Reflections from the US Open Salon

Yene Damtew and Njeri Radway reflect on The Look and how a First Lady’s hair can shift culture, change the conversation, and reshape how we see ourselves.Guest: Yene Damtew, HairstylistNjeri Radway, Hairstylist and BraiderGet your copy of The Look -- out now!Read: Michelle Obama's 2018 Essence Cover StoryWatch: Becoming on NetflixSee: The Nashville Look, Becoming Tour, 2019See: The Boho Look for Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival 2022Read: The Chignon Look for the White House Portrait, 2022Watch: The Ponytail Braid Look for the Democratic National Convention, 2024Join the list for fresh Reflections, delivered every other week.© 2025 Reflections with Baze Mpinja

Beauty brands can now use AI to generate photo shoots without cameras—or people. This week, we dissect the potential impact on the modeling industry, beauty, and culture. Why have models mattered so deeply to us, and what do we lose if they disappear?Guest: Sophia Panych, Beauty Journalist and Backstage Beauty Expert  Read: Does This Look Like A Real Woman? AI Model in Vogue Raises Concerns About Beauty StandardsWatch: Cindy's Iconic Pepsi Commercial, Inside the Supermodel Cafe, and MTV's House of StyleWatch: Supreme Models on NetflixWatch: The Super Models on Apple TVWatch: Donyale Luna: Supermodel on Apple TVJoin the list for fresh Reflections, delivered every other week.© 2025 Reflections with Baze Mpinja

Baze talks with Antonia Opiah, founder of Unruly, about the complicated legacy of relaxers: from kitchen perms and beauty ads that equated straight hair with success, to the growing awareness of what that pursuit has cost.See: "Was it her rèsumè... or Raveen?"Read: Hair Relaxer Lawsuits Surpass 10,000 as Major Brands Face Growing Cancer Claims — RetailBossRead: What is The CROWN Act?Watch: You Can Touch My Hair Part 1 and Part 2 — UnrulyWatch: The Wig Scene — How To Get Away with MurderJoin the list for fresh Reflections, delivered every other week.© 2025 Reflections with Baze Mpinja

We examine the future of plastic surgery—with a plastic surgeon who made history.Guest: Dr. Steven Williams, MD — board-certified plastic surgeon and Past President of the American Society of Plastic SurgeonsJoin the list for fresh Reflections, delivered every other week.© 2025 Reflections with Baze Mpinja

A nervous mom. A makeup-obsessed tween. A trip to Sephora. What could possibly go wrong? And who’s going to hold the basket?Guests: Leyla Bolho Garlatti, communications/PR consultant and momSara Spruch-Feiner, Senior Reporter at GlossyA very spunky 9-year-oldJoin the list for fresh Reflections, delivered every other week.© 2025 Reflections with Baze Mpinja

In our debut episode, we take you inside the US Open salon with founder Julien Farel. (And a surprise guest!)Join the list for fresh Reflections, delivered every other week.© 2025 Reflections with Baze Mpinja

Where beauty sparks bigger conversations, right where it happens.Join the list for fresh Reflections, delivered every other week.© 2025 Reflections with Baze Mpinja