Are You A Toxic person? What does that mean? Often on social media we will see statuses stating "I'm done with Toxic people!" We are very aware of other's toxic behavior. But are we ourselves toxic people, toxic to others or even toxic to ourselves? I believe in looking at myself first before I look at other's habits. Am I doing these toxic things? Is someone in my life doing these things, if so why am I engaging with this person? Today I am asking myself these questions and invite you to humble yourself and ask yourself are you a toxic person?

Hey guys, guest host I AM PURE HONEY is here to share with us her views on the effects of being a chronic smoker. How does this impact your beauty? I AM Pure Honey asks,  do you have ashtray mouth?

*******ALL Views expressed by our guest host are solely the views of the GUEST HOST. The individual guest host does not necessarily reflect the values, views, and policy positions that the creators of Behind The Muse Podcast and the Muse brand represents.

What does it mean to have a hair type? Do you know what your hair type is? Being well-informed on your hair type is crucial to maintain a healthy mane. World renowned hair stylist Andre Walker created a numerical system in 1997, he created a comprehensive way to categorize the different hair types. This was and still remains significant because it allowed us all to better understand what each individual hair texture type needs as far as care, styling, and when purchasing hair extensions. Though, a lot of people find this hair type system helpful others perceived it to be offensive and creating a hierarchy amongst hair textures. In this episode we dissect each hair type along with touching on the controversies that it entails!

In this episode we explore the abusive and dangerous cosmetic procedure of skin bleaching. This is the process of whitening the skin or obstructing the natural process of melanin production. What is melanin? Melanin is a brown or black pigment found in the retina, hair, and skin; it  is naturally produced in humans and animals. Why would anyone want to prohibit or decrease the amount of melanin their body produces? Though, some say they use to treat hyperpigmentation marks, a vast majority of consumers of these skin whitening products have one goal in mind, to become more fair, they want to be white.

Let's explore why would people of color intentionally lighten their skin. The painful history of these skin whitening products can be traced back to brutal slavery. Though, this began amongst European women during the Victorian-age, today skin lightening is most commonly used amongst people of color. Within ethnic groups across the world darker skin people have been told that they are unworthy and not as beautiful as more fair skin people.  What is even more devastating is that a lot of this hateful colorist rhetoric comes from within each individual ethnic groups. For example, in India, famous Bollywood actors and actresses encourage their followers to be more "Fair & White" by using skin lightening serums.

What are the adverse reactions associated with using these products? Besides the emotional toll it takes on the people that feel they need to be more fair, it can cause serious health problems.

Listen today's podcast for more and let me know what are your thoughts on Skin Whitening.

Thank you for tuning into our first episode of Behind The Muse. In this episode we talk about red lipstick. This makeup tool is praised and celebrated as a fashion necessity worldwide. Unfortunately, this fierce hue has had a troubling past. Red lipstick has taken on many hats. It was believed to be a good luck charm, or a damning identifier to a woman's profession. In this episode I also talk about the checkered history this crimson color has with women of color, especially women of darker skin tones. For years beauty companies only created cosmetic products that catered to women with fairer skin tones, this practice sill goes on today. Red lipstick was one of the colors that was rarely formulated for darker skin tones by these larger companies. Smaller brands such as Fashion Fair began producing an array of red shades that women of color could enjoy. Tune in and let's dive into the history and enigma that is red lipstick!