Search Results: Cierra Black
Spooky season is finally upon us, which gives us an excuse to flex our creativity in so many ways. One of the best parts about Halloween, aside from the fall-flavored treats of course, is how invested people become in their costumes each year. Most of the season’s fun lies in coming up with a costume, assembling it, and the excitement that comes with pulling off the idea that’s been brewing all month long. There are endless classic costumes one can choose from, along with some more out of the box renditions like deep-cut references. Either way, one large factor to keep in mind for curly girls is how to incorporate their hair into their looks.
Be it a wig, braids, or natural curls, the hairstyle of choice can make or break a look. Some feel inspired by the challenge of transforming themselves head to toe with their creations, while others don’t want to bother with changing their entire hairstyle for one night. For the latter, opting for costumes that already have curly hair baked into the looks is the fool proof route.
Black Creators such as HeavenMarley on TikTok, show us that there is no shortage of ideas in the curl department, and can be great resources in brainstorming fun, adaptable looks. Heaven offers a series of curly-haired costume inspo, including looks for Hilary Banks, Christina Milan, and Janet Jackson.
Modeling yourself after iconic Black women who have similar hair will never go out of style, and paying homage to them with your own curls adds to the overall experience. For those who want to stretch their imagination to the animated realm, Black cosplayers such as Kiera Please have offered years of Black girl-certified looks to try. If you’re in need of some more holiday inspiration, we’ve come up with a list of fun, curly-hair friendly costume ideas to try this Halloween.
Scary Spice, Spice Girls
Style: Curls out with two top-knot space buns, wrapped in metallic coils.
Queen Charlotte, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Style: Big curls — the bigger the better, and topped with a crown.
Princess Tiana, The Princess and the Frog
Style: Low curly ponytail with loose curls in the front to frame the face.
Camilla Cream, A Bad Case of the Stripes
Style: Curls out in their natural state, with a baby pink bow to finish the look.
The Muses, Hercules
Style: Voluminous curls tied up in a white headscarf.
Garnett, Steven UNiverse
Style: Teased out afro, extra points if configured into a cubical shape.
Whitney Houston
Style: Big curls with subtle highlights.
Canary, Hunter x Hunter
Style: Bubble ponytails fastened with red bows.
Penny Proud, The Proud Family
Style: Two low curly ponytails, with Penny’s signature loose strand.
Suzie Carmichael, Rugrats
Style: Long kanekalon braids with floral embellishments.
To ditch or not to ditch scalp oil treatments? By now, the Black hair community has discussed, and debated, at length the use of raw oils and butters for hair and scalp care. Many who have been oiling scalps for generations and revere the act as a long-kept cultural practice have a difficult time accepting what many modern hair care professionals suggest about the matter.
While nourishing oils have a place in hair care, it may not be through the methods many have grown up with. Hair care professionals, specifically curly hair specialists, advise against using raw oils and heavy butters directly on the hair and scalp, as they can cause build up and leave the hair less hydrated than intended.
A simplified scientific explanation behind this reasoning would teach us that oil and water (in their raw forms) do not mix, therefore putting a sealing oil directly onto dry scalp and hair prevents water or hydration from penetrating in. When used in excess, it can also cause product and oil build up, which weighs down the hair and doesn’t allow for a proper growth cycle.
While oils do provide substantial benefits for hair, professionals suggest using products where the formulation allows for better absorption. Curl specialists such as Camille Janae have shown the difference it can make in hair health and styling when heavy oils and butters are ditched for products that are more absorbent and nourishing.
As hair care companies continue to develop the best practices for healthy hair and scalp care, more and more scalp serums have started to pop up on the market. These serums promise to offer benefits such as length and density retention, itch relief, as well as hydration and nourishing properties.
If you’ve been curious about leaving behind raw oils and folding a scalp serum into your routine, we’ve got you covered with six different hair care companies that offer serums to address various concerns.
Read below for the products, their pricing, and what areas they target.
There’s something about the season’s change that prompts Black girls everywhere to reach for ginger and auburn-toned tresses. For those on the non-committal end, like myself, you may reach for color through your protective styles such as braids, faux locs, or wigs. In which case, we have a slew of style ideas calling your name. To the bold types that want to dive right in by dyeing their hair a warmer color, we’ve got you covered on healthy ways to keep those colored coils in tact.
Annie Blay, associate beauty editor at Allure, wasted no time in booking a salon appointment to embrace her new seasonal color. Sporting a deep auburn shade, she tells NaturallyCurly, “Fall has always been one of my favorite seasons mainly for the color scheme alone. I usually do red braids around the fall or winter season to match the autumnal vibe but last year I actually took the plunge of dying my own hair after seeing Black girls on Pinterest and Instagram wearing the look.” She opts to style her copper hair in a silk press right out of the salon before enjoying how the color sits on her natural curls.
Blay’s practice in maintaining hair health includes reducing the amount of treatments and investing in quality products: “I only get my hair color treated once a year so I don’t have a whole color-safe routine but I do try to stick to sulfate-free formulas that are nourishing. I use the Madison Reed Pro Boost Treatments, depending on what I feel my hair needs (hydration, strength, shine, etc.). I love knowing that the treatments are also boosting the hair color.”
For those contemplating coloring their own hair for this fall-weather trend, but are unsure where to start, professional stylist and curly hair specialist Sheryl Hambrick of The Curl Suite lists her go-to advice for keeping the integrity of your curls after dying them. First, and most importantly, the health journey starts before you pick up the hair dye.
“I strongly suggest researching a color specialist that will be able to perform the desired color service. Social media is a good way to start to find someone in your area. Look at their pictures, read their client reviews. Schedule a consultation with the colorist to discuss your hair goals,” she explains. She also emphasizes the importance of an experienced color specialist who will be able to determine whether or not the client’s hair is healthy enough to receive color in the first place.
For maintenance post-salon treatment, she recommends, “investing in good quality hair care products. You cannot color your hair and use cheap or low quality products. You will want to use products that will provide the proper moisture-protein balance that your hair will need.
Consulting with your colorist or hair stylist on which products are best for your hair is very important. I love the Innersense Organic Beauty products. I tend to recommend their Hydrating Cream Hair Bath and Color Radiance Daily Conditioner to my clients who have colored hair. Depending on the state of their hair, the colorist may recommend regular at-home use of a bonding treatment (like the K-18 Leave In Molecular Hair Mask or the Olaplex Hair Repair System), a deep conditioning treatment, or a combination of both.
To maintain healthy curls, you want to make sure you are keeping up with your regular maintenance haircuts. I recommend getting your ends cut every 10-12 weeks once it has been colored.”
Above all, she emphasizes that no matter how tempting, “please refrain from coloring your own hair, if possible. Color is not as basic as it may seem and in order to get the healthiest and best color results, working with a professional is always best. If you absolutely cannot see a color specialist, do not use box dyes, as they may contain harsh chemicals that can dry out the hair. Opt for professional color lines like Wella, Joico or Schwarzkopf.”
Whether you get your fall hair fix through protective styles or color-treated curls, we’ve rounded up our favorite ways to wear these warm-toned styles. See below for some pumpkin spice-esque hair inspo to take you into the season.
Classic Ginger Box Braids
Auburn Blow Out
Ginger Coils and Matching Brows
Copper Twists
Ginger Faux Locs
Deep Orange French Curl Braids
Deep Orange Wand Curls
It’s been over a decade since the golden era of natural hair YouTube came about. Natural hair OGs like Whitney White, Jaelen Mitchell, Joyja Estrada, and of course Jackie Aina helped to usher in a brand new class of naturals seeking to reconcile their relationships with their coils. With the audience largely consisting of high school or college-aged girls embarking on paths of self-discovery, we, in many ways, grew up together through the online community.
Many women and girls approached the movement at vastly different stages. Some slowly transitioned out of their chemically relaxed eras—getting gradual trims until all the damage was gone. Others opted for the big chop, which requires cutting off all the straight or damaged hair, often leaving behind a TWA. Overall, it’s undeniable that the big chop boom jump started countless natural hair journeys and challenged Black women to work through the socially-conditioned attachments we’ve had to striving for “long hair” over healthy hair.
One late night decision to chop all my relaxed hair off, a YouTube upload, and several million views later, I found myself catapulted to the epicenter of the big chop community. Overnight, I received an influx of messages, from natural and transitioning beauties across the world, about natural hair advice.
While I never committed to the content creator path, I had hundreds of people reach out to me for years to come to share their stories, ask for product recommendations, and connect over the mutual experience of learning how to embrace our hair. I embarked on what was one of the most enjoyable, transformative, and regret-free beauty journeys of my life. While overwhelming at times, the global bond we shared pointed to the importance of the movement, the online space it cultivated, and demand for representation.
Though I loved my decision to big chop, my routine, like so many others’, felt like an uphill battle as my curls began to grow. I have been told by every stylist and dorm room braider that I have well over the average amount of density, and for many, the most hair they’ve ever experienced in their careers. This is by no means a brag, as my density and texture caused quite the frustration and disappointment in my hair journey.
While the glory days of natural hair YouTube were filled with helpful tips, affirmations, and creative tutorials, they were also rife with click-bait videos of naturals hoping for virality. Several began labeling their videos as “thick” and “dense” when they were anything but. In reality, I found their hair to be less-than-thick type 3 hair teased and fluffed to the gods or naturally ultra-voluminous. This left an exhausted young natural like myself defeated after my hair didn’t turn out like the “super thick type 4 natural hair” tutorials I earnestly typed into the search bar to find.
Prompted by my struggles to understand my hair and the rarity in finding tutorials that matched both my texture and density, I rotated between a puff, protective styles, or braid outs. This is not to say that there were no naturals with my curl type and texture by any means, but many of them could achieve styles in a fraction of the time, or configure their hair in certain ways I could not achieve, especially in the early days of learning how to care for my hair. The algorithm, mislabeled videos, and desire to have a certain type of curl shaped unrealistic expectations. It took a year or two to realize that my hair would need its own unique approach—and acceptance on my end of its natural state.
Nevertheless, there were thousands of naturals who did find their curl-twins online and learned how to care for their hair purely by online videos and trial and error. Natural hair content creators situated along the curl spectrum, such as Bianca Renee and Fola Amudipe, helped countless naturals to see what was possible with our textures and how versatile they can all be. Rooted in hair health and acceptance, Youtube pages like Bianca (Bianca Renee Today) and Fola’s (Folahontas) provided a wealth of accessible knowledge.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, many Black women, with more time at home, took to educating themselves further on caring for natural hair. Curly hair specialists such as @Iamblackgirlcurls gained larger visibility and naturals reckoned with the shocking information that raw oils and butters were in fact hindering their styling efforts. Proper routines, products, and overall care showed naturals with even the tightest coils that they too could have ultra-defined Wash N Gos and it didn’t take an entire day and half your bathroom shelf to achieve it.
On the other hand, obsessing over the most defined coils has prompted some Black women to wonder if we’ve strayed from the intended purpose of the original natural hair movement from the 1970s, which encouraged women to love their hair even without heavy manipulation. They also accurately point to the stark difference in acceptance between looser curls, and any curl patterns that are 3B and tighter.
One glance at the dominant hair types that fill most curly hair commercials and panels to this day—one can understand why initiatives such as ESSENCE’s 4C Files were created to celebrate kinkier textures. For this reason, successful, kinky-haired content creators such as Fola felt rare and important. Fola continues to show coily-haired girls how beautiful and versatile their hair can be and how to embrace their texture through any of the forms it takes, defined or not. Her ingenuity has led to positive contributions to the argument that braids and natural ‘dos can be considered formal hairstyles.
On that note, we spoke with Fola Amudipe and Biance Renee—two natural hair influencers with different journeys and hair types— about their experiences within the natural hair community and where they’re at today.
What impact do you think the big chop wave had on the natural hair community?
Bianca: The Big Chop wave was CRUCIAL for the natural hair community. Holding on to dead, damaged ends is so much more than a “length thing.” It really shows a person’s insecurity and/or attachment to a social construct that length equals beauty. We have to be able to let go and start over, and the more people that did it, the more it became accepted in the community.
Fola: I think big chopping has taught naturals that it’s okay to start over. Things will grow back bigger, better, and even more beautifully if you allow yourself to detach from what’s holding you back. It’s really a sound life lesson you can apply to anything.
How did you feel in the first few months after your big chop?
Bianca: The first few months were definitely an adjustment. As a content creator I was able to change my perspective and think of it as an opportunity to help and join people on their hair growth journey. Different hairstyles were pretty limited but detangling and my morning routine was a lot quicker.
Fola: Honestly, I felt a sense of nakedness at first, but eventually it was really freeing. It was my first year in college, away from my strict immigrant parents, fresh out of a lil highschool fling, and venturing off into a new [environment] so it felt like a new beginning for me in a lot of ways. I felt like I was in a huge re-learning phase of my life, but I had more autonomy over my body and decisions too.
Were you a big follower or participant in the natural hair movement on YouTube?
Bianca: I definitely consider myself to be a huge part of the natural hair movement on Youtube since I dedicated my channel to natural hair tutorials for over 11 years now. It became my passion and goal to help as many people as possible to change the negative stigma that “only straight hair was beautiful, professional or accepted.”
Fola: I actively watched Natural Hair Youtubers from about 2011-2016, right at the beginning and height of the natural hair movement. I was really invested in learning to grow my hair to its longest length and I ended up falling in love with the healthy hair practices that became like a ritual. I’m still very much an active participant in the natural hair community. I went from consuming to now creating the content I would like to see from tight-coiled naturals. I champion others to embrace and love on their hair in all its forms, styles, and lengths.
What observations do you have about the curl community from that time?
Bianca: At one point in time it seemed to be a very well received space. People became excited to try new products and find what truly worked for them. One naturalist would inspire another sharing tips and tricks so that we all could thrive. On the flip side, there also came a point in time where things became too strict and people started to judge others for not following the “curly hair rules.” It added an unnecessary stress to new naturals that eventually made some people give up on their journey. I do believe there are better practices and ingredients to use on our hair but at the end of the day, if something works for a particular person, it really doesn’t matter what other people think you “should” do.
Fola: Honestly, it felt like a big family trying to all figure out this journey of defying social norms, ideas of assimilation, and revolutionizing what Black hair looked like in its most natural form
What impact do you think the popularity of Wash N Gos has had on the natural hair community?
Fola: I believe the impact of Wash N Gos has allowed people in the natural hair community to see their true curl patterns and love it for what it is. I think early on in people’s hair journey, if they’re unfamiliar with their curl pattern, they tend to admire and want a curl pattern that isn’t their own. It can be really harmful especially to younger folks who internalize what curl pattern they deem as “beautiful”. However, I think Wash N Gos really make people face what their hair truly looks like in the best way.
Do you feel embraced and represented in the 2010s-and-beyond natural hair movement?
Fola: I think we’ve done better over time since the 2010s to have representation in these spaces. Look at the rise and influx of Black-owned hair care brands that showcase us in their marketing materials. It’s beautiful to see. However, I think there is definitely way more room for improvement across the board with all brands to showcase tight-coiled textures. A LOT MORE!
If you had to start all over, would you?
Bianca: I absolutely would. due to the sweet messages I receive daily from people telling me that I have “saved their hair” [or] inspired them to start.
Fola: With what I know now, yes absolutely.
Calling all Virgos, it’s our time to shine. Virgo season is well underway and one of our favorite Virgo beauties, Beyoncé, celebrates her birthday today. As the poster child for the always-evolving, creative, detail-oriented earth signs, Beyoncé is taking another lap around the sun and doing so in style.
What better way to celebrate the greatest performer of her generation, and the ones since (not up for debate), than to take a moment to highlight some of her most inspiring beauty looks to date.
Debuting 27 years ago, Beyoncé has been on mood boards since for her hair, makeup, nails, and sartorial styles. From The Writing’s On The Wall to Self-Titled and Cowboy Carter, the trailblazer has perfected her beauty routine while at the same time shifting in style through the years and her creative eras.
In the late ‘90s and early 2000s we saw her rocking the popular thin eyebrows, frosty eyelids, and microlink-like braid styles that flowed into loose extensions — arguably the precursor to the goddess, mermaid braids we see today.
Into Bey’s solo career we saw glamorous looks like the often-imitated B-Day era updo and the larger than life curls which stole the show during her 2006 BET Awards performance. Self-Titled brought us an edgy-leaning tousled bob with highlights and sultry, smokey eyes. Lemonade ushered in the eponymous cornrow extensions now referred to as Lemonade braids.
OG Beyhive remembers her peak blogger-esque Instagram era with the collages that always featured her intricate nail designs— because, in true Virgo fashion, everything’s in the details. She carried this knack into the beauty looks throughout the musical film Black Is King, which featured countless hair and makeup looks that highlighted and embraced African diasporic beauty.
The 2023 Renaissance World Tour provided a wealth of style inspo as well, with Beyoncé gracing the stage each night in soft glam, shimmery eye looks and elongated tresses of various styles. She concluded this era with platinum blonde hair that carried us into the Americana goldilocks looks of Cowboy Carter today.
In honor of the Queen Bey’s birthday, revisit some of her most inspiring, trendsetting beauty moments—from the bugaboo braids to Cecred-certified natural curls— below.
Coco Jones is what we’d call a triple threat: A talented actress with a heavenly voice and a certified style icon. The Southern Belle has stolen our hearts both as Hillary Banks in the hit show “Bel Air,” and across the internet for her bubbly personality. Her show is underway with its third season, promising scandal, suspense, and, of course, Hillary’s stunning style choices.
Jones is a vision to watch in her current role, though she has been in the game for much longer. She organically built her musical career as she acted across several titles, including Disney’s “Let It Shine,” and showcased her soulful sound on her EP “What I Didn’t Do.” Now, she is carving her own lane in the industry with her unique beauty and talent.
From updos to long tresses, here are 12 times Coco Jones gave us ethereal beauty and endless material for our mood boards.
1. Braided Detail Clovers Homage
Simple, yet timeless. Jones recreates Gabrielle Union’s iconic character look from ‘Bring It On’ with this Clovers Homage. She spares no details, completing the style with mini soft scrunchies at the ends of her braids, one of the go-to accessories of the era.
2. Half Up Top-Knot
One of Coco Jones’ signature touches that we love is her go-to two-strand accent that frames her face. Here, she features this touch in a half-up look that pulls her hair into a top-knot, allowing the rest to flow down her back for a performance-ready ‘do.
3. Platinum Pink Barbie
Serving us Black Barbie realness, Coco switches the color up for the “creepin” music video shoot with a light pink install, complete with voluminous curls. This style is physical proof that she can rock any style she pleases and pull it off.
4. Crimped Waves
One of the best style hacks is adding some dimension and texture to a beautiful look, which is exactly what Jones does here. Here, waist-length tresses are effortlessly styled with crimped waves, adding just enough character to make for a fun and casual look.
5. Blunt Bob
You know we love a bob! One thing’s certain, and two’s for sure: Jones’ face card never declines. To emphasize this fact, she arrives at LaPointe’s NYFW show with a blunt, fashion-forward bob that accentuates her features and strikingly tops off her overall ensemble.
6. Bumped Ends
A tasteful touch on the classic side-part, Coco completes one of her VMA looks with a shoulder-length, straight style that flows into a sharp flip. This style exudes personality and flare, the ideal eye-catcher to set-off her fun wardrobe of the night.
7. Larger-Than-Life Chanel Homage
Pictured here: a real life-doll. Here, she perfectly executes another homage to a Black Beauty fave, with this rendition of Naomi Campbell’s 1992 Chanel look. With burgundy-tinted blown-out hair styled in two teased ponytails
8. Elegant Updo
All pinned up for her big night at the Grammys, the musician styles her hair in a beautiful updo, letting loose curls gently frame her face as she accepts her first Grammy Award. This look perfectly compliments her face, showcasing big congratulatory smiles all around.
9. Retro Bun Details
The sign of a true style icon is whether you can last the tests of time, and Miss Jones hasn’t met a style era she can’t pull off. This retro look featuring a trio of buns, complete with a detailed parted design, is the epitome of It-girl energy.
10. Accessorized Rapunzel Braid
For her Coachella cameo, she joins Renee Rapp on stage with a slickback knee-length braid studded with bedazzled hoops throughout. This creative look was such a fun way to spin a tried and true hairstyle, making it her own and giving us the innovative inspo we needed to spice up our own styles.
11. Goddess Braids
What’s a better way to channel that inner goddess than with goddess braids themselves? On her European getaway, Coco Jones tastefully styles her trendy goddess braids in a few ways, showing the versatility and elegance that braids can provide.
12. Classic Bussdown
There’s nothing like the classics. Our beauty icon is stunned with this sleek middle-part buss down, the perfect style to complete her neck-breaking courtside look.
Which CoCo Jones look is your favorite?
There is much to be said about Love Island USA, Season 6. It shattered streaming numbers, it’s taking over all of our feeds, and it’s sparking discourse that could rival the best sociology 101 classes. If Love Island is all anyone can talk about, it’s safe to say that Serena and Kordell are the internet’s collective Roman Empire.
The winners of Love Island USA S6 have become internet sensations over the summer, with many audiences growing fond of the honest yet caring dynamic between the two. A striking conversation that continues to follow the couple zeroes in on a forever hot topic in the Black community: hair.
Image Source: @loveislandusa
Love Island’s Representation of Black Contestants
If you are a Love Island veteran, you know that spending several weeks in a poolside villa with messy challenges provides a challenge in itself for textured-hair contestants. For this reason, many Black contestants with textured tresses have to be strategic with the styles they choose, lest they embarrass themselves with unkempt hair on international television.
Black islanders, particularly the women, across Love Island seasons have been the undeserving targets of global criticism over their appearance, which, of course, includes heightened commentary surrounding their hair. This commentary generates speculative weigh-in from Black communities on the maintenance of chosen styles, and altogether racist commentary from broader, less educated populations.
Image Source: @whitbrownsx
The standout star of Love Island UK S10, Whitney, recently revealed her clever albeit unconventional method to accomplish swapping her wigs without the cameras’ attention, in order to minimize unfavorable content or criticism. The amount of hyper awareness Black people in these circumstances possess is revelatory of how intense the critical gaze can be.
While efforts such as the growing visible inclusivity from hair brands and policies such as the Crown Act have ushered in avenues of acceptance and understanding around Black hair, Black people are still held to unrealistic standards. In some cases, it is almost as if the more knowledgeable people grow about Black hair care, the more critical they become.
Image Source: @jempugh35
The ability to spot someone’s lace or wig glue was not widely possessed, outside of Black women, until recently. Now, we are seeing broader audiences jump into conversations and critique Black women’s hair in detail, as was the case with UK S9 contestant Tanya and her visible wig glue. Suddenly, everyone is a Black hair expert, and everyone has an opinion.
Receiving grace as a Black woman has always been an uphill battle, with the ever changing goal posts of beauty standards perpetuating this fight. Place this reality in the context of a wildly popular, vanity-based reality dating show, and the criticism becomes amplified.
How Black Hair Is Scrutinized
With USA S6 in particular, Black hair was pushed to the forefront, becoming a character of its own, and for reasons one may not expect. The two main Black women contestants, Serena and JaNa, received relatively positive commentary surrounding their hair and overall appearance, while Kordell, the central Black man in the villa, underwent microscopic observation.
It is often said within Black circles that you can tell a lot about a person based on how they wear their hair, with the assumption that the better it’s maintained, the more culturally connected one is to the community. Further, it is believed that the way a person styles their hair can reveal a lot about their romantic preferences, as hypothesized through the “hard wig, soft life,” theory, wherein Black women whose wigs appear to be unnatural or “stiff” looking are often partnered with wealthy, yet culturally unaware white men.
Serena’s ability to keep human hair goddess braids intact for the entirety of the summer, amidst compromising challenges and a humid climate is a feat in itself, and one that has not gone unnoticed by many viewers. In addition to her overall personality, this detail garnered her even more likeability amongst Black audiences. It is this same reason, however, that stirred up apprehension for some upon first laying eyes on Kordell.
Admittedly, my first thought upon seeing him walk on screen was ‘why would he come on tv without having fresh braids?’ As it has since been revealed, contestants wait extended periods of time in the hotel prior to entering the villa, which may well be the reason for his braids not looking salon-fresh. This personal knee-jerk observation reveals how ingrained these socially constructed cues can be. My second thought was just hoping he had the ability to refresh his braids as needed as his time in the villa went on.
How Relationships Influence Hair Care
Image Source: @korde1ll
Kordell’s hair became such a large point of discussion that it evolved into a marker with which audiences tracked the storyline and the status of his and Serena’s relationship. Mid-season, it was revealed that Serena is quite the skilled braider, and therefore responsible for Kordell’s ability to keep his hair styled. The variety of styles he went on to wear prompted intrigue amongst fans and quickly positioned him as an early favorite. Once the drama unfolded and the couple briefly split, Serena was no longer maintaining his hair, and it showed. The state of Kordell’s hair soon became indicative to whether or not he and Serena were on good terms, proving further how impactful hair can be to a story, to communal connection, and to outward presentation.
Image Source: @marayjanee
The moment that cemented the couple’s fate was the clip released of Serena finally doing Kordell’s hair again in the bathroom. This scene was important not only because it signaled full reconciliation but also because it displayed a culturally resonant moment on mainstream reality television that many had never seen before. Serena caring for Kordell’s hair in this way symbolized more depth to the relationship than cameras could show. So much so that when it came time to meet each other’s families, one of the first things Kordell’s godmother did was thank Serena for maintaining his hair.
Love Island USA, with its record-breaking streaming numbers, stood miles apart from other seasons for countless reasons, one undeniably being the representation Serena and Kordell provided. Black hair has always been a source of fascination, scrutiny, beauty, and connection, and its role in this season of Love Island was no different.
With the highly anticipated Love Island USA reunion coming on August 19th, it’ll be interesting to see if there are any conversations regarding Black Beauty.
From undisputed face cards to graphic liner, beauty took center stage at the 2024 Olympic Games. In addition to nail-biting finishers and record-breaking moments, the women competing at the Paris games embraced their individual beauty despite the harsh global stage they were thrust upon— and the criticism that often comes with it.
Beauty is an effective tool that allows a person to highlight their unique features, feel more empowered when entering a space, and showcase who they are in nonverbal ways. On the other hand, logic would have one think that ridiculing a woman’s looks while she is competing at such a high-level of athletic difficulty would be out of the question, however misogyny often proves otherwise.
Discourse erupted during the early days of the games as Simone Biles received ludacris commentary about her hair not being styled to onlookers’ standards. To this she responded, “next time you wanna comment on a black girl’s hair, JUST DON’T.” The 11-time Olympic medalist went on to stun crowds with her athleticism, touching up her golden glam look in between competitions.
Ilona Maher, the now first-time Olympic medalist, discusses beauty at length on her social media platform. She unapologetically expresses her femininity in the face of hundreds of comments critiquing her appearance and stands as a voice for expansive displays of beauty. Through her humorous content she shows just how connective and universal beauty can be.
Screenshot from Simone Biles’ Instagram story
Not only did these women give the athletic performances of their lives against the toughest competition in the world, but they did so staying true to their personal expressions of beauty and style. U.S. Rugby player and internet sensation Ilona Maher is ever-present in her signature red lip. Meanwhile, American soccer player and gold medalist Trinity Rodman stood out on the field in baby pink braids.
We can’t forget how Brazilian gymnasts Rebeca Andrade and Flavia Saraiva arrived at the competition each day with glimmering graphic eyeliner. And speaking of gymnasts, Jordan Chiles executed masterful routines while sporting decorative, extended nails— and yes, she can compete in them just fine. Additionally, Chiles and Simone Biles reapplying their lip products after executing insanely difficult routines delighted many beauty fans as they reveled in the young women’s greatness. Overall, the two ushered in a new standard for the way athletes carry themselves.
Then, Twanisha Terry could be spotted flying down the track due to her long braided ponytails and waist beads. Additionally, Melissa Jefferson and Jamaican athlete Shasha Lee Forbes sported patriotic hair bows, and Anna Cockrell and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone accepted their medals with stunning natural hair styles. Two-time Olympic medalist Sha’Carri Richardson left it all on the track with adorned nails that repeated her powerful quote, “I’m not back, I’m better.”
Across the board, these Olympic beauties see your comments about their appearances and are making it clear — they don’t care. They are reminding audiences, through enthusiastic conversations online, that women can be both strong and beautiful; have a playful sense of humor and still take their craft seriously. Athletes can pose with their flashy fronts and still be recognized as the legitimate talent they are.
Kelly Rowland no longer cares about outside opinions. After dedicating 26 years to an industry closely associated with beauty, Rowland has discovered that her own perspective matters most. Fittingly, on Sunday at Beautycon, Rowland discussed self-acceptance with President and CEO of Essence Ventures, Caroline Wanga,
Wanga opened the conversation by asking how Rowland reconciled with not always seeing herself reflected in mainstream beauty. To this she revealed that she is “still in the midst of” resolving this. “I think that we constantly are,” she added.
Then, the conversation shifted to the topic of hair. Rowland revealed her hair journey was fortunately positive. While growing up in Tina Knowles’ beauty salon in Houston, Rowland discovered early on that her hair was a means to explore herself.
Rowland and Wanga later reflected on how being darker skinned black girls led to hesitancy around trying out certain lipstick shades. Rowland talked about how she’s evolved from this, thanks to the help of makeup artists who encouraged her to try bright colors. She then transitioned into reminding the audience to embrace their uniqueness. She used the analogy that we’re all part of a beautiful garden—each of us a special flower that makes it complete.
Rowland concluded the conversation with an affirmation that left the audience in awe. “I don’t have to compare myself to anybody because I am one of one,” she said. “It is important to not shrink for anybody. Be the best version of yourself that you can possibly be. Show up for yourself first, not the world.”
After a four year hiatus, Beautycon is back and as beautiful as ever. The glam-centered conference kicked off Saturday morning in Los Angeles with Beautycon’s Brand Programming Strategist, Sophia Dennis, and Essence Ventures’ President & CEO, Caroline Wanga. The two hosts warmly greeted the attendees, affectionately referred to as “the beauty rebels, and set the tone for a weekend full of inspiring discussions, immersive experiences, and exposure to rising beauty brands.
Thought-provoking panels on the main stage revealed that today’s beauty innovators are ushering in conversations surrounding realistic acceptance, holistic health, and sustainable practices. The discussions focused on anything from disrupting the beauty space to advice and techniques from industry professionals. Many of the chats—which included icons such as Tia Mowry, Kelly Rowland, Marsai Martin, and more—also honed in on the idea that beauty isn’t only skin deep.
Meanwhile, creators and business owners Arnell Armon and Lora Arellano bonded over balancing motherhood and creative passions. Additionally, beauty activists such as Tess Holiday challenged the audience to redefine what they understood beauty to be.
Across the venue, Beauty Brand Haven provided a chance to connect brands and consumers, bridging the gap between them. There, beauty rebels stocked up on samples from brands such as Camille Rose, Good Weird, Beauty Beez and made gentle. Many brand representatives there shared the same sentiments as Rebundle’s Ciara May. “Our product is all about touching, feeling, and experiencing,” she told ESSENCE. “So it’s important to be able to see it in action. We’re very intentional about that.”
An extravagant fashion show and performances by BIA, Rhea Raj and the House of Balenciaga brought the evenings to a close and left participants feeling empowered. The return of Beautycon proves that beauty inclusivity is more than just a buzzword, and begins with everyone. If you missed out on the talent-studded affair, don’t be too disheartened. You can find a glimpse into the fun-filled weekend below.
