TLC’s T-Boz Talks ‘CrazySexyCool’ Makeup, Hair Color Mishaps, and '90s Beauty

TLC: T-Boz, Left Eye, and Chili. (Photo: TLC)

Way before Beyonce, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj became beauty icons, there was TLC, the all-female R&B group that defined the ‘90s and essentially set the standard for female performers to come. Led by Tionne Watkins, better known as T-Boz, the group started out in 1990 rocking the original no-makeup makeup — little to no colored cosmetics graced their faces, and their brows were perfectly groomed. Later with their hit album CrazySexyCool they started experimenting more with dark lipsticks, shimmery shadows, and colored hair, looks that inspired the ‘90s beauty revival going on today.

T-Boz produced T-Boz Unplugged in LA last weekend (Zendaya hosted, and Kat Graham took the stage as well) to benefit Sickle Cell Foundation, and in another nod to the past, Wet ’n’ Wild was a sponsor. We chatted with the experimental and enduring performer about TLC’s music video beauty, who first inspired her platinum locks, and what she thinks about Hollywood’s obsession with plastic surgery and big booties.

TLC is synonymous with the ‘90s, and the group pioneered a lot of beauty looks that are still relevant today. How do you think beauty — or the idea of beauty — differs then and now?
I saw a post on Instagram the other day of all these natural women, like Aaliyah and Lisa Bonet, showing how women didn’t have to do so much in the ‘90s, and they were just naturally beautiful with natural makeup. Everybody looks so plastic these days. To each their own, but there just wasn’t as much effort put in [in the ‘90s]. There are so many natural beautiful women out there, and I hate that they feel they have to alter who they are or put so much on.

In a way, your 1999 song “Unpretty” was ahead of its time. The lyrics address needing hair extensions and plastic surgery to be accepted, but back then neither was as popular as today.
I wrote the song from a personal situation of mine. It’s really at an all-time low now. Society has a way of making us feel like we’re not good enough, but I’m here to say it’s not true. It’s OK to be yourself, and you shouldn’t have to put on full eyelashes just to go to the grocery store. In the video it was a fun animated thing — Lisa [Lopes] wanted to be like a space cadet. TLC has always repped being natural and embracing who you are, because God made us all individually special. I think there’s so much low self-esteem and low self-worth going around these days and it breaks my heart.

I’d imagine you’re not exactly pro plastic surgery then. What are your personal views?
To each their own, but I think people should do it for themselves and not for the sake of others. All these girls with butt injections — booties don’t keep men at home and they haven’t figured that out yet. There’s no individuality right now. Everyone looks like Jessica Rabbit with the waist trainers. I don’t mind if you want to better yourself — we all have complexes and insecurities — if it’s for the right reasons.

What do you think of the ‘90s beauty resurgence that’s been happening?
I love the dark matte colors, but it just depends on your skin tone — people should recognize that. I put on this real dark lipstick last night and my daughter came in and said, “You look like you’re going to a funeral,” so I changed it. She’s really good, she wants to maybe be a makeup artist when she grows up.

T-Boz performing last weekend. (Photo: T-Boz)

What were your go-to products in the ‘90s, and what are they now?
In the ‘90s, I would go nowhere without my Wet ’n’ Wild lip gloss. It was like 99 cents — heck yeah! When I heard they were back I was so excited. Last night I used their Max Volume Mascara and their eyeshadow and lipstick and it’s still bomb. I have to have my pink and lime green Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, and lip gloss, and Ampro hair gel. I am not OK with my hair being out of place. The concealer I can’t live without is NARS in medium Caramel. It matches my skin perfectly. Bobbi Brown and NARS are the only two lines I know that have a color that matches my complexion.

When it came to your music videos, did you work with makeup artists to decide on the looks?
I know how to do hair—I come up with my hairstyles and I can do my hair all day. But I always have a makeup artist. [I tell them] as long as you cover my eyes when they’re tired you can do whatever to my face. They love me because they get to do their magic. Chili on the other hand is holding the mirror the whole time—she’s so picky. Lisa didn’t ever really care.

In a few of your videos you have colored hair — dip dyed blue in one, pink to blonde ombré in another. And of course all fuchsia in “No Scrubs.” Colored hair has been quite a trend in the last few years.
I think a lot of things we did were ahead of our time. I’ve done green, orange, blue, pink, purple. And I’m glad to see it’s back, but I think kids need to know everything is redundant and it comes around again. Fashion is just that way.

Who was your beauty icon back in the day?
I loved Billy Idol and the way his platinum hair used to stick up. I took a picture in, like, “I want my hair like this. You have to give me the Billy Idol platinum.” That was major in my world. The color is to die for. And when I did plum, I was actually just looking at a color in a picture and I asked my hair colorist, “Can you do this?” But I’ll tell you this: I had fuchsia marks running down my face for a week after doing the “No Scrubs” video because I was sweating. I tried everything and it wouldn’t come off. I won’t do that again!

Your makeup in the “No Scrubs” video is insane. What was your inspiration?
Ru Paul’s makeup artist was on set and it was a futuristic type video. Chili wanted to look like an island princess, but we were like, le’s try something this one time, because we don’t ever get to have fun and play. It’s always natural. So I thought we should make everything match my hair and I wanted rhinestones on my lips so they were a piece of jewelry like diamonds. He did just that. I was so excited because I looked like a character, like some other chick inside my body.

‘No Scrubs’ music video. (Credit: TLC)

For “Waterfalls” you had much more subtle makeup: shimmery shadow and nude lips.
I wanted us to look like we were mermaids, without the fins. Like if you saw a mermaid appear out of water, that’s what she would look like.

‘Waterfalls’ music video. (Credit: TLC)

In the “Creep” video you wore that iconic ‘90s deep berry red. How did that look come about?
I wanted that because my hair was blonde and I had on blue, and it just matched perfectly. I wanted a lip that stood out, because I was leading that song. Chili’s matched her silver pajamas. We had something to say, so I wanted it to make you watch my lips, to zone in. Anything that pops is good.

‘Creep’ music video. (Credit: TLC)

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