Urban Call Briefs

Chevara Orrin Equity & Inclusion Strategist,

Entrepreneur and Author

Denise Armstrong Beauty Expert, Author and Actress

Nevada York Author, Restaurant Magic Podcast Co

Host, Entrepreneur and Actress

Adelaide Banks Owner of ASB History and Host of the “Know Black History Podcast”

Chevara Orrin Equity & Inclusion Strategist, Entrepreneur and Author

Chevara Orrin is an award-winning diversity, equity and inclusion strategist, social entrepreneur, published author, filmmaker, public speaker and social justice activist. She is a forwardthinking catalyst and founder of We Are Straight Allies - a national campaign to support equality and move towards the passage of inclusive policies to protect the LGBTQ+ community - and #WhiteAndWoke™, an initiative to raise awareness about racial inequality and promote equity through intentional action. The Allies campaign has drawn the participation of prominent figures such as feminist icon Gloria Steinem and gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum and was instrumental in the February 14, 2017 passage of a fully comprehensive Human Rights Ordinance in Jacksonville, FL. Orrin is currently filming, “Why is Washington [Still] Burning?”, a documentary that chronicles the actions of a collective of 100 white and Jewish activists in support of Black rebellions, days after Dr. Martin Luther, Jr’s assassination. The film explores today’s role of white Americans in the struggle for racial justice.

Chevara Orrin Equity & Inclusion Strategist,

Entrepreneur and Author

Orrin is deeply inspired by the legacy of her parents. She is the daughter of a white, Jewish mother who served as the lead coordinator for the 1967 March on the Pentagon in opposition to the Vietnam War; and a Black father who was a fiery top lieutenant of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He was a driving force behind many critical civil rights campaigns of the 1960s, including the 1963 Birmingham Children’s Crusade and 1965 Selma to Montgomery march and passage of the Voting Rights Act. Growing up with this heritage gives Orrin a unique perspective on race, ethnicity and politics. She is a frequent conference presenter and trainer on diversity in the corporate, higher education and nonprofit sectors. She is also a survivor of sexual violence and was recently published in “#LoveWITHAccountability,” a ground-breaking anthology that examines how accountability is a powerful and necessary form of love needed to address child sexual abuse. She is a co-founder of The Freedom Collection, a wearable art clothing line that honors the Freedom Riders of the 1960s, too.

Orrin has been recognized by the White House and the Human Rights Campaign as a leader, advocate and ally for the LGBTQ community and featured in publications including The Washington Post, Atlanta JournalConstitution, Tikkun Magazine and The Feminist Wire. She has also been a featured guest on SiriusXM Radio and highlighted in John Blake’s 2007 book Children of the Movement, a powerful glimpse into the heart and soul of the Freedom Movement of the Sixties as seen by its children.

Denise Armstrong Beauty Expert, Author, Actress

Are daily challenges getting you down? Allow Denise Armstrong, named one of the “Powerful Black Women” in the beauty industry, by Salon Sense magazine to encourage you. You can find her serving Dr. Daisy Jones as a reoccurring co-host on Comcast Channel 28’s Express Your Self. TBN embraced her knowledge and wisdom of having a blended family, which she often shared on the show, Joy in Our Town.

Denise Armstrong Beauty Expert, Author and Actress

Exhorter, conference speaker, consultant, certified communication coach, PSYCH-K® facilitator, author and actress are just a few titles to describe this dynamic lady.

Prestigious companies such as Clairol, McBride Laboratories, L’Oreal, Paul Mitchell, SoftSheen-Carson and Mizani have utilized her expertise. Licensed and ordained, she is also the founder of Beauty For Ashes

World Outreach Inc. and His Image Makers Inc. - a program dedicated to mentoring and empowering abused children, youth, men and women in the beauty entertainment industry. The Gift Behind the Gate, her onewoman play, is also must-see.

As a Market Place Minister, she is determined to take the industry back for HIM. Honored to feed you spiritually and physically, she also delivers food to the elderly throughout the community. She has served on the Advisory board of the Rainbow House in Atlanta for abused children, chaired the New Generation for Fayette Daybreak Rotary, served with Pastor Taffi Dollar’s Prestige program - ministering to exotic dancers, and hosted “Can We Talk, Conversing with Denise Armstrong” - a weekly session that reaches and changes the lives of others. She has served as a spiritual advisor for Bente Symposium in Washington, DC, and she’s a member of the Black Women Film Network, Women 2 Women in Atlanta, Kingdomwood International Film Festival and The Alliance of Women Directors.

Armstrong has a blended family and amazing grandchildren. Her triumphs over turbulent times are shared in a balanced message, leaving her audience encouraged and laughing. Although her work has graced the covers of many magazines, billboards and TV commercials, Armstrong has remained humble throughout her success.

Nevada York Author, Restaurant Magic Podcast Co-Host, Entrepreneur and Actress

When in the public eye, taking the time to figure out what works best for your hair is extremely important. After using hair relaxers for over ten years, Nevada York decided to stop and go “natural.” To find out which products worked best, she sought the advice of her niece, Jada Smith, who enjoys doing hair. Jada immediately suggested her favorite hair care products for natural hair: deep conditioners, shampoos and twisting cream and curling gels. With the help of Jada, York found that Qhemet Biologics (Amla & Olive Heavy Cream) and Dudu-Osum braiding spray work best on her hair texture. Nevada York Author, Restaurant Magic Podcast Co

Host, Entrepreneur and Actress

York is the author of three novels, Caught Up, Mahogany’s Revelation, and Where’s Boaz? I’m Tired of Kissing Frogs Too! Her first novel, Caught Up, was on Essence Magazine’s Best Seller’s list. Her other works include Journey to Salvation, a self-help workbook designed to assist lost souls searching for answers about their own spirituality and Bible prophecies pertaining to Jesus Christ.

York takes pride in sharing life experiences through her writing. Growing up, she always had a creative side and chose writing as an outlet. Through Mahogany Fox, the central character in both her novels, York can tell a story that most women can relate to at one point in their life. York looks forward to the chance of bringing her characters to life on the movie screen. York also co-hosts the most entertaining foodie podcast show, Restaurant Magic. Known as The Hotness on the show and her co-host, Sweetly, they highlight restaurant owners, caterers, and delicious foods throughout North America. It’s all about life and flavor on Restaurant Magic. Readers can live vicariously by visiting their food blog website: www. TheHotnessandSweetly.Blogspot.com Audience members can enjoy listening to Restaurant Magic’s Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Entrepreneurship.Black, and YouTube.

In addition to being an author and podcaster and actress, York is a member of the Every.Black network of entrepreneurs. She also sells gospel themed T-shirts on www.TeamJesusClothing.com. The unique, colorful T-shirt designs prove, “Spreading the gospel never looked so good!” In all her projects, York strives to help awaken each person’s spirit. As an actress, she is afforded that same opportunity and has starred in local magazines and television commercials in North Carolina.

Nevada York novels are available on Amazon.com and Audible.com. Readers can connect with York on Twitter: @nevadayork and Instagram: @Restaurant_Magic_Foodies.

Adelaide Banks Owner of ASB History and Host of the “Know Black History Podcast”

Adelaide Banks Owner of ASB History and Host of the “Know Black History Podcast”

This is the time to Know Black History. Adelaide Banks entered the exciting world of featuring Early Black Entrepreneurs for the Every.Black Radio Network in 2018. The adage that nothing is new was never truer. She presented stories of early Black entrepreneurs from slavery through the mid-twentieth century and highlighted overcoming examples that apply to current times.

Banks found that the Beauty Industry was especially fascinating and lucrative for men and women. Black barbers honed skills that purchased not only their freedom but businesses, property ownership and investments. Women spearheaded mega-business enterprises and blazed trails to uplifting business ownership in America and internationally. Banks tells us to “learn the lessons history shares.”

She began life in rural North Carolina near the Virginia border in Virgilina. This was during a time when family, church and community came together to nurture a people and inspire great things despite the adversity they collectively faced. She began school in the segregated system, where

educators were invested in the success of every student.

At a young age, her career Air Force father took the family to several military installations and opened doors to experiencing the broader fabric of America. She met people of other races, ethnic groups, religions and backgrounds, which groomed her for understanding how similar and different we are, but still Americans.

After graduating from Gwinn High School in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, she attended and graduated from Northern Michigan University with a degree in Sociology. After marriage, her family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia where she took varied career paths in corporate America, social work and small business ownership. In 1990, Banks returned to the great state of her birth. She completed a Master’s Degree in Sociology from North Carolina State University and entered careers serving others in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, founded Read Seed, Inc. to give books to children and, of course, to pursue her business interests.

She started ASB History to “teach America Black history” with posters, and video on the ASB History YouTube Channel, and in November 2019, the Know Black Business podcast. In 2020, look for ASB Race Relations Work shops in Durham, North Carolina.

She lives by her slogan, “God is my Pilot, and I surrender to Auto-Pilot.” To learn more, visit www.asbhistory.com and ww.patreon.com/ KnowBlackHistory

Each month, Urban Call Briefs covers subjects that provide readers of OTC Beauty Magazine with information on multicultural consumers, Hispanics and African Americans, who are the fastest growing consumer segments in the U.S. The mission of this column is to build a bridge of communications and information between manufacturers and retailers and the ethnic consumers they wish to serve better. The column offers resources covering marketing, retail merchandising, consumer research, purchase behavior, fashion and beauty trends, industry events and people, trade association news, new product launches and a potpourri of information designed to help the readers make intelligent decisions about the customers they serve. Urban Call is a registered trademark of Segmented Marketing Services, Inc. (SMSi). For more information, call 336-759-7477 or visit www.segmentedmarketing.com. The preceding article is the property of SMSi – Urban Call Marketing, Inc. and may not be reproduced without written permission from the author.

Protective Styling 101

When people think of protective styles, they may only consider two types of products: wigs and extensions. And yes, these items are notoriously used for protective styling, but there are more products to consider when helping shoppers achieve a protective style.

It also helps to know what constitutes a protective style. This unique styling involves “tucking the hair away,” which means your natural hair is bound in some way to be free of exposure to the elements or manipulation. To have length retention, many will install a protective style to avoid touching or styling their own hair. This gives the hair a fighting chance at growing and being free of split ends and breakage – the primary culprits of hindered hair growth.

Wigs and extensions are useful in the protective styling endeavor, but there are other styling options to keep in mind when updating your inventory. Here are the most popular protective styling concepts to consider when planning your next purchase at Jinny Beauty Supply.

Wigs

Beauty supply stores are no strangers to wigs. We know they are big sellers and will always be on-demand. However, knowing which styles are popular for the moment is critical. Full lace units that mimic a full head of braids. Lace fronts with perimeter lace for ponytail styling and more overall flexibility are also continuing to be popular.

Synthetic wig offerings have also improved exponentially, with synthetic fibers resembling natural hair more and more. Regardless of the style or design, you’ll need to keep products that help customers maintain their units.

Extensions

Sure, sew-ins are always a popular choice. But many customers are making their own clip-ins and even wigs with their bundles. For those looking for this sort of versatility, be sure you keep the necessary tools and accessories on hand for your do-it-yourself shoppers.

Braids

With summer not too far away, you’ll see an increased interest in super long braids. Hair with ombre color continuing to be a big hit, especially during the spring and summer, when popular festivals are in full effect. Passion twists continue to be a big hit, along with box braids adorned with

beads and unique hair clasps. Your accessories section should be full of decorative accents for this style. Photo Caption: Photo by Gustavo Spindula on Unsplash

Crochets

For the customer who likes to change their style often and doesn’t like to spend a lot of time doing their hair, crochets will always be a natural choice. Crochet needles need to be kept in stock, and a variety of hair textures should be kept in store, too. From deep wave, synthetic hair to faux locs and even braids, you can create just about any style with the crochet technique. Don’t let your shoppers go online for their bags of crochets. Keep a variety in your shop!

Photo Caption: Photo by Leighann Blackwood on Unsplash

Natural Styles

Naturalistas may use their own curls to create a protective style rather than rely on added hair. Two-strand twists, Bantu knots, Milkmaid Braids; the options are absolutely endless. Offering a variety of natural styling products is essential for this style, as most shoppers will want to keep the style in for at least a few days. Edge gels, twisting creams and styling gels are among the necessities needed to create these styles

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