African Beauty And Braids • 17th September 2020

How To Do Your Natural Wash Hair Day Correctly

Self-care is important. You have to make sure your hair is properly washed. If you neglect washing your hair, you will have to deal with buildup which will weigh down your natural tresses. This can weaken your curls and lead to breakage. What makes many wary of wash day is the tedious process. And the long tutorials on YouTube can get overwhelming. How can one get through the process simply and painlessly? You must plan and give yourself ample time to get things right. Your hair needs tender l

African Beauty And Braids • 10th August 2020

Featurism: A Growing Epidemic

Every time I scroll down my social media feed, I notice a pattern of which type of advertisements are shown to me. I usually search for other freelance writers of color so I can learn and grow from them. I guess Facebook and Instagram examines my data input. Their ads cater to my likes and dislikes. Chocolate models often pop up marketing various hair/beauty products. And although I love me some chocolate, I am often disappointed to see that the variety displayed lacks Afrocentric features.

9th June 2020

Love Is Not A Nollywood Fairytale

A poem from my upcoming book: My Poems, My Pains, My Lessons, My Gains

1st June 2020

How Can I Safely Wear Protective Hairstyles?

A magazine feature about protective hairstyles that promoted Braidlux.

African Beauty And Braids • 8th May 2020

My Five Year Loc Journey

Every goal in life you have must be planned out carefully. Preparation is key. If you embark upon a trekking journey at night without any flashlight you will get lost. This epiphany can be compared to growing locs. I did a lot of research and followed other Queens loc journeys before starting mines. Do you know all there is to know about locs? Since I am in my 5th year of loc growth, it only makes sense that I review the 5 stages of locs. Make sure that you follow these do’s and don’ts so that y

African Beauty And Braids • 5th May 2020

Support Liberian Face Masks

Since the coronavirus has hit Africa, there have been 47,131 cases, 1,845 deaths, and 15,796 recoveries. Liberia, a small west African country, has had its fair share of casualties. So far they have 166 confirmed cases and 18 deaths as of today, May 5, 2020. These statistics are based upon the cases that are reported. So many underserved communities in Liberia lack healthcare centers that can properly test residents. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the Ebola epidemic claimed the lives of 4,810

African Beauty And Braids • 4th May 2020

Rihanna Rocks A Classic African Hairstyle For Vogue

For the May 2020 issue of Vogue, Rihanna chose to represent with a beautiful, classic hairstyle. Her hair was styled in what is called the Betsimisaraka hairstyle. Such homage brings awareness to the distinctive styles that women of color display. What makes this hairstyle so iconic, is the fact that Madagascar was discovered by women. Tropical and serene, this island is located off the east coast of Africa. The natives that inhabit the land carry Indonesian genes. A vessel arrived 1200 years a

My Poems, My Pains, My Lessons, My Gains • 14th April 2020

Solitary Confinement

A poem that is part of my upcoming book: "My Poems, My pains, My Lessons, My Gains"

African Beauty And Braids • 13th April 2020

Spring 2020 Fashion Week Screamed Modesty

New York Fashion Week was held the week of February 6, 2020. And it loudly screamed modesty. It was like YAS, honey, YAS! Y’all better show off those long, flowery dresses, those fancy business suits, and those long-sleeve sweaters. With many of us under quarantine, we may not have that much to spend on extravagant styles. That’s what makes these outfits so lovable. They are simple, and can easily be found at a local thrift store. Let us go over the full fashion forecast for the season upon us.

My Poems, My Pain, My Lessons, My Gains • 7th April 2020

Dear Boss Babe

A poem that will be featured in my upcoming book.

African Beauty And Braids • 21st March 2020

What Everyone Must Know About Coronavirus And Hair

Coronavirus. A deadly virus that is being compared to the Spanish flu. With the worldwide death toll surging past 11,000, many are heeding government commands. Social distancing is being practiced. Schools are closing down for weeks. Millions are without work. Within the service industry hairstylists are having to deal with their businesses slowing down. What exactly is coronavirus? How can we protect our hair and still support our hairstylists? The World Health Organization has declared that t

African Beauty And Braids • 20th March 2020

How Does Body Image Affect Our Self-Esteem?

A thin waist, clear complexion, and perfect hair. It is every Queen’s dream to have the perfect body image. But is your idea of body image realistic? If not kept in check, the way we view our bodies can severely impact our self-esteem and mental health. What Exactly Is Body Image? When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see, or do you wish that you were someone different? Our body image is how we view our self in our mind. It is how we behave when we think of our height, weight, skin

African Beauty And Braids • 4th March 2020

The Best Ways to Detangle Natural Hair

Detangling natural hair is a task that requires a lot of patience and caution. It is imperative that you do so because your entangled hair can easily mat and break off. Many try to avoid the brush by putting their hair in twist, braids, and locs. Personally, I fell in love with locs because detangling was something I avoided doing, which stunted the growth of my natural hair. If you have natural hair growth goals, you have to learn the right way to detangle. This will help you with washing and

African Beauty And Braids • 26th February 2020

Queen Boss: Madam C.J. Walker

Many self-made bosses jumped for joy when they heard about Netflix coming out with a new series, centering around the life of Madam C.J. Walker. It was inspired by her great-great grand-daughter A’Lelia Bundles’ biographical book “On Her Own Ground”. As Black History Month comes to an end, let’s all learn more about the first black female millionaire in America. Madame C.J Walker’s real name is Sarah Breedlove. She was born on December 23, 1867, on a cotton plantation in Louisiana. Her parents

12th February 2020

Why Therapy Is Important For Young Black People – Engage Empower Educate

Why Therapy Is Important For Young Black People Young black people suffer from mental health issues just like the rest of the world’s population. It is safe to say that they have even greater stressors due to systematic oppression, economically unfair wages, and constant discrimination. The Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health has concluded that 10% of African Americans are more likely to experience a serious form of psychological distress. So why do many young African Americans

12th February 2020

Kobe Bryant’s Death and The Psychological Effects of Grief – Engage Empower Educate

Kobe Bryant’s Death and The Psychological Effects of Grief On Sunday, January 26, 2020 the world was hit with the tragic news of Kobe Bryant’s death. Many news shows and social media feeds have been flooded with the discussion of his passing. Throughout the streets of L.A vigils are spread out across sidewalks. Public mourning and heartfelt words of sympathy are being echoed throughout the globe. Nine lives were lost in a helicopter crash that included Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter,

African Beauty And Braids • 8th February 2020

How Cornrows Saved Slaves Lives

Cornrows have a long history. They hold a lot of significance in African culture. It is worn by children, men, and women all around the world regardless of their ethnicity. Originally from the Sahara region, paintings showing this hairstyle has been worn even in 3000 B.C. The most known way to wear it is straight down, paralleling each other. But it also can be worn uniquely in zig-zags or by mimicking the form of a snake. In the Carribean region, it is called “canerows”. They do this to respe

African Beauty And Braids • 3rd February 2020

Ten Super Cute Winter Items for 2020

We are already in the second month for 2020. The snow is falling and the humidity is gone. Climate change is in full effect. With winter blowing cold air and giving us freezing temperatures, one should make it a priority to bundle up. With all the layers that have to be put on, fashion must be a part of your everyday wear. Here are 10 super cute outfits that will leave you dressed to impress. Are you feeling like a boss? Then have no fear, the bank blazer is here! What is lovable about this loo

African Beauty And Braids • 31st January 2020

How Our Mental Health Affects Our Natural Hair

A shaved bald head on a woman of color does not always signify someone who has alopecia or cancer. Many opt for a bald head because they are already weighed down with emotional stress. This world is an interesting place. The same world that is more open to a discussion about natural hair, seems to shy away when it comes to discussing mental health. I have experienced a lot of locs falling out and thinning of my hair from the stress of everyday life. How many times have you cried while washing y

African Beauty And Braids • 22nd January 2020

The Best Foods For Natural Hair Growth

Hair growth takes a lot of time and patience. You might have just done the big chop and want to see your crown blossom into a full afro. Just like soil needs the right nutrients for a tree to grow large and strong, our body needs the right foods for our scalp to grow healthy hair. The environment, lifestyle, and eating habits we have affects our strands. If it is negative, it can lead to kinks being dry and hair loss. Making changes to our lifestyle is not easy. But it needs to be done for our