5 Love Stories to Celebrate the Marriage Equality Ruling Anniversary

June 26 marks two years since the historic Supreme Court ruling that affirmed the right of all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation, to marry and have their unions recognized. To celebrate the anniversary of that incredible moment, we spoke to couples across the country about how the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling impacted their own marriages.

MORE: The Most Breathtaking Mermaid Wedding Dresses to Inspire Every Bride

Get ready to tear up over these amazing, inspiring love stories.

Caroline Rocchetta

Haven & Alex

“The SCOTUS ruling was more than just a new law being passed, but a confirmation of acceptance. While my husband and I weren’t actively waiting for it to happen, it was a heartwarming decision when it did, being recognized by our U.S. government that we aren’t second-class citizens and can enjoy equal opportunity. The ruling was about more than just being able to refer to Alex as my husband, but enable us to enjoy all the rights and benefits of our married, straight counterparts. After that, getting married was breeze for us. The mayor of the town we got married in — Greenport on the North Fork of Long Island — ‘officially’ married us the day before the actual wedding. We’re about to celebrate our one-year anniversary and can’t wait to attend future gay weddings of loved ones…” — Haven, New York, New York, married one year

MORE: In a Love Rut? Try These 50 Romantic Date Ideas

Entwined Studio

Kirsten & Maria

“My wife and I have been together since 2004. We married in Georgia in 2009 when we didn’t have marriage equality, but we had a glorious wedding just the same. We really wanted to honor our love for each other in a wedding in our home state before we had children. When New York passed marriage equality in 2011, we flew up there in August to legally wed at Manhattan’s marriage bureau when our twin sons were just 5 months old.

“Even though we’d already had a big wedding with all our family and friends, getting legally married was incredibly different. We felt validated. Our relationship was in the books! With our love officially recognized by the government, we were affirmed in the eyes of the law, which gave us even more ammunition when fighting homophobia in our own red state. We’re legally married now, and even if homophobic people want to oppose us, we have the law on our side. And that’s a wonderful feeling.” — Kirsten Palladino, Atlanta, Georgia, married eight years and legally wed for six years, author of Equally Wed: The Ultimate Guide for Planning Your LGBTQ+ Wedding

MORE: 10 Celebrity Couples Who Fell in Love on Set

Jessica

Jessica & Holly

“The Supreme Court ruling was such a happy day for us. I remember sitting together on the couch with the news on, our Facebook pages blowing up with congratulations. It was like the whole world was celebrating with us. Holly and I have been together a long time. Our success as a couple has been hard-won. Society doesn’t make it easy to be a same-sex couple. And I don’t think everyone recognizes how important marriage actually is and the legal ramifications that come along with it.

“Although we had a big Jewish wedding in 2008, we got married legally in Washington, D.C., in 2010 when Maryland began recognizing out-of-state same-sex marriages. Then we got married again in New York, Vermont and Maryland. Our plan was to get married in every state that we could so we could have all the rights and protections that come with marriage if and when we traveled in and through those states. When same-same marriage was recognized federally, it was like a dream come true for us. We could finally stop worrying and just live our lives. It really was a magical day.” — Jessica, Baltimore, Maryland, married nine years in November

MORE: My Marriage Is Sex-Free and There’s Nothing Wrong With It

Kaore

Kaore & Steve

“We became engaged on election night 2012. We planned our wedding never dwelling on the legality of it, yet it hung in the air like a sad deflating party balloon. In 2013, legal marriages were allowed to resume in California, so we soldiered on with great zeal having this local victory, yet never giving up on the hope that it would soon be legal for the entire country.

“We married in 2014. Where our marriage was legal in California, we were still unsure of what our federal rights were. We lived as a married couple but there was still a sense of fiction to it. When the Supreme Court handed down their ruling in 2015, the reality that we were as married as the straight couple next door suddenly turned our Pinocchio into a real boy. As odd as it sounds, the truth wasn’t quite as vivid until we filed our first tax return as a married couple.

“Don’t get us wrong — we would have been married in ceremony regardless of the law. We would have lived happily amongst our friends and family, paid bills, fought, planned vacations and parented our rescue dog Wilbur regardless of the law. But enjoying the equal rights and protections that everyone is entitled to makes this diamond a little shinier.” — Kaore, Los Angeles, California, married three years

MORE: 20 Cheap Wedding Favors Your Guests Will Love

Jackie

Jackie & Ciara

“When the 2016 SCOTUS ruling became law, I was filled with hope and overwhelmed by happiness. Though my state, Massachusetts, has had marriage equality for about 13 years now — and was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage! — my heart felt full for all the other happy LGBTQ couples who no longer had to worry about their own states not recognizing their marriages or hospitals disallowing them to see their partners in times of need. When the SCOTUS decision passed, I knew that this country was officially headed in the right direction, although we still have important work to do, especially for the transgender community.” — Jackie, Boston, Massachusetts, married almost two years

How to Get Killer Abs Fast: Tips and Tricks to Tone Your Core

Concentrating on your core this year? You’re not alone. Toning this area of the body is a common fitness resolution, and the good news is that it doesn’t have to be boring (endless crunches, be gone!) and also can actually be accomplished pretty quickly. So whether you’re just looking to set an overall fitness goal for 2015 or you’re prepping for a beach vacation (lucky you!), there are lots of ways to incorporate safe and inspiring exercise, as well as easy diet tips, into your life right now. We caught up with Anna Kaiser, celebrity trainer and the founder of AKT In Motion, to get the scoop on how to tone those abs quickly and effectively.

Incorporate More Cardio or High Intensity Interval Training
Kaiser—who works out with super toned celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker and Kelly Ripa—says one of the biggest mistakes people make when they’re trying to quickly tone their abs is going crazy with the crunches—an exercise that might end up hurting your back or neck. “We have to change the general mentality of an ‘effective ab workout’ from spot training to a full body burn for the best results. A series of jump squats will do more for your ab definition than 1000 crunches,” she explains. Instead, you might want to up your cardio, but don’t necessarily go running to your nearest spin class for ab salvation. Kaiser says High Intensity Interval Training is a better option, which includes plyometrics. “Try HIIT or interval cardio classes that require you to engage and challenge your core muscles during cardio portions,” she says.

Perfect the Plank
Looking for an addition to your crunch-less, fast-abs, workout routine? Try a plank. It’s hard not to break a sweat when you’re in this key position, as you’re engaging your core while holding your body-weight up in a strong, stable position. “There is absolutely no way you can perform a plank without recruiting your abdominal muscles,” explains Kaiser. To make sure this position doesn’t get stale or boring, Kaiser explains you can mix it up by modifying them with variations like the side-plank or planks with alternating tap outs.

MORE: 13 Healthy Lunch Ideas That Aren’t Boring

Focus on Full Body
Don’t go into the gym with the mindset that you’re only going to pay attention to your abs, as Kaiser says it’s not possible to spot-train just one area. “It’s about shedding inches overall,” she says. Look for routines that work out your entire body. “The more you challenge your body overall, the faster you’ll see your definition improve,” she says.

Cut Sugar and Alcohol to Tone the Bottom of Your Belly
Think twice about indulging in an after-work cocktail or a sugary snack. If you’re looking to tone your abs in a very short amount of time, it’s best to leave these things out of your diet. “Cutting out sugar and excess alcohol will automatically make a huge difference for the belly bulge,” says Kaiser.

MORE: Fitness Inspo to Kick Your Butt Into Gear

Watch Your Diet
Believe it or not, Kaiser says what you eat is even more important than your workout regimen. If that’s not a reason to shape up your meal plan, we don’t know what is. She suggests cutting sugar, focusing on natural foods, veggies, foods with lots of protein and fiber, as well as drinking more water.

Get Moving
Since exact exercise plans should be based on your individual fitness level, Kaiser recommends staying active every day. “Our bodies are meant to be active every day,” she says. “I recommend doing something active every day, even if it’s a nice long walk through the park. Get up and get moving!”

40 Times Gigi and Bella Hadid Loved Junk Food

They may be supermodels, but that doesn’t mean Gigi and Bella Hadid don’t know how to eat. The Southern California-raised sisters are the low-key queens of fast food—from their impulsive trips to McDonalds to their affinity for pizza—and we’re here every step along the way with major food envy.

MORE: 10 Times Gigi and Bella Hadid Appeared on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”

While burgers and fries aren’t the most healthy meals to chow down on, Bella and Gigi have some of the best personal trainers and dietitians in the game, so we’re sure they’re OK. (Plus, who doesn’t love french fries?!) Click through to relive every time Bella and Gigi Hadid were totally obsessed with junk food.

8 Sex Positions to Try at the Beach This Summer

Sex on the beach: It’s inspired a hit dance song, a popular fruity cocktail, and some steamy movie scenes (though not as many as you’d expect, TBH). The mere idea of sex on the beach evokes youth, summer, and carefree—and possibly a tad reckless—spontaneity. But how often can you actually get away with seaside sex without some serious planning and dedication?

Crowds, heat, sand and bugs can present real obstacles to having the sexy beach romp of your fantasies. Plus, there’s the problem of which positions to use that won’t be super-uncomfortable or give you sand burn (it’s a thing!).

MORE: 9 Foolproof Ways to Increase Your Sex Drive

Still, if you can find a secluded stretch where you and your partner won’t be interrupted—unless, you know, exhibitionism is your thing—and you bring the right supplies (towels, lube, condoms, sunscreen, bug spray, possibly an umbrella) it’s totally possible to pull off hot, fun, worth-the-effort beach sex that you’ll want to relive over and over.

We asked sex therapist Marissa Nelson, LMFT, which moves are the best ones to try in a sexy beach scenario and how to get the most pleasure out of them given the, er, constraints of the situation. Now get out there and go find your perfect stretch of sand…

MORE: 5 Sex Positions That Prime Women For Orgasm

Here They Are: All the Must-Shop Fourth of July Sales of 2017

It’s America’s birthday, which seems like as good an excuse as any to shop, right? And while stoked about everything that comes along with the holiday—deafening, yet totally-necessary hour-long fireworks, an insane supply of barbecued ribs, and, of course a celebration of our independence—we’re pretty sure it’s the sales that have us most excited.

To celebrate, we scoured the internet to bring you the best 4th of July sales for 2017 that are so good, you might just want to skip seconds on those ribs. Dig in.

MORE: 17 Stackable Rings To Stock Up On STAT

Adrianna Papell

Starting July 1, receive 20 percent off site-wide excluding sale and clearance items until July 4.

Ajaie Alaie

From July 1 to July 5, receive 20 percent off with code SUMMER2017.

Alpha Industries

On July 4 only, take advantage of free 2-day shipping using the code FREE4JULY.

Alternative Apparel

From June 30 to July 4, take an extra 50 percent off sale items using the code BANG50.

Ash

Receive an additional 20 percent off sales merchandise from June 30 to July 6.

BackBeatRags

Receive 25 percent off now through July 4.

Banana Republic

Take an extra 50 percent off online and in stores valid now through July 5.

Cotton On

Shop online and in-stores for up to 70 percent off clearance items from June 29 to July 2. Additionally, Receive 30 percent off full price items online from July 3 to July 4.

Daniel Patrick

Head to stores or surf online for 20 percent of everything, excluding sale items, June 28—July 4.

Dear Frances

Take 25 percent off all boots from June 30 through July 4 using the code MYBOOTIES25.

Dip into Pretty

Receive 30 percent off the entire site from July 1 to July 5 using the code JULY417.

Endless Summer

Starting July 1, receive 20 percent off all sale items, excluding new arrivals, until July 5 using the code FIREWORKS.

Halston

Starting June 29, receive an additional 30 percent off sale and clearance items until July 4 using the code INDEPENDENCE.

Henri Bendel

Handbag lovers, enjoy Henri Bendel’s Semi Annual Sale, which includes 50 percent off sale items. Plus, take an additional 10 percent off sale and non-sale items the weekend of July 4.

MORE: The Best Lightweight Summer Tops to Stock Up on Now

HOBO

Receive 20 percent off full-priced styles from July 3 to July 4 using the code SALE20JULY4.

ITEM M6

Take 20 percent off all orders from June 30 to July 4.

JADE Swim

JADE Swim will offer 30 percent off from June 29 to July 5.

Joe’s

Starting June 26, receive 30 percent off select styles through July 5.

Kenneth Cole

Now through July 5, take advantage of their semi-annual sale of up to 70 percent off, and an extra 30 percent off site-wide with the code JULY4TH.

La Mer

Receive 25 percent off site-wide from July 1 to July 5 with the code FREE25.

Loup

From June 30 to July 4, receive 25 percent off with code THE4TH.

Lysse

Get free shipping from June 30 to July 4.

MinxNY

Receive 20 percent off site-wide from June 26 to July 4 using the code JULY20.

Native Gem

Lovers of all things sparkly, get up to 80 percent off retail items.

Nau

Receive 30 percent of select past seasons styles from June 30 to July 4.

Neil J. Rodgers

Starting June 28, receive 50 percent off the entire site until July 5.

Nikki Chasin

Receive 20 percent off all online orders using the code FIREWORKS17. 

Onia

Receive up to 50 percent off now through July 5.

Panarea Couture

Receive 25 percent off from June 29 through July 5.

Peace Love World

Receive an extra 40 percent off sale items from July 3 to July 6 using the code FOUR. Additionally, get free shipping on orders over $50.

Ragdoll LA

Starting June 29, receive 50—70 percent off in-store and online items through July 4.

Revo

Take advantage of the online 4^th of July promotion, offering 20 percent off from June 29 to July 5

Sanctuary Clothing

Take 25 percent off select styles. Starts June 30 to July 4.

Smoke x Mirrors

From June 30 to July 4, receive 25 percent off all styles excluding Geo & Sodapop using the code FIREWORKS.

Solid & Striped

Starting June 28, receive 25 percent off select styles until July 4 using the code USA25.

Solstice Sunglasses

Starting June 30, receive an additional 30 percent off sale items until July 9.

MORE: These Are the Most Popular Sunglasses Styles Right Now

Soludos

Receive 25 percent off select styles from June 29 to July 3 using the code JULY25.

SUPRA

From June 30 to July 4, SUPRA is offering 30 percent off the Methods collection and select items from the Skytop V collection.

TAI

Take 20 percent off all sale items from June 29 to July 4.

Titika

Receive 15 percent off site-wide on July 4.

Tolani

From June 28—July 4, snag 25 percent off  your purchase with the code JULY4.

VereVerto

Time to celebrate! Receive 30 percent off for VereVerto’s Birthday Sale from June 29 to July 4.

WET Swimwear

Starting July 1, receive 30 percent off site-wide until July 5 using the code WET2017July4.

White + Warren

Starting June 29, receive up to 50 percent off spring styles.

WINGS

Get 30 percent off any item starting June 26 through July 9.

WRAY

Receive 40 percent off sale items and new merchandise from June 30 to July 6 using the code HAPPY4TH.

Wren + Glory Jewelry

From July 1 to July 4, receive 30 percent off site-wide, excluding the Personals Collection, using the code JULY2017.

Yumi Kim

Enjoy an additional 30 percent off sale styles from June 28 to July 4 using the code FIREWORKS.

21HM

Everything is 35 percent off site-wide.

2(X)IST

Receive up to 30 percent off and an extra 15 percent off all sale items from June 30 to July 4 by using the code FLAG15.

3×1

Receive an extra 25 percent off all sale items from July 1 to July 4 using the code HAPPY4TH.

525 America

From June 29 to July 5, take an extra 40 percent off already reduced prices site-wide using the code EXTRA40.

Calvin Harris Apologized To Taylor Swift For His Crazy Twitter Rant Last Year

Got a minute? Here’s your mid-day roundup of all your need-to-know news in fashion, beauty, entertainment, and beyond.

Calvin Harris explained why he went on a crazy Twitter rant after he and Taylor Swift broke up last year. [Elle UK]

Um, we have *so* many questions about Jay-Z’s new album, including did he cheat on Beyonce? [Vanity Fair]

Kendall and Kylie Jenner finally apologized for their controversial band t-shirts. [Seventeen Magazine]

Lady Gaga disguised herself as a substitute teacher, and her reason for it will make you feel all the feels. [Cosmo]

In case you like taking hits to your self-confidence, Tinder Gold now shows you who has swiped right on you and who hasn’t. [Bustle]

We may be close to the end of the 2010s, but ’70s fashion is making a strong comeback. [Refinery29]

MORE: ASOS Has Stopped Airbrushing Its Swimsuit Models, and We’re Dying

Glitter made a huge name for itself this year in the makeup world, but unfortunately, it’s not so great for the environment. [Elle UK]

It turn’s out that Venus Williams’ driver was at fault for the fatal car crash that happened earlier this month. [Marie Claire]

There are major 4th of July sales happening at places like Zara and ASOS right now. [Teen Vogue]

Drop everything now: Shay Mitchell is selling a bunch of her stuff online, and you can buy it. [InStyle]

The 15 Best Celebrity Beauty Instagrams of June

The month of June officially ushered in the summer season, which can be a tricky time on the beauty front. The heat and humidity can cause all sorts of tragedies ranging from major frizz, to under-boob sweat, to smudged mascara that was *supposed* to be waterproof. You know, the stuff you call 9-1-1 for.

MORE: How to Avoid the Sun All Summer Long

So it’s all the more inspiring when we come across a beauty look so striking it shakes us right out of our heat-induced stupor. Think bold eyes, dewy skin, natural and purposefully wet hair. (And thank heavens for that last one!) Scroll through to see Lily Collins‘ golden-hour eyeshadow, Sophia Bush‘s “My Little Pony” -inspired hair, Zendaya‘s straight-out-of-the-ocean hair, and the rest of the winners that have flooded our “saved” albums on the ‘gram.

ASOS Has Stopped Airbrushing Its Swimsuit Models, and We’re Dying

Man—there’s really nothing better than searching the web for itty bitty bikinis and skintight one-pieces while trying not to compare yourself to the flawless-looking models with ethereal, glowing skin. Oh, wait, just kidding; it kind of sucks. It’s not that we don’t love our stretch marks and acne scars galore, but we’d also love to see them on these supposedly real women, too. So when the Internet started noticing that ASOS had stopped airbrushing its models, we promptly freaked out and bowed down.

MORE: Kristen Stewart’s New Frosted Tips Will Give You Serious ’90s Nostalgia

Yes, it’s sad that it’s 2017 and this is still a newsworthy event, but society sucks, and here we are. Though ASOS has always been pretty good at showing realistic-looking women in the past (well, as realistic and relatable as you can get with a size-four model), this move toward non-doctored photographs is pretty huge for a major fashion brand. And yes, the Internet is freaking out.

https://twitter.com/xPaigeCrawfordx/status/880425557107892225

 

https://twitter.com/ashleism/status/821054490338099200

 

https://twitter.com/amyrowlandsx/status/880034693432913921

 

https://twitter.com/adjfkld/status/878895925271429121

 

https://twitter.com/amyrowlandsx/status/880034693432913921

 

https://twitter.com/LilmskittenMFC/status/879183627833049090

 

Though we’re not, by any means, saying that ASOS is a god among mortals (after all, the majority of women it features are not at all representative of the average American woman), the brand is still taking giant leaps in the right direction toward body positivity and acceptance. So excuse us while we go swimsuit shopping on ASOS for the next two hours straight and feel happy about the world for once.

Taylor Swift Has a Goth Twin and It’ll Leave You Shook

Taylor Swift has a lot of enemies—Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, Kanye West—but perhaps no one comes closer to the 27-year-old’s arch nemesis (aka evil twin) than this goth look-alike blowing up the Internet. Yup. It’s Swift’s turn to join the ranks of squad member Gigi Hadid and boast her own celebrity doppelganger—and once you see the resemblance, you’ll be fully convinced the singer has a long-lost twin.

MORE: How Taylor Swift Brought Out Katy Perry’s Ugly Side

While we’re no stranger to coming across celebrity lookalikes, Swift’s twin—an Instagram makeup artist—is definitely the closest we’ve ever seen. April Gloria, a cosplayer and Internet beauty guru, is catching the attention of Swifties everywhere for her spookily similar looks to the country singer-turned-pop star.

The most notable of Gloria’s Swift-esque similarities are her tousled blonde bob, red lipstick-suited lips, and her narrow piercing blue eyes—all traits that have become iconic to Swift’s look over the years.

Source: Instagram Source: Instagram Source: Instagram

MORE: Taylor Swift Debuts New Curly Blonde Hair While Going Makeup-Free

But don’t think just because they look the same that Swift and Gloria are carbon copies of each other. While Swift has that good-girl-next-door thing going for her, Gloria’s a bit more edgy. Along with her affinity for band tees and super dark eyeliner, Gloria also recently ditched Swift-like blonde for vibrant purple locks. (And even then, you couldn’t fool us that she wasn’t at least a smidge related to Swift.)

Source: Instagram Source: Instagram

Though, of course, there’s also another theory. While Swift’s been majorly out of the spotlight for the past year, it’s plausible she could’ve spent that time moonlighting as an Instagram makeup artist. We mean, considering how much they look like, we’ve heard more surprising things.

The 20 Best Selena Gomez Beauty Looks of All Damn Time

Asking for a friend, but why is Selena Gomez so goddamn perfect? Did she just come out of the womb beautiful? Because even since her wee days on “Barney” and “Wizards of Waverly Place,” Gomez has been, like, annoyingly stunning (sorry not sorry, we *deserve* the right to fan girl out every once in a while). And since we like to low-key stalk celebrities in our downtime, we’ve come to realize that the 24-year-old actress, producer, and philanthropist isn’t just a genetically blessed superhuman—she’s also a straight-up hair and makeup all star, wearing consistently inspo-worthy beauty looks every time she steps foot on a red carpet.

MORE: 7 Simple (and So-Pretty) Braid Tutorials for Beginners

Of course, in a world where incredibly bizarre beauty trends pop up every single day, we will say that Gomez isn’t exactly a risk taker. She tends to play it somewhat safe, with neutral, yet seriously pretty, accents, like her hot-pink smokey eye at the 2017 Met Gala, or her choppy, angled lob in April. And because we can always use a little inspiration for our boring-ass beauty routines, we’ve rounded up Gomez’s 20 best hair and makeup looks from the last few years, all of which are easy enough to attempt on yourself. See our favorite photos ahead, and get a jumpstart on your new go-to summer hair and makeup.

10 Things You Absolutely Need to Know Before Getting a Spray Tan

Warmer weather means less clothing, which means more skin on display—and for some people, that means a healthy tan is in order so as to avoid shining like a pale beacon when exposed to the light of day. But it’s 2017, folks, and we all know that baking our skin for real is out and a fake tan is in—and we’ve go plenty of spray tan tips.

There are a few other means of getting some color—easy at-home self-tanner, for one—which can be effective but runs the risk of turning your skin (and sheets) orange. Spray tanning is definitely where it is at.

Here, ten spray tan tips you must know before you hop in that spray tan booth. (Number 11 goes unsaid, but for the love of god, don’t forget to put on the goggles.)

Spray tans last about a week, give or take

This can vary from person to person, but they typically last about 5-7 days from one application.

Shower and exfoliate before you tan

Use a body scrub head to toe to slough away any dry, flaky skin before you get a spray tan so that the pigment will adhere smoothly for the most even results (as in, least streaky).

MORE: 7 Best Under-$20 Drugstore Self-Tanners That Won’t Streak

The color won’t just wash off

The pigment that spray tans leave behind is meant to slowly fade as your top layer of skin regenerates, so it’s not the kind of thing you can just scrub off. That’s why it’s able to last up to a week—and why you should approach with caution to make sure you won’t be stuck looking unnaturally tan for a full seven days.

Apply lotion every day

Keeping your newly tanned skin hydrated is the best way to make the color last longer, because it won’t dry out and need to be exfoliated prematurely.

It’ll get darker after application

Similarly to standard self-tanner, spray tans will get darker from the time they’re applied and as the day progresses. The color takes a little while to fully develop, so don’t be alarmed if you leave feeling like it’s too light—it won’t be for long.

Pat, don’t rub, your skin dry

To preserve your tan, pat yourself dry rather than scour with a towel after getting out of the shower. The idea is to not exfoliate for as long as possible so that you don’t slough off the tan. Avoid using loofahs or coarse washcloths for the same reason.

MORE: The 9 Best Face Bronzers to Fake an Insanely Pretty Tan

Wear nail polish

Even if it’s nothing more than a clear coat, wearing polish into the booth will help to protect your nails from the spray tan. If you do have a full manicure, don’t worry about it getting ruined—your nails will be wiped off afterwards.

Think about your bathing suit

While many people decide to get a spray tan while wearing nothing (no tan lines!), if you do wear a bathing suit, wear an old one you don’t mind ruining, since the tan can stain the fabric.

Apply barrier cream

Naturally drier areas of the skin, like the elbows, ankles, and knees, will absorb more pigment, so always apply a protective barrier cream before the tan so that they don’t go too dark. Most spray tan salons will provide the cream for use, so make sure you don’t skip it.

Look for a discount deal

Spray tanning can be expensive, but plenty of salons will offer deals on sites like Groupon and LivingSocial—if you’re apprehensive about the process but still want to give it a shot, at least make sure you’re not paying out the nose for your first time.

Originally published July 2016. Updated June 2017.

Kristen Stewart’s New Frosted Tips Will Give You Serious ’90s Nostalgia

The ’90s are back, thanks to Kristen Stewart. The 27-year-old actress, who was born in 1990, is giving us serious ’90s boybands vibes with her new frosted tips hairdo. (Justin Timberlake is shook.)

If you’ve been out of the celebrity hair game for a couple seconds, you might have missed with the “Twilight” shaved her head and dyed it platinum blonde in March. Well, like we all know, hair grows. And while K Stew’s bleach blonde buzz cut was fun for a while, her natural chestnut brown was bound to grow in.

MORE: Kristen Stewart Now Has A Platinum Buzz Cut

Photo: Getty Images

Three months later and we’ve got the fabulous end result to the actress’s half-and-half hairdo: an icy cold set of bleach blonde frosted tips with a teensy bit of brown poking through. Stewart debuted her fresh look yesterday as cameras caught the actress, dressed in a graphic tee with light grey skinny jeans, out and about in Los Angeles as the sun shone on her steely grown-out blonde.

MORE: Bella Thorne Is ‘Single AF,’ Would Be Down to Date Kristen Stewart

Photo: Getty Images

Photo: Getty Images

Though the do probably wasn’t an intentional coloring choice, we think that if anyone can pull off frosted tips in 2017, it’s Kristen Stewart.

Alex Newell Won’t Fit into Your Mold, But He Might Squeeze into Your Shoes

It’s a sweltering late afternoon in June and Alex Newell is struggling to put on his shoes. “Dear feet. You will not be swollen today,” Newell, 24, says as he squeezes his toes into a pair of lacey black Christian Louboutins in his trailer on New York City’s Upper West Side. “I’m an 11 in women’s. It’s not bad. Would I rather be an 8? Absolutely.”

After about 30 seconds of grunting and tugging, Newell is in. “Yes!” he yelps, as he slips in his heel. He trots to the mirror to admire his full look: red-bottomed Louboutins, a matching black lace choker, and an all-white suit. (He’ll add a silver and black wig later.) “This is a moment,” he says.

Newell has an affinity for shoes. It’s likely why he tried on three pairs before settling on the Louboutins as he glams for the 2017 Logo Trailblazer Honors red carpet later that night. It’s likely why he’s willing to withstand the pain (and bleeding) of the glittery silver pair of Aldo heels his stylist picked out for his opening performance—a violin-powered rendition of “True Colors,” alongside singers Hayley Kiyoko and Wrabel, in honor of Cyndi Lauper.

It’s also likely why he snuck into his mother’s closet at 10 years old (around the time he began having inklings of his sexuality) to try on her high heels, or why he auditioned for the role of Lola, a thigh-high boots-obsessed drag queen, on Broadway’s “Kinky Boots” four times. “I think the higher the heel, the closer to god,” Newell says.

There perhaps is nowhere closer to god than where Newell is right now at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, a Gothic upper Manhattan church, where Logo will film its show. Soon, the cathedral, a religious worship house-turned-pink-tinted gala, will be filled with hundreds of LGBTQ leaders—an irony Newell, a Catholic school alum, fully understands. “I love it. All the homos in one little church. It’s such an oxymoron,” Newell says.

Photo: Brian Ziff

Born and raised in a town just north of Boston, Newell spent most of his childhood at Catholic school, where he was one of less than five black students. “I had my best Caucasian upbringing,” he says.

The only place he saw others that looked like him was at church, where Newell attended every Sunday since he was a toddler to sing in the choir. It was also where he would later develop conflicted feelings over the bible’s teachings.

Newell’s mother discovered his talent at age two after he wandered onto the stage at a state fair when his mother briefly turned around to fetch him a juice. “She started panicking, looking for me, and then she just heard my voice,” Newell says.

He later caught the performing bug at 11, when he saw a local theatre production of “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” an all-black Musical set in the Harlem Renaissance. “I would see Broadway shows that were on PBS and I would be in love with them, but I never saw anyone that looked like me,” he says.

It was a running theme: Newell was one of three black students in his high school—and with a high-pitched voice and natural sashay, he easily stuck out. Still, it wasn’t all tough. While his peers sorted through their own sexuality, Newell barely gave his a second thought. “Walking around the house in my mother’s heels, I was like, ‘I think that’s it, guys!’” he says,

At 17, on a whim, Newell came out to his mother by impulsively telling her right before bed. “I screamed it at my mother and she said, ‘Go to bed. I just took a Xanax,’” he says. “The next morning she was like, ‘I’m fine. Are you fine?’ And I was like, ‘I’m great! I love you.’”

But not everyone was so accepting. As word spread in his church, Newell caught the attention of his pastor, who pulled his mother aside to inform her that Newell’s sexuality was sinful. “He said the lifestyle that I chose goes against the bible,” Newell says. “Everyone who is a diehard Christian, they always use the bible against things they don’t like. But I’m pretty sure the bible says, ‘God is love.’ So if you can’t love someone else, aren’t you going against the bible?”

Photo: Getty Images

In his junior year, Newell applied for a regular role on “Glee” via a Myspace audition. Months later, he was selected to compete on a little-known show called “The Glee Project”—not quite the same, but if chosen, Newell would win a recurring role on “Glee.” Newell quickly agreed, taking a leave absence from high school and flying to Los Angeles that same week.

He eventually made it to the top four, losing out on the main role but still earning a two-episode consolation prize—a role that would later become a series regular and catapult him to national stardom.

In April 2012, about a year after “The Glee Project” ended, Newell made his “Glee” debut as Wade Adams, a shy off-stage, Sasha Fierce on-stage transgender student who would later go by “Unique.” By September 2013, Newell was promoted to series regular and earned widespread acclaim for portraying one of the first transgender high school students on television. “I was just in Denver last week at a nightclub and this trans male came up to me and he said that he wears his [surgical] scars proudly because of me,” Newell says. “It took everything in my body not to sob.”

Despite the praise, Newell is still a part of ongoing controversy regarding cisgender actors playing transgender characters. (In a viral Twitter thread, transgender actress Jen Richards explained that cisgender actors, specifically men, playing transgender characters is dangerous because it conveys to audiences that “being a trans women is just a man performing.”) It is a controversy Newell understands but also sees limitations to. “Everything’s a double-edged sword. I’m an actor, so at the end of the day, it’s whoever is best for the role. But I’m also a human,” he says. “I will say, since my character never fully transitioned, it kind of worked in a way. I myself may not be trans, but I am heavy on the gender-noncomforming.”

Photo: FOX

As “Glee” entered its final seasons, Newell was already looking ahead. While signing his last series regular deal, Newell was approached by Atlantic Records to release his own music. He jumped at the opportunity, debuting his first extended play, “POWER”—a Whitney Houston-esque catalogue—in 2016. Though it didn’t launch him into Beyonce’s stratosphere, Newell isn’t discouraged, with a new single out in August and another EP and album in the pipeline.

That level of confident optimism is likely what captured the attention of Adam Lambert in 2016 to bring Newell on his tour, or caught the eye of NBC that same year to greenlight “Imaginary Friend,” a comedy starring Newell in the lead role.

It’s also likely what got Newell in the audition room for “Kinky Boots.” In 2015, as “Kinky Boots”—a musical written and scored by Lauper about shoe entrepreneur and drag queen who partner to run a high heel company—was looking to replace its lead, Newell was called in for the role. He seemed to be hitting all the marks, until the casting directors turned him down.

“They said my weight would inhibit me from playing the role, which is not true, but to each their own,” he says. “I was like, ‘This is a show where they’re encouraging you to be who you want to be. Don’t let them tell you who you should be.’ They literally looked me in the face and told me I was too big to play a role. There’s no limitation. My weight does not prescribe what I cannot do.”

The discrimination also followed Newell through his personal life where he would continually encounter relationship profiles preaching, “No fats. No femmes. No blacks.”

“We’re in a community where we want so much to be accepted yet we don’t accept each other,” Newell says. “We all suck the same dick, so why is it that you take it upon yourself to create some sort of alpha gay? The gay that is the ‘right’ kind of gay.”

Before he met his boyfriend, Newell admits he was never called “beautiful,” a term he’s still getting used to. “I was nothing like any of his 6’1”, white, blonde, blue-eyed, go-to-the-gym-nine-times-a-day boyfriends. I was like, ‘You do know that I’m 5’7”, I have thick thighs, and my hair is black, right?” Newell says. “I had the insecurities about it all the time. It was really hard to get out of that. But here I am. I’ve risen above it. He always said I was beautiful, regardless. It’s a hard thing to hear because no one else has said it.”

Photo: Brian Ziff

It’s about two hours before he takes the stage at the Logo Trailblazer Honors and Newell is whipping through a dark brick-lined alleyway in the back of the cathedral on his way to a last-minute dress rehearsal.

The train of his white floor-length robe grazes the ground as the stomping of his glittery stilettos echo against the cathedral walls. Audible YAAAS’s can be heard from stagehands who scoot aside as Newell, also dressed in satin pink jumpsuit, floats toward the stage.

During the rehearsal performance, Newell’s stylist, a woman with long blonde braids clutching a pair of brown leather flip flops, watches him from a table at the side of the stage. On his solo, Newell struts down, his stiletto-shackled feet following one after the other, as he belts “True Colors” to a heart-clutching audience.

At the end, Newell’s face drops. He turns to his stylist, gives her a death glare, and shakes his head.

She quickly rushes to him to swap his heels for flip flops. Even the most mold-breaking still have to break in their shoes.

 

 

 

Lily Collins Opens Up About Her Eating Disorder And “To the Bone”

In Netflix’s “To the Bone”, which premieres July 14, Lily Collins plays the role of Ellen, a young woman battling anorexia nervosa who enters a treatment center in an attempt to save her life. But as Collins went on to later reveal, this project was a personal one as she has a history of eating disorders herself.

Collins opened up to writer/director, Marti Noxon, in Net-A-Porter’s “The Edit” about how the illness not only affected her health, but also her career as an actress. She lost weight for her role in “To the Bone”, and explained how certain publications refused to feature her for being too thin. “I was about to embark on press for ‘Rules Don’t Apply’ and I was told that a lot of media didn’t want me in their magazines,” she said. (That’s slightly encouraging, isn’t it?) “Not just on the cover–they wouldn’t put me inside looking the way I did, even though it was for a movie. No one knew my connection to the disorder, and at the time I was super upset because I thought, this is a huge moment for me and I can’t maximize on it. But it hit me–’Oh, this is going to majorly f*** with your career now, not just your health.'”

I tried to explain [I had lost weight for a role] and she goes, ‘No! I want to know what you’re doing, you look great!’ I got into the car with my mom and said, ‘That is why the problem exists.’

Collins also rehashed a time when she was praised for her weight loss (). “I was leaving my apartment one day and someone I’ve known for a long time, my mom’s age, said to me, ‘Oh, wow, look at you!’ I tried to explain [I had lost weight for a role] and she goes, ‘No! I want to know what you’re doing, you look great!'” she said. “I got into the car with my mom and said, ‘That is why the problem exists.'”

MORE: Lily Collins Reveals Past Struggle With An Eating Disorder

Overall, Collins hopes “To the Bone” will strike up necessary conversation surrounding eating disorders (we do, too!), which affect at least 30 million Americans and are the deadliest mental illness. “It has been amazing–crew members were coming up and saying they had experienced it through their sister or niece or friend, and with my book, too, at signings and on the street. I’ve had emails from people in the industry saying, ‘This is my story.’ That’s what this movie has the potential to do; to start conversations and take the taboo out of something that is so prevalent,” she said.

Word, Lily.

If you or a loved one are struggling with an eating disorder and are in need of support, please call the National Eating Disorders Association Helpline at 1-800-931-2237 or visit Project HEAL. 

Beyonce *Reportedly* Gave Away the Presents Kim Kardashian Gifted Her Twins

Don’t expect Beyonce‘s twins and Kim Kardashian‘s children to be BFFs anytime soon. The 35-year-old singer, who reportedly welcomed a twin boy and girl on June 12, just *allegedly* shaded the hell out of the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star—and we’re absolutely living for it.

MORE: Here Are the *Rumored* Names of Beyonce and Jay Z’s Twins

According to sources for Heat magazine, the 36-year-old reality star wanted to congratulate her Grammy-winning friend (meh, more like acquaintance) on her new bundles of joy. What’d she do? Well, like the savvy businesswoman she is, Kim sent Beyonce one of her KKW Beauty contour kits in a gold box worth $150,000. (If you have famous friends, you might as well ask them to #spon your stuff.) Along with the contour kit, Kim also gave Beyonce $10,000 worth of clothes for Blue Ivy and the twins from her sold-out children’s fashion line, The Kids Supply, with husband, Kanye West.

“Kim sent one of her KKW contouring kits, in a gold box, worth $150,000,” a source told Heat. “She thought that, because they weren’t even out yet, Bey would love it. She also sent about $10k worth of clothes for Blue from her and Kanye’s sold-out children’s fashion line and she’d had some pieces specially tailored for the infants.”

Photo: Getty Images

MORE: 15 Iconic Moments from Before Beyonce Was Famous

While we’re sure Bey appreciated Kim’s gesture, she clearly didn’t have the need for it (need us remind you she’s a billionaire?), which is probably why she allegedly ended up giving away all of Kim’s goodies to the hospital staff.

“Bey gave them to the nurses in the hospital for their kids,” the source said.

While you could see this as “shade,” you could also see it as Bey making sure every nurse was well-contoured and their kids were dressed in the finest Yeezys. What a good deed.

10 Millennial Celebrities Who Have Sworn Off Social Media

While our daily routine (and probably yours, too) involves scrolling through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, Snapchat, and whatever other social platforms the kids are using these days, there are a slew of millennials out there—including celebs—who are completely off the grid. (But what do they do with all that free time?!)

MORE: WYD, Justin Bieber? This Week’s Social Media Fails

While we’d love to see Emma Stone‘s latest Instagram selfie or read what Jennifer Lawrence is tweeting about on the reg, our hopes are only pipe dreams—and you’ll soon find out why. Click through for 10 millennial (and millennial-adjacent) celebrities who have sworn off social media. (You won’t find any of these stars RT-ing this post.)

Kendall and Kylie Are Getting Dragged For Their Latest Business Venture and For Good Reason

Got a minute? Here’s your mid-day roundup of all your need-to-know news in fashion, beauty, entertainment, and beyond.

Kendall and Kylie Jenner are getting serious heat for plastering their faces over classic band t-shirts and selling them. [Teen Vogue]

Adele told her fans she might never tour again and the world almost imploded. [Bustle]

A teen vlogger was charged with manslaughter for killing her boyfriend while filming a YouTube stunt. [Refinery29]

A study revealed that if most mannequins were real, they’d be severely underweight—to which most women responded, duh. [Racked]

Nicole Kidman said she was ‘humiliated’ and ‘ashamed’ after filming the violent sex scenes for ‘Big Little Lies.’ [Marie Claire]

MORE: The Internet Is Going Nuts Over Zendaya’s ‘Spider-Man’ Red Carpet Outfit

You can keep track of how dry or hydrated your face is on your phone with this itty bitty skin-care gadget. [Glamour]

The Obamas look stylish AF on their Bali family vacation, and the Internet is loving it. [Vogue]

This 20-year-old was always bullied for her rare genetic skin condition—but that isn’t stopping her from competing in Miss Universe Malaysia 2018. [Teen Vogue]

BuzzFeed is launching a beautified fidget spinner featuring three flavors of lip gloss, and we’re kind of intrigued. [Us Weekly]

If you like looking at things you’ll never be able to afford like we do, check out these photos of Beyonce and Jay-Z’s mansion. [Cosmo AU]

Hey ‘Gilmore Girls’ fans: you might get a taste of Luke’s coffee after all. [HuffPo]

9 Celebrities Eating Hot Dogs

In this day and age with all the cockamamie diet trends, there is, frankly, nothing more refreshing than seeing our favorite celebs keeping it real and chowing down on a hot dog, especially considering the fact it’s literally pigs’ feet and other grisly animal remains rolled up in cellulose casing. That takes guts (really).

Lucky for us, the Fourth of July is soon upon us, which means the following: The corn will be knee-high, there will be fireworks, there will be John Philip Sousa, and there sure-as-the-Pope-is-Catholic will be hot dogs. And nothing makes me want a hot dog (vegan, sorry; I’m one of those people) more than the Fourth of July, because, well, Paulette Bonafonté. I’m takin’ the [hot] dog, dumbass!

MORE: The Evolution of Reese Witherspoon

Scroll through the gallery below to see nine celebs enjoying a good frank.

Holy Wow—Maisie Williams Looks Unrecognizable in New “Time” Photos

OK, OK; we know it’s completely unfair to forever think of an actor as being the character she plays on TV, but with some people, it’s just not our fault. Melissa Joan Hart will forever be Sabrina from “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” Raven Simone will always be Raven from “That’s so Raven,” and Maisie Williams will always be, at least for the near future, Arya Stark from “Game of Thrones.”

Basically, when we think of Williams, our brains immediately flash to the muddy, mousey-haired Arya, which is why we truly didn’t even recognize her in the recent photos she posted on Instagram from her photoshoot with Time. Prepare yourselves—it’s trippy.

MORE: Here’s Exactly How to do The Halo Braid on (Almost) Every Hair Type

The photos, shot by photographer Miles Aldridge, were for a “Game of Thrones” cover of Time magazine, showing all of the major GoT actors in vibrant, technicolor costumes and backdrops. And though we did a double-take at Lena Headey’s (Cersei Lannister) jet-black hair, and Emilia Clarke’s (Daenerys Targaryen) brown, un-braided bun, we were most surprised by Maisie Williams, who looked completely old Hollywood, with slick, ultra-shiny waves, bold brows, and deep, berry lipstick—essentially the exact opposite of the Arya Stark we’re used to seeing.

Source: Instagram

The look was created by makeup artist Kindra Mann, who regularly works with Miranda Cosgrove, Jessica Biel, and Busy Philipps, along with hairstylist Ryan Richman (the go-to hair pro for Kate Mara, Ashley Tisdale, and pretty much every other celebrity in Hollywood). And though they have yet to tell us exactly how they created the look, we can definitively say that we’re obsessed with it, and plan to break out our mom’s hot rollers tonight to recreate the look on ourselves.

Source: Instagram

 

10 Weirdly Awesome Tricks to Get Dewy Skin

Ah, that elusive lit-from-within, dewy skin glow. We all want it, and we’ve all—at some point or another—tried to get it by slathering on glitter-filled makeup products that promise a J.Lo glow, but end up making us look like a disco ball, a Las Vegas showgirl, or an amalgamation of both. Not cute.

The truth is, there’s a good reason for craving dewy skin—it not only looks feminine and natural, but plump hydrated skin is a marked sign of youth—something we all want. The good news: You don’t have to be a 16-year-model, have Jenny From the Block’s makeup artist on speed dial, or chug 100 liters of distilled water a day to get a perfectly dewy visage—there are cool tricks you can use to amp up your glow.

Of course, mastering these tricks requires a solid foundation, which means you shouldn’t skimp on exfoliating, moisturizing, and drinking (a reasonable) amount of water. Once you’ve done that, read on for 10 tricks that really work to achieve enviable dewy skin.

MORE: To Get Perfect Skin, It’s All About the Best Finishing Powder

10. Here’s a fun trick that beauty obsessives swear by: Burts Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil is a miracle product when used on your cheeks. Yes, really! Its subtle pink tint adds a natural flush to skin, while the natural oils give off a hard-to-replicate dewy glow. No need to add a lot—just a tiny swipe on each cheek, then blend. It also works wonders to break up an excess foundation or powder, if you applied too much.

9. The MVP of dewy skin? That would be coconut oil, ladies. This stuff works wonders as a non-comedogenic highlighter thanks to its semi-solid makeup. Coconut oil solidifies when it’s room temperature, so dabbing a little on your cheekbones, brow bone, and across the bridge of your nose adds a dewy, hydrated finish that’s not runny or overly oily.

Photo: ImaxTree

8. Keep a spray bottle filled with two parts water and one part Marula oil (which is sold at any health food store, and every Whole Foods.) After you’ve applied your makeup, give your face a spritz or two. In case you’re unfamiliar, Marula is one most powerful antioxidant oils in the world, and both softens skin and balances moisture levels.

Replacing Marula oil with pure coconut water, jasmine oil (the main ingredient in Rodin’s culty Olio Lusso oil), sweet almond oil, or lavender oil also does the trick.

MORE: Meet Skin Boosters: A New Customizable Product That Fixes Literally Every Skin Issue

7. Don’t dab liquid highlighter on after your foundation—mix a drop into it, and apply with a damp BeautyBlender, or another high-quality sponge.

6. Get familiar with Royal Jelly. It’s a honey bee secretion (yes, made from actual bees), that in-the-know women swear by thanks to its intense amount of complex B vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, enzymes, natural antibiotic properties, and antibacterial properties. While you can buy products made the Royal Jelly, we suggest picking up a $15 tub of the stuff in its pure form—meaning, no added chemicals—and slathering it on bare skin before bed and before you apply makeup.

5. Blend two shades of lipstick together—one creamy but matte and one with a little shimmer—then pat onto your cheekbones. Voila—customized blush that stays put and gives you a sexy glow.

4. Add a drop of cold-pressed avocado oil to cream or gel blush—it’s thick enough to not make the color run, but will add a dewier finish.

Photo: ImaxTree

3. If you’re not a fan of runny liquid highlighters, grab a small pot of peach, gold, beige, or white eyeshadow. From there, press with your finger on to your cheekbones for a subtle dewy finish. If you’re really in a DIY mood, crack the shadow and mix with a little coconut oil for an instant highlighter.

2. Don’t discount the power of good old petroleum jelly—aka Vaseline—for a model-ready glow. Using a light hand, apply on your lids, cheeks, and lips, with or without makeup.

1. Dampen your BeautyBlender so it swells to three times its normal size, then dab it in a water-based gel foundation (Chantecaille’s new Future Skin formula is brilliant—it’s oil-free but contains 60% charged water and seaweed), and start blending. The wet sponge will thin out the makeup, which already has a high component of water, so your skin will quite literally look dewy.

Originally published February 2015. Updated June 2017.

This Is How Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner Met

It’s hard to imagine a time when Kendall Jenner and the Hadid sisters weren’t supermodel BFFs. But, in a new interview with InStyle, Bella Hadid reminded us that the fashion “It” girl trio didn’t pop out of the womb and right onto the runway together. They actually met in a fairly common way—and if you’re a 20-something too, you probably met some of your besties in the same fashion.

MORE: You Have to See Kendall Jenner’s Chic 1960s-Style Bangs

Like the millennials they are, Kendall and Bella met…drum roll please…on the Internet. Yup. The older Jenner sister and younger Hadid were totes strangers until one of them slipped into the other’s DMs and started chatting her up. But before you get any ideas that Kendall and Bella were frequent Tinder users, the duo actually met on Twitter six-ish years ago—and their millions of followers probably didn’t know a thing. We’ll let Bella explain the rest.

“I met her for the first time seven years ago over Twitter,” Bella told InStyle. “That was before we started modeling; I was probably 14 or 15. We met up and had sushi, and now we’re best friends. She’s a pretty significant human I met online.”

Photo: Getty Images

MORE: Bella Hadid Just Got Ass-Length Hair Extensions and We Can’t Stop Staring

There you have it, folks. A simple 140 characters and a couple sushi rolls and boom! Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner’s friendship was born. Bella likely played wingman and introduced Kendall to her older sis Gigi, who rounded out the fashion “It” girl gang.

At 14 and 15, the girls were probably pimply preteens. (Though could you ever be that pimply if you turn out to be a supermodel?) Little did they know that they would go on to form one of the most elusive supermodel squads in history. SMH. Why can’t our DMs be filled with friend requests from up-and-coming supermodels?

Here’s Exactly How to do The Halo Braid on (Almost) Every Hair Type

Meet the halo braid, an ethereal, goddess-looking hairstyle that is about to explode across your Instagram feeds in the coming weeks, because it has officially become the most popular braided hairstyle to wear this summer, and we’re not upset about it.

MORE: The 7 Best Sunscreens Real Moms Swear By

The halo braid is similar to a crown braid, which involves wrapping two French braids around your head, but instead, you create one long Dutch braid and pile it along your hairline, pinning it in place. Did your eyes just glaze over at that word vomit? Great; cool—we figured. So instead of giving you a thousand-word dissertation on the halo braid, we rounded up the easiest-to-follow tutorials that show you exactly how to copy the look at home, no matter your hair type. Keep reading (and watching), and please be prepared to take at least a billion selfies when you finally master the look.

Photo: ImaxTree

If you have insanely long hair…

Consider yourself lucky. Just weave one Dutch braid along the edges of your hairline, wrap the braid around your crown and pin it in place. Boom—you’re done.

 

If you have short, natural hair…

You’ll need a toothbrush and styling gel for your edges, along with a pair of long braided extensions, but we promise the actual tutorial is easier than it sounds

 

If you have thick, curly hair…

Congrats—your braid will automatically look thick and voluminous, with practically zero effort on your part. Just brush your hair forward, braid it loosely, and pin it to your hairline for an instant halo effect.

 

If you have fine, short hair…

Yes, a halo braid is possible as long as you’re cool with cheating a bit. Basically, rather than wrapping a long braid around your whole head, you create two skinny braids, tuck them underneath each other, and pin them in place.

 

The 25 Best Songs About Butts: A Ranked Guide

If we’ve learned one thing during the course of the last year or so, it’s that butts are back—and with them the resurrection of a the booty song. While some critics have commented that a healthy backside never really went anywhere, we respectfully disagree. To wit: There once was a time when Jennifer Lopez‘s most defining feature was her shapely butt.

Throughout the late ’90s and early 2000s, Lopez was an enigma in a world of stick-skinny models and actresses, causing critics and the public alike to gawk like she was some sort of mystical creature whose derriere was a thing of wonder. But somewhere around the mid-aughts, ultra-thin became the norm in Hollywood again, and it seemed that J.Lo’s booty went the way of Juicy tracksuits. Then in 2007 a girl named Kim Kardashian appeared on the scene, and the topic of celebrity butts was once again at the forefront.

Now, a decade later, it’s at an all-time high, with everyone in Hollywood tripping over themselves to prove that they have the biggest, roundest, sexiest ass. Even J.Lo’s back on the butt train, trying semi-desperately to steal back her title, having launched a not-subtle single called “Booty,” and promoted it with—what else?—a photo of her own backside.

MORE: Kim Kardashian Responds to Fans Who Say She Shaded Beauty Blogger Jackie Aina

But there’s a long history of moneymakers being idolized in song—from Queen’s 1976 hit “Fat-Bottomed Girls” to 1992’s defining ass anthem “Baby Got Back”—so we decided to do a deep-dive into  music’s vast booty-themed catalog and come up with a ranking of the 25 best songs about butts.

25. “Anaconda” Nicki Minaj

When Nicki first appeared on the music scene, her rap skills were bananas (if you haven’t heard her ferocious verse in Kanye West‘s 2010 “Monster,” seek it out, stat), but it’s safe to say that her lyrics have declined. Not that we don’t love a good lettuce reference, but “he tossed my salad so good we be calling him romaine” is maybe less than brilliant.

 

24. “U and Dat” E-40 Ft. T-Pain and Khandi 

Most of 2006 was spend tryna to get to yooouuuuuuuuuu and that booty.

 

23. “Shake That” by Eminem ft. Nate Dogg

There’s the stuff that made Eminem interesting, then there’s stuff like this. It’s a forgettable party track, but it gets points for featuring the ever-smooth Dogg (RIP.)

 

22. “Booty” Jennifer Lopez ft. Iggy Azalea

All the ingredients for a perfect pop song: Catchy, sexy, a little desperate.

 

21. “Salt Shaker” Ying Yang Twins Ft. Lil John and the East Side Boyz

God bless the Dirty South.

 

20. “Shake Your Rump” Beastie Boyz

If anyone doubts the inventiveness of the Beastie Boyz lyrics, Google this song.

 

19. “2 Much Booty (In da Pants),” Soundmaster T

If you were listening to pop radio in 1994, you’ve probably still got “DANCE! Too much booty in the pants!” in your head.

 

18. “Tush” Ghostface Killah Ft. Missy Elliot

If it sounds familiar, it’s because it was censored and played on the radio in 2003 as “Push.” Not surprising considering its crowning lyrics include “tush, tush, tush/Wanna slide in the bush, bush, bush?/I’m on top, you like push, push, push/Keep it low like shush, shush, shush.

 

 17. “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” Trace Adkins

We realize this 2004 country track isn’t exactly good, per se, but we’d be remiss to not include it simply for the fact that its ringtone alone received more than 75,000 downloads and there’s a European compilation album built around various mixes of the song.

 

16. “Pull Over” Trina

Early-aughts rapper Trina was deemed “as nasty as Lil’ Kim used to be” when her album “Da Baddest Bitch” dropped in 2000, and this song pretty much proves it. Trina might have faded away after one album, but this jet ski-heavy video lives on.

 

15. “All About That Bass” Meghan Trainor

We know the retro-tinged earworm is about having a big ass, but it’s safe to say nobody knows what being all about bass really means. Let us help: “You know how the bass guitar in a song is like its ‘thickness,’ the ‘bottom’? I kind of related a body to that,” Trainor told Billboard.  We assume that means the treble is a lightweight.

MORE: Definitive Proof That Jennifer Lopez Never Ages

14. “Low” Flo Rida 

The song that sparked shorties everywhere to get ‘dem Apple Bottom jeans. And boots with the fur. And Reeboks with the strap.

 

13. “Culo” Pitbull ft. Lil John

Before Mr. Worldwide exclusively dressed like an extra from “Scarface,” he bopped around Miami in tank tops, bellowing “CULO!!!” Suffice it to say, you need not be a linguist to know what that means.

 

12. “Bubble Butt” Major Lazer ft. 2 Chainz, Bruno Mars, Tyga and Mystic

An all-star lineup spewing some of pop music’s most profound lyrics. Behold:

Bubble butt, bubble, bubble, bubble butt
Bubble butt, bubble, bubble, bubble butt
Turn around, stick it out, show the world what you got a
Bubble butt, bubble, bubble, bubble butt
Bubble butt, bubble, bubble, bubble butt
Bubble butt, bubble, bubble, bubble butt
Turn around, stick it out, show the world you got it!

 

11. “Big Ole Butt” LL Cool J

This story has everything: Milkshakes, the mall, shrimp and steak at Red Lobster, bamboo earrings, pipin’ hot pizza, and a hoe named Tina who has a BOB.

 

10. (Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty” KC and the Sunshine Band 

This 1976 confection was considered controversial when it came out, thanks to randy lyrics that include “shake shake shake/shake shake shake/shake your booty.” A testament to its longevity: It’s still played at every catering hall wedding, ’70s theme party, and bar mitzvah in America.

 

9. “My Humps” The Black-Eyed Peas

Arguably the song that put Fergie’s lovely lady lumps on the map.

 

8.  “Back Dat Ass Up” Juvenile

His name kind of says it all, but we still dig this 1998 banger.

 

7. “Bonita Applebum”  A Tribe Called Quest

Granted, this classic isn’t about butts, per se, but we’re giving it a spot because of its title. And because it’s awesome.

6. “Ms. Fat Booty” Mos Def

Arguably the smoothest song about butts ever written.

 

5. “Fat Bottomed Girls” Queen

Freddie Mercury and the gang made waves with their 1976 celebration of curves.

 

4. “Bootylicious” Destiny’s Child

You know the story: This song’s immense popularity causes it to be added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2004.

 

3. “Rumpshaker” Wrex-n-Effects

As soon as people heard that first saxophone lick (sampled from 1972’s “Darkest Light” by Lafayette Afro Rock Band) they were hooked on 1992’s now-classic. Fun fact: The second verse was written by a young Pharrell Williams.

 

2. “Baby Got Back” Sir Mix-a-Lot

Oh. My. God Becky, we know this song normally ends up at number one on lists like these, and while it was groundbreaking in its own way, there’s no doubt it’s become a parody of itself, thanks to a Glee cover and an ad campaign for Charmin toilet paper that showcases an animated bear rocking out to the original song.

1. “The Thong Song” Sisqo

We herby declare this absolutely ridiculous song number one on our list, thanks to its creative use of strings (performed by violinist Bruce Dukov, believe it or not), it’s early-aughts benchmarks (Sisqo’s bleached hair, belly button tattoo, flowy all-white outfit, fingerless gloves on the beach), agile gymnastics moves, and the fact that the entire world was trumpeting “THONG-THA-THONG-THONG-THONG” with straight faces as we rung in the millennium.

Originally published January 2015. Updated June 2017.