Celeb Hairstylist Nigella Miller on The Power of Self
The celebrity hairstylist opens up about all things beauty, from the first time she did her own hair to the industry narratives she’d like to see rewritten
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Fashion Director Rajni Jacques Shares Her Power Lipstick & Haitian Beauty Remedies
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By Akili king
February 21, 2022
“I’ve always been one of those people who believes it takes a village to make real change,” says Rajni Jacques. “It’s all about having a group of people who are driving towards making something better.” You may know Jacques as Snapchat’s global head of fashion and beauty — or as the former fashion director at Allure and Teen Vogue — but she’s also the co-founder of Building Black Bedstuy, a financial-relief organization she started with Kai Avent-deLeon and Nana Yaa that helps Brooklyn residents disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
Jacques is also a mother, painter, and devoted fan of bold lip color, all of which is deeply influenced by her Haitian culture. Growing up in New Jersey, she learned about skincare at an early age. “It was always about your skin and how well you took care of it,” she says, adding that her mother often made DIY products: a mix of cornmeal, shea butter and oil to create a face scrub or egg and avocado as a hair mask. “I grew up thinking avocados were only for your hair and not something you’re supposed to eat!” she says. Still, her most valuable lesson was inner confidence. “My mom always taught us to lean on something beyond our physical traits.”
Below, Jacques shares more about her beauty and wellness rituals as a working mother and community leader, her ideal Valentine’s Day date and so much more.
- RI:
What’s helped you to find confidence in yourself?
- RJ:
My mother and my grandmother have always been beautiful pillars in my life. They are both super strong women. My grandmother was a lawyer and my mother is a physician. It was amazing seeing them in positions where you didn’t always see Black women all the time. They kept it pushing, defying the odds. Seeing that made me see confidence as something that was beyond looks.
Also, my sister's always been one of those people that didn't necessarily care what other people thought of her. She’s empowered me to move through a room without stopping and checking [for other peoples’ opinions.] Obviously your confidence gets hit throughout life, but I’ve learned to just remind myself that whatever's hitting you is not gonna last forever. - RI:
What’s something about yourself that you once considered a flaw but now you absolutely love?
- RJ:
I used to hate my cheesy smile. I always thought it looked like the Cheshire Cat. I was always very self-conscious about it. But I love it now because to be able to smile is to be able to show that there's some type of happiness that's happening around you.
“I grew up thinking avocados were only for your hair…”
- RI:
Any unconventional self-care practices that you swear by?
- RJ:
I still do all the stuff my mom used to do when I was younger. I wash my face at night with straight up Ivory soap. I definitely now use better creams and moisturizers than I did when I was younger, but I still do the egg and avocado in my hair. Another thing my mom used to do was use aloe vera leaves on our skin and roots of the hair. I still do that now to myself and I also do it to my kids.
- RI:
What are some skincare items you’re loving in addition to your childhood practices today?
- RJ:
I’m loving shea butter, Muri Lelu’s CBD oil and Oui the People’s Featherweight Body Gloss.
- RI:
I know you typically keep it simple with makeup, but when you do wear it what are you reaching for?
- RJ:
The Rose Inc concealer is amazing — and I’m not even a crazy makeup person. I’m more of a blush, mascara and lip girl. I definitely have to say the Softlight Concealer is on point. I also like Glossier’s Future Dew. It’s simple and gives you a nice dewiness. When I don’t wear red lipstick I’m loving Marc Jacobs blue eyeliner with mascara and keeping my skin natural, then topping it off with a lip gloss.
- RI:
I love your signature bold lip. Do you have a favorite ?
- RJ:
Honestly, anything red! I will try any brand. If it’s red and it’s popping, I love it!
- RI:
Do you have a go-to look for Valentine’s Day?
- RJ:
Not really. I'll be honest I was never in love with the holiday as I think it brought up so much anxiety for so many including myself, but now that I have kids, I've grown to have fun expressing how much I love them.
“...it takes a village to make real change.”
- RI:
What’s an ideal date for you?
- RJ:
A good massage, then a good dinner, then falling asleep on a great bed!
- RI:
When it comes to hair, what’s your routine like?
- RJ:
I just started using Olaplex products and I have to say, it’s a game changer.
- RI:
Do you have a favorite fragrance?
- RJ:
I recently was put onto a brand called Molecule and it adheres to your pheromones. I also like & Other Stories’ body fragrance. It smells so clean, like you just got out of the shower. I’m also a fan of Byredo.
- RI:
Being so busy, what are you doing to ensure you make time for yourself?
- RJ:
It’s truly hard to find time for yourself when you have two little people who depend on you. I try to find those moments in small ways, though. I find it when I'm taking a shower by taking an extra 10 minutes to just let the steam run over my body… that’s become a form of self-care for me. When I travel, I really make sure that I sleep well because I have my own bed to myself.
As of late, when I sleep at home, I wake up with my back and neck hurting because my kids often sleep in the bed with us and so my body is all contorted. I like to take at least five minutes of just straight stretching in the mornings. - RI:
What is the biggest beauty risk you’ve ever taken?
- RJ:
When I was in 8th grade I cut my hair. I would love to cut it again, but not as short. Maybe a nice bob.
- RI:
Are there beauty narratives that you’d like to see changed and why?
- RJ:
There’s always been such a fetishization of dark skin. I do think that the beauty industry has opened up a bit more but there is still tons of work that needs to be done. I just want our inclusion to be normalized and not exoticized.
- RI:
When do you feel most beautiful?
- RJ:
I always feel beautiful after a shower. When I'm moisturized and my skin looks good and my hair is just in a bun. I love that feeling of wiping away the day and the dirt. There’s something very beautiful about that. I also feel really beautiful when I'm just sitting on the couch and my kids are laying on me.
Getting Ready With Rajni Jacques
As the fashion and beauty director of Snapchat, co-founder of Building Black Bed-Stuy and a mother of two, Rajni Jacques has learned the importance of work-life balance. To help her through the days, she turns to practices including Haitian beauty rituals, daily stretching and, of course, the perfect playlist.
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