Redefining Beauty: Beauty Through Self Expression

Our Redefining Beauty this month is Mitchell Sharp. Mitchell isn’t a stranger to the blog and was first introduced in our Beauty and The Status blog post. She, along with other women, gave their perspectives on the correlations between beauty and relationships, but now Mitchell will share how she has been defining beauty in her life.

Read: Beauty and The Status: A Conversation On Relationships

Hi Mitchell! Thank you so much for being the Redefining Beauty this month. To start us off, could you introduce yourself to the readers?

Hello Beauties! I’m Mitchell and I’m 29 years old. I’m currently serving in the U.S. Air Force, and I’m stationed in the DMV (Maryland) area. I love all things beauty from skincare to a full glam beat. I love it all. I’m also a plant mom and an avid Living Single watcher. 

What is your definition of beauty? Has the way you defined beauty changed at all over the course of your life? If so how?

For me beauty is self-expression, freedom, being who you are called to be.  My definition of beauty changed as I got older and understood that what is presented to us in magazines and on television are not realistic standards to emulate for the “everyday” woman as cliche as it sounds. 

Even as an almost 30-year-old woman I have to remind myself that I was fearfully and wonderfully made and that I’m unique. I say that because social media has a way of distorting our realities. I believe as long as you’re healthy, comfortable in the skin you’re in and you treat others right, and you mind your business and drink your water, your beauty has no choice but to radiate for others to see.

What was your first lesson on beauty? How has this lesson affected your life? 

My first lesson on beauty would probably be a hair-related one. Mostly because as a child and even now as a grown woman, my mother has taken such pride in making sure my hair looked good. I, like most black girls got my first relaxer at the age of six. Which was a gift and a curse all at the same time. A gift because my mom was no longer burning with a hot comb, but a curse ( or maybe a learning curve) because I never learned how to maintain my hair in its natural state.  

Currently, I’m five years into my natural hair journey and it has been a challenge. It started off easy when I decided to immediately do the big chop and I kept a fade until 2017 when I moved to Hawaii. That’s when I decided to grow my hair and that was and continues to be a learning experience.

I recently had my hair trimmed and pressed and I was not prepared. I’m still VERY TENDERHEADED and I thought I was going to pass out in the salon chair, and as much as I enjoyed looking at my hair straightened, I missed my fro. 

Now, I’m trying to decide how I want my hair to look for the next five or 10 years. I try to switch up my hairstyle once every 5 years because I think changing your hair is probably the most drastic thing a woman can do, especially if she’s known to keep her hair a certain way.  If it was my choice, I’d do another big chop. I enjoy being “bald-headed” but my mom would have my neck. I have some time to think so we’ll see. 

When you start your morning, what’s the first beauty product you grab and why? What about at night? 

My morning beauty products consist of three things: 1. Dr. Bonner’s Peppermint soap (body wash)  2. Belief Aqua Bomb Jelly cleanser for my face  3. Belif Aqua Bomb moisturizer.  The same for my nighttime routine and I might do a night mask or eye cream before I go to bed.  

I love Dr. Bonner’s because I’ve never felt cleaner in my life.  Belief’s products are super hydrating for the skin and being that I’m back on the east coast and it’s wintertime I need all the moisture I can get. 

I recently learned that you create waist beads as a profitable hobby. How (if at all) does this hobby connect with how you see and define beauty? 

Waistbeads are a form of self-expression. I think when a woman puts them on and shows them off she’s letting the people know that she’s confident and sexy. She knows that she’s a force to be reckoned with. That’s why I love them. 

As a veteran, did your beauty (i.e skincare, hair, makeup) routine have to change because of your duties or deployment locations? If so, how? 

My haircare routine joining the military was super easy in the beginning because I kept my hair cut low. All I had to do was brush it and moisturize it and go out the door. Now that my hair has grown significantly my go-to style while in uniform are two-strand or three-strand twists ( If I’m feeling fancy). Due to the grooming standards in the Air Force, I’m not able to fully flaunt my fro and show off its full beauty.  

My makeup routine for work is non-existent. Being in uniform makeup is one of those things where it’s like yeah you can wear it… But also what’s the point. These are my opinions about it. When I’m at work I’m not really trying to impress anyone mostly because it’s hard when we are all wearing the same thing.  For me as long as my face is moisturized and I have my chapstick I’m good to go. 

As we are starting the new year, what will be your top three beauty products that you will bring into the new year? 

My top three will be the same Dr. Bronners Peppermint body wash, the Belif Aqua Bomb Jelly Cleanser, and the Belif Aqua bomb moisturizer.

What words of encouragement would you like to share with our readers?

Be authentically you! Know who you are and stand in it. The most important thing I tell myself is that faith without works is dead. If you want something you’re going to have to put in some work to attain that goal. Giving up out of fear is not allowed. 

Take a moment to promote yourself and share any endeavors you have going on!

As of right now, I don’t have anything going on. I do make waist beads. If anyone is interested they can find me on Instagram at @that_mitch or @that_mitch_withthebeads. 

We hope you enjoyed reading Mitchell’s beauty story. Comment below if you were able to relate to any part that she shared.

Each month, a woman is given the opportunity to share their perspectives on beauty and the lessons they have learned.