Lavette with Sherri Shepherd & Varallo-Rowell, VMV US Brand Director. at Holiday Shopping Event

Last week, Emmy Award winning celebrity hair, makeup artist and skincare expert Lavette Slater hosted a holiday shopping event for NYC media and tastemakers at VMV Hypoallergenics boutique in Manhattan. Lavette is known for her trendsetting vision and her extraordinary hair skills seen on the ladies of  ‘The View’ and our very own first lady, Michelle Obama.

We got a chance to catch up with Lavette and she provided some hair and skin tips for the cold, dry winter months. Check them out below:

Skin Care Tips

SPF - SPF is a must all year round for everyone. The damaging rays of the sun can cause wrinkles, age spots and other serious conditions. When searching for moisturizers always look for SPF included. This also pertains to foundation and base creams.

Moisturizers - In order for your skin to look great, it must be hydrated! In the winter, the skin can be extra dry. So using a moisturizer that locks in moisture without being greasy is great. One of my favorite moisturizers from VMV Hypoallergenics is the Re-Everything Face, Hand and Body Lotion. It hydrates my skin and gives it a good shine and works all day protecting the skin.

Exfoliate - It is important to shed dead skin to make room for new skin. Exfoliation should be done once or twice a week. When using an exfoliating cream with beads make sure you are gentle with the skin. Massage in a circular motion very gently. It is not meant to be scrubbed on the face. If used improperly it can do more harm than good.

Eat organic Fruits and Veggies – This may sound cliché’ but fruits and veggies contain anti-oxidants. Everyday our bodies fight off pollutants (smoke, exhaust, byproducts, plastics etc..) all known as free radicals. As we get older, our skin looses firmness, elasticity and moisture, and these free radicals add to that process. The nutrients (anti-oxidants) found in fruits and veggies help the body fight these free radicals and help to renew and build the cells. Anti-oxidants fight against aging skin! So get with it, start with a healthy organic green drink every morning.

Flip the script for some winter haircare tips.

Surviving something as serious as breast cancer is no easy feat and should be celebrated. With that spirit in mind, the women of Indique Hair partnered with CancerCare to provide makeovers to several breast cancer survivors. Indique donated over 140 lace front wigs, celebrity hairstylists, including “The View’s” Lavette Slater worked on hair and celebrity makeup artists crafted perfect faces.

Watch this emotional video below to see what the women looked like before and after and how the stylists and women were affected by the day.

By Lavette Slater

Stylish, glamorous, trendy, sophisticated, appealing, unnatural, fake, ugly, artificial, matted…all have described women wearing a hair weave. What many people don’t understand is that there are many different methods and techniques to apply a hair weave. Each method provides something distinctive that will be suitable for each individual’s needs. In some cases hair can be of a fine texture and adding volume requires special attention. For some women wearing a hair weave is a preference of choice to add color, length, volume and/or just simply wanting to try a new style. But for some, wearing a weave is not a choice due to reasons such as alopecia, damaged, thinning and broken hair. In some cases wearing a hair weave may not be a good decision which gives many options of wigs and hairpieces (reference last weeks post Wigs and Hairpieces)

By Lavette Slater – Celebrity Hair and Makeup Artist, Lead Hairstylist for “The View”.

Why Wigs and Hair Pieces?

Wigs and hairpieces have been used worldwide throughout history. Many people associate wigs with diva glamour and versatility. There are so many reasons why women wear hairpieces. Hair plays such a major part in our confidence, personalities and image. Whether the style is short or long, hair that is healthy, stylish and easy to manage is what everyone wants. Sometimes we want to try a new style without the commitment of cutting our hair or doing a chemical process. Heat styling your hair everyday can be very damaging especially if the hair is fragile and with a busy schedule a hairpiece may just be the thing you need. If you’ve ever wondered why a woman would wear a wig or hairpiece, here are just a few reasons why.

1. Loss of hair and medical reasons
2. Hair is damaged and broken
3. To add length and volume
4. To add highlights and color
5. Protecting the hair from heat
6. The hair is of a fine texture and hard to hold certain styles
7. Growing out an existing style or cut
8. Trying a new style or cut
9. Giving the hair a rest from permanent hair color
10. Going on a vacation

By Lavette Slater

In order to choose the right haircut it is important to know the shape of your face. Knowing your face shape is key so that you will accentuate your positive features. A haircut that doesn’t fit you can actually take away from your look rather than be an exciting daring new adventure. A perfect cut that compliments you can literally change a perception. Hairstyles bring out radiance, personal style and personality. Your look shows who you are. If you are a mother/housewife, socialite, comedian by nature, or even a very serious business man/woman your look translates that. Here are some face shapes to help with your transition:

By Lavette Slater

Celebrity hair stylist, makeup artist, and beauty expert Lavette Slater, is known for her trendsetting vision and extraordinary skill. As the Supervisor and Key Hairstylist on ABC’s The View, this 10x Emmy Award nominee and winner of the 34th, 35th and 36th Annual Creative Emmy Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling is also the personal stylist to Whoopi Goldberg, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd.  In addition to the ladies on “The View” Lavette has styled a host of celebrity guests who range from Chandra Wilson and Glenn Close to political figures Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton and our very own first lady, Michelle Obama.

 You can find Lavette here at : www.lavetteslaterblog.com or follow her on Twitter @lavetteslater.

For the next few weeks Lavette will be providing hair care tips specifically for Madame Noire readers. Today’s tip is about taking your sensational summer hair and making it fall fabulous.