Good Morning, it's Wednesday, March 26. Namibia has a female-majority cabinet in government, there’s an ayurvedic sunscreen from Forest Essentials and Naomie Harris uses arrowroot powder as a makeup base. Also, if getting a tattoo is on your vision board for the year, Sherri from LA-based tattoo studio Ethos Art Haus is here to answer all your questions about inking darker skin tones ☀️🍎🍵🧼
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🙋🏽♀️🙋🏾♀️🙋🏿♀️ Changing Dermatology Education: Two professors have written a new chapter addressing diagnosis and treatments suitable for skin of colour in a pharmacy reference book in Canada.
❓ Do You Have Your Life Together? You have your life together if you answer yes to these three questions before going to bed
🇳🇦 Namibia’s New Cabinet: Following her historic win, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed several female ministers, making a majority-female cabinet.
🇮🇳 Travis Scott in India: For his first-ever show in India, the iconic rapper will perform in Delhi (part of his Circus Maximus World Tour) on October 18 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Tickets will go live soon.
🧼 Kayla Greaves’ Beauty Must-Haves: The beauty editor shared her routine faves, including Tatcha’s Matcha Cleanser and black soap from the Nigerian brand Dudu Osun.
🍎 Naomie Harris’ Beauty Go-tos: The actress shares her natural beauty tips, including using arrowroot powder as a makeup base and apple cider vinegar as shampoo.
☀️ Ayurvedic Sunscreen: Forest Essentials’ latest drop is the first ever Ayurvedic Sheer Sunscreen Spray SPF 50, which contains coconut water and turmeric.
☕ Caffeine Addict by Indē Wild: Indē Wild’s latest lip tint is Caffeine Addict, a luscious shade of espresso brown fortified with peptides and squalane.
Nigeria’s Skin Bleaching Problem: Thanks to colourism, women from several countries in sub-Saharan Africa use harmful skin-lightening products, with the highest proportion of users being Nigerian women.
Building Awareness: The California Black Health Network started the Conscious Black Beauty Movement to raise awareness about toxic beauty products, like skin whitening creams, often used by Black women.
Accessible Mental Health: Whitney Dodds is making mental health accessible to the Black community through Wellness for the Culture, a yearly expo offering therapy and wellness education.
Black Mothers & Heart Failure: New research shows that Black mothers are at higher risk of developing peripartum cardiomyopathy, partly due to living in highly stressed neighbourhoods.
Community-centred Fitness: Briana Thompson is the founder of Spiked Wellness, a body-positive studio for women through mental health sessions, brunches, and yoga.
🧘🏿♀️ Meditation Made Easy: Experts say there’s no one right way to meditate, and it doesn’t have to take long. Starting small and being consistent are just a few simple hacks that can make a difference.
🇺🇲 A Black Revolutionary and All That It Implies: This exhibition honours Elizabeth Catlett’s life, work and advocacy for Black people. On till July 6 at the National Gallery of Art.
🇳🇬 +234 Art Fair: See incredible art and mingle with other art lovers at the +234 Art Fair in Ecobank Pan-African Centre in Lagos, Nigeria. From March 27 till 31.
If you’re considering moving to a new city (or even a new country), perhaps you can learn from Nicole’s story. Nicole Brewer is an English lecturer from the US who moved to Oman 12 years ago, a country in the Middle East where she has also found peace and financial stability.
Getting your first tattoo can be such a daunting experience. And if you have melanin-rich skin, you likely have questions when you’re selecting the design & style of your tattoo and also your tattoo artist.
But don’t let your fears stop you from getting cool art on your skin because we’re speaking to Sherri Austria, co-founder of LA-based tattoo studio Ethos Art Haus, to empower you with the knowledge you need.
Tattooing on Darker Skin
Something that isn't discussed as much is that melanated skin tends to be more sensitive. It can be more prone to keloid or hyperpigmentation, which means the artist needs to be mindful of how deep they're working and how much trauma is being caused during the tattoo process. Overworking the skin can lead to longer healing times and uneven results.
Can You Get Colour Tattoos on Dark Skin?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that tattooing darker skin is more difficult or that certain styles won't work. The reality, however, is that it requires a different approach and attention towards contrast and the amount of ink used.
A skilled artist should be able to layer and pack ink properly to ensure that the tattoo holds up over time—just like painting on a canvas. Using black outlines and deep shading around colours can enhance the visibility and longevity of the tattoo. A well-balanced design with a strong definition will always heal better and remain visually striking.
Colour tattoos on darker skin tones aren't about restrictions; they're about making smart, artistic choices. When an artist understands undertones, saturation, and contrast, they can create vibrant, long-lasting tattoos that work beautifully on melanated skin.
Consider Undertones When Picking Colours
Melanated skin can have warm, cool, or neutral undertones. So, choosing colours that complement your undertone helps create a tattoo that looks vibrant. Warm undertones work well with colours like deep reds, oranges and warm yellows, while cool undertones can hold rich blues, purples and deep greens beautifully. Neutral undertones allow for more flexibility, but you can use bold, saturated pigments for tattoos here.
Best Tattoo Designs for Darker Skin Tones
Designs like fine-line blackwork, geometric designs, and tribal tattoos also stand out on darker skin tones because strong contrast ensures longevity. Neo-traditional and illustrative styles also use bold lines and rich, well-saturated colours that age well on darker skin.
Pro-tip: Instead of pastels or very light tones, deeper hues like rich reds, blues, and gold can create incredible contrast.
Best Product to Moisturise Your Tattoo
One of my go-to aftercare recommendations is coconut oil. It is packed with natural healing properties, including antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits. However, if someone has sensitive skin or allergies to coconut oil, fragrance-free, non-petroleum-based balms or lotions work well.
Also, avoid alcohol-based products, as alcohol dries out the skin, and petroleum-based products, as they clog pores and trap bacteria, leading to infections.
Mistakes to avoid before getting a tattoo
One of the biggest mistakes people make before a tattoo is not moisturising their skin in the weeks leading up to the appointment. Well-hydrated skin takes ink better, heals more evenly, and helps the artist work more efficiently. That's why I always remind my clients to moisturise daily for at least a few weeks beforehand.
Another major mistake is drinking alcohol the night before. Alcohol thins the blood, which can lead to excessive bleeding during the tattoo session, making it harder for the ink to settle properly and potentially affecting the final result. The same goes for aspirin or ibuprofen—they can also increase bleeding, so avoiding them before your session is best.
Aftercare Don’ts on Melanated Skin
After your tattoo session, avoid scratching or picking at scabs, as darker skin can be more prone to hyperpigmentation or keloids.
Also, limit sun exposure as UV rays break down tattoo pigments over time, leading to faster fading. Keeping the tattoo covered or applying a high-SPF sunscreen (after it's fully healed) helps preserve its vibrancy.
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