Latest news with #perfection
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Drybar founder Alli Webb debuts a brand-new, anti-blowdry product line after selling company for $255 million
Drybar founder Alli Webb is entering a new chapter in her life - and with that comes an entirely new business venture that's already being sold in Sephora. Webb co-founded Drybar in 2010, a blow-dry-only hair salon that specialized in all different kinds of styles. But this summer, Webb introduced a new haircare line to the world, Messy, which was inspired by her own personal hair journey of discovering that beauty is about more than just perfection. The products, which range from $16 to $34, are all powered by the Rough Dry Method, her low-heat technique that encourages women to style with their hands, twisting strands to achieve effortless waves. 'My number one goal is that women feel really empowered to embrace their hair, and [that] they feel confident in their hair,' Webb recently told FEMAIL in an exclusive interview. She said that the products, which include the Overnight Repair Oil Serum and Rough Dry Hair Styling Cream, are 'meant to really help you embrace what you have.' With Messy, she wants to encourage women to 'embrace this not so perfect look,' something that she's been practicing herself over the past few years. It all started right around the time when she sold Drybar for $255 million in 2019, which she said coincided with a lot of personal struggles, like her mom passing away, a divorce and her son going to rehab for addiction issues - all topics that she tackled in her 2023 memoir, The Messy Truth. The products, which range from $16 to $34, are all powered by the Rough Dry Method , her low heat technique that encourages women to style with their hands, twisting strands to achieve effortless waves 'I was just in this place of, you know, what am I doing next?' Webb told FEMAIL. She knew that in whatever project she ventured to next, she wanted it to have a 'thread' of what she had been dealing with in her personal life. 'While we were all in COVID, I think that that was the biggest informant,' Webb said. 'I feel like I was on a very spiritual, personal journey, and then I wasn't thinking about blowouts, or my hair, we were all just trying to survive,' she continued. But when the pandemic eased years later, she realized that her hair was looking better and healthier than ever. She had mostly stopped using heat, and focused on air drying instead. 'I found myself in this experimental phase of, how do I get my my wavy hair to still feel styled and done without having a blowout, and then, you know, air drying it,' she shared. 'And that's like, when I kind of came up with the twisting and rough drying.' Webb decided that she wanted to create products that support this, as she's always been interested in getting back into the business and creating something new. 'I found myself in this experimental phase of, how do I get my my wavy hair to still feel styled and done without having a blowout, and then, you know, air drying it,' she shared. 'And that's like, when I kind of came up with the twisting and rough drying' She collaborated on Messy with her brother, Michael Landau, who she also co-founded Drybar with. Webb's new method just takes four simple steps, which starts off by applying the Rough Dry Styling Cream to damp hair. Once the product has been applied, you then rough dry your hair about 30 to 50 percent using your fingers, and finishing off with a blow-dryer. After that, you will twist your hair into 1 inch sections. Finally, you'll let your hair dry completely, and then tousle your hair for what she calls an 'effortless, soft wave' all throughout your locks. But for Webb, it's not only the product that counts, but the messaging around it. Each Messy bottle is emblazoned with a mantra, like 'I am transformed,' or 'I will not be broken.' 'I just wanted to create not only a product line that supports your hair, but better and really leaning into your hair, but also one that really speaks to women. That's why all the mantras are on the products,' the founder explained. 'I want women to feel really empowering and almost giving permission to not have a perfect blowout, to look perfect, choose to be a little more authentic and real,' she said. Webb noted that the timing of this product line feels 'incredibly good,' especially for where she is in her own personal journey, and where so many other women seem to be - less is more. 'This message is very, very authentic to me,' she said. Messy is currently being sold in Sephora and on the brand's online website. 'What's fascinating to me is when, when I show up in an event, when I talk to people, they're like, "I want your hair,"' Webb said. 'And I'm like, you can have it.'
Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
What makes the perfect pub, according to our writers
What makes a perfect pub? Other people, mostly. After half a lifetime searching for pub perfection, I've spent the last few months travelling around the country filling the gaps in my knowledge and compiling my guide to the 500 Best Pubs in England. What sticks in the memory from this period are the people I've chatted to, or simply observed, along the way. The middle-aged biker taking a first sip of ale at the Old Spot in Dursley, Gloucestershire, and sighing with theatrical contentment; the couple celebrating their 48th wedding anniversary at the Soar Bridge Inn in Leicestershire with food so simple and appealing (beef pie for him; ham, egg and chips for her) I decided to order the latter; and the young woman who, witnessing a friend trying to leave Newcastle 's buzzing Free Trade Inn on a sunny Sunday evening, exclaimed with genuine disbelief: 'Are you going home?!' When I see others enjoying themselves, I know I'm on to a good thing. Human pleasure is the essence of pubs – and in really great pubs, such pleasure is pervasive. You could, I suppose, say the same for restaurants, but pubs have a crucial advantage: bar service. This tradition, jettisoned (mercifully briefly) during Covid-19, gives pubs their feeling of freedom. You can move around, choose your own seat, chat to strangers, or just sit quietly with a pint and a paper (or, more likely in this day and age, your phone). In the best pubs, there are few rules. This is the main reason pub food is so divisive. It cuts straight across this sense of freedom. When food is an addition to a pub's offer – Camilla Tominey, one of seven Telegraph experts who opine on what makes the perfect pub in the video above, is right that simple is generally best – it's very welcome (although I prefer pubs that don't smell of chips). But when it means a huge chunk of the pub is entirely reserved for diners, laid up with knives and forks and napkins, then the magic is gone. And pubs can be magic, particularly when they have a historic interior. George Orwell's famous essay, The Moon Under Water, suggested London pubs should be Victorian in character – late Victorian, presumably, since that's when most were (re-)constructed. But in the countryside, something that feels a little older is better. I'll never forget wandering into the gorgeous Holly Bush Inn in Makeney after a long day yomping through the Peak District, or the pint of bitter I enjoyed with a Stilton sandwich in the 18th-century Bridge Inn in Topsham, Devon. Both are contenders for England's most appealing pub, but that's only part of their appeal. They also do the simple things right – most crucially, beer. At the Holly Bush Inn, I drank a beautifully conditioned pint of Makeney, brewed especially for the pub by Thornbridge in Bakewell. (Not everyone likes cask ale, but when it comes to assessing a pub's commitment to quality, you can't beat it.) Beer also establishes a sense of place. Alongside accents, traditions, pub games, decorations and a host of more intangible details, it's how a pub's local character is expressed. When you're in Cornwall, for example, you want to visit a genuinely Cornish pub – although most don't go as far as the New Inn in Tywardreath, which has a huge Cornish flag covering one wall. It also has plenty of outdoor space, something many cherish. I prefer a cool interior on truly hot days. I agree with the Telegraph's cartoonist, Matt Pritchett, who says he and his father seek out pubs with good beer gardens so that they can have the inside to themselves. When I visited the Square & Compass in Dorset a few weeks ago, the garden was packed, but the flagstone-floored Tap Room was all mine. The best pubs, then, can be solitary pleasures as well as places of communal enjoyment – but without someone competent in charge, they're rarely either. The landlady (or landlord) sets the tone, ensuring everything is as it should be. Perfect pubs are about people, and the people who run them are most vital of all. What are the ingredients for your perfect pub? Please let us know in the comments section below...
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Georges Chakra: My Pet Peeves And Guiltiest Pleasures
Revered for crafting the most wow-factor wedding dresses in the world, a Georges Chakra bridal gown is a walking work of art. Reserved for brides who dress-best, the creative director talks about the pursuit of perfection – one dress at a time Is it more important to be liked or respected? Respected. Being liked is always nice, and of course, you try to be kind and fair in how you deal with people everyday, but respect goes further. It means people believe in your work, values and judgment. Do you have a book that changed your life? Le Petit Prince. I read it when I was very young, and it's one of those stories that stays with you. It teaches you to look and to see with your heart – not just your eyes. That's something I still use when I design. What did you last Spotify Wrapped look like? I actually still listen to my CD collection; there is something very tactile and personal when looking through the CDs and picking one. My collection consists of mostly classical Arabic songs. I don't usually design with music playing, but I'll put something on in the car or late at night when I need to clear my head. Who is your hero? My mother. She was strong, elegant, never tried too hard. Everything I know about order and presence, I learned from her. What do you consider the most over-rated virtue? Perfection. It doesn't really exist but I still find myself chasing it – in the fit of a dress, in organising my office, even in how the ribbons are tied on hangers. What would you ban if you had the chance? Excess noise online, in fashion and everywhere. We need more space to experience, to think, feel and breathe. What is your motto? Less in more, but every detail matters. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I'd learn to rest more. My mind never really turns off; even on vacation, I find myself sketching or mentally sorting through potential ideas. What's your greatest extravagance? Travelling. I love discovering unexpected shops in small towns with a history of craft, where things are still made by hand. To me, that is true luxury. What is your most treasured possession? A watch I bought for myself when I reached what felt like my first real milestone in my career. It was a quiet reminder that I was building something of my own. If you could be anyone else, who would it be? A painter. There's something so freeing about working with colour and emotion, without rules or fittings or deadlines. Just you, the canvas and the moment. What are you proudest of? The fact that we've built something lasting, with integrity and with heart. I have been surrounded by incredible people who believed in the vision and helped shape it with me. What does success mean to you? Success is consistency, and being able to do what I love, at a high level, year after year, without compromising my vision. What trait do you most admire in others? Poise. There's something so powerful about someone who moves with quiet confidence, especially in a world that's always competing to be louder. It's grace under pressure. What inspires you most about your job? The process of taking a fabric and shaping it into something that feels intentional and that tells a story; that's what keeps it interesting. Armani. What would you tell your younger self? Be patient, and trust your instincts. What is your guiltiest pleasure? It is not always guilty, but late-night desserts.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Steve Jobs Once Gave A Secretary A Brand New Jaguar Out Of The Blue, Here Is Why The Apple Co-Founder Was So Generous
Steve Jobs earned a reputation for merciless standards, yet sometimes his demand for perfection came wrapped in jaw-dropping generosity. What Happened: Ron Givens, Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) director of quality from 1981 to 1986, recalled the day a secretary shuffled in late. Jobs stormed over to ask why, and she admitted her car had died that morning. "That afternoon, he walks into her office, tosses a set of keys to a brand-new Jaguar and says, 'Here, don't be late anymore,'" Givens told WRAL in an interview back in 2011. A Jaguar XJ cost roughly $35,000 in 1981, about $123,000 in today's dollars when adjusted for inflation, making the spur-of-the-moment gift an extraordinary employee perk. Don't Miss: Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Peter Thiel turned $1,700 into $5 billion—now accredited investors are eyeing this software company with similar breakout potential. Learn how you can invest with $1,000 at just $0.30/share. The story illustrates the paradox of Apple's co-founder, who was a boss employees feared, yet one who could motivate "out of your socks," as Givens put it. Jobs, then 26, lived and breathed the company, prowling hallways to grill engineers on pixel placement one minute and springing surprises the next. Givens, two decades older, said he often thought Jobs's ideas were "stupid" until their brilliance clicked later. Back in 2011, he said he still kept a $1,000 Steuben-glass apple Jobs had handed him unannounced. Why It Matters: Steve Jobs ran Apple with icy precision, insisting on "only A players" and admitting that firing weaker talent, though "very painful," was necessary to maintain high standards. His late-night demands could left teams exhausted, and Pixar's Pete Docter later said Jobs's 3 am phone calls were a work trait he would "never repeat." Elon Musk openly praises that edge, agreeing with Jobs that a CEO's chief duty is "recruiting exceptional talent" rather than hand-holding staff, and he echoes Jobs's view that "the greatest people are self-managing." Not every leader wants the full Jobs playbook. Bill Gates once called comparing Musk to the "genius" Jobs a "gross oversimplification," warning that charisma can mask managerial chaos. Read Next: Are you rich? Here's what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. These five entrepreneurs are worth $223 billion – they all believe in one platform that offers a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends Photo Courtesy: rnkadsgn on Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Steve Jobs Once Gave A Secretary A Brand New Jaguar Out Of The Blue, Here Is Why The Apple Co-Founder Was So Generous originally appeared on Erreur lors de la récupération des données Connectez-vous pour accéder à votre portefeuille Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données
Khaleej Times
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Life's Like That: The perils of perfection in conversations
Am I planting a bomb under my own feet? Looks like, but I thought I should share this story because it's unbelievable how the human mind works. Is it an unwritten chapter wrenched from my own life or something 'forwarded many times' on WhatsApp? Let me have the right to be tightlipped on the source for the sake of my mental and physical wellbeing. But before you jump the gun, let it be clear that I'm assuming the role of the chief protagonist to make the narrative as intense as possible. And this story is about the perils of perfection and the pain of immortalising love. She and I were good friends, not very long ago. Maybe still, but more than — or less than — just friends at the moment. As in any relation, conversations were hectic and intense in the beginning, but not so frequent midway and finally tapered to the level of 'good morning', 'good night' and 'sorry, busy'. Finally, the desire to meet up and binge on craft beer at Windmills outside Kempegowda died out like a can of tonic water that has lost its fizz after the expiry date. After several months, we left like a couple on their way back from a Swiss honeymoon, beaten high and dry by the wuthering heights of an alpine of merriment and chapped lips not moistened by lip locks anymore. On our lacklustre journey together, we were strangers at times, an estranged couple waiting for the final hearing in their divorce case at others, and occasionally like two long-lost soulmates yearning for a reunion. Then on a not-so-fine morning — after months of cold-shouldering each other— abuses started to fly, not exactly an exchange of fire, but a one-way trade. She was always on the boil, finding fault with whatever I did to keep her comfortable. Every feel-good message was met with a volley of words that teetered on abuses. 'Sorry, I cannot keep replying to your messages,' she said. 'This cannot be a full-time job.' 'No issues, take care and your time,' I replied. 'Did you send me a message past midnight? Didn't I tell you I sleep with my mum? You are becoming a pain,' she asked the other day. 'Did I? I am so sorry.' I knew it needs two hands to clap so silence was golden at times like this. Yet on another occasion, she said: 'How could you do this to me? You are questioning my morality and integrity. John and I have been childhood friends so going for a movie with him shouldn't be giving you a heartburn. Are you stalking me?' She literally exploded on the chat. 'But I only said I was also free. John has been my friend too ever since we met.' 'Haven't you heard three is a crowd,' she shot back. 'Listen, I don't put all the eggs in a single basket. Different people in my life have different levels of freedom. I won't want anyone to question my integrity.' She seemed to be furious. 'It's my life and I live it the way I want to.' Insensitive, upcountry boor, patriarchist, Casanova, male chauvinist, misogynist were some of the less serious charges thrown randomly at me. She indulged in all sorts of whataboutery to shout me down. But why should I give room for anyone to question my integrity? She isn't my life partner. Not yet. Moreover, I never gatecrashed into her life. It was she who knocked on the Messenger. I was cosy and peaceful in my little cocoon, never compromising on the tranquility that prevailed in my life. I was aghast at the pile of toxin gathering in our relationship. It was no more the little frets and fumes commonplace in every relationship. The ills were already metastatic. They showed up in every cell of our souls. Call it quits? I still maintained calm, hoping to salvage an otherwise beautiful relationship. It's possible she has internal struggles, family issues, a faltering relationship. 'Calm down, everything will be alright,' I kept saying. 'How dare you call my dad a cheapskate for not offering tea when you gatecrashed the other day? You weren't there for more than a minute. We aren't running a juice shop to produce things at someone's beck and call.' Did I call him a cheapskate? Never. I only mentioned they had a room with a view and I wouldn't mind having a cup of coffee there. Enough of the filth. Do I deserve to be out in the cold with a hailstorm battering me all around? Why am I being punished for no reason of mine? Who is she to push me around and what's her intent? I thought it was time to part ways. If ever a reunion happened, it would take a lifetime to clear up all the accumulated filth. After months of unsettling silence, we met on a hilltop on my request, away from all prying eyes. 'How have you been?' I asked politely, staring straight into her eyes. 'I have been so caring, loving and understanding. Why did you still hate me?' 'I never hated you,' she said, looking at the slanting sun. 'I was afraid I was falling in love with you. Madly, and frighteningly mad. I did all this so you would hate me forever and go away,' she said, her lazy curls flying in the wind and eyes welling up. 'But why?' 'It was so overwhelming. Your love, your care, your perfectness, your integrity, your loyalty all belittles me. I was sure I wouldn't be able to return them in the same coin. There were times when I so desperately wished to be shouted at by you.' 'Twenty-four carat is too fragile to make ornaments. Why are you so complete?' 'Besides, I have commitments to my parents to keep.' She sobbed into her palm as she began to walk down the hill. The sun setting in the russet sky beyond the golden fields was so perfectly beautiful to behold.
