Actress and model, Krys Marshall is a natural beauty in more ways than one. We got down to the nitty gritty on her hair, skin and beauty secrets from the inside out…
Where does beauty come from?
From WITHIN, of course! The old saying is old, because it’s true, and for me, it’s never more apparent than when I look at pictures of myself during my “Party Girl” phase in New York. I was younger, and thinner than I am now, but nevertheless my personal insecurities wore me like a cheap suit. I constantly compared myself to the women around me and although I was good-looking, I don’t think I radiated then, the way I do now.
You’ve been getting your hair relaxed since you were four years old!!? Explain what that means for someone who doesn’t know…
Many people don’t realize that for most black women, the hair that grows out of our heads, is not the hair you see on our shoulders. My hair is naturally thick, kinky, tightly coiled curls, commonly known as an Afro. It’s the hair that I was born with, and had until I was around 4, when my family beautician began “Relaxing” my hair through a chemical straightening process. Having your hair relaxed was more than just a hairstyle, it was a symbol of beauty, perhaps a rite of passage, but also an outward showing in some cases, an effort to assimilate to the beauty standards of America. Many years ago, you wouldn’t dare go around with “nappy hair” for fear of being discriminated against, or excluded from mainstream culture. If you wanted to be accepted, respected, and included, you straightened your hair. Those rules have changed slowly over time, but all over America they still stand. For me personally, I literally never got to meet this head of hair until about 2 years ago when I decided to do a “Big Chop”, meaning i cut off every inch of chemically relaxed hair, and only kept my 3 inches of newly grown, unprocessed, virgin hair. The decision to do so was part curiosity, part rebellion, and mostly radical self-acceptance. I consciously decided to give “me” a try. And I absolutely love it.
You decided to go natural with your hair. Is there a sense of power in that – owning who you are in your natural state and making that look as good as you do?
Definitely. It’s wild to think that wearing the hair God gave you could be seen as a political statement, but it is! For me it’s been incredibly liberating to fully embrace my hair, as it is. When I had relaxed hair, there’s the awkward period between relaxers, when your “new growth” is fighting against your straight hair, and trying to manage the two textures can be difficult. Lots of breakage and pulling, if you’re not careful. I’m also much more weather-resistant! Whether it’s hot and humid, or cold and windy, my natural hair is much more forgiving, so that makes the daily primping process a cinch.
You look beautiful with a long straight weave and you look great with it natural and short. It’s kind of fun, no? – to be able to change your looks on a dime? Do you have a favorite style?
So fun! It’s hard to say what’s my fave. I love getting braids or “protective styles” when traveling. That way I can spend as much time seeing the sights and as little time fussing in the mirror as possible. As for my everyday look, it constantly changes. I’m always watching “Natural Styling” tutorials on YouTube and trying new products. Wearing my natural hair is still new to me, so there’s still quite a bit of trial and error.
So many of my friends have adopted children outside of their race or are fostering children outside of their race. One of the most challenging aspects is not knowing how to take care of skin and hair properly – can you give us some pointers? My friend Dee Dee from GA always helps my girlfriends in this area and I know there are mommy blogs out there with this specific kind of information but I want to know what you would suggest.
Ask for help. Seriously. If you’re the parent of a child with kinky hair, walk up to a woman with hair like your child’s and ask for help! There’s no shame in admitting that something is out of your scope. I think the real crime is when people (in an attempt to make us all seem equal) pretend that we’re all the same. As an actress, it’s very frustrating when I get on set and the makeup artist feigns to know how to work with dark skin if she doesn’t. Those are the days when I leave the chair looking a hot mess! It’s ok to say “Hey, i’m not familiar with how to color skin like yours; did you bring products you love? How can I make you look and feel great today?”
How are you dealing with the aging process? Black girls don’t have to deal – you don’t age! lol… I kid. For real though, have you started noticing any signs of aging? Do you have any feelings about doing Botox, fillers, lasers etc? Do you like to do a more holistic route like acupuncture for anti-aging?
Aging is not immediately on my radar, although I do struggle with acne, so that’s a whole other ball of wax! My overall opinions about beauty treatments and the debate between “natural” vs “surgical” is, To each his own. An issue I see among women, is the competition and hierarchy that arises. There are women who put each other down for doing fillers and botox, and then there’s women who put others down for having wrinkles or sunspots, and to me, the whole thing is just shameful. Regardless of the way in which we dial into “beauty”, I wish we as women could bond together on our commonalities. We all want to look healthy, vibrant and refreshed, and how anyone achieves that, really is no one’s business.
You stay in really great shape- are you also meticulous about what you eat? We definitely believe in a holistic approach in the idea that what you eat affects your beauty, your skin, your emotions, lifestyle, drinking habits, sleeping patterns etc. How on top of it are you?
Sweets are my greatest vice. More than salt, wine or sex! Hell, I’d give it all up, for a slice of carrot cake. But one of my favorite quotes is by Oscar Wilde, “Everything in moderation, including moderation.” So I ebb and flow with my diet and do my best to listen to my body. And what does that mean exactly? Well, sometimes I feel hungry but turns out i’m nervous. Or sleepy. Or bored. Or thirsty! So I try to bring some presence around what I’m eating. If I have a craving, I acknowledge it, “Oh hey craving. I see you there. Let’s circle back to this tomorrow, and see if you’re still there. If you are, perhaps I’ll indulge you.”
We believe that happy girls are pretty girls and you come across as a very happy young lady. I love your sing a longs in the car on IG stories- you are not scared to let it out and I love it. We get to share in a little piece of your joy even if it’s a few seconds during your jam session while getting a car wash. How did you learn to be vulnerable and happy? Is it your natural disposition? Do you intentionally live an optimistic life? I love your sunny vibe and with that smile, you don’t have much of a choice:)
Ok first of all, I love that you love my ridiculous Instagram stories! That makes me smile. I don’t know if I see myself as a “happy” person. I think “Happy” is a sort of scary, result-oriented feeling that eludes us all. It’s the “carrot-on-the-stick” that is always just out of reach. I think what I do strive for is connection. I want to “connect” with the girl who rings me up at Whole Foods. I want to “connect” with a 12 year-old golden retriever who slooowwwllyy makes his way towards me at the dog park. I want to “connect” with my social media followers when I share a funny story of something that happened in my day. Connection is so easy! Connection is manageable and tangible. And when I spend my day finding those points of connection, great and small, the end result is… ok yes, it’s happiness!
Do you think you look like your mom?
I don’t! I have my mom’s skin color, but my dad’s everything else. But emotionally and mentally, my mom and I are entirely simpatico. We share an unspoken language that allows us to really move through conflict very quickly. We also have the exact same sense of humor. Calls with her are 98% laughing, talking shit and making fun.
What makes your mom beautiful?
Oof. Now i’m getting choked up! She’s amazing. Physically there’s so much; she has the most beautiful almond shaped-eyes, and to me she looks like a little chocolate Geisha doll. She’s got the most beautiful skin; even toned and impossibly smooth. She’s in her 60’s but gets mistaken for being 20 years younger. She’s really kept herself up, and manages to still be a size 6 after all these years. And lastly, my favorite part is her smile. She has the most infectious smile and this adorable gap between her front teeth that I envied as a little girl. “Dear God, when I grow up PLEAAAASE give me a gap like mom’s. Please!” Spoiler alert: he didn’t!
What did your mother teach you about beauty? Was it a topic of conversation? Share what your mom taught you…
My mom rarely complimented our looks, which I know sounds strange, but she just didn’t. She often spoke about how smart we were, how bright, how strong, how determined. When she spoke about us to friends and family, she used those same descriptors. I remember when I was little, on Sunday mornings i’d get in her bed, and we’d watch “Meet The Press”. She’d break down for me who the players were, what was happening in the world, and how it affected us. And I remember very vividly thinking “I don’t understand this, but i WANT TO.” What I did gather from her, in terms of outside appearances, is her personal style. My mom was always a snazzy dresser, and really prided herself on wearing bold colors and being a bit of a peacock. My affinity for yellows, golds and orange certainly comes from her.
How can women feel beautiful from within?
There’s a funny meme going around of a grocery store package of oranges that’s labeled “NOT THE BEST, BUT STILL GOOD.” and I just love it. There are days when I look amazing and I know it, and I strut round high-stepping like a “Best in Show” poodle. Then there are days when my skin is a wreck, my jeans are too tight, and my hair is a nest of split ends. On those days I remember that package of nearly expired oranges and think to myself “Hey, i’m not the best, but i’m still good!” My point is, it’s nice to have a sense of humor about these things, and to remind yourself that you’re more than just your looks.