Daring Diva Diaries With Entrepreneur and Lash Guru Dena Williams

Dena Williams is a woman of many creative talents. The Chicago-based graphic designer, make-up artist, eyelash stylist and now makeup line owner, is living out a vision many beauty enthusiasts dream about. 

Williams' story started as a receptionist at a make-up studio in 2005, where she fell in love with the beauty industry.  She soon began honing her skills while making a name for herself as "The Eyelash Girl" before starting Luvalash Make-up and Eyelash Styling company in 2010 while finishing her studies at Columbia College Chicago with the mission to help women build their self-esteem. 

Released this year, her line Lure cosmetics is already being positioned as a high-end, luxurious brand to watch with the same intention: to empower women everywhere.

Read more on how she started her business, her T's on great skin care, and her secret to applying eyelashes perfectly...every time. 

What inspired you to get in the beauty business? 

I came across numerous of girls and women with low self-esteem. Every woman wants to feel and look beautiful yet lack the appropriate finishing touch to enhance her natural beauty. Teaching my make-up techniques and using my products will help enhance and highlight your natural features. 

Congrats on your new make up line LURE Cosmetics! How long did it take to develop and what are some of the signature products from the line?   

Thank you! With research and production about two years. Some of the signature products are the Brow Kit (brow brush, brow powder and my favorite seashell highlighter pencil). The Luxury lipgloss and lipstick are long lasting and moisturizes your lips. Lure eyeshadows are radiant and stays on forever.

Where do you envision your makeup line being in the next five years?                                                                                                 

I envision Lure to be in stores like Sephora, Macy’s, Ulta…

Most make-up pros say great skin is the basis for great make-up application. What are some of your favorite products you use on your skin?

Great skin is key! Some of my favorite products are Aveeno daily cleansing pads and Clinique moisturizing lotion. 

What are some of the challenges you’ve experienced building your own business? 

Some of the challenges are staying relevant, coming up with different strategies to stay relevant, assembling a business team and finding the right business location.  

How has growing up in Chicago shaped you as an entrepreneur? 

Chicago has shaped me to work...hard. Chicago can be hard on people! You have to be humble and confident in your craft and be on the grind 24/7. 

Now I know you are a master with the lash applications, which can be very tricky for a lot of folks. Share some tips on applying lashes.

Smile  Lash application can be a little tricky. First you have to have a steady hand balance. Applying them in a way that your hand is comfortable. I use the short slant tweezers. It helps me to grip the lash ball easier. I am most comfortable applying lashes going under in between the lashes. I start on the outer part of the lashes and finishing towards your tear ducks with flares (lashes). Applying the lashes in on a slightly slant so they can flow and not look like they are sticking straight forward. 

What’s one product that must be in your makeup bag at all times? 

The products that must be in your makeup bag at all times are mascara, eyeliner, red lipstick (never know you might have a after work set or date ;) ), nude or any neutral lipgloss for daytime, a pressed powder and/or a good bronzer.  

Lastly, who/what inspires you to be a daring and beautiful woman? 

Strong successful women like my late grandmother Elsie, Oprah Winfrey, Queen Latifah, DJ Beverly Bond-to name a few.

Get your hands on Lure cosmetics or get your face beautified in time for the holidays when you visit: www.luvalash.com!   

She Bad: Daring Diva Diaries With Kenya Patterson

From the moment you meet Kenya, probably the first thing you will notice is her big, bountiful, beautiful hair. The second you might notice is her infectious, free-spirited, positive attitude. As the curator of the Curls & Cocktails event series, this Nashville-based curly-haired maven brings women from all over the country together in the spirit of empowerment and education in the natural hair world.

Read on to learn more about Kenya Patterson’s self love journey, hair tips and her quest to change the natural hair game, one event at a time.

What’s the inspiration behind your Instagram name @Halfietruths?

It’s just my way of saying mixed, biracial, and multi-ethnic. My dad is black and my mom is white; that makes me a halfie :).

You openly talk about being biracial on your blog. Did being biracial ever affect your standard of beauty in terms of how you viewed yourself  growing up?

Yes, it most certainly did impact my standard of beauty and more-so physical acceptance. I think a lot of biracial children who grow up in a predominately white community question the desire level of their physical appearance. I used to wish that I was white, with straight hair and “normal” skin. I get teary-eyed to admit that, but its true and I have swirly, mini-luvvs who have wished on that same star. For a very long time, knowing that I will have children who may wish for fairer skin or “normal” hair, impacted how I loved or who I loved rather. I wanted my children to see themselves in their parents, so they never had doubt or these saddening wishes, so I wasn’t open to dating outside of black men. It wasn’t until recently, that I realized no matter who I make my children with, they will see themselves in us...duh!! It will be my job, like it was my mother’s, and all mothers’, to make sure they know they’re beautiful, strong and worthy of all this world has to offer.

Now you started the Curls&Cocktails event series in ATL this year. What is the objective of these events?

I want women to come to a C&C event and see a little of themselves in each other, feel beautiful, strong, inspiring, and make new friends, thus making this curlworld a little smaller! Anything that happens outside of this-learning about a new product, discovering hair tips or networking-is just a side-effect of being in a room full of beautiful, smart and 
cultured women.

"My biggest hope is that women feel good

about being themselves and they pay this 

feeling forward so natural hair transforms 

from being a movement to being the norm." 

These events are needed because my big hair still gets crazy looks. I still get asked how I make it like this, and everyday people want to touch it because it’s still foreign. Events like C&C provide support and raise awareness that being natural is not a trend-it’s a lifestyle and until this lifestyle is no longer seen as foreign, these event are necessary. We have a ways to go!

Speaking of which-The natural hair movement has evolved over the years. What are your thoughts on the natural hair care community today?

It’s beautiful and, more importantly, it’s powerful! I like to think of the natural hair community as a huge tree with a network of so many branches that touch every aspect of life. If you look at a popular natural Instagram account, it will lead you to another account that focuses on health and another that focuses on fitness and others that are focused on entrepreneurship, or motivational and inspirational guidance, writers, poets, teachers, artists, dancers, mentors, athletes, chefs, mothers, sisters, and daughters. The branches are endless. It’s so very cool that social media has given us a tool to witness this growing tree/community.

You have a mane of gorgeous hair. What are some of your staple products that you can’t live without?

Thanks girl! I wash once a week with TRESemme. I use the conditioner as a leave-in as well. I don’t DC (deep condition) as much as I should, but when I do, I make my own (recipe below). I’m not a product junkie at all. I stick with what works. I go back and forth between 3 stylers: Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding or Curls Unleashed Defining Cream, which both give me definition and hold. Shea Moisture’s Curly Smoothie gives me lots of volume with soft curls that don’t last very long. 

How long have you be rocking your natural locks?

I started to transition in 2009,  and it was a nightmare! If you want to go natural, big chop. Just do it! You’re hair will be healthy, so it will grow faster and you will save yourself the headache of dealing with two different textures of hair. I finally BC’d in June or July of 2010 so it’s been 3 years!

What is one piece of advice you would have told yourself about your hair journey 20 years ago?

“Just do it, don’t be such a punk!!!” I was addicted to length, even unhealthy length.  I didn’t want to do the work. I was scared. I think lots of women are though! It’s gonna be fine!!! Better than fine- fabulous! Trust me.

What is the biggest hair mistake you have made?

Color. I have the strongest urge to be a red-head. I was born to be a ginger! I tried to go red three times in one year. It never took and it released my curls a lot. I’d have to BC again to get the perfect coils I once had. 

Who would you say is your hair crush?

Hands down @Charmsie. Her color and curls are perfection. Perfection. The very cool thing is that she is equally beautiful on the inside & worthy of allll the adoration she gets! 

Describe your hair in a word.

Unruly.

Lastly, who or what inspires you to be daring and beautiful?  

I don’t have daughters, but I have four, very special, mini curlgirls (my niece Maddy, and my unofficial goddaughters: Zoe, Mikayla & Malia) who look up to me and it’s my job to be daring & beautiful so they know nothing else! 

Pamper your locks with Kenya's special, all-natural deep conditioning recipe that will help your hair get healthy.

Kenya's Deep Conditioning Hair Recipe:

2 parts coconut oil

1 part extra virgin olive oil

1 ½ an avocado

1tbs honey. 

Mix contents in a bowl. Section hair and apply mix. Cover hair with plastic shower cap and leave DC in overnight. In the AM, wash conditioner out with your regular shampoo, conditioner & leave-in  conditioner routine.

Stay up-to-date on Kenya's world, including her next event near you when you follow her on Instagram @Halfietruths.