

Let's be real: none of us really look forward to wash day. I'll be the first to admit that I'm guilty of putting off my wash days from time to time. When you have textured hair, the process – from detangling to styling – can be tedious and time-consuming, to say the least. But to be fair, it's not all bad. Wash days provide us with a prime opportunity to introduce new products into our routine and see which of the latest creams, gels, and oils work best on our curls and coils.
With so many new hair products and brands hitting the market every day, it can be a little hard to keep up with it all. But, you already know we've got you covered, sis. We've rounded up eight rising Black-owned hair brands that you need to add to your must-try list ASAP. Whether you're looking for a clarifying shampoo or hair supplements to help grow your inches, you'll find what you're looking for and then some on this list.
1.Juices & Botanics
Juices & Botanics is a black-owned hair brand founded by Whitney Eaddy who is known by her clients as the "ultimate afro-whisperer" because of her ability to grow her clients' hair to magical lengths. Eaddy's haircare brand aims to strengthen, grow, and hydrate your hair from root to ends through their innovative product collection–which includes everything from cleansers to growth supplements.
2.Alodia Hair Care
Alodia Hair Care is the brainchild of medical scientist and Trichology practitioner Dr. Isfahan Chambers-Harris. Chambers-Harris drew upon her own experiences with excessive hair damage to create her transformative hair system. The haircare brand takes a holistic approach to natural haircare, providing organic products and haircare kits that cater to your hair and scalp's needs.
3.Curls & Potions
Curls & Potions exists at the intersection of haircare and wellness. The brand taps ingredients that help with wellness like aloe and flaxseed to formulate their range of products. The black-owned hair brand Curls & Potions has everything you need to take your wash day to the next level, from pomades to conditioners.
4.Ankh Haircare
Hairstylist Adachi Sanders isn't new to this; she's true to this. Sanders has over 11 years of experience under her belt and a celebrity client roster that includes Ava DuVernay and Skai Jackson. Sanders recently channeled her hair expertise into a new venture called Ankh Haircare, an all-natural line designed to help you achieve your healthiest hair.
5.Imania Beauty
Nia Imani yearned for simple haircare products that took a scalp-first approach. So, what did she do? She created them herself. Imania Beauty believes in promoting healthy hair practices, herbal healing, and democratizing cannabis in the beauty industry. The black-owned hair brand recently made its debut with their High Maintenance Elixir, a multi-purpose hair and scalp oil infused with broad-spectrum CBD, ayurvedic herbs, and silkening oils.
6.Meraki Hair Care
You know you're poppin' when you get a shout out in Oprah Magazine. The magazine's beauty director Brian Underwood showed Meraki Hair Care some much-deserved love in O's latest issue, shouting out their Quartz Conditioner as one of his favorites. The brand aims to provide an elevated botanical-based haircare experience and formulates its products with fair trade exotic botanicals, butters, and oils.
7.Sunday II Sunday
Black-owned hair brand Sunday II Sunday was made for the active woman. When you're constantly on-the-go or frequently working out, sweat and buildup can accumulate on your scalp and cause moisture loss. Sunday II Sunday's products – like their ROOT REFRESH Micellar Rinse – make it easy to cleanse impurities from your hair after an active day quickly.
8.pHYRe Hair Co.
Botanical extracts and essential vitamins power pHYRe Hair Co.'s products. The brand places a special focus on treating traction alopecia, bald spots and thin edges. The line is made up of five core products–including its signature Day 7 Maximum Hair ReGrowth Oil ($19) – that enrich each of your curls and coils with intense moisture and hydration to promote growth.
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Featured image by Shutterstock
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Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube
Ashley Versher is known for her work in the Tyler Perry's Beauty In Black series and more recently, she starred alongside Taraji P. Henson in the Netflix film Straw. But she is more than just her acting credits and stunning looks (her hair alone is everything). In an xoNecole exclusive, Ashley dishes on her first celebrity crush, how she spends her downtime, and her go-to haircare products because we need the deets.
Get to know Ashley below.
xoNecole: Where are you from?
Ashley Versher: San Francisco - BAY AREAAAAAA!!!!
xoN: What was your first major acting role?
AV: A 49ers Super Bowl commercial - I think I was 3.
Ashley Versher
Johnny Marlow
xoN: Have you ever had an embarrassing or funny audition story? If so, what happened?
AV: Yes! I was doing a self-tape once and I forgot to take off my bonnet. But the tape was so good I sent it in anyway.
xoN: Your hair is gorgeous. What has it been like navigating Hollywood with natural hair?
AV: Thank you so much! Navigating Hollywood with natural hair has definitely been a journey of self-discovery. Early on, I had to make a conscious decision about how I wanted to show up—not just in this industry, but for myself. Once I fully embraced my natural hair and committed to the journey, everything else began to align. It’s been nothing short of empowering.
Navigating Hollywood with natural hair has definitely been a journey of self-discovery. Early on, I had to make a conscious decision about how I wanted to show up—not just in this industry, but for myself.
xoN: What are your favorite go-to hair products?
AV: Ooooooo, right now I’m loving Camille Rose’s Jai Twisting Butter—it’s super moisturizing and gives me a fun, bouncy twist-out! I’ve also recently gotten into oils, and I’m especially loving sweet almond oil.
xoN: We know you as an actress, but what is another special talent you have that most people don't know about?
AV: I trained as a classical violinist for 13/14years.
xoN: Who is your hero?
AV: My mom. She’s incredible - full stop.
Ashley Versher
Johnny Marlow
xoN: How do you like to spend your down time?
AV: Ha! What’s that!? Jk jk, I love to travel, that’s honestly my favorite thing.
xoN: Who was your first celebrity crush?
AV: Prince.
xoN: What is your dream role?
AV: One day I will play a witch with Harry Potter-like powers!
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Feature image by Johnny Marlow