What better way to know how a man really feels about Valentine’s Day than to ask a man? A man’s perspective on this holiday is very interesting. Let’s see what their take on the day is.

Mateo

When Mateo actually has time to remember that it’s Valentine’s Day, he actually goes out off his way to make whichever woman in his life feel special. If you want to be his special woman, don’t expect the typical gift giving or dinner date. Mateo is past that, and he’s more into the grown and sexy aspects of V-Day. With a new single, “Say It’s So,” getting a lot of air play, Mateo took the time out to let us Vixens know just what Valentine’s Day means to him.

What do you think about Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day should be a day you get to show your appreciation. You should dress differently and even eat differently. The day should be special.

Can you describe your best Valentine’s Day that you planned for a woman?
I’m from Ohio, so there are no beaches. Since I was in Los Angeles at the time, I wanted to do a bonfire under the stars. I took a lady I was dating at the time to Santa Monica Beach. I had a picnic basket and a blanket. We had a good time. It was something different.

What do you think about gift-giving on V-Day?
Stay away from gift giving. Gifts are whack.

Have you ever used your voice to impress a girl on Valentine’s Day? Like wrote her a song and sang it to her?
I used to do things like that when I was young. I would sing a song to impress her. Now that I’m older, I just want to be normal. I would rather just have a good time.

So do you have plans this year for the big day of love?
Being that I’m so busy, I pretty much have neglected my personal life, so I will be most likely traveling. But I have some options just in case.

Raheem Devaughn
Raheem Devaughn is known for his love making music (“Customer” and “Bedroom”), so you would think that Valentine’s Day would be a breeze. That is not the case. There is a lot that comes with being an R&B crooner, which includes pressure and great expectations. To fit the occasion, Raheem is dropping some jewels on the day of love, and he’s also giving a special treat which is a new EP; Destination Loveland that’s actually coming out tomorrow for V-Day. Two treats in one. Raheem is such a charmer.

Did you remember that Valentine’s Day is coming up?
How the hell can I forget? I’m Cupid Valentino. The Love Guru. Valentine’s Day is like my birthday.

Being that you’re a R&B singer, do you find it to be a pressured situation when it comes to Valentine’s Day because of the lyrics in your songs?
I feel pressured all year round. When you drop a video like “Single,” women expect you to be Dirty Dickler every night. I can’t be that every night. But seriously, when I’m dating or courting a lady, it’s definitely a whole other level of expectation.

What was the most memorable Valentine’s Day that you’ve planned for a lady?
Well, if you’re my lady and you’re in my world like that… I can be very giving and Valentine’s Day could just feel like a regular day because I’m always giving. But one of the dopest things I’ve done was write a song for a lady along with all the other perks that come with it.

Has a lady ever done something special for you for V-Day?
Hmm. Not that I can think of. For a birthday, yes. But for Valentine’s Day? No.

Men can never answer this. Ladies need to step it up.
One thing about being an entertainer is that people assume that you have it all already. So with that being said, the holidays can really suck. But it’s the little things that matter the most. Something creative.

So what could a woman do to make you feel special on Valentine’s Day?
Just be creative and spontaneous. Surprise me.

Do you think women need to step it up for Valentine’s Day?
Well, it is a bit one-sided. I think it should be mutual though.  But it’s not about one day. It should be about everyday.  It should be more about love and having that communication, so that when you get to Valentine’s Day it’s not so much pressure.

Q Parker
It’s no wonder why Q Parker fit in so well with R&B group 112. He’s so into being a romantic and pleasing women that singing about it is just second nature. Q is a solo artist now, but when he’s paired with an exceptional woman on Valentine’s Day, there’s no telling what might happen. It’s a bit amazing that with a new eye-catching calendar out and promoting his new song, “Show You How,” that Q has any time to please a woman at all, but Mr. Parker definitely pulls all the stops to make sure his lady knows how exceptional she is.

Are you a romantic person?
I am a romantic. I’m the guy who is just trying to capture the romantic moment and not just for Valentine’s Day. I try to have these days more than just for the day it’s designed for.

So what do you like to do for Valentine’s Day?
I like to see a woman pampered and especially at the extent of my hands. So what I did, I brought the spa to my house. I did the manicure. I did the pedicure. I did the massage. I did the bath with the rose pedals and then dinner. To some, they might say this is typical, but if you add that to a year of events like this, it will just add to special aspect of it.

You sound like you really like Valentine’s Day.
My dad worked all the time, and my brother went to the service. I grew up in a house with my mom and my two sisters, so I learned the simplicities and desires of a woman at an early age. I just really believe that a man should take care of his woman totally.

If there were no limitations finances or time and you were going to plan the perfect Valentine’s Day, what would that day entail?
There would be nobody around me and this woman. I would cook a sexy meal. Have some roses and oils. Just some real one-on-one time. No Twitter or Facebook. Just us.

What’s your idea of a sexy meal?
If I could, I would like to make a nice lean steak. Some sort of greenery because I’m a health guy, and I need to promote health. I have the steak for the proteins, and we have to get all the vegetables in.

No carbs?
Hold on. We can probably have a few carbs. Maybe a little rice or something, but it has to be sexy. The way I plate it has to be sexy. And then after the dessert comes dessert. [Laughs]

Derek Blanks
Derek Blanks may not look familiar, but his work as a photographer is known to the masses. He’s the man behind the “Alter Ego” photography project. Derek is responsible for to capturing the best shots of celebrities like Kelly Rowland, Usher, Jennifer Hudson and Beyoncé. It’s time to take him from behind the scenes and put him front and center. He’s been married for 10 years, so his perspective on Valentine’s Day is a knowledgeable one. Let’s see how he does in the spotlight of love.

Do you and your wife celebrate Valentine’s Day?
We do. I try to celebrate every holiday because of my work ethic. I work a lot, so what ever she wants to do that will make her feel special, I try to make sure I do that.

You’ve been married for 10 years. That’s a lot of Valentine’s Days.
Yes. It is. A lot of times I have to push myself to be creative. I try to keep it fresh.

So what’s Valentine’s Day like for you?
The most memorable would be when my wife and I first started dating, I kept note of a lot of things we did. So for Valentine’s Day, I did a soundtrack and I called it something like, “Our Love.” But the soundtrack was images of us together, but it was laid out like a CD. The packaging was photos of us from over the time we met. She loved it, and she still has it to this day.

I can’t lie. I made a CD of love songs for an ex-boyfriend, but I didn’t finesse it like you. I just put it in a bag of Hershey Kisses.
I realized that it’s more valuable when you put the initiative in it. Of course, handbags are nice, but when you make something by hand and put your all in it just to show the love, it goes a lot further.

Has your wife done anything special for you on Valentine’s Day because a lot of men can’t say that a woman has?
That’s why I love my wife. She’s independent, but she doesn’t make everything all about her. I remember I came home, and she had rose pedals everywhere. She had white chocolate covered strawberries and white chocolate is my favorite. She had dinner, and she even made this huge Rice Krispie treat that was shaped in a heart. It was really nice because even though it was for me, it was something that we both could enjoy.

What would be the perfect Valentine’s Day for you and your wife?
The perfect Valentine’s Day would be a day when I would turn off my phone and all of my electronics. We could to an island or a resort where can just exile ourselves from modern technologies and just concentrate on us. Make it day just about our relationship. I know she would love that, and I think that would be most appreciated than any gift I can give.

BONUS! Verse Simmonds dishes on what he thinks could be the perfect V-Day!

For years now, there has been a lot of whispers about Kim Kardashian and Amber Rose not liking each other. The reasons never seemed very clear until Amber turned to the tabloids to reveal that Kim K. was the actual reason for her and Kanye’s relationship ending. The buzzed-cut bombshell even called Kim a “homewrecker.” Kim has yet to respond to Amber’s allegations, but what’s the point? These two women should just bury the hatchet and become pals because they have so much more in common with each other than not. Here are four reasons why Kim and Amber are really meant to be best friends.

They Have The Same Taste In Men
According to Amber, the rumors of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West hooking up with each other are true. The ex-Ford Model revealed that Kim and Ye were cheating on her and NFL baller Reggie Bush with each other. To little surprise, Amber even goes on to admit that she even dated Reggie for a while after her and Kanye split to get back at Kim for breaking up her relationship. Who really does that? It’s safe to say that these two have the same preferences when it comes to men: dark and handsome. Could you imagine their phone conversations if they actually did become besties?

Their Music Should Fall On Deaf Ears
By the sound of it, these ladies have the same ear for music. In 2010, Kim released a single called “Jam (Turn It Up).” It was declared to be one of the worst songs ever made by a reality star. There was supposed to be a video premiere, but the feedback from the song was so terrible that the video was shelved. Yesterday, the Internet was busy with the release of Amber’s new single, “Fame” which features her boyfriend, Wiz Khalifa. Let’s just say that Kim, Amber and Paris Hilton’s singles will be sitting on the same shelf.

They Both Have A Passion For Acting *Kanye Shrug*
Disaster Movie is where Kim made her acting debut. It held a good place in the box office bomb list. Kim’s part wasn’t a huge role nor was it one to be nominated for an Oscar. Amber seems to be following in the same career path. She will make her first acting appearance starring in Gang of Roses 2. If Kim and Amber were friends, Kim could refer Amber to her acting coach. They could be helping each other out in their careers.

Nobody Really Knows What They’re Famous For
Barbara Walters said it best during her Most Fascinating People 2011 special while interviewing Kim: “You don’t really act. You don’t sing. You don’t dance. You don’t have any… forgive me… ANY TALENT.” Isn’t that the truth for both Kim and Amber, though? They are both considered celebrities for absolutely no reason, and they get paid very well for it. If they became buddies, they could probably take over the world.

Angela Simmons
Fashion Designer

www.LovePastry.com

“I am a workout fanatic, so I keep my hair healthy by wearing extensions and I make sure to wrap it with a scarf when I work out. Moroccan Oil hair products are my favorites that I use to keep my natural hair moisturized to prevent any breakage.”

Lavette Slater
Emmy Award Winning Celebrity Hair & Makeup Artist

www.LavetteSlater.com

“If you are working out and your hair is natural, first thing is first. Invest in a hooded dryer. Sitting under the dryer locks in moisture as opposed to letting the hair air-dry.  If you like to wear your natural hair blown out and/or flat ironed straight, pin curl the hair in big sections and workout. Do not wrap your hair. Wrapping straight hair with a silk scarf will make the hair wetter from being so close to the scalp.  After your workout, sit under the dryer on a low setting, remove pin curls and then style as desired.”

Renae Bluitt
Publicist/ Blogger

www.crush-media.com/ www.inhershoesblog.com

“When it comes to working out and natural hair, I truly believe it’s a match made in heaven. We can finally toss out the deterrents like, “I don’t want to sweat out my hair” and get a workout in worry free! When it’s warm outside, you can wash and condition your hair, leave the conditioner in, pull the hair back in a ponytail and work out. The heat generated on your scalp during the workout helps the conditioner penetrate your tresses and acts as a deep conditioner. Being able to kill two birds with one stone is what I highly recommend for a woman on the go.“

Francheska
Natural Hair Care, Nutrition & Fitness Blogger

www.HeyFranHey.com

“The biggest concern I encountered with working out with my natural hair was keep my scalp fresh without having to wash it every day.  One trick that has worked for me is mixing Peppermint oil with a carrier oil like Jojoba or Lavender. Dip a Q-Tip in your oil mixture and use it to gently massage your scalp with. The Peppermint oil is a natural astringent that helps to clear away excess oil and salt. The Jojoba or Lavender oil helps to minimize the tingling sensation as well as the strong scent.”

Diane Da Costa
Celebrity Curly Textured Expert & Author Textured Tresses; Owner of SimpleeBeautiful Boutique

www.SimpleeBEAUTIFUL.com

Carol’s Daughter has great products for women who are either transitioning to become natural or who are already natural. Carol’s Daughter Chocolat Smoothing Blow Dry Cream is great to apply to the hair before a workout. If you are transitioning, this cream helps to hold down the transitioned hair without causing your roots to puff up, keeping your hair shiny and smooth while working out.  If you’re looking to maintain your curls during your workout, you can style your hair in large two-strand twist or flat twist. For this style, you can apply Carol’s Daughter Macadamia Heat Protection Serum to keep your hair frizz-free and manageable. After your intense workout, make sure your hair is dry before taking out the twist then finger comb through the hair and voila! You have great looking hair without compromising a great workout. During workouts, a cotton bandana scarf is essential ONLY while working out, never at night. This scarf absorbs water from your hair and scalp.”

Claire Sulmers

Fashion Blogger

www.FashionBombDaily.com

“I like to get my hair braided into an updo, as the style can stay for a week without being affected by sweat. As a precaution, however, I like to wear a stylish headband to protect my hair and soak up excess moisture. The headband doesn’t have to be fancy but it’s okay to make it fashionable.”