

One of the greatest titles in the world is "Mom." There is no denying the love of a mother and the value that matriarchs bring to this planet. I don't know what my life would be without my mother's prayers, guidance, and love.
"Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place." -2Pac
In my eyes, my mom could save the world without breaking a sweat because she made ways where there were none for my brothers and I. While inheriting her resilience and strength, I was also inspired to find my sense of style in watching her get dressed for work or social activities.
She brilliantly found a way to express herself through her fashions and best believe her children were dressed to the 9s as well. I can only imagine that maintaining your sense of style while being supermom can be another task added to the to-do list. With Mother's Day right around the corner, I was inspired to find mothers who also do it all while sustaining an effortless sense of style.
Bree
I love being a mom because it's the purest form of love known to man! Watching her grow and learn has been quite an amazing journey. She's only two but she has taught me so much in such a short time. I became a mom at 27 and it was like a rebirth. I no longer had just me to think about; I am in charge of a whole other life. It's my job to keep her safe and help shape her into an intelligent, kind, polite, and humble little human and that's not a job I take lightly. She has taught me to slow down, enjoy every single moment of everyday, and never give up because she's counting on me and always watching me.
Kenzie has made me a better person all around in just two short years.
I feel like style is something you can't be taught – it's as natural as breathing. Wearing designers does not make you fashionable. It definitely enhances outfits but doesn't pull them together, that takes vision. I get inspiration from everywhere from Instagram to celebrities and everyday people.
I love thrifting and creating statement pieces, oversized clothing and menswear. I take Kenzie's style just as seriously as I take my own. When you become a mom, your style has to be functional as well as fashionable. Your clothes are no longer your own when you have a toddler clinging to your leg or wiping their nose on you. I might look great in heels for photos or going out but you better believe I am throwing on some fuzzy slides to go grab pizza with Kenzie.
Tysh
I love being a mom because there is no greater love than the love of your child. Their faith in our ability as mothers is the push that we all need to remind us to keep going.
I maintain my style by remembering that my appearance is an unspoken introduction. I want my son to be proud when his mother picks him up from school! Because I'm a mom, I don't have as much money as I use to have to spend on clothes, so I am always thinking of new fly ways to rock pieces that I already have.
I am heavily inspired by June Ambrose and Kahlana Barfield's tomboy chic, mom-on-the-go style. I love oversized clothing, I like to be comfortable while running around with my mini around.
Jae
There are so many things that I love about being a mom but I would say the number one thing is that I have learned to appreciate the small things in life again. I get so excited when my son says a new word or points out every single car, bike, train and plane when we go for a walk. It really is the little things that make motherhood worthwhile.
I would say my style is versatile and could be described as sassy, athletic, chic or a combination, given the day. Even with a busy schedule between work and my family, I stay true to my style by incorporating prints and colors, whether its a floral blouse and jeans or funky color sneakers when I'm chasing my toddler outside.
Yamel
I love being a mom because although I am challenged daily, the love I receive from them and the love I am able to express to my children overflows my soul. Motherhood is much like the the ocean it's so big and never ending. The needs of my children from eldest (20 years old) to my youngest (two years old), although vastly different and unique, they still require all my strength, wisdom, and techniques that mothering five children has gifted me.
Motherhood is much like an ocean because it has its waves rocking back and forth.
With those waves we hold our children tight, we hold our wishes for them so firm in our arms and pray continuously that those ginormous wishes come to fruition in their life.
For many, being a mom comes with that of losing yourself in that journey. However, I am convinced that remaining true to our personal identity is extremely beneficial to our audience: our children. I noted that I could lose myself very early on in MY journey of motherhood and I have put a lot of effort into remaining true to myself and always channel my inner style by not allowing this title to completely define me. Although being a mom is the most wonderful title I have, I also enjoy being me – a gal that appreciates ripped denim, a timeless handbag, an amazing matte lip, a flirty blouse, and, above all, confidence that I want to always transmit to my children.
Christian
I love being a mom because it is such a divine and beautiful experience to witness the development, birth, and growth of my child who is forever a part of me. It really is an indescribable feeling that I feel blessed to experience. The way my son looks at me melts my heart every single time. Naturally, during my pregnancy, my body experienced so much change. After giving birth to my son, for some naive reason, I expected for everything to go back to normal immediately after having my son. However, unexpectedly, I ended up having a C-Section and not a vaginal birth, so I really had no clue about what to experience after my surgery.
Immediately, I had to learn to be patient with myself and my healing.
It took nine months for my little one to arrive so naturally it will take some time for my body to heal and adjust back to normal. With that being said comfort, convenience, and whatever fits really drives my style choices. Of course, there are days where I don't feel so stylish or in the mood to dress up, but I am learning to have fun with my style in this new chapter of my life and choose pieces in my closet that flatter my shape and make me feel comfortable.
Featured image courtesy of Christian
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Joce Blake is a womanist who loves fashion, Beyonce and Hot Cheetos. The sophistiratchet enthusiast is based in Brooklyn, NY but has southern belle roots as she was born and raised in Memphis, TN. Keep up with her on Instagram @joce_blake and on Twitter @SaraJessicaBee.
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.
Successful Black Women Share Real Networking Tips That Actually Work
Networking can be enjoyable or a total cringe-fest, especially in a post-pandemic world of hybrid-remote confusion. It can seem challenging to really connect with people when they've either opted to work from home for good or they're reluctantly dragging themselves into the office two days a week wishing they could work from home.
Also, virtual networking has its own awkward and sometimes downright unappealing moments. I mean, how do you really get to know someone who's probably multitasking five other things while on the call with you, had little desire to turn their camera on, and is possibly not even wearing pants? It seems like everyone is juggling a lot and simply trying to survive, not focused on making new friends, work besties, or business partners.
Well, don't let the pessimism set in just yet. There are still many people out there who are open to new connections (or at least continuing to cultivate and build on old ones). And there is still value in authentic networking where you're able to not only find kindred industry spirits to chat about everyday issues you face at work, but destiny helpers who are divinely placed in your life for the most positive and fabulous life advancement you've ever seen.
Get inspired by these real-life stories of women professionals and entrepreneurs who have witnessed, firsthand, the power of true connection through networking:
Dr. Amber L. Wright, Keynote Speaker & Executive Coach, Words Well Said
DFinney Photo
On the true key to networking that actually works: "Focusing on building relationships versus transactions is also important for creating meaningful connections and expanding your network."
On a networking experience that led to results: "While attending a conference, I met a woman who did a fantastic job as a panel moderator. She had a great stage presence and was dressed impeccably. After the panel, I approached her to say hello and offer my compliments on how well she did. She thanked me for the kind words and we struck up a conversation, ending with the proverbial promise to keep in touch."
"We both kept that promise and stayed in touch via social media. That eventually led to offline conversations, resulting in us sharing opportunities to advance both of our businesses."
"She is now the CEO of a leadership development firm and in partnering with her, I have experienced significant financial growth in my business as a keynote speaker and executive coach. That one interaction all of those years ago has resulted in one of my most rewarding personal and professional relationships!"
On a one-on-one networking experience that built impact: "I had a virtual co-working session with someone I didn’t know (via a co-working app), that resulted in us sharing a bit about what we do and connecting on LinkedIn. Months later, she randomly tagged me in a call for speakers, which led to me being hired as the opening keynote speaker for that conference."
Dontaira Terrell, Journalist & Publisher, The Buckeye Review
Courtesy, DontairaTerrell.com
On proactivity despite rejection: “My initial story pitches were unsuccessful, but I maintained a strong relationship with my former colleague. I consistently shared updates and offered support, cultivating a valuable connection."
This proactive approach unexpectedly led to an opportunity when a legacy brand needed management assistance for its annual premiere event.
On dynamic results: "She immediately recommended me for the position, and within a week, I was collaborating with their executive team, successfully bringing their high-profile event to life.”
How To Make Real Connections Through Networking In 2025
Today's networking, especially in an environment where millions of professionals are working remote or hybrid, it's all about authenticity, collaboration, and service. Oftentimes, opportunities come through people who simply like one another and have things in common. People like to work with people who are not only performers but who are a joy to know and work with.
Posting consistently on LinkedIn, actively engaging by sharing relevant information and opportunities, and responding to comments are great ways to break the ice and meet new high-achieving professionals. Also, practicing networking with smaller groups via meet-ups, happy hours and brunches is still valuable versus only focusing your time and money on larger conferences or work-mandated experiences.
And don't wait until you need something (like a new job after a sudden job loss or a source of investment for a new project). Be proactive and get into the practice of cultivating relationships whether you see an immediate return on investment or not.
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Featured image by LaylaBird/Getty Images