This Is Us might have a majority white cast, but they show love to their African-American viewers like no other. I might only see a handful people on the show that look like me, but so far, they've made up for it when they saluted what it really means to be an Black woman with tresses that wouldn't traditionally be described as "good hair."
I've seen a plethora of predominantly Black shows where the woman would go to bed with her hair looking like she just left the salon. I would think to myself, So she's not gonna put on a bonnet?
Then you have moments on This Is Us where Kevin Pearson buys his African-American girlfriend a silk pillowcase and she has to break down why it was so important. Read on to check out how This Is Us embraced natural hair in more ways than one:
1.#SilkPillowCaseMagic
I know I'm not alone when I say Kevin's realization of what it really means to take care of natural hair was everything! This Is Us has been consistent in all of its seasons showing love to Black hair and this season is no different.
In Season 3, Episode 5, he was traveling with his girlfriend Zoe who was upset because she didn't have her silk pillowcase with her. While we know how a silk pillowcase can make or break what happens to our hair overnight, it's completely understandable that Kevin didn't have a clue. Still, being Kevin, he ordered her the best one he could find. His support made him deserve all the applause and then some.
2.Randall’s Coconut Oil And Scarf Declaration:
One of the first times I knew that I would be into all things This Is Us is when Randall Pearson gave an epic shoutout to his wife, Beth's, natural hair care routine. Yes, Randall was adopted by a white family, but it's safe to say that he's always intentional about showing love for the Black community. This particular moment happened in Season 2, Episode 7.
Shauna, the mother of Beth and Randall's now adopted daughter, Deja, tried to come for Randall and how woke he may or may not be when it came to raising her Black daughter. He made it clear he's as woke as they come when he said, "Don't get it twisted, sis. I wake up every day to a headscarf and coconut oil. I'm married to a Black queen, not that it's any of your business." From him calling her "sis" (not in a demeaning way), to calling his wife a queen and showing love for her headscarf and coconut oil in between, I'm here for every little bit of it.
3.Beth’s Natural Hairstyles:
Let's think about this for a second. This Is Us airs on a major network during primetime. Beth Pearson (Susan Kelechi Watson) is one of the main characters. I wouldn't be giving the side-eye if she sported sew-ins and straight hair. But no. I can't even remember a time when Beth rocked anything other than what would resemble natural hair.
From braids to protective styles, I'm in love with her appearance. One of the things that I appreciate most about this, and even the other points in this article, is that This Is Us doesn't do these things to try and prove that it's for African-American viewers. It's so organic that I'm convinced their aim is to simply show the realness of never being afraid or ashamed to embrace our Blackness in a predominantly white environment.
4.Getting Real About Black Hair Care:
Speaking of Randall Pearson's family, this list definitely wouldn't be complete if I didn't point out the scenario with their adopted daughter Deja's hair. This one took place in Season 2, Episode 4. When she was first introduced to the family, Deja had no clue how to take care of her hair.
While they could have given her a more mainstream-friendly style when her hair was brought back to its healthy status (which they revealed took much more than a wash and a deep condition), they took another route. Plus, Beth and Deja had a tear-jerking bonding moment over their hair, that included Beth reassuring Deja that her struggle with alopecia wouldn't run her life. Fast-forward to now, to say Deja frequently wears her short and sassy natural coils is an understatement. 'Cause homegirl is always rockin em.
5.Pool Scene:
This Is Us/NBC
Before This Is Us showed love for anyone in Randall's family and their natural coils, it didn't take long to bring attention to the fact that his hair is unique too. I feel like the first time This Is Us addressed natural hair was in Season 1, Episode 4 when the old-school Pearson fam took a trip to the pool, in Randall, Kate, and Kevin's childhood days.
The matriarch, Rebecca Pearson, was honestly doing all she could to help Randall adjust to being raised by a white family. But it was a friendly woman at the pool (who ironically is the real-life wife of the actor who plays Randall) who let her know that Randall needed to see a barber who specialized in black hair so he wouldn't suffer from ringworms and hair bumps. It took a minute for Rebecca to come around but she finally did when she saw young Randall scratching his head. She also let him hang out with the woman's family so he could learn more about his own culture. I love how the guest star threw in that Rebecca needed to put lotion on Randall when he got out of the pool, 'cause we get ashy sis.
Do you have any favorite This Is Us moments or natural hair moments you've seen on TV/film? Let us know below!
Featured image by NBC.
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America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
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“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
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This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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“I mean, even the Bible mentions a green bed in the Song of Solomon.”
And indeed, it does. Song of Solomon 1:16 (NKJV), the Black woman (Song of Solomon 1:5) known as the Shulamite said, “Behold, you are handsome, my beloved! Yes, pleasant! Also, our bed is green.” I absolutely adore that because I know what green symbolizes. It represents things like health, fertility, rebirth, growth, and peace, and for a woman to say that the bed that she shares with her lover is filled with all of those things…I mean, how awesome is that?
It's also a great way to intro the topic for today — color psychology. Not just that, but how you actually can use it to make your sex life better. If your curiosity is piqued, read on to find out how you can use certain hues to cultivate a sexier atmosphere in your own life.
Color Psychology. Revisited.
GiphyOkay, so sincepsychology is the study of the mind and how humans behave because of it,color psychology is about how our minds respond and react to various hues. Although some people are somewhat unconvinced that color psychology is a “real thing,” there is enough research and data that’s available to support its validity.
For instance, one of the reasons why high-end hotels go with white sheets for their bedding is because white represents things like purity, cleanliness, and even luxury. One reason why many of us wear black to funerals is because black symbolizes things like formality and death. If whenever you go to a spa, you notice a lot of blue, that could be because that color is all about peace, tranquility, and trust.
Although the science behind color psychology is semi-complex, the main reason why color has the ability to affect us in the way that it does is because of the way that our eyes and brain interact with certain lights and wavelengths. In other words, each color causes our brains to either absorb light or reflect it, and based on what our brain does in response to all of this, that has a direct impact on our moods.
For example, when we process something as being the color yellow, it can provide us with a surge of energy, while if we process something as being red, it can literally increase our heart rate and adrenaline levels. And this is why you may notice classrooms that are painted yellow or why you may have noticed that red is considered to be a sexually stimulating hue.
Speaking of red, this would be a good of a time as any to segue into why it and certain other colors have the ability to influence and even improve your sex life.
Colors That Work As an “Aphrodisiac”
GiphyWhen it comes to certain colors having an aphrodisiac effect, since I just mentioned red, let’s start with it.
If you were to poll a group of people about a color that they would consider to be the absolute sexiest, there’s a pretty good chance that red would top the list. That’s because it is associated with things like love, passion, energy, excitement, and desire.
In fact, one study revealed that men find red to be the sexiest color to the point where almost 60 percent of them were more inclined to ask a woman out if she happened to have that color on. Not only that, but if women were standing in front of a red backdrop, most of the men in the study automatically found them to be more attractive.
Something else that’s interesting about the color red is “…it's not just men, but women, too, who see women who dress in red as more overtly sexual and open to having sex.” So clearly, if you want to be seen in a sensual way, wearing red (even if it’s just red lipstick) is something that you should consider doing.
Is red the only sexually stimulating hue out here, though? Nope. Aside from green, which I mentioned in the intro:
- Orange represents creativity and enthusiasm
- Purple represents luxury and spirituality
- Black represents mystery and elegance
- Pink represents femininity and playfulness
- Brown represents warmth and comfort
While keeping all of this in mind, now that you know that even science backs that color can mentally and emotionally affect you, when it comes to your sex life, it’s important to select shades that will influence the vibe that you want to give in order to receive the results that you want. For instance, do you want a passionate night? You might want to go with red.
On the other hand, if you’d like to experience a little of what I call “comfort sex” (check out “What Is 'Comfy Sex'? How Can You Get More Of It?”), you might want to bring some brown into the picture. Interesting how each shade can bring about something different, right?
How to Use Color to Improve the Quality of Your Sex Life
GiphyOkay, sonow that you know that there is some straight-up legitimacy that comes with incorporating color into, not just your life, but your bedroom (activities) as well, let’s briefly explore a few practical ways that you can do just that.
Sleepwear. Sometimes, the topic of lingerie comes up with my clients (check out “Lingerie Hacks: How To Choose The Best Kind For Your Body Type”). When it does, I will recommend that the wife wear something that is in her husband’s favorite color — because if she’s already in something that’s hella sexy, if it’s also in a color that he really likes, that can cause his eyes to light up all the more!
However, when it comes to color psychology, specifically, if you want to get your partner to try something new, maybe an orange teddy will subconsciously convey the message. Bottom line here, try wearing something in the color that represents the kind of night you want to have — and see if it helps to push things into that direction.
Bedding.A firm mattress. Some breathable bedding (like cotton or sateen). Scented sheets. All of this can play a seductive role in having a great night with your bae — and so can selecting sheets that are of a particular color. For this one, you might want to go with a darker hue like purple or even charcoal because they both can make you feel extravagant — and since one definition of that word is “going beyond bounds” — well…I’ll leave that to your imagination. #wink
Lighting. This one just might surprise you. Although you might automatically think that going with something like a red light bulb is the best route to take on the “set the mood” lighting tip, you actually should opt for brown instead. I actuallyread an article that said in a lot of sex scenes from popular movies (like Fifty Shades of Grey), brown was used because it’s a very inviting color. Hmph, when you think about the warm'n'cozy thing, that definitely tracks.
Footwear. When you get a chance, check out TIME’s “Science Proves It: Men Really Do Find High Heels Sexier.” When I shared it with a few “feet men” that I know and asked them if this also applies to sex, each of them said that they are super turned on by women who wear stilettos in the bedroom. I was told that they like it because it makes their legs look longer, it’s unbelievably feminine, and if it’s even erotic. The best color to go with? Black is a classic choice — and since it also symbolizes things like power and authority, if you want to be a bit dominant tonight, a black pump will certainly help to get the message across.
Lipstick. And yes, the lips. A little over a year ago, I wrote an article for the platform entitled, “The Secret To The Ultimate Oral Sex Experience? Lip Gloss.” When you get a chance, check it out and then think about applying a coat of it to some red or pink lips. It will make your lips look unbelievably sensual and will be sure to ramp up his desire for you…even more.
____
When it comes to having a truly fulfilling sex life, it doesn’t always take a lot of effort. Sometimes, just the change of color can make it happen. At least, that’s what science says.
Try a new color — then report back about which one worked best for you.
I can’t wait to hear it. #wink
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Featured image by Giphy