

2024 was a year that tested me in ways I hadn't prepared for.
I navigated a wave of loss—from saying goodbye to family members, including my grandfather, at the start of the year to the end of a relationship and later grappling with the weight of caring for an ailing senior dog that I, at one point, felt I was on the verge of losing. The ongoing grief, coupled with periods of running on empty, I experienced during that time unearthed so much more than I expected. But more than that, it wasn’t just about losing people, I was also mourning a version of the life I thought I’d be living by that time.
There is a silver lining to that, though. Through it all, I began to understand the importance of centering my well-being in ways I hadn’t before. My therapist helped me realize something that seems so simple in retrospect but was transformative to how I lead my life now: the tools I needed to feel good were always within my reach, but I tended to abandon them when I needed them most. I’d wait to feel “better” before returning to the things that nurtured me instead of using them as anchors during my personal storms.
This shift in perspective redefined how I approached my wellness journey, and it’s shaping the way I’m looking toward 2025 and what's to come.
While I know wellness isn’t just about routines or trends, I am learning that wellness is about putting into practice things that truly sustain us physically, mentally, and emotionally and doing so regularly. As we ease into the new year, why not highlight some emerging wellness trends for 2025? The following are wellness trends predicted by Ally Head, Senior Health Editor at Marie Claire UK.
From practices that honor simplicity to innovations that prioritize mental health, these trends reflect a deeper shift toward sustainable, holistic well-being—something I’ve come to value now more than ever. Let's get into the ones we'll be checking for the most, shall we?
1.Move Over, Protein, Fiber’s Taking the Throne
It's time to get your fiber intake up. Yes, you read that right. In 2025, fiber is having its moment and while in recent years our airwaves have been saturated by the importance of daily protein intake, the importance of fiber is taking over for its incredible benefits to our overall health. The sad fact of the matter is, most of us aren't getting enough of it. More than 90% of Americans don't meet the recommended dietary fiber intake each day, increasing the risk of chronic disease.
The driving force behind fiber as a wellness trend? Well, fiber is finally getting the recognition it deserves for its role in supporting gut health, regulating blood sugar levels, aiding in weight management, and reducing the risk of heart disease as well as some cancers. It's a simple yet powerful dietary change that can make a big difference in how we feel day-to-day and in our long-term health.
2.From Pre to Pro to Post: The Future of Gut Health
When it comes to gut health, you might know that prebiotics and probiotics are the reigning champions. However, a new biotic is coming for the throne in the wellness world in 2025: postbiotics. Postbiotics are emerging as the "biotic" sister compound poised to revolutionize the conversation, thanks to a number of studies pointing to their efficacy last year, per Marie Claire UK.
One of the most promising postbiotics is butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) molecule produced by bacteria in the colon, which has exciting implications for managing symptoms of IBS and improving overall gut health. Moreover, the potential benefits of postbiotics extend well beyond the gut, influencing everything from reducing inflammation and improving blood flow to enhancing immune function, athletic performance, and cognitive health.
In 2025, alongside prebiotics and probiotics, postbiotics will surely have us saying hello to the gut health trifecta.
3.Biohacking Your Way to Wellness
Biohacking has been on the wellness scene for a while now, but in 2025, it’s going mainstream. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, biohacking is exactly what it sounds like: it's essentially hacking your biology in order to feel your best. Biohacking is a proactive way to manage your health that's all about using science and technology to optimize your body and mind. Think wearable devices that track your sleep habits and stress levels or personalized supplements and diets.
As a fellow biohacker himself, Jamie Bellis gave his two cents to Marie Claire UK on the emerging wellness trend, "With the rise of wearable tech, functional foods, and adaptogenic supplements, biohacking empowers individuals to address modern challenges like burnout, focus, and boosting longevity."
And, speaking of longevity...
4.The Fountain of Youth Is Longevity
Although there's nothing new about this as a wellness trend, longevity is gaining more momentum in 2025. Fewer wrinkles and smoother skin as a way to reverse aging is taking a backseat to sustainable diet and lifestyle changes and having that be the true key to accessing the proverbial fountain of youth. It's not just about looking good. Instead, it's about feeling good in our bodies for as long as we can. As opposed to the quick fixes of aesthetic injectables and the like, longevity is about the quality, emphasizing practices that help us age gracefully, maintain our vitality, and sustain energy as we age.
From dietary shifts and movement practices designed to protect your joints and heart health to red light therapy and NAD+ supplements, longevity is inspiring us to invest in long-term health well beyond the temporary aesthetics.
5.Making Moves and Making Friends
Per Marie Claire UK, exercise as a social movement is here to stay, and in 2025, it’s going to continue gaining momentum. Whether it’s joining a run club, linking up for group yoga, or setting up fitness meet-ups, more of us are realizing that working out alongside others adds a whole new layer to the experience.
This trend couples individual fitness goals with external accountability, blending movement with building social connections. It’s a reminder that wellness is holistic—emotional, physical, and social. As we step into 2025, expect to see even more of us leaning into fitness as a way to strengthen our bodies while strengthening our relationships.
6.Strength Is the New Sexy
According to data from Strava, via Marie Claire UK, the fastest-growing sport type for women in 2024 was weight training. It's all about the gains, baby! Women are embracing strength training like never before, breaking stereotypes and redefining what it means to be fit and lead an active lifestyle. Zip Allen, Strava’s CBO, shared what she thought about the shift, telling the mag, "What I love most about the weight training growth we’ve seen this year is that it indicates how the active landscape is changing. It shows that women are leading the way in seeking new ways to be active to reach their goals."
As 2025 kicks off, the demand for weight training will only continue, with more women prioritizing gains, functional fitness training, and the confidence that comes with knowing their strength.
For the complete list of 2025 wellness trends based on Marie Claire UK's predictions, click here.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Harbucks/Getty Images
Luxury Hairstylist On Viral 'Hey Boo' Texts & Professionalism In The Hair Industry
As Black women, our hair is our crowning glory - whether we paid for it or not. We take pride in how we wear and take care of our hair. As with everything, hair care and hair styling have evolved over the years. Long gone are the days of Blue Magic (although I hear it’s making a comeback).
Now, we have a plethora of creams, oils, conditioners, shampoos, and stylists to choose from. Beyond wearing our natural curls, we have a range of options, from wigs and sew-ins to tape-ins, I-tips, and K-tips. So much choice! But you know what they say about too much of a good thing...
The Black hair industry has definitely blossomed in the last decade with a wave of new stylists and salons popping up all over the place. As much as I love that for us, many of these stylists have become the subjects of viral TikTok and Instagram tirades because of their alleged questionable behavior and bizarre rules.
Excessive policies, strange fees, long wait times, poor performance, and the infamous “Hey boo” texts. Beauty is pain, they say… xoNecole got to the root of these issues with luxury hair extensionist Dee Michelle, who’s been in the hair game for 20 years and runs a seven-figure business - all while being a mom of four.
Antonio Livingston
“I started my business with my career in the hair industry [at] very, very young age when I was maybe like eight...So, over the years, I've just built a very successful seven-figure business very quickly just by offering high-end services and creating great experiences for my clients, many of whom are high-profile professionals,” she said. “I'm also a mother of four, including a set of triplets, which inspires me daily to show what's possible with my hard work and focus.”
Dee’s business has gone viral on social media because of what many call outrageous prices for her invisible K-Tip installs.
“When I developed my invisible K-tip extensions technique, I made sure that it wasn't just about the hair or the style, but about providing a high-end experience from start to finish. So, my clients just aren't paying for the extensions or just the style itself, but they're investing into my meticulous, seamless craft and premium hair sourced from the best suppliers…I've spent so many hours mastering my craft, creating this seamless method that gives my clients long-lasting natural results, and my pricing just reflects that - the value of my expertise and the exclusivity of the service.”
The K-tip specialist stands on business when it comes to catering to her clients and giving them an experience worth the cost.
“And it's just important for me to also say that my clients are high-profile individuals who value quality, their privacy, and their time. They want a service that fits into their lifestyle and their time. They want things that deliver perfection. And I deliver that every single time.”
I’m sure we’ve all seen the various TikTok rants about people’s nightmare experiences with stylists and uttered a silent “FELT!” We asked Dee her opinion on a few nightmare scenarios that beg the response, “please be so forreal."
On stylists charging extra to wash clients’ hair:
“I think they should just include it in the price, to be honest. Because I feel like when clients go to a stylist, they're expecting you to wash their hair. Personally, if I see that washing is extra, I just wouldn't go to the salon because it just shows a lack of professionalism, in my opinion, and a lack of experience.”
“I think they should just include it in the price, to be honest. Because I feel like when clients go to a stylist, they're expecting you to wash their hair. Personally, if I see that washing is extra, I just wouldn't go to the salon because it just shows a lack of professionalism, in my opinion, and a lack of experience.”
On ‘deposits’ that don’t go towards the cost of the service:
“I think that's kind of weird, too, for deposits to not be like a part of the service. I've seen people have booking fees and I just don't understand it, to be honest. I disagree with that kind of policy…By all means, people should do what works for them, but to me, it doesn't make sense. Why does somebody have to pay a fee just to book an appointment with you? I don't get it. It feels like exploitation.”
On stylists charging extra to style (straighten/curl) wigs, sew-ins etc., after installing:
“I don't get it. Clients come to us to get their hair done, to get it styled. So why is it extra for you to style it? If you're going to charge extra, just increase your price. I feel like it could be just a lack of confidence in those stylists, feeling like people won't pay a certain price for certain things, or just their lack of professionalism as well, because people are coming to us to get styled.”
On the infamous “Hey boo” text stylists send to clients when they need to cancel/reschedule:
“Professionalism in any industry, especially the beauty industry, is everything. So texting a client the, “Hey boo” is so unprofessional, and it's damaging to the client-stylist relationship. Clients book their appointments expecting a level of respect and care, especially when they're investing their time and money and a service. And I get it, emergencies happen, we're all humans. However, it should be done with a formal apology and a clear explanation.”
“Professionalism in any industry, especially the beauty industry, is everything. So texting a client the, “Hey boo” is so unprofessional, and it's damaging to the client-stylist relationship. Clients book their appointments expecting a level of respect and care, especially when they're investing their time and money and a service. And I get it, emergencies happen, we're all humans. However, it should be done with a formal apology and a clear explanation.”
We know all too well what kinds of things will keep us from ever gracing certain hairstylists’ chairs with our butts again. So, what should hairstylists do to provide a good service to their clients? What is good hairstylist etiquette?
“For one, being on time is an important rule for stylist etiquette. It's just not okay to require your clients to be on time, and you're not on time. Also, communication. Being able to communicate clearly, respectfully, and professionally, whether that's in person, via text, or on social media. Style is etiquette. Appearance matters. So just maintaining a clean, polished, and professional look. Clients respect you more whenever your appearance reflects your work. There's just so many things, but another thing I would say is active listening. So, being able to pay close attention to what your client wants and also clarifying any questions that they might have. Just to ensure that they feel heard and to minimize any misunderstandings.”
Dee also shared some red flags to look out for when considering a new stylist.
“Even me as a client, if I'm booking somebody and they have a long list of rules, I don't even book with them. That's, for one, just such a huge turn-off. Also, stylists who have inconsistent or unclear pricing, that's a red flag. People who change their rates too much without an explanation. Poor communication. So, if a stylist is responding very slow or responding unprofessionally, or giving vague answers to questions, that can make clients question whether or not they are respecting their time and their needs.
Another red flag - an inconsistent or low quality portfolio. And I feel like, I see this a lot with stylists stealing other people's work, and their portfolio on social media is just very inconsistent.”
We couldn’t let Dee go without getting the tea on what styles she predicts will trend in 2025.
“I feel like people are going back to natural-looking styles. So, a lot of people are ditching the wigs, the lace fronts, things like that. People are still wearing them, of course, but it is becoming more of a trend to embrace your natural hair and something that's not looking too fake. That’s one thing that we're going to be seeing a lot. I would say a lot of layers are coming back, heavy layers. Those are becoming really, really trendy. And people are leaning more towards platinum-colored hair. I've been seeing lots of like blondes coming out. Also, jet black is always going to be a trend. But I would say more like natural colors, but natural colors that are still making a statement.”
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Antonio Livingston.
With Valentine's Day rapidly approaching, different shades of pinks and reds are heavy in rotation. And even though red lipstick is a bold statement no matter the time of year, this season in particular places a special emphasis on the timeless beauty staple. What says confidence and allure more than a red lip?
Vying for a place as your go-to red lipstick shade is The Lip Bar's latest release, "Good Karma," a warm rust-brown red lippie formulated with melanin-rich skin in mind. Finding the right red lipstick can be a game-changer when you're looking to make a statement, find your signature, or turn heads. And the beauty of dark skin means that the versatility of reds we can rock is limitless.
From rust-red or brick shades for warm undertones to intense reds, berry reds, or deep wine and true reds, melanin-rich skin has a richness to it that translates to a range of reds popping beautifully against our various skin tones. If you've been on the hunt for your one true pairing when it comes to the ultimate red lipstick shade, look no further than our list of Black-owned beauty brands.
The Best Red Lipsticks for Deep Skin Tones
"Good Karma" x The Lip Bar
"Good Karma"
Finish: Matte
Why It's a Winner: Following in the footsteps of The Lip Bar's "Bawse Lady," aka their #1 red matte lippie, "Good Karma" is a warm rust-brown red liquid matte that applies like a gloss and has all-day staying power.
"Elson 2" x Pat McGrath Labs
"Elson 2"
Finish: Matte
Why It's a Winner: Nicknamed "The Perfect Red," Pat McGrath Labs' "Elson 2" is a beauty lover staple and stays sold out. With its luxurious, highly pigmented formula and velvety smooth finish, this red lipstick delivers on its promise of pure color and then some.
"Sade" x UOMA Beauty
"Sade"
Finish: Matte
Why It's a Winner: UOMA Beauty knew what they were doing with their line of "Badass Icon Matte Lipstick" inspired by badass icons across generations. Talk about timeless elegance, "Sade" is a deep, balanced red that goes on as smoothly and wears as divinely as its namesake.
"Fierce" x Juvia's Place
"Fierce"
Finish: Matte
Why It's a Winner: "Fierce" is a standout in Juvia's Place's carefully curated Reds and Berries Velvety Matte Lipstick collection. The shades prove the beauty brand has the range when it comes to shades that have deep skin tones in mind and "Fierce"'s burgundy-red pigmentation is no exception.
"Blood Orange" x Mented Cosmetics
"Blood Orange"
Finish: Matte
Why It's a Winner: As a part of Mented Cosmetics' Sangria collection, the vibrant red-orange "Blood Orange" shade is a standout amongst the liquid matte lippies, offering a perfect pop of color that's not too soft and not too bold.
"Uncensored" x Fenty Beauty
"Uncensored"
Finish: Matte
Why It's a Winner: The Stunna Lip Paint in "Uncensored" by Fenty Beauty is a universally flattering true red that stuns on all skin tones, no matter the undertone. Bold, long-lasting, and kissably smooth, "Uncensored" is that red lipstick.
"Uno Love" x GloGirlCosmetics
"Uno Love"
Finish: Satin
Why It's a Winner: "Uno Love" is a fiery red lipstick shade with coral undertones that dares those who wear it to "live out loud." Enriched with vitamin E, the formula packs the pigment while ensuring your pout stays deeply nourished.
"Dare" x Wyn Beauty
Finish: Matte
Why It's a Winner: A ruby-red shade that is as hydrating as it is long-lasting, Wyn Beauty's "Dare" is a shade designed to keep your lips feeling soft while making an unapologetically bold statement.
"Rich AF" x LYS Beauty
"Rich AF"
Finish: Matte
Why It's a Winner: "Rich AF" is LYS Beauty's take on a classic red. This highly pigmented formula delivers bold color with one swipe while keeping lips nourished and soft for all-day wear.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by courtesy