Me, pre-wash, pre-chop.

Sometime in 2010, while channel surfing, I decided to watch a documentary about the non-profit organization, Locks of Love. This documentary literally brought tears to my eyes. I remember one little girl not wanting to go to school because she was bald. She was waiting to get her custom made hair piece from Locks of Love. By the time it was over, I was in tears. And I promised to grow my hair and donate it to Locks of Love.

I must first admit, that I knew a lot about Locks of Love and briefly contemplated growing my hair to donate. But I never did, because I loved my thick curly hair too much to make a drastic cut. I didn’t want to take the time to grow it. Pretty selfish, right? I know. But this documentary reminded me of two things. One, God blessed me to be healthy and I should be grateful that I had my health and my hair. Two, What would it cost me to grow my hair and donate it? Nothing. I wasn’t really sacrificing anything. So it was decided, I would grow the necessary 10″ (minimum amount needed) and donate it.

But I was going to need help. With thick, curly hair like mine, my grows slower because of the curly pattern in my hair. I needed to grow my hair, yes, but it needed to be healthy and in good condition. After asking around, I started taking *Viviscal. These supplements helped my hair grow faster than usual. People took notice too. I even noticed my eyebrows, under arm hair, leg hair, all started growing faster. (Editor’s note: I’m not a medical professional so please seek the advice of one before taking any supplements).

My hair growth took about two years to have enough to cut and donate, but have enough for me to work with as well. I used to have a terrible fear of short hair, but now I was ready/ More and more celebrities were doing drastic shirt haircuts like Alicia Keys, Miley Cyrus and Anne Hathaway. They did it and despite whether the public or their fans like it or not, they own their new look. I promised to do the same, because at the end of the day, it would grow back.

My stylist Betsy, knew I wanted to cut it but she wasn’t expecting for me to be ready. But I walked into Scott J. Salon on 72nd and Colombus determined. My long hair became too much for me to handle. It wasn’t even curling the same. And so my hair was washed, deep conditioned and blown straight.

After my hair was blown straight and before the chop.

I honestly thought I might have second thoughts or feel sad. I felt none of that. I was excited! 2012 was sort of a rough year for me and letting go of my hair symbolized giving myself a fresh start for 2013.

Betsy parted my hair into 2 ponytails and cut each one.

After the cut. Betsy gave me new layers.

When she was finished, I felt so happy! I immediately fell in love with my new cut and I was proud that I kept my promise. In latin culture, long hair is seen as beautiful and definitely an attractive quality. But beauty is what you make of it. I cut my hair for a good cause and that’s beautiful. I’m not going to say that styling my new length has been challenging at times, and I’ll even say my new length is a little more high maintenance but it was definitely worth it! I love my new look and I’m definitely having fun styling it in different ways.

My new cut! I love it.

If you want to donate your hair to Locks of Love, it must be at least 10″ long and cut in a ponytail or a braid. Loose, wet, or bleached hair can’t be acc because it won’t survive the wig making process.**IMPORTANT** When mailing your donation, please make sure that you are sending it with adequate postage. The U.S. Postal Service has notified Locks of Love that many donations are being sent without enough postage, and these packages will be returned to sender! To ensure adequate postage, please take your donation to your local post office.

Mail Donations to:

*Samples of the Viviscal supplements were provided to me from their public relations team.

A Makeup Artist works to Create the Fierce Smokey Eye Backstage at Tracy Reese.

You know why I LOVE my city? Because it takes a lot for it shut down. A blizzard by the name of Nemo struck the Northeast on Friday and while the city and the five boroughs were affected, the shows went on. On Sunday morning, I was backstage, business as usual to see Mally Roncal beat faces for the Tracy Reese Show. Imagine my excitement when I saw the look was a fierce matte black smoky eye.

One of the models proudly showcasing her smokey backstage at Tracy Reese.

In her own words, Mally’s inspirtation on the makeup look.

“She is the quintessential New York City girl. She’s confident. She’s fierce. Whether she has been out all night with her girlfriends, or just working the night shift, she’s out feeling as fabulous as she did when she left the house. Her skin is healthy, glowing, and artfully undone. The eyes are strong, which are the focus, and heavily smokey.”

For Glowing Skin: Mally used her Glow Primer as a base and to create a subtle glow. She topped skin with her Diamond Unpowder which uses a unique moisture delivery system to keep skin looking fresh, fabulous and radiant all day long. Then to give the skin even more glow, she used her Effortless Airbrush Highlighter on the cheekbones and used her blush Mally’s Baby on the apples of cheeks. Each model finished with her Evercolor Poreless Face Defender to seal in makeup without a cake finish.

For a Bold Smokey Eye: Mally created an artistic smokey eye. For this, she used the black eyeshadow from her City Chick Smokey Eye Kit in Soho Silver all over the lid. Then she bent a clean mascara wand to each model’s specific eye shape, before dipping it in her Evercolor Silk Eye Defining System in Jet Black to smudge it out in the ends of eyes.

Mally Beauty City Chick Smokey Eye Kit in SoHo Silver used on models at Tracy Reese

For “Slept in Lips”: Mally started the look by applying her lipstick in French Kiss on the lips and then continued the rest of the face. Once each model was complete, she used a tissue and dabbed off the excess lipstick, so it looked like the model slept in her lipstick.

For Defined Brows: Mally filled in the eyebrows with her 24/7 Brow Express so they were very strong and defined.

All products available at Mallybeauty.com.

I love me some smokey eye, but then again, I am the quintessential New York City girl!

Besos & Hugs,

Miss Beauty MVP

EOS BCA Pack

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I am excited to share that one of my favorite beauty brands, EOS or Evolution of Smooth is will donate 100% of profits to further the advancement of research for treatment and a cure for breast cancer. The eos BCA Pack is available for $6.99 at major retailers including Ulta, Wegmans, Drugstore.com and evolutionofsmooth.com.

I first noticed the brand because unique packaging, but the lip balms are so hydrating without feeling waxy or sticky and the flavors are great but not too artificial tasting, I have bought their shave cream, body lotion, lip balm and hand lotion and the entire range of products are moisturizing and leave your skin feeling soft, sexy ands smooth.

If you are not familiar with eos product line, then you should definitely purchase the BCA pack, which contains the Strawberry Sorbet Lip Balm and Berry Blossom Hand Lotion. They’re also great for travel. Have you ever tried eos products? If you have, which are your favorite products?

Besos & Hugs,

Miss Beauty MVP

Mally creating strong brows on a model for the Tracy Reese Spring 2013 show.

I love covering Mally because she has such amazing energy and she is tons of fun. If you have never watched her on QVC, you are doing yourself a disservice. Mally’s award winning cosmetics line is sold on QVC and she has worked with both Beyonce and her alter ego, Sasha. Mally brings it!

Mally's work station, neatly arranged with her bullet-proof makeup line and tools..

This particularly, busy Sunday morning Mally didn’t disappoint. In fact here is a video, of how it all comes together backstage at Mercedes Benz NY Fashion Week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuIGLzI0vOI

To mimic the “fresh and boyish” look of Tracy’s Reese show:

For Bold Brows: Mally used her 24/7 Brow Express in Sable to fill in and define the brows, following the natural shape, but exaggerating the head for a strong, bold brow. She “peppered” in a bit of her Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Eyeliner in Midnight to add depth and drama.

For “Slept-In” Eyes: Mally created an ombre effect on the eyes by burying the Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Eyeliner in Midnight deep within the top lash line and smudging gently. She then used her Age Shadow Stick in Chocolate Diamond along the lower lash line, sumdging to diffuse any harsh lines, and her Evercolor Shadow Stick in Gunmetal to line right at the base of the lower lashes.

For Defined Lashes: Mally coated the top and bottom lashes with her Volumizing Mascara.

**Editor’s note: I have used this mascara and it is the TRUTH!!!**

Have you tried any of Mally’s products? Or watched her on QVC? Let me know which are your Mally Faves!

Besos & Hugs,

Miss Beauty MVP