibson Foundation and the Ford Motor Company Fund continue to generously sponsor GRAMMY Signature Schools and GRAMMY Camp is sponsored in part by Converse and Epiphone.

“The GRAMMY Foundation connects young people with artists and industry professionals through GRAMMY in the Schools programs that offer real world insights into careers in the music business,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy® and the GRAMMY Foundation. “Whether you are a singer/songwriter attending GRAMMY Camp, a band member at a school awarded a GRAMMY Signature Schools grant, or an instrumentalist spending GRAMMY Week in Los Angeles as a member of the GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles, our programs offer students unique experiences that can help guide their musical futures.”

Students and schools interested in participating in the 2010 GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles and GRAMMY Signature Schools programs can apply at www.grammyintheschools.com. Completed applications are due by Oct. 22 for both programs. Oct. 22 is also the early decision deadline for students interested in attending the 6th annual GRAMMY Camp to be held in summer 2010. Early decision applicants will receive a 10 percent tuition discount if selected to attend GRAMMY Camp. They receive this discount whether they are selected as part of the early decision process or drawn from the regular applicant pool. Applicants not selected via early decision will be reconsidered with the final pool of applications. The final application deadline is March 31, 2010. Over the past three years, approximately 70 percent of campers who applied for financial aid received assistance.

The GRAMMY Foundation is also pleased to announce that for the first time ever, the GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles recordings can now be purchased on iTunes, Amazon.com, and other quality online music outlets.  The 2007 and 2008 albums are available for download, with the 2006 and brand new 2009 albums set to be released this fall. These projects were recorded at the world famous Capitol Recording Studios (EMI Music) in Hollywood, Calif., by GRAMMY-winning engineers Manny Marroquin and Al Schmitt, and mastered by GRAMMY winner Bernie Grundman.

GRAMMY Camp
The program offers selected high school students an interactive residential summer music experience. Focusing on all aspects of commercial music, this unique opportunity provides instruction by industry professionals in an immersive creative environment with cutting-edge technology in professional facilities. The program offers 10 music career tracks: Audio Engineering; Concert Promotion/Production; Electronic Music Production; Music Journalism; and performance tracks in Bass; Drums; Guitar; Keyboard; Songwriting; and Winds & Strings. All tracks culminate in media projects, CD recordings and/or showcase performances. GRAMMY Camp will be held at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music and other professional venues throughout Los Angeles.

GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles
High school (public, private, parochial, home-schooled, etc.) singers and instrumentalists are encouraged to audition for the GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles. Selectees will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles, the host city for the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards Jan. 23 through Feb. 1, 2010. Students will participate in high-profile GRAMMY Week performances and recording sessions and will attend the 52nd Annual GRAMMY telecast on Jan. 31. Musical directors for the GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles are Justin DiCioccio (Manhattan School of Music), Dr. Leila Heil (Colorado State University), and Dr. Ron McCurdy (USC Thornton School of Music). Students are also eligible for college scholarships through the college incentive program (more than $2 million available) offered by program partners Berklee College of Music, USC Thornton School of Music, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and Manhattan School of Music.

The school of each selectee will receive a professional cymbal courtesy of the Zildjian Company. The GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles program receives additional support from the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, SmartMusic, Zildjian, Capitol Recording Studios (EMI Music), and Guitar Center Hollywood.

GRAMMY Signature Schools
Just as the GRAMMY Award recognizes excellence in recording, the GRAMMY Foundation’s GRAMMY Signature Schools program recognizes top public high schools across the country for outstanding commitment to their music education programs. Each of the GRAMMY Signature Schools will receive a custom award and a monetary grant to benefit its music program. The top  programs are designated Gold recipients. The best of the Gold recipients is designated the National GRAMMY Signature School. The National GRAMMY Signature School will receive up to $10,000, and the remaining Gold schools each will receive $5,000. In the Enterprise Award category, which recognizes efforts made by schools that are economically underserved, up to six schools will receive a grant of $5,000 each. The remaining GRAMMY Signature Schools recipients will each receive a grant award of $1,000 to benefit their music programs. The recipients are determined by the Blue Ribbon Committee, a panel of top music educators and professionals.

The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture — from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy®, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. For more information, please visit www.grammyintheschools.com.

Gibson Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Gibson Guitar Corp., the world’s premiere musical instrument manufacturer and leader in music technology. The mission of Gibson Foundation is to make the world a better place for children by creating, developing and supporting programs and other nonprofit organizations in their efforts to advance education, music and the arts, the environment and health and welfare causes. For more information, please visit www.gibsonfoundation.org.

Epiphone fretted instruments, amplifiers and accessories are known worldwide for offering the best combination of quality and value. Headquartered in Nashville, Epiphone is part of the Gibson family of brands that includes Dobro, Maestro, Kramer, Valley Arts, Steinberger, Tobias, Slingerland, Baldwin, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Wurlitzer, Hamilton, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Take Anywhere Technology and Sunshine Piano. Visit Epiphone’s Web site at www.epiphone.com.

Program Contact:
David R. Sears/The GRAMMY Foundation/310.392.3777/david@grammy.com

Media Contacts:
Christina Cassidy/The GRAMMY Foundation/310.392.3777/christina.cassidy@grammy.com
Jaime Sarachit/The Recording Academy/310.392.3777/jaime.sarachit@grammy.com