Gloss Angeles Episode Summary: "EmRata's Venus Retrograde Haircut, Plus Topicals Makes a Huge Move"

Release Date: April 8, 2025
Hosts: Kirbie Johnson and Sara Tan

1. Haunted Sleepover in Savannah

Kirbie and Sarah kicked off the episode with a thrilling recount of their recent trip to Savannah, where they stayed at the historic Smithfield Cottage owned by SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design).

Kirbie shares her experience of being the first to arrive and being placed in the carriage house alone:

“I had the whole carriage house to myself, which I understood because obviously they wanted me to live the life of luxury.” ([01:26])

Sara adds her apprehensions about the supernatural elements of the cottage:

“We had a sleepover. It was Kirby, me, and some ghosts.” ([01:07])

The duo delves into the eerie decorations within the cottage, including unsettling paintings and mannequins with exposed anatomy, which heightened their sense of unease:

“There's a painting that says repent on it. And immediately I'm like, no, this is not good. This is not good.” ([02:36])

During their stay, Kirbie experiences a disturbing encounter where she feels a physical jolt on her bed:

“I was trying to turn over and sit up to say, did you feel that? I swear to God, my body entirely was vibrating from head to toe.” ([05:45])

Despite their initial fears, Sara remains skeptical, attributing the experience to mundane causes:

“She was like, oh, I just thought it was the cleaning lady, like, entering the downstairs.” ([06:46])

2. EmRata's Venus Retrograde Haircut

The conversation shifts to a major cultural moment involving Emily Ratajkowski (EmRata) and her recent controversial haircut during Venus retrograde—a period often associated with challenging changes in beauty and aesthetics.

Kirbie expresses her dismay over EmRata’s new hairstyle:

“I have to attribute it to that. It's not my hormones, it's not anything else. It's just Mercury or Venus.” ([20:26])

Sara humorously critiques the haircut, describing it as a botched attempt that doesn't flatter EmRata:

“It's like a Beatles haircut, but with long ends. It's like a Florence Henderson haircut.” ([21:47])

Kirbie empathizes with EmRata, fearing the negative backlash she might face:

“She is a stunning woman. The fact that they did her so dirty on this. I mean, and this is a stunning woman.” ([23:03])

Despite the initial negative reception, Sara highlights the supportive community response, noting that EmRata managed to secure a paid partnership to mitigate the fallout:

“The update is that Caristas helped her keep her job. And she's like, and yeah, this is an ad, because it fucking should be.” ([22:46])

The hosts humorously advise their listeners on astrologically-timed beauty decisions:

“Obey Venus retrograde. Don't do it. Don’t do major hair transformations.” ([23:39])

3. Topicals Acquires Bread Beauty Supply

Transitioning to industry news, Kirbie and Sara discuss the significant acquisition of Bread Beauty Supply by Topicals, signaling a strategic expansion within the beauty sector.

Kirbie praises Topicals' founder, Alamode Olaway, and her strategic vision:

“Topicals now has a holding company, so they were able to acquire Bread, which I think this just makes so much sense.” ([12:00])

Sara underscores the importance of maintaining brand integrity during acquisitions, especially for black-owned businesses:

“Typically when a black-owned business gets acquired, so many things are changed and altered in a way that isn't serving our community.” ([12:42])

They highlight the mutual respect and understanding between the founders of Topicals and Bread, ensuring that Bread will continue to operate independently while benefiting from Topicals' infrastructure:

“Topicals and Co db which is their holding company called Cost of Doing Business...they want to start acquiring and launching businesses that they feel are at the center of the culture and commerce in any and every category.” ([13:11])

Sara emphasizes the cultural significance of this move, noting that it allows Bread to thrive without compromising its mission to serve marginalized communities:

“We think about building businesses that are led by black and brown people...we are serving their needs first.” ([14:35])

Kirbie reflects on the positive impact of this acquisition on the beauty industry, praising both brands for their dedication to inclusivity and innovation:

“Topicals has been able to keep the ethos of, like, why they started, but scale it in a way that makes sense as a beauty business.” ([15:05])

4. Industry Challenges: Tariffs and Market Impact

The hosts touch upon the looming tariffs, particularly those targeting South Korean imports, and their potential devastating effects on the beauty and fashion industries:

“Fashion and beauty are going to be hit so hard by these tariffs. We will see brands shut down.” ([09:22])

Kirbie expresses concern over the broader economic implications, including job losses and the sustainability of beloved brands:

“It's going to be a really hard couple of months, years, I don't know.” ([10:20])

Sara concurs, highlighting the urgency for consumers to support independent and black-owned brands during these challenging times:

“It's a real bummer, guys. And unfortunately, a lot of people are going to lose their jobs.” ([10:33])

5. Upcoming Highlights and Promotions

Before concluding, Kirbie and Sara tease upcoming episodes and promotions, including a live episode featuring Violette Surrat from Violette FR Friends, and discuss exciting future plans from Bread Beauty Supply, such as their "Year of the Pixie" campaign:

“We are going to announce this and ESSENCE has the scoop on it.” ([18:05])

Sara encourages listeners to stay tuned for more insights and exclusive interviews with industry experts and celebrities.

Final Thoughts

In this episode of Gloss Angeles, Kirbie Johnson and Sara Tan blend personal anecdotes with critical industry analysis, offering listeners a comprehensive look at both the supernatural experiences in Savannah and pivotal moments in the beauty industry. From EmRata’s challenging Venus retrograde haircut to Topicals' strategic acquisition of Bread Beauty Supply, the hosts provide engaging discussions enriched with expert insights and community-focused perspectives.

Notable Quotes:

• “We think about building businesses that are led by black and brown people...we are serving their needs first.” – Sara Tan ([14:35])

• “Topicals has been able to keep the ethos of, like, why they started, but scale it in a way that makes sense as a beauty business.” – Kirbie Johnson ([15:05])

• “Obey Venus retrograde. Don't do it.” – Kirbie Johnson ([23:39])

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