20+ Black-Owned Businesses That Are Rooted In Self-Care & Wellness
Sistas, how you feelin'? Brothas, you feel alright? Admittedly, if I had to title this period of my life with a word, I'd use two: "Still processing." When I think of the events that we've endured collectively as a community in these past several weeks, I can only imagine how weary a lot of us must feel - mind, body, and spirit. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, as well as our brothers and sisters taken from us before him at the hands of police brutality, we are tired. As Black people living in America, it's hard not to be in a constant state of being woke. Tired can sometimes feel like the understatement of a century.
This past weekend, news of protests spread like wildfire on our timelines and feeds as protestors gathered to stand in the frontlines and use their voices to roar so mightily it shook the earth to its core. However, everyone isn't built to show support for the cause by being on the frontlines in the action of furthering Black interests. Thankfully, there are still powerful ways to show up and show out, well beyond protesting. Some of those ways include donating to organizations (The Bail Project, Reclaim the Block, and the Atlanta Solidarity Project are a few), using your platform to spread awareness and resources, and using your dollar to help fuel Black communities by buying black.
We here at xoNecole are firm believers in showing support to Black businesses and Black women and will continue to do so. In honor of self-care and needing to use this time to pour a little more into ourselves, we've compiled a directory of 20+ black-owned businesses to show love to that are rooted in self-care and positive well-being. This is by no means an exhaustive list and we will continue to update it as time goes on. Check out them out below.
Mental Health
Green Goddess Glow
Beauty
Koils by Nature
Living
Food
Fitness
Fit Queen
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Originally published on June 3, 2020
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This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Simone Biles Says She Used To Worry About Her Hair But Isn't 'Embarrassed About It Anymore'
As a Black woman, learning to love and embrace our hair is a rite of passage, and Simone Biles is exemplifying this journey.
In a July interview with Elle, the world-class gymnast discussed the backlash she’s faced over her hairstyles, particularly noting past worries about her hair being seen as “unprofessional” in the gym.
Growing up, Biles shares that her demanding schedule as an elite gymnast didn't allow much time to learn how to do her own hair; often going to salons for convenience. “Nobody taught me [how to do my hair],” she told the publication. “I always went to the professionals.”
Thanks to the help of social media and YouTube, Biles learned the basis of haircare and styling; emphasizing the value of these platforms in elevating better self-care and beauty routines. “We’ve been able to take care of our hair better and take care of our beauty routines better, because it’s self-taught,” she says. “It’s really special that we have access to those platforms.”
As a 4-time Olympic gold medalist, gymnastics remains her top priority, still, Biles shares that a recent interest in haircare has become a fun way to express herself. “I never thought about my hair like the way other people see it,” she says.
While in Paris, Biles says that her hairstyles will be based on maintenance needs, product availability, and of course, practicality. “I don’t want my extensions falling out or this that [and] the other,” she says, since, “We don’t get to bring a makeup artist or a hairstylist.”
If you thought leaps and flips were the only talents that Biles and her Team USA teammates shared, add hair styling to the mix. Jordan Chiles, also competing in the Paris Olympic Games, is said to double as her teammates’s “unofficial” hairstylist. “She’s the [hair] braider on the team,” Biles says. “We can all go to her for braids.”
This teamwork extends to beauty preparations, with all five gymnasts sharing the responsibility of bringing different beauty items to the Games. Biles notes the importance of not overusing hair products during competitions to avoid flaking and dirt. “When we put it together, we got everything we need,” Biles says. “You don’t want to put too much product in your hair to the point where it starts flaking and gets dirty,” she explains. Proving that teamwork does, in fact, make the dream work.
When you’re winning gold medals, having new gravity-defying routines named after you, and singlehandedly redefining the sport of gymnastics simply based on your athleticism, who has time for criticism about hair? While it was once an insecurity for Biles, she says, now, she’s just not worried about it.
“I used to worry about [my hair being considered] not professional,” she says. “But I’m not embarrassed about it anymore.”
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Featured image by Jamie Squire/Getty Images