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Everything That's New & Black AF On Netflix This May
If 2020 was a song, it would be "Complicated" by Nivea.
We're not quite sure if it'll be safe to come outside without protective gear anytime soon so here we are—spending weekend inna house, but xoNecole has a line-up of Netflix releases that will have you glued to your couch.
From throwback classics like Above The Rim to Michelle Obama's new documentary, Becoming, here's what's new and Black AF on Netflix.
Above The Rim (May 1)
Above The Rim
Netflix has been consistently serving us all of the quality throwback content and this month's lineup is no exception. Featuring Tupac Shakur, Duane Martin, Leon, and the late Bernie Mac, Above the Rim will be available to stream on Netflix on May 1.
All Day and A Night Starring (May 1)
From the co-writer ofBlack Panther, comes a Netflix Original film starring Ashton Sanders (Moonlight), Isaiah John (Snowfall) and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Watchmen) that questions if we are all truly destined to become products of our environment.
Get On The Bus (May 1)
One of the latest Spike Lee joints to be added to the streaming platform is Get on the Bus, starring a young (and might I add, delicious) Hill Harper, Paula Jai Parker, and Bernie Mac.
She Hate Me (May 1)
I'm not sure where Netflix dug up this 2004 Spike Lee-directed, Kerry Washington- and Anthony Mackie-led gem, but we like it and we need more.
Romeo Must Die (May 1)
In the last movie released before her untimely and tragic death, Aaliyah plays alongside DMX and Jet Li in an action flick with an epic soundtrack.
Hollywood (May 1)
From the creator of American Horror Story comes a new Post World War II limited series featuring Laura Harrier and Queen Latifah about a group of aspiring actors and filmmakers who will stop at nothing to make their dreams come true.
For Colored Girls (May 1)
For Colored Girls
According to science, crying can be therapeutic and For Colored Girls will have you doing exactly that for two hours and 14 minutes straight. With an all-star cast of Janet Jackson, Phylicia Rashad, Whoopi Goldberg, Kerry Washington, Omari Hardwick and Michael Ealy, this just might be the Blackest thing you've watched all week.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (May 1)
Madagascar 2
Grab the kids and have a movie night at home with this 2008 animated sequel starring Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Sherri Sheppard, and Bernie Mac about a group of zoo animals who have finally found their way home.
Becoming (May 6)
Our Forever First Lady pulled a Beyoncé with the spontaneous announcement of her new documentary and we are here for all of it. Michelle and Netflix linked up to give us an intimate documentary-style look behind the scenes at her global Becoming tour and is part of Barack and Michelle's multi-year deal with the streaming platform.
Grey's Anatomy: Season 16 (May 10)
ABC
Scandal is being removed from Netflix this month and it's truly a tragedy. But my real Shondaland fam will be elated to know that Season 16 of Grey's Anatomy will be available to stream on Netflix on May 10.
Non-Spoiler Spoiler Alert: Maggie's sister in real-life appears in this season and it is a total tear-jerker!
Sleepless (May 8)
Sleepless
Featuring T.I., Jamie Foxx, and Gabrielle Union, this 2007 action film about dirty undercover cop and murderous gangsters and will be available to stream May 8.
Sweet Magnolias (May 19)
Getty Images
This Netflix original romance series based on the book by Sheryll Woods stars Heather Headley and tells the story of three longtime friends from South Carolina who are helping each other navigate parenting, romance, and finding a work-life balance.
The Lovebirds (May 22)
3 Arts Entertainment, MRC
The pandemic may have postponed the premiere of Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiana's new film in theaters, but Netflix is giving viewers the opportunity to tune-in on this rom-com from the comfort of their couches. On a wild date night gone wrong, a couple gets embroiled in a murder mystery that they'll have to solve to survive.
Featured image by Above The Rim.
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.
How This New Bond Repair Line Transformed One Mother's Postpartum Shedding Into The Ultimate Curl Comeback
This article is in partnership with SheaMoisture
For Crystal Obasanya, her wash day woes came shortly after her son did. The beauty and lifestyle content creator had been natural for years, but during postpartum, she quickly learned about one reality many mothers can relate to experiencing: postpartum hair loss. “Sis had thinning hair. Sis had split ends,” she shared about her hair changes in a Reel via xoNecole.
Over a year into her postpartum journey, Crystal explained she also had dry, brittle hair, noting that keeping it hydrated before pregnancy had already been “a task.” The 4C natural recalled going from thick hair during pregnancy to a thin hairline due to postpartum shedding as “devastating.” When it came to strengthening and revitalizing her hair, the new SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection was just the thing she needed to elevate her damaged coils to revive and thrive status and get them poppin' again.
SheaMoisture is providing us with the cheat code for transforming dry and damaged strands into thriving and deeply nourished crowns. By unveiling their 4-step hair system, the SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection is equipping you with the tools to reverse signs of hair damage caused by protective styling, heat, and color and is uniquely formulated for Type 3 and 4 hair textures.
The haircare system revives damaged natural hair by repairing and rebuilding broken hair bonds through a game-changing combination of HydroPlex Technology and AminoBlend Complex, a unique blend of fortifying amino acids formulated specifically for curly and coily hair. Scientifically proven to reduce breakage by 84% and make your hair six times stronger (vs. non-conditioning shampoo), the collection infuses your hair with the nourishment it craves and the strength it deserves.
All five products of the SheaMoisture Bond Collection are infused with natural strengthening ingredients like Amla Oil and fair-trade shea butter. The collection consists of the 4-step breakage-fighting Bond Repair system, as well as the Bonding Oil.
“When trying it out, I quickly noticed that my hair felt revived and renewed, and my curls were so hydrated,” Crystal said while using the Amla-infused Bond Repair Leave-In Conditioner. “I also felt my hair strands were stronger.” So much so that the influencer felt brave enough to get her hair braided shortly thereafter. “I can definitely say that I will be keeping it in my hair wash routine,” she added in the caption of her Reel about her positive experience using the products.
SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection is making bond-building a key player in your wash day routines and the purveyor of life for thirsty manes. Because who doesn't want stronger, shinier, happier hair?
Step One: Bond Repair Collection Shampoo
Rejuvenate your hair with SheaMoisture Bond Repair Shampoo, your go-to solution for luscious locks. Packed with hella hydration power, this shampoo adds moisture by 60% while removing buildup without stripping your strands. This shampoo gently cleanses impurities while significantly enhancing shine, smoothness, and softness.
The Bond Repair Collection Shampoo is the first step in the 4-step Bond Repair system, all of which are powered by the uniquely formulated AminoBlend, and HydroPlex, SheaMoisture’s technology that rebuilds hair strength at its core.
Step Two: Bond Repair Collection Conditioner
Tailored to repair styling damage, this creamy conditioner locks in 12x more moisture than standard non-conditioning shampoos, boosting damaged hair strength by 1.5x with significantly less breakage. The creamy SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection Conditioner deeply hydrates, enhances manageability, and leaves your hair looking healthier and shinier.
Step Three: Bond Repair Collection Masque
This Ultra Moisturizing reparative masque is a moisture-rich game-changer for those dealing with the aftermath of hair damage caused by styling. The SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection Masque delivers 13 times more moisture compared to non-conditioning shampoos, ensuring your hair feels nourished and soft. Designed to repair and rejuvenate, this masque significantly strengthens damaged hair — making it twice as strong while reducing breakage.
Step Four: Bond Repair Collection Leave-In Conditioner
Elevate your curl game with SheaMoisture’s Bond Repair Collection Leave-In Conditioner. Lightweight and hydrating, the Bond Repair Leave-In Conditioner provides 12x more moisture than non-conditioning shampoos and tames frizz with 24-hour humidity control. Designed to define curls and coils, the leave-in conditioner enhances softness and shine allowing you to detangle effortlessly.
Bonding Oil
The SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection Bonding Oil is a multitasking all-in-one formula that acts as a heat protectant and provides the hair with moisture, strength, shine, damage protection, and intense nourishment. This lightweight oil not only offers 24-hour frizz and humidity control but also fortifies your tresses, making them up to 5 times stronger with significantly less breakage.
Featured image courtesy
In today’s economy, we’re always looking for ways to stretch every dollar. However, the allure of new gadgets, trendy clothes, and the latest dining spots can often lead to impulsive spending. An iced latte here and an Uber Eats delivery there, topped off by a spontaneous online order can add up over time.
For those seeking to curb frivolous expenses and adopt a more mindful approach to their finances, participating in a no-spend month could be the solution to gaining control over their spending.
What is the No-Spend Challenge?
The no-spend challenge is a personal finance exercise where individuals commit to not spending money on non-essential items for a specific period. This could mean cutting off a subscription service, limiting your nights out for drinks, pulling back on online shopping, and holding off on big, spontaneous purchases to see how much you’d save over the month. The challenge encourages participants to evaluate their spending habits, identify areas of unnecessary expenditure, and redirect their financial focus toward savings and debt reduction.
This spending requires one to differentiate between needs and wants, with the base necessities being food, transportation, housing, essential bills, and medical/mental health expenses.
Preparing for a No-Spend Challenge
When embarking on a no-spend month, proper preparation is key to ensure you make the most out of the experience.
Financial expert and founder of The Frugal Feminista, Kara Stephens, says that having a compelling “why” can serve as a motivator to endure the ups and downs of the challenge, especially if it's your first time. “Have a clear idea of what your goals and outcomes are for the challenge. Do you want to be grateful for what you have? Do you want to save a certain amount of money?” she tells xoNecole. “Know what's going to be your ‘after-no-spend challenge' sustainability plan because we're hoping that your habits and your perspective on spending are changing and that you find a way to make that a part of your life after the challenge.”
One of the initial catalysts for the recent popularity of the no-spend challenge is to combat “revenge spending.” This spending habit, triggered by the “life is short” reality of the pandemic, has caused many of us to want to make up for lost time or missed experiences, which can lead to reckless financial decisions and jeopardize future stability.
Because of this, Stephen advises us to reframe our thinking around revenge spending to avoid putting our financial future at risk.
“Try and shift your perspective on revenge spending and say, yes, I want to live my best life, but how can I spend it responsibly?” she says. “How can I revenge spend on a budget? How can I remove the idea of revenge spending from my lexicon and just live well and plan systematically so it doesn't take away from my future financial goals?”
Benefits of A No-Spend Month
Taking part in a no-spend month has a number of benefits, one of which is the self-awareness and gratitude you gain by cutting out non-essential purchases. “You’re more financially self-aware because you're only thinking about what you deem as essentials,” Stephens says. “It can also make you more resourceful because you have to use what you have in your home, rather than going out and shopping.”
Those who take part in the challenge often find they become more intentional with their purchases, distinguishing between what they truly need and what they can do without. The money saved over this course of time can then be redirected towards paying off debt, building an emergency fund, or being put into a sinking fund.
Due to the rigid nature of the challenge, Stephens says that it’s important to have a sustainable framework to follow the no-spend challenge to avoid reverting to old habits. “It can be like "yo-yo dieting,” she explains. “If you were very strict for a certain period, but didn’t create any type of habit or change of mind to continue with it, you could resort back to revenge spending, ironically.”
Things to Keep In Mind
While it may seem like just another financial trend, taking part in a no-spend month can provide precious data about not just how much money you spend but also your mindset and relationship around money. You can observe how your feelings about money change and highlight areas of improvement. Alternatively, you can even start a sinking fund that allows you to put money aside for large purchases or personal experiences.
Ultimately, it’s not that spending money is bad, it’s about how you approach spending in a responsible way that ensures your financial security and success in the long run.
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Featured image by Evgeniia Siiankovskaia/Getty Images