photos: Vismante Ruzgaite.
The three of us used to be inseparable. I would always include them in my plans, practically wouldn’t leave the house without them. Up until very recently, I just felt like I’m not quite complete without my makeup and bra on. We’re still seeing each other now, but sometimes I just choose to go solo.
Since my usual look used to be some kind of a 60s groupie wannabe, I was quite surprised by this development in my personal style. Did I get tired with the time-consuming rituals? Have I inadvertently caught up with a trend? Why do I feel like I have to analyze this in terms of the mainstream beauty standards anyway?
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by Michalina | Stories
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A couple of weeks ago I was invited by Wella Professionals to be part of their new #ShowYourPride campaign and participate in a photoshoot for Blonde Magazine along with the striking Strify, the luscious Leonie, and the daring David. It was certainly an unexpected request, but one I followed gladly, because it gave me the opportunity to talk about diversity and being different – but also because I got the chance to express some public pride myself with a dash of rainbow colors in my hair.
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by Frank | Stories
photo: Hannes Gade
Berlin might not have a reputation for being the place where the most beautiful men reside, but that’s only because we have to wear coats seven months of the year. So Rio, you can officially pack your bags! Since Berlin men are so open-minded, liberal, and often don’t even mind stripping it all down on social media, we now have visual proof: Berlin’s got it! And, Berlin got dem boys! So, while you might be alone in bed, possibly building prince charming out of pillows and blankets, or maybe you have a sadomasochistic moment and want to destroy your self-esteem, go ahead, and look at the following divine selection of Berlin specimen – And just imagine all the rest … That is awfully superficial, I am aware. But it just happens, you know. Suddenly, you find yourself staring at your screen. These men just upload too many well-lit photos. So, let’s all be honest with ourselves and indulge in this short, shallow moment of social media desire. Knowing, these men might wait just around the corner and not at the Copacabana. Enjoy…
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by Andy | People
Konrad alias Konaction is one of the most important and influential Berlin Instagrammers, over 130 thousand followers speak for themselves. He is a master in capturing Berlin’s unusual, nonconformist beauty, in grey skies, concrete walls and geometrical shapes. Like hardly any other Instagrammer he has managed to keep a level of originality in his stream of photos that always makes you look forward to the next one, always makes surprised to see a side of the city that you never noticed before.
We met up with Konaction and talked about the usefulness of hashtags, photogenic hotspots and how he makes all of Berlin desire a Plattenbau apartment.
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by Andy | People, Photos
“Would you like a make-over?” This is usually not the kind of question you want to hear from anybody (especially family or friends who should always love you the way you like). But when this question comes in an eMail send by Brunette – a hair salon some of my friends were already telling me so much about – Frank and I didn’t think twice about giving it a try.
A couple of months ago we decided to arrange a “hair date” to test this newly redesigned hair salon inside a former barn. Actually, for me it was more like a social experiment to see if a hair dresser would dare to tell my dear Frank to cut his rocker hair off. But unfortunately the gay couple who runs this place, Lars and Andre, have more an open heart for the well-being and the comfort of their customers rather than my entertaining hidden agenda. So be it! The hair date went fine, and while I really got quite a strong make-over, Frank just got what he wished for: a little trim of the end of his long blonde hair.
The salon is situated in a hidden courtyard at Tempelhofer Ufer, not too far away from the gallery district of Potsdamer Straße. The whole area around Potsdamer Straße has become the new it-place. So Brunette might be on your way if you want to spend your night at some vernissage or other social event in that area.
Still we recommend to make an appointment when you have some free time to spare to enjoy their treatments and care to the fullest. The address and some images after the jump.
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by Claudio | Schöneberg, Wellness
photo: Sasha Kharchenko
I have an irrational fear of new hair dressers. Now you might think that I am a diva and that cutting a men’s hair is actually not so hard and what should go wrong with short hair, right?. But believe me: growing up in east Germany taught me that the people with scissors in their hand cannot be trusted. For years I always went to the same hairdresser here in Berlin not because I thought the salon did an amazing job, but just because I thought they didn’t do any permanent damage.
But when I stumbled upon the beautiful Zins Hair Salon on my way to visit a friend at Körnerpark, I knew that the day arrived where I had to try out something new. The hair salon is owned by a charming lady called Nadine Zins and you immediately realize that there is a lot of passion behind the project. While cutting my hair Nadine told me enthusiastically how she created most of the furniture for the beautiful interior of the shop herself together with a friend who is a carpenter. Also, the concept of only using organic natural product is quite unique for the neighborhood and I like the fact that she selected all the beauty products with research and care.
A longtime fan of Neukölln Nadine wanted to contribute with her passion to the district. She succeeded in creating a unique place with a charming interior and top skilled team of professional hair dressers working for her. I love when I get the chance to stumble upon passionate micro-entrepreneurs in different neighbourhoods and when they cut my hair with style I love it even more. More snaps of the space and the address after the jump.
by Claudio | Neukölln, Wellness
A lot of the big cities of this world are known for their fast pace and stressfulness – not so Berlin. Here we like a more calm and relaxed lifestyle and we like to use every opportunity to come down and forget about our daily grind. Maybe it’s also because we have some amazing options in terms of wellness places that makes us so relaxed. In this spirit, we want to introduce some of our favourite destinations of beauty and wellness in Berlin. With these yoga studios, spas, gardens, salons and holistic retreats, you can easily escape the busy metropolis for a while, clear your mind and find tranquility. Click on to see our suggestions on where you can go to unwind and pamper yourself! Read on…
by Skylar | City Guide, Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg, Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, Schöneberg
There is a Berlin-based street artist that fights the general beauty-dogma with Disney stereotypes. For sure I like the approach of the Fight Lookism movement, even though I think they should do more art and write less texts. Normally I would say that this type of gender/political/critical movements are much more serious in Germany than in other European countries . But I think that the Fight Lookism guys seem to be very relaxed. Let’s see if they do some crazy stuff to argue with the fashionistas next week.
by Claudio | Art, Fashion
I hate most of the TV shows that getting really successful these days. I hated Big Brother, hated Germany’s search for a Superstar and definitely hated Germany’s Next Topmodel. Some of the reasons I am explaining here. But I am intrigued by beauty contests with a special twist. Like the Miss Landmine Election initiated by the Norwegian artist Morten Traavik. In 2009 his project was prohibited by the government of Cambodia. I think that the idea is great and that it gives people without hope something back: The feeling to be beautiful. I think that should be something that Fashion Week should also be about. Some photos of Miss Landmine after the jump.
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by Claudio | Art, Fashion
