BOBBI
MAGAZINE
Tattoo Culture: Questions you should ask before getting Tatted!
PARY PARTY PARTY!
Inside:“Blackout in a can” Four Loko beverage leaving a bad impression on college campuses
Also: Ladies are you wearing too much make-up?!
Creator: Barbara Wilson
What Michelle Obama Means to Beauty in America
To make up or not to
By: Zenoyise Madikwa WOMEN love to flaunt fabulous fluttering lashes with layers of black mascara, thick foundation and eyes emphasised with jet-black eyeliner. Some women would never dream of leaving their homes without their make-up on
wearing a wig or lied to seem better then he really was.
It's a girl thing. Men have a different opin- "You'd run away, wouldn't you? It is the ion. They hate women wearing too much same thing really." make-up. Malatjie said make-up could also be distractSowetan asked 50 straight, black, profes- ing. sional men what they really thought about make-up. "You would be talking to your colleague about something important and you would Interviews revealed that one in five men be thinks his partner wears too much makelooking up, while eight in 10 men prefer women at all who wear no make-up at all. these rainbow Three in 10 men said they were attracted colours to and dated women who wore make-up. on her face. And, of course, there were men who told How Sowetan that they could not tell when a are you woman was wearing make-up! supposed Most men said that they were turned off to foby fake eyelashes, winged eyeliner, dark cus? lip-liner, oily lip gloss, pencilled brows and thick foundation. "Makeup "Make up is for prostitutes," one man said. should be But even those who liked make-up said it banned was a big turn-off to kiss a woman who at wears lipstick. work," he said. They also found women with long, redpainted nails a turn-off. But most men said Asiphe Ndlela, a clinical psychologist, told they loved manicured acrylic nails. Sowetan that what she found interesting was that most men who claimed they did not like Some men felt women who wore make-up make-up were probably the same men who were shallow and insecure and wore it to foam at the mouth over models in magacover up their insecurities or to attract zines or women who wore make-up. men. Others complained that make-up stained their shirts and pillow cases. Some "A lot of men who claim they hate makesaid women who wore make-up were high up are probably insecure themselves. They maintenance. are jealous that someone else will find their women attractive," Ndlela said. "It is like being lied to," said Ngwako Malatjie, a colleague from Sunday World. "Some men like their women masculine-looking because they don't have to worry about " I hate it because I don't like to be lied other men paying attention to them." to. How would you feel if you found a guy you liked and later discovered that he's
Ndlela said this was often the reason for controlling behavior. She said studies had shown that men took women seriously when they wore make-up . She said women who went out without facial cosmetics were viewed as not taking care of their appearance. "Make-up makes you look cleaner, tidier, more feminine, more physically attractive, healthier, interesting, poised, confident and organised, Ndlela said. "The fact is, we receive more respect, not just from men but from other women too when we make ourselves look good and show our self-confidence. "When we dress well, take care of our hair and apply make-up skillfully, it affects the behaviour of those around us in a positive way. "And that makes us feel better and increases our confidence and self-esteem. And that gains us more respect, which makes us feel and look even better, and the cycle repeats," Ndlela said.
She said the notion of cosmetics became problematic when people feel unworthy without them, when a woman feels a need to hide or disguise or put on too much make-up. "A lot of men figure that when you have too much make-up on tyou are a little dysfunctional in the head. "But by the same token, it's a very unfair standard to demand that women be "natural" she said. Qaqamba Klaas, a human resource specialist, said employment agencies always advised candidates they send to companies for interviews to wear make-up. "Whether we like it or not, we live in a very visual world and we get judged on appearances," she said. "A woman who goes to a job interview with a face free of make-up is seen as sloppy. Nonverbal communication is essential to getting ahead in today's competitive business environment. "It's important to project a nonverbal image of competence before you speak a word. "Tastefully applied make-up conveys that you have confidence, that you pay attention to detail, that you care about your professionalism and that you take time to put your best foot forward," Klass said. She said on the nonverbal this often translates into others perceiving you as bringing those same qualities to your work. "Ironically, women who wear no make-up and women who wear too much make-up both communicate low self-esteem," she says.
Party Party Party! By:Barbara Wilson “We are in college of course we are going to drink, and we are drinking legally”, Says Allynn Taylor, also a senior. So who is to blame, the media, the school? Students Going “loko”
Drinking for college students is said to
be the key to having a good time, but could also lock the door to a healthy future. How could something so potentially dangerous be the number one social activity of college students? Here at Hampton University it is very common for a student to start their weekend on Thursday. “Thirsty Thursday”, as it is called is a day in which students hold gatherings and drink. But why has drinking become such a common thing amongst students? Most students who drink aren’t aware of the health risk associated with drinking as well as the social risks. It is not only those who engage in high-risk drinking or other drug use that’s affected. Students who do not use, or who drink legally and moderately, frequently suffer secondhand effects from the behavior of other students who drink too much. Some Secondhand effects that students have had to endure are having to take care of another student, sleep or study interruptions, gotten into serious arguments, or have had property damaged. A four-year study of college alcohol and drug use, Wasting the Best and the Brightest: Substance Abuse at America's Colleges and Universities, reveals that each month 49 percent of full-time college students, about 3.8 million, binge drink and/or abuse prescription and illegal drugs. In 2005, approximately 1.8 million of those students, 22.9 percent, met the medical criteria for substance abuse and dependence. If this is all true why do the students engage in such hazardous behavior? Martina Holmes, a senior at Hampton University, says “We’re in college its all around us”.
Last Spring a drink called “Four Loko” became extremely popular. Four Loko is a flavored malt liquor beverage that costs a little over $3.00 and is sold at most 7-11 and convenient stores. The size of the can is 23.5 ounces and it contains 12 percent alcohol. The drink is caffeinated and mixes a stimulant (caffeine) with a depressant (alcohol). The caffeine mixed with the alcohol causes the drinker to be more alert and restless. This is what takes place at the beginning; because the drinker has not yet felt the effects of the alcohol it could cause the person to consume more alcohol. It is not until after the caffeine wears off that the person starts to feel the effects of the alcohol. If you go into any party or gathering you will most likely spot a Four Loko there. With this drink being so cheap and easily attainable it encourages drinking amongst college students. The Food and Drug Administration is already investigating caffeinated alcoholic drinks, including Four Loko, and are asking for justification for putting caffeine in the beverages. This drink has caused a ruckus on various school campuses, causing students to be hospitalized.
Drinking in the Media Through television, ads, and music drinking is everywhere. If you turn on the radio you will most likely hear a reference to a specific liqour or drinking in gerneral. Music is what helps fuel students to party. Music Mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has made his brand of liquor, Ciroc, very popular with the help of music. Rapper Chris “Ludacris” Bridges has also joined board with his brand of Conac, Conjure. Songs like “Wasted” which says “Party Party Party lets all get wasted”, made it number 36 on the Billboard top 100. This song insists that the listeners get “wasted”. Wasted is a term used to describe a person being beyond intoxicated. Alcohol ads also make drinking very appealing and usually showcases people drinking in fun setting. These ads make drinkning look fun and does not mention the dangers of drinking beyond fine print at the bottom of the screen or simply someone saying, With all of the dangers associated with “drink responsibly”. binge drinking it is easy to ignore them while you’re having fun. Drinking games are extremely popular with college students. Type “Drinking Games” in your search engine and you can find over 4 million results. Most phones also come with applications for drinking games. The goal of any drinking game is to get intoxicated as quickly as possible. Games such as “Beer Pong”, and “Flip Cup” are two of the most popular drinking games played by students. “I love playing Beer Pong, because it is a competitive and masculine drinking game”, says Mitchell Ashburn, a Norfolk University senior. During Beer Pong there are two teams. The teams must successfully throw a ping pong ball into the opponent’s cup. Once a ball is in a cup the person must drink the cup. The first team to knock out the other team wins. This game can be very dangerous. Each time a ball is made into a cup the player has to chug the cup full of beer. With this game being competitive students play over and over again. “Sometimes i can play up to 5 games or more of beer pong in one night”, says Ashburn. Stuents can get so caught up with the competitive aspect of the game and not realize how much liqour they are actually consuming.
Drinking Made Fun
Prevention Students aren’t going to stop drinking over night, but with awareness programs they may learn to drink more responsibly. Students seem to be more exposed to drinking in a positive light rather than a negative light. Schools should incorporate drinking programs to help educate students on safe drinking practices. These programs should also be fun as well as informative by showing students fun alternatives to drinking. Flyers with information on the dangers of alcohol poisoning as well as negative side effects of soial drinkig should be placed throughout college campuses.
Tatt
So you’ve decided to get a tattoo, you’ve picked the per your body art once you get it. Now what? You need to d the tattooing process in general. You also need to learn
Shop Around You want to find a tattoo shop that is clean, safe, courteous and responsive to your needs and questions. In particular, you want to go with a place that clearly explains how to care for your tattoo after you get it so you can avoid having to deal with infections and other problems that can arise from tattoos.
Questions to Ask Your Tattoo Artist First, make sure the tattoo shop has all of the sterilizing items listed above. The shop should let you watch the autoclave being used and witness a new, individually packaged needle and tube set being opened for each client.
In addition, ask the following questions: 1. Does your artist have a license and references? 2. Does the shop follow the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Universal Precautions for blood disposal? 3. Does the shop use disinfectant on the workspace before and after each client? 4. Before being thrown away, are tubes and needles rinsed using
Other Con
It's important to use a shop -- and a tattoo artist -questions about the tattooing process and tattoo af ness come before their desire to make money.
See how the shop's staff reacts when you ask ques polite and reasonably friendly? Remember, a tatto to be sure you're in capable hands, and that you're
toos!!
rfect tattoo design and you’re sure you can take care of do your homework about tattoo shops, tattoo artists and about tattoo safety and how to prevent tattoo problems.
What To Look For in a Tattoo Shop What will a clean, safe tattoo shop look like? First of all, go with your gut: If a place doesn't feel clean or safe, or if something just seems off, look elsewhere. There are plenty of safe and reputable shops out there. Other than that, a good, clean tattoo shop will have the following things on hand: * latex gloves * sterile, disposable cloths or towels for cleaning tattoos * a virus-killing disinfectant for cleaning the workspace * antibacterial hand wash (for the tattoo artist's hands) and sterilizing soap (for clients' tattoos) * an FDA-approved autoclave, which uses steam, pressure and heat to sterilize the tattoo equipment * sterile disposable needles (individually packaged, sealed and dated)
nsiderations
that makes you feel comfortable and invites your ftercare procedures. Your health, safety and happi-
stions. Are they annoyed or indifferent, or are they oo is permanent, and getting one can hurt: You want e comfortable and taken care of each step of the way.
Reader of the Week Ashley Young
School: Hampton University Major: Marketing
Interests: Enjoys music and shopping
Hometown: Los Angeles California
Skin Care Tips for the African American Woman
To remove an everyday buildup which comes from oil and other cosmetic products, try to use a non-abrasive cleaner. Stay away from harsh cleansers as they may lead to unwanted breakouts and inflammation. In order to get even skin tone, go for a specialized product for hyper pigmentation. Lastly, exfoliate the skin to get rid of dead skin cells. It is also recommended that one needs to adopt a steady routine of getting the skin tested regularly by a dermatologist.
By: Suvan Sharma Taking good care of the skin is essential for healthy looking skin. In order to get a smooth, glowing and healthy looking skin one need to adopt a good skin care regimen by following some important skin care tips for black women. Here are some skin care tips for African American women. Skin Protection for Black Women There are many factors that are responsible for skin damage. Ultraviolet rays from the sun are well known for causing various skin related problems like premature aging, wrinkles, dryness and even skin cancer. However, people with black skin are less prone to sun damage due to the presence of melanin, and this is the main reason that darker skin tones do not burn as easily as lighter skin tones tend to. But, it is still essential to give proper protection to the skin by using a good quality sunscreen in order to protect it from harmful rays whenever you go out in the sun. Considering a bit additional protection surely reduces the amount of harm that is caused by the harmful ultraviolet radiations. Scheduled Skin Regimen In order to keep the skin healthy, it is very essential to follow a daily skincare regimen.
Moisturizing is Also Essential It is well known that a well moisturized skin equals a healthy glowing skin. In order to make the skin glow all the time, one needs to add as much extra moisture to it as possible. Often, people with darker skin tone are more prone to dryness. To get maximum benefits, try to use a good quality moisturizer immediately after taking a shower or bath. Remember, use separate products for your facial skin, as most moisturizing products are too harsh to be applied on the face. Lastly, try to maintain a healthy diet by including plenty of fruits and vegetables. Take plenty of good night sleep to prevent premature aging and its related problems. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep the body well hydrated. Stay away from fatty foods, fried foods, alcohol and caffeinated beverages.
What Michelle Obama Means to Beauty in America The Politics of Complexion By: Sophia Russell
Complexion and the Media
Complexion and Opportunity
You can now see Michelle Obama on the covers of Vanity Fair and Vogue being compared to other icons of American beauty such as Jackie Kennedy. Although these magazines speak in terms of style, the historical comparisons are profound. They will, no doubt, have an affect on society’s view of Black women.
Some may say looks are irrelevant in regards to progress, but they may be mistaken. Your complexion could affect your quality of life. Many studies suggest that preconceived notions about beauty may affect opportunities.
They are also profound because they say something about where we’ve been in America and where we’re going. Where we’ve been is in a place where Americans (both white and black) identified lighter complexions as superior complexions. Where we are now is in a place where we are more open-minded and can debate these issues openly on a national forum. Finding women like Michelle Obama represented in the media is few and far between. Usually in the media, you see black beauty demonstrated by African-American women from the lighter side of the spectrum. Many of these women are biracial black women as well. Halle Berry, Tyra Banks, Vanessa Williams are a few from that “light” side of the spectrum. Yes, there are others like Naomi Campbell and Iman, but they also represent Europe, which has actually gone out of its way to recruit and accept very dark African beauties long before American culture did. Now, things have started to change. When actresses Gabrielle Union and Kerry Washington hit the scene, the wheels started to turn. Gabrielle Union was even included in Maxim’s Hot 100 among numerous blond beauties. This can only have positive results. There are young girls all over the world who are affected by what they see in the media. If they do not see themselves represented in a beautiful light, they will feel inferior. Whoopi should be commended. What she did took courage. Many blacks do not want to admit or even talk about this aspect of our culture, but it is real, it exists and should not be swept under a rug. If Americans do not learn to find all the complexions represented in their country beautiful, then others won’t.
In a 2006 study, Matthew Harrison, a doctoral student at UGA, discovered that dark-skinned African Americans face a distinct disadvantage when applying for jobs, even if they have résumés superior to lighter-skinned black applicants. Hopefully seeing more women like Michelle Obama and children like her beautiful daughters, Sasha and Malia Obama, in the media will diminish this complexion divide in the black community and give young girls of all races more confidence. Wesley Snipes and Michael Jordan made dark-popular for men in the 1990s. Perhaps Michelle Obama will do the same for dark women in the 2000s. For that alone, Michelle Obama means hope - hope that everyone will be judged equally regardless of complexion, race, religion or gender. Many women can be grateful to Whoopi Goldberg and Michelle Obama for opening more doors, but more importantly, we are grateful to them being smart, beautiful, strong, and insightful women.