The Perfect Smile: 4 Influencers Give The 411 On Having Veneers
You know what they say, a smile is the prettiest thing a girl can wear. Bronx rapper and Billboard Hot 100 artist Cardi B gave many of us the much-needed plug for the perfect smile, thanks to a couple of bars she laid down in the summer 17 hit “Bodak Yellow". Now infamous, the lyrics were, “Got a bag and fixed my teeth/Hope you h-es know it ain't cheap."
bodak yellow GIF by Cardi BGiphy
And veneers ain't cheap, but most could argue that the investment is well worth the price tag. Porcelain veneers, which are a thin custom piece of porcelain used to re-create the natural look of teeth, typically range from $600-$2,500 per tooth. They can last up to 15-20 years with normal wear and tear.
Aside from Cardi, some of your favorite celebs and beauty vloggers in the game have opted to have veneers and many have shared their experience, highlighting things from the importance of commitment, all the way to scheduling an appointment, and the details in between.
The Veneer Process & How It Works
“Think of repainting a wall with a superior paint – you must sand, apply a primer and apply the coat of paint," Illinois dentist Dr. Karen Fields-Lever explains. “The process includes removing a small layer of the tooth in preparation for placement. An impression is taken for the lab where the veneer is constructed to fit the existing tooth. The veneer is then bonded to the tooth with a cement agent. Think of a fake fingernail, but with longer-lasting results!"
A few celebs and vloggers have revealed why they opted for porcelain veneers to achieve the perfect smile versus other inexpensive options such as Invisalign and braces. Keep reading to see what they had to say:
MakeupShayla
“I was insecure about my teeth. My teeth were crooked and yellow. Because my skin tone is darker, they didn't look as yellow, but I also couldn't bleach them because I had calcium deposits. I just had a lot of issues with my teeth. Originally, I was going to do Invisalign, but the doctor said too many things were wrong and Invisalign probably wouldn't be able to fix it, so I got my veneers. I have the top 11 teeth done and now it's like I can smile with confidence." - MakeupShayla via YouTube
MakeupShayla's before and after photo of her veneer process
Here's a quick clip from dentist, Dr. Sam Salah on MakeupShayla's veneer treatment:
MsVaughnTV
“The reason I landed on the veneer procedure versus any other procedure was because it was the best fit for me. When I was talking to the first dentist on ways to close the gaps in my teeth, he gave me all the aesthetic options. One of them was Invisalign. Invisalign is going to realign your teeth by pushing them together over a period of time. I was not a candidate for that because my teeth weren't just spaced, they were actually smaller than normal teeth. It was a hereditary thing passed down to me from my Dad's mother."What's funny is that those teeth skipped my Dad and came to me, so he has perfect teeth. I definitely wanted my smile to be like his. It wasn't like 'oh I hate my teeth' and I lived this life of self-hate. I just wanted to improve the aesthetic of my smile and that was pretty much it. I don't feel more beautiful than I felt before, I just feel like my teeth look a little bit better. Aint nothing wrong with that." - MsVaughnTV via YouTube
MsVaughnTV before and after photo of her veneer process
Cardi B
Cardi B endured insults for years on her teeth. After being thrusted into the spotlight, receiving even more ridicule from the industry, she got the bag and fixed her teeth.
“If you don't feel comfortable and you're tired of people talking about you, then go and fix it. It's alright to fix it. And why not go to the best? I personally recommend Dr. Catrise. Not only did practically half of Hollywood get their mouth done by her, but you come by the office and see who. A lot of artists actually recommended me to get my teeth fixed with her. She's truly the best." – Cardi B via YouTube
Amrezy
“My old teeth were obviously horrendous. I remember when I first got them done, how many people I blocked because when I first posted the photo they were like 'omg you look like a horse.' Lowkey, I knew I looked like a horse, but I didn't want to admit it because obviously, I had just spent so much money on getting them done. The last thing I wanted to hear was an insult. Even though they were right, that was the last thing I wanted to hear. My new teeth aren't as white as the previous ones. My old veneers were a part of the bleach shades, so I picked the lightest shade in the history of mankind."I don't know why and like I said before I didn't do my proper research the first time around and I made every kind of mistake I could have made. I picked the wrong dentist and I picked the wrong shade. The reason why these now look natural was the shape, my gums look natural, and the shade is part of the human shades and not the bleached shades. I'm actually happy that they aren't as white as before because the first thing you would notice when I opened my mouth were my teeth. They were glowing and not in a good way. So I definitely made every smart decision this time and my dentist was absolutely amazing." – Amrezy via Snapchat
Amrezy before and after photo of her veneer process
According to Dr. Fields-Lever, the best candidates for veneers tend to have abnormally spaced, stained, or chipped teeth. Others choose veneers simply to improve the aesthetic of their smile.
Now that you've been armed with some first-hand experiences to sink your teeth into, talk to me. For those who already have a set of veneers, what was your experience like?
And for those of you considering, what are your thoughts on the look and why do you want to have the procedure done?
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ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Myha’la Herrold Talks Embracing Her Unique Smile And The Advice She Would Give Her 'Industry' Character
Myha’la Herrold is all for people celebrating their uniqueness. Growing up, Myha’la encountered numerous situations that forced her to embrace her differences regardless of what others thought about them. Her smile, for example, is a feature she takes pride in. However, family members and dentists alike have tried to get her to change it.
The Industry star has two peg lateral teeth, which are small, pointy teeth that are located on each side of the upper front teeth. While there may be some people who don’t understand her decision to keep her natural smile, Colgate recognizes its beauty and has partnered with the 28-year-old. Myha’la opens up about the exciting partnership in a xoNecole exclusive.
“So, it was actually quite funny this came through for me, and I was like, Huh? Okay, And they were like, well, they're doing this new campaign. It's all about celebrating your unique smile. And I was like, how did they know?” She laughs.
Myha’la Herrold
Courtesy
“I have two peg lateral teeth. They're these tiny little teeth in the front. They're my adult teeth, but they're small. They're like, you know, an abnormal tooth, and lots of people have them and sometimes they're asymmetrical. A lot of people get them capped or filled or whatever. And so many times throughout my life, like people I did not know, dentists would approach me like randomly and hand me their card and be like, 'Whenever you're ready.' I was like, ain’t no way…I was like, ain't nothing wrong with my teeth. Nothing is wrong with my smile.”
She calls her Colgate partnership a “perfect pairing” and stresses how important it is for her to always look like herself and take care of her teeth. The Leave the World Behind actress is one of the many people in her generation leading the charge for self-love and advocating for themselves. Thanks to millennials and Gen Z, we are now having more conversations about mental health and self-care while challenging the status quo.
"So many times throughout my life, like people I did not know, dentists would approach me like randomly and hand me their card and be like, 'Whenever you're ready.' I was like, ain’t no way…I was like, ain't nothing wrong with my teeth. Nothing is wrong with my smile."
Myha’la Herrold
Courtesy
Myha’la explains why it’s necessary to appreciate our differences rather than give in to society’s standards of what is considered beautiful. “I'm so here for it. I'm so here for it because I said this earlier, but it was something I was thinking about that I was like, oh this is kind of a lightbulb moment for me. I feel like we are so desperate to feel accepted and like a part of something, and that translates into how we present ourselves to the world,” she says.
“So people are like, oh, I want to have really white teeth or really uniform teeth or whatever so that I can look like everyone else. But us as human beings... all of us are completely different, like down to a biological level. So really, the things that like makes us a part of a whole is our uniqueness. The fact that we are different is like what makes us human beings, and I feel like that's actually quite comforting. I can feel a part of something bigger than me because I understand that all of us are uniquely perfectly, uniquely different, and that's what makes us who we are.”
Another positive Myha’la shares about being unique (cues Beyoncé) is saving money because, according to her, “I'm not trying to spend all this money so that I can look like somebody else because the thing that people love the most about me is me.”
"The fact that we are different is like what makes us human beings, and I feel like that's actually quite comforting. I can feel a part of something bigger than me because I understand that all of us are uniquely perfectly, uniquely different, and that's what makes us who we are."
Myha'la Herrold attends the UK Special screening of 'Leave The World Behind.'
Dave Benett/WireImage
Myha’la’s confidence is also reflected in her work as an actress. Currently, she stars as Harper Stern in the HBO Max series Industry, which is about a group of recent graduates competing for coveted permanent roles at an esteemed investment bank in London. Harper is intelligent, tenacious, and the one to watch. However, her hunger to be successful keeps her on the outs with her peers, and her family trauma keeps her very guarded.
The rising star has this to say about her Industry character. “I would just remind her, like, remember what got you here,” she says. “You were unabashedly yourself. You let these people know that you were the best and the brightest and what you had to offer, that they needed that, so I would just say remember that. Do that ‘cause it worked the first time.”
Whether you love her or hate her, Harper is a force, but unfortunately, in the season two finale, her ambition left her in a predicament that has put her career in a place of uncertainty. While Myha’la can’t give away season three’s plot, she does share what she hopes for her character.
“What I will say is I hope that Harper gets what she wants. I hope she gets what she wants. I'm always rooting for her,” she says.
“I feel like Harper is my good sis, and I'm like, girl, if you would just listen to me one time, things might go different for you. But what I hope is that she gets what she wants because I feel like it's like past due. We need a win for her.”
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Featured image by Irvin Rivera/Getty Images for IMDb