A single slap made by Will Smith’s hand on Chris Rock’s cheek upstaged all Oscar winners’ speeches. But was the slap staged or real? If real, why such a childish move? If staged, what was there to gain? Joining us in the discussion is image expert and entrepreneur Natalie Plain, founder of Billion Dollar Beauty.
Q&A:
- Your publicist, Jerry McGlothlin of Special Guests, says you believe the answer to the “real or fake” question may lie in the children’s game, “Rock Scissors Paper.” Explain.
Answer: Think about the pecking order here. Paper covers Rock, scissors cuts paper, and Rock smashes scissors. Whether real or fake, it is the same result:
“Rock” is Chris Rock, who hits Will Smith’s wife Jada on the head with a rock, so to speak, making fun of her medical condition, Alopecia. He compares her to Demi Moore’s character in the movie, G.I. Jane, with a buzz haircut.
“Scissors” is Will Smith who “cut” to the chase, marching up to Chris Rock, slapping him, defending his wife’s honor.
“Paper” is the result: Publicity in papers. Oh, for members of Generation Z, newspapers were the things that preceded online news.
- P.T. Barnum coined the phrase, “All publicity is good publicity” and Oscar Wilder said, “The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” But what good can come from publicity about hair loss?
Answer: There is a quadfeta of publicity here for Will Smith Chris Rock, the Oscars, and Alopecia. If enough people know what Alopecia is, it could drive more funding to find a cure to the underlying diseases causing the four types of Alopecia. And we all know how the ratings for the Oscars haveplummetted. People will be talking about this for years to come. As cynical as it may sound, it may be a win-win.
- What are the different types of Alopecia?
Answer: The National Institutes of Health provides four types:
Alopecia Areata, where the immune system attacks hair follicles.
Patchy Areata, causing hair loss in coin-size patches.
Alopecia Totalis is total or near-total hair loss on the top of the head.
Alopecia Universalis, is nearly universal hair loss on the head and the body.
- What is the cause of hair loss?
Answer: A variety of contributing factors, including hormonal changes, genetics, meds, supplements, chemotherapy, or even some hair treatments or styles that pull hair back, triggering Traction Alopecia.
- Apart from underlying medical conditions causing hair loss, what can we do to avoid other causes of hair loss?
Answer: Stop using products that cause hair loss, and begin to use products that protect and enrich hair. Also, hair can thin after stress. It might be the loss of a family member or money worries or a myriad of factors causing anxiety. While easier said than done, it’s best to engage in destressing activities, seeking things that bring forth joy, peace, and a positive self-image. While men may knock their wives for spending so much time in front of the mirror on their makeup and hair, we all appreciate beauty, internal and external.
- Let’s move on to hair and makeup trends. Wearing masks used to mean various types of face creams and treatments. But you have said that during the Covid era of “Masks cover Lips,” has shifted the focus upward to the eyes and eyebrows.
Answer: Yes, and this trend was noticeable during the Academy Awards.
Actress Jessica Chastain rocked a beautiful bold brow and soft use of makeup to compliment her Oscar win for portraying Tammy Faye, who was best known for her thin harsh brows and overuse of makeup.
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye” won Best Makeup and Hairstyling, giving the award to makeup artist Linda Dowds. Again, with masks on for two years, the focus goes to eyes, eyelashes, and eyebrows.
Here’s my read on the presenters:
Regina Hall – I love Regina’s bold brows. She deposits that perfect amount of pigment in her brows to make them pop. Her expressive eyes with a dark and smokey look is a Hollywood glamour classic. She plays up her luscious lips in a subtle way but with color and consistency.
Wanda Sykes –Wanda plays up her eyes and cheeks—I love how she does that. She has beautiful cheekbones, her eyes are expressive, and her signature beauty. Her skin is flawless, with thin and precise brows that open up her eyes!
Amy Schumer – I think Amy uses color in so many subtle ways that present her as a natural girl next door beauty. Nothing is overwhelming. She knows how to use color on her blonde eyebrows to frame her face. Her lips and cheeks showcase a gentle use of pinks, and her eyes pull you in with purpose and a pop of mascara.
- Tell us about your company, Billion Dollar Beauty, and where we may find out more about your products.
Answer: BillionDollarBeauty.com
GUEST BIO: Natalie Plain is the CEO/Founder of Billion Dollar Beauty, a company she started 18 years ago out of her one-bedroom Los Angeles apartment using credits cards and a whole lot of tenacity. Today BDB is a multi-million-dollar global company that continues to expand and invest in innovation to make its products sustainable, environmentally safe, and cost-friendly. Equally as crucial to Natalie is her time mentoring future entrepreneurs and sharing her journey with other female leaders, encouraging them to continue to dare to achieve. Her company website is at: https://www.billiondollarbeauty.com/
CONTACT: Tamara Colbert 626-244-5571, tamara@ohsweetliberty.com or Celinda Hawkins at: jerry.specialguests@gmail.com
