

Long live the Queen! And King, of course.
Now, I'm not talking about the residents of the Buckingham Palace. I'm talking an all-around power couple as they're far bigger than Hip-Hop -- Beyonce and Jay Z -- who have made yet another power play, reminding us just who they are and what they came to do.
The couple recently collaborated on an album, Everything is Love, that is potentially the final piece to the puzzle that their latest solo albums, Lemonade and4:44painted for us. With it, it further weaves tales of infidelity, love, and growth.
Gloriously, the album's cover art speaks for the unapologetic nature of the album as the couple spits about life from the top, their love for one another; and social issues, including the colorism spewed at Jay's facial features.
In true Carter fashion, they dropped the album without warning, in the dusk. And with ease, the album is doing numbers. Knowing them and the power of the Beyhive, those numbers have the potential to surpass those of every other artist who's released an album in recent weeks, including Pusha T, Nas, and Kanye. But what's more than Beyonce pulling a Beyonce is what we can learn from the couple on building our own empire in the undefeated way that they've done for themselves over the years.
Lesson 1: All publicity really is good publicity.
I won't pretend to know Bey's stats and the numbers she was doing before a billion dollars caused sh*t to go down in the elevator. What I do know is that Bey and Jay spun that embarrassing, private moment on the elevator into an additional gold mine to sit on top of.
Furthermore, they did so better than any PR team could have. Prior to that incident, the couple was consistently mum AF about their relationship. The only thing we knew for sure was that they were married but everything else after that bit was public speculation and lots of reaching.
However, after the world was able to witness that cigars weren't the only thing on ice in that marriage, they decided to start dishing out little details here and there. It all began with the "Feelin' Myself" track, where Bey comes out of her graceful public persona (maybe embodying Sasha Fierce?) and responded to the rumors.
They went on to sell out stadiums worldwide on a joint tour (the inaugural On The Run tour) and then created synchronous albums about the ongoing endurance of their relationship. Spilling all the lemonade, because they gave us more through this one album Lemonade than they've given us over the course of their nearly 20-year relationship.
A couple years later and they're spinning that straw into gold like a modern-day Rumpelstiltskin, forever making money off the infamous incident with their past collaborations and the latest, Everything is Love.
Let this be business lesson number one, because really and truly there is no one event you can't bounce back from. It's not about what happened, it's a matter of good damage control.
Lesson 2: There's still value in mystique.
Aside from the occasional and strategic glimpses into the couple's marriage, we know nothing about the Carters, making fans all the more curious. Is Jay like any other man? Is he an active and doting dad? Does he recognize and I mean truly recognize that he's got the baddest chick in the game wearing his chain?
Essentially, we're all dying to know if they go through everyday marital issues or if their status affords them the luxury of bypassing all the bullshit.
Yet, they have mastered the art of keeping their fanbase guessing and anticipating their next move all the while giving them what they want, while leveraging their personal life as a business venture. A brand.
In a world saturated by social media creating the illusion of bigger, better, and more — sometimes you just have to shut up and move in silence until your masterpiece is ready for the world.
The world doesn't need to hear you coming for them to see you once you've arrived.
Lesson 3: Do what you have to do, to do what you want to do.
Like anyone in the music game, Bey and Jay paid their dues entering the game, forced to follow the analysis of current trends.
However, at this point and at the top of the game, they got options. And it's in part due to them staying the course in the beginning of their career, gaining the status, and bringing in a steady stream of revenue for their respective labels at the time.
Beyonce and Jay Z have reached a point in their careers where they can do what they want to do and not give an "eff" about numbers. It's evident in how they both have moved musically in their respective careers. Jay's trajectory into his latest 4:44, as well as professionally not feeling the need to say "yes" to every enticing offer (ahem, Superbowl). It's the same with Bey. She dabbled with self-titled, snatched our edges with Lemonade, and experimented even further with her dive into Trapyonce with Everything Is Love.
The Queen has free reign.
Sis does this in everything she touches and because of that, she has opened the door to endless opportunities. Leading me to the next gem we've gotten from watching the couple over the years...
Lesson 4: Be true to yourself, your brand, and where you are.
Bey has never been afraid to branch out and explore new endeavors based on her personal interests, be it music, film, charity work, creative direction, etc. By venturing out regardless of naysayers, she likely garners far more success through her willingness to take the risk and just have fun with projects that she's passionate about pursuing.
Her ultimate power move was in recognizing that her brand is built around her image -- not the other way around.
To the same point of remaining true to yourself and where you are, Jay's music is not the tune of the same thug anthems that they were back in the day. He's nearly 50 and rightfully so, he's living better and his music reflects that.
He doesn't continue to perpetuate violence that he likely no longer partakes in, but instead speaks on the life he now knows: Bey and Blue; fame and fortune; marriage, and parenthood.
Just as you will grow, your brand should grow along with you. Besides, when you allow your growth and your brand's growth to occur simultaneously, it makes for better content. Bey and Jay have mastered this at every turn in their lives.
Don't be so fixated on the past and facilitate stagnation. Instead, embrace the changes that occur when you're handed lemons. Stand in your truth because they sure as hell do!
Motor City native, Atlanta living. Sagittarius. Writer. Sexpert. Into all things magical, mystical, and unknown. I'll try anything at least once but you knew that the moment I revealed that I was a Sag.
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.”
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Feature image by Antonio Livingston.
Saweetie On Healing, Self-Discovery, And Why She’s "Dating Her Career" In 2025
Saweetie is stepping into 2025 with a renewed sense of purpose and self and an unwavering commitment to her career. The 31-year-old rapper is the cover star of InStyle’s Spring 2025 music-themed digital issue, where she opens up about her transformative journey to Africa, how she’s embracing divine timing, and why she’s leaving distractions behind as she gears up for the release of her debut album.
While 2021 appeared to be a year of big wins for Saweetie career-wise, the "NANi" artist didn't hide the fact that the year also marked a "traumatic time" for her life as she navigated heartbreak following a very publicized relationship. At the time, shaving her head was her way of starting over.
Recalling her headspace back then, she told InStyle, "I thought life would get better, but girl, life just kept life-ing… Surrendering to God and the universe has actually gotten me places. I used to be a control freak. I used to try to micromanage everything. I think we resort to micromanaging everything because we feel helpless."
In the time since, Saweetie has been deep in her introspection work, embarking on a self-discovery journey to Africa inspired by a DNA test that revealed she had 51 percent African ancestry. What she found as the result of the life-changing trip was not only a professional evolution but a spiritual one as well.
"In Africa, they're all going with the flow, they're not rushed. What I found is [that] when you surrender to divine timing, everything falls into place, rather than trying to force something to happen,” she shared with the publication. “I feel like I found my voice in Africa," she said later.
Saweetie's evolution didn't stop with her voice, in fact, her time abroad allowed her to heal and peel back layers of self-protection she had unconsciously built. She continued, "I think that's why I've been soul-searching because I wanted to have pride in who I am as a woman. Like, where do I come from? What do I believe in? What do I stand for? What do I not stand for? What do I love? What do I not love?
"And because I went through a lot of those emotions in Africa, it helped me pull back so many layers of this wall that I put up…"
Speaking of what she loves and what she doesn't love, Saweetie also gave a glimpse into her romantic life and let it be known her relationship status is "dating her career." While the "Richtivities" Queen has had her fair share of high-profile relationships, she is entering her focused era.
Saweetie shared that in the past, she let herself get "slightly distracted" but she now proudly proclaims that anything in her life that isn't right can go left because it's alignment over everything. "Anything that may be trying to compete with my goals, with my ambitions, with my priorities… I no longer second guess my career and if you can't understand it, then respectfully, get out of my way."
For the full cover story, check out InStyle's Spring 2025 digital issue here.
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Featured image by Getty Images