Jade Kendle Is A New Mom & Veteran Hustler Who Puts Self-Care First
In xoNecole's series Mother/Hustler, we sit down with influential mom bosses who open up about the ups and downs of motherhood, as well as how they kill it in their respective industries, all while keeping their sanity and being intentional about self-care.
Between creating content for her audience of more than 290K followers, planning a wedding, traveling the world, and breastfeeding a five-month-old baby at the same damn time, there is no doubt that Jade Kendle is a whole superhero in these streets. For this new mom and veteran hustler, her only kryptonite is self-neglect, a nemesis that she's battled with since giving birth to her daughter Sarai in July.
In an exclusive interview with xoNecole, Jade shared, "I know it's especially tough to take care of ourselves as moms but I truly believe that my daughter requires the best me. I'm not my best [if I'm] super tired or without having 10 minutes in the morning and night to tend to my skin or brush my hair." She explained, "Believe me, those newborn days had me skipping my wellness routines and it was not cute."
Despite the whirlwind chaos of being a full-time mother/hustler, Jade has one helluva support system that helps her keep her eye on the bag, even in her worst moments. The content creator shared that having an accountability partner, her twin, fellow mogul mommy and business partner, Simone Kendle has been key in helping her find and keep her balance as a mompreneur.
She told xoNecole, "I called her mid-breakdown the other day, [and] she said, 'This the shit they talk about, Jade. Being a working mom is hard! It's easy to be proud of yourself when everything is going right. It's these moments where things are out of whack that really shows how hard this mompreneur life is. But guess what? You can do this and It's going to be OK.'"
Along with prioritizing her self-care and saying 'no' to things that don't bring her joy, this is how Jade Kendle manages running a business while figuring out motherhood at the same damn time:
How do you handle moments when you feel overwhelmed?
I have to walk away and find a quiet spot to breathe! Sometimes feeling overwhelmed is just in our heads and, for me, changing my environment, even if it's a bathroom (laughs), makes a world of difference!
What’s the hardest part of your day?
The moments where I have to hop on a call or film and Sarai just won't comply. Whether that's her being super fussy because she's tired or wanting to take for-ev-er to nurse. Those moments I feel my anxiety build and are the moments where being a working new mom is a challenge. But short-lived, thankfully!
When do you feel most productive?
First thing in the morning, Sarai and I will wake up, play, and nurse. Once she's down for her first nap, my workday begins! I take full advantage of her nap times to do all work-related things so when she is awake, I can give her my attention. She's actually napping right now [as we speak]!
"First thing in the morning, Sarai and I will wake up, play, and nurse. Once she's down for her first nap, my workday begins! I take full advantage of her nap times to do all work-related things so when she is awake, I can give her my attention."
What is your favorite way to spend “me time”?
I love going to the spa! Getting a facial or massage is my jam. I force myself to go at least once a month since even getting to the nail salon regularly is a stretch. For me, that massage or moment in the steam room gives me that hard reset my body and mind need.
What is your advice for dealing with mom guilt?
Whew, that's a tough one. Honestly, I don't have that figured out. My best bet is that I'll always have it in some capacity because I'm a working woman. I just know that I do it all for her. I want my daughter to see me living a life I love and one where I can be passionate about my work and be there for her, too.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?
You NEED a team!
What is the most important lesson you want your kid(s) to learn from you?
You decide. You decide who you are, you decide what you do. You decide when to go right or left. Life is about choices–don't let ANYONE or anything convince you that your instinct or innate desire/passion is wrong.
Why was it important to you to be an entrepreneur even though some people may think that a 9-5 offers more stability?
I had to recognize that what I want my life to look like didn't match what many 9-5ers lives look like. I felt so many conflicts–even in school–with strict routines and expectations. I knew I would either struggle to get up every day, which at times, I did. Or, I would have to walk a very different path. I'm so glad I chose a different path!
"I had to recognize that what I want my life to look like didn't match what many 9-5ers lives look like. I felt so many conflicts–even in school–with strict routines and expectations. I knew I would either struggle to get up every day, which at times, I did. Or, I would have to walk a very different path."
How has being a mother helped you become a better entrepreneur (or vice versa)?
Motherhood has taught me such a great lesson in prioritizing. From work to personal. Who do I really want to surround myself with? What projects do I really want to do? My life revolves around my family now, not work. That was a huge shift for me!
What advice do you have for moms who are looking to start their business but haven’t taken a step out on faith yet?
If you don't do it for you, do it for your baby. Do you want them to grow up seeing you work a job you hate or what dedication to your passion looks like?
Do you think it’s important to keep your personal and professional life separate? Why or why not?
For me, the personal and professional life is so intertwined! It works for me and what I do. I think everyone has to make that decision for themselves.
What advice do you have when it comes to time management as a mogul mommy?
Take advantage of a sleep schedule (laughs). That's all I got, so far!
What tips do you have for financial planning, both professionally and for your family?
Whew, that's a whole convo in itself! I would say in very general terms, PLAN PLAN PLAN!
To learn more about Jade, follow her on Instagram @lipstickncurls!
Featured image by Instagram/@lipstickncurls.
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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“You’re shaming the ancestors by being ashamed of your hair.”
Intimidating words from a natural hair influencer I scrolled past on Instagram. They’re also a thought process I fully believed well into my late 20s – or so I thought.
My early years at Howard University didn’t agree with my lifestyle. My hair was big, but fine. Long, but not flexible. Workable, yet disobedient. Aside from not having time to bargain with mischievous curls ahead of 8 a.m. classes, the peer pressure was on another level. Howard girls have been known to carry themselves in the best-polished light. We’re changemakers in society, but trendsetters on the regular. It’s a vain, materialistic truth that I’m not ashamed to be proud of. So I questioned, who was I to contradict a century-long stereotype?
Natural hair after keratin treatment Courtesy
For years, I fought against getting a perm. Health concerns aside, it just felt categorically “anti-Black.” On the other hand, I was completely over my 4B hair and the disrespect it came with: constant frizz, never behaving, and never blending with my sew-ins. My frustration became a gateway into damaging habits. For a time, I got sew-ins and resorted to perming my leave out just to avoid the hassle. It was desperate (and embarrassing), but had to be done in order to withhold what an HU woman represented.
Moving to Los Angeles birthed an even more empowered version of myself. If you’ve ever been a Black woman living in LA, you know the standard of beauty is very monolithic. Ironically, the shared resentment we have from being mistreated based on misogyny is also what bonds us. Sometimes, it feels like wearing our type 4 hair loud and proud is a boisterous “F you” to society. Unfortunately, that pride comes with a lot of responsibility.
Keratin treatment
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Black women have an unspoken duty to love themselves no matter what. We side-eye women who wear colored contacts. We categorize women who get BBLs. And people with nose jobs or Botox? Straight to jail. It felt impossible to find a safe place to be vulnerable about any of my physical insecurities. Let’s be real. How can you picture something nicknamed “creamy crack” being socially acceptable? Many will say, “it’s just hair.”
But the conversation is bigger than that. Admitting I didn’t like one of the most obvious things that connected me to my culture was a painful reality to accept. I wasn’t allowed to feel or complain about it. I definitely wasn’t allowed to change it because I’d be “giving into the patriarchy’s standard of beauty,” meaning I didn’t love myself. So I forced myself to suffer through self-consciousness, afraid of displeasing MY people. That was until I heard about keratin treatments.
Applying keratin treatment
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Keratin treatments hit the scene in a very dramatic way. Primarily by people warning consumers about the risks that come with it. Many people don’t acknowledge that keratin is a protein that the body produces naturally. The treatment uses a keratin-based product that produces straighter and/or smoother hair (results vary depending on thickness and length). The formula typically has little to no smell, and rather than getting washed out, like the perming process, it’s sealed in with heat using a blowdryer, followed by several passes with a flat iron.
Call it fate (or TikTok’s algorithm), but the hysteria around it was too intriguing to ignore. A treatment that reduces frizz, adds shine, and can loosen curls with reduced breakage as the cherry on top? It sounded like the hair gods were finally listening. I had to get one.
Monica Jones of Beauty by Monica took me into her chair and under her wing. Though she educated me on the misconceptions behind keratin treatments and brought awareness to formaldehyde chemicals, my only thoughts were, is this actually going to work for me? Is this cheating? Can I still call myself a natural hair girly? Then it hit me. Does any of that really matter?
Hair washed after applying keratin treatment
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My hair is mine to do whatever I choose to do with it. Every crown is unique; no one’s is one size fits all. After the first keratin treatment, my confidence blossomed. Yes, partly because my curls were visibly a level looser and allowed more versatile styles. But also because I evolved as a woman. Every relationship changes as we grow, whether for better or worse. I choose to take control of my relationships including the one with my hair. We got to re-introduce ourselves to each other, allowing a clean slate with more patience and compromise.
I threw away the outside noise that made me question my blackness. Embracing my natural hair was considered “living in my truth,” but ironically, that wasn’t the case for me. I was lying to myself and did more harm mentally with the pressures I adopted. We already face challenges day-to-day that are out of our control. We need to be open-minded to people with basically no "c" hair getting braids because “Black people can’t own a hairstyle.” We have to support non-Black women getting surgery to create the physical attributes Black women naturally have and were once called “ugly” for. We’re to be understanding of people getting spray tans cosplaying as mixed race to be racially ambiguous.
Post Keratin treatment
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Meanwhile, dark-skinned women are still getting blocked from certain nightclubs. For some reason, it’s socially acceptable for other ethnicities to not “live in their truth,” but not Black people. The short end of the stick is constantly handed to us by others with the expectation of just being grateful for an opportunity, acknowledgment, etc. If no one’s going to give us grace, we must grant it to ourselves.
There’s nothing shameful about wanting to change something about ourselves, whether it’s internal or external. Black women are the strongest people on this Earth. And while strength is found in acceptance, it also lives in vulnerability and our unapologetic pursuit of pleasing ourselves before anyone else.
Post Keratin treatment
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Feature image courtesy