I’m learning the importance of trusting my instinct, especially when it comes to aspects of life I take pride in maintaining. In 2018, I committed to achieving healthy hair which began with freeing myself of unwanted and excessive damage caused by years of straightening. I remember the day of my big chop—a weight lifted from my shoulders. I felt a mix of both excitement and relief as my dead ends fell to the floor. As part of my promise to take care of and nourish my hair, I vowed to never make the same mistake twice, refraining from heat entirely.
While faithfully dedicated to my kinky texture, I became curiously anxious to do a length check four years later. I’d be lucky to enjoy straight hair for 3 to 4 days. What could go wrong? I knew I would either hate my straight hair or love it, but never did I think it would be the last time seeing my curls fully intact. As predicted, after less than a week of straight hair my curls began to revert, slowly returning to their natural state—or what was left of it. My once carefully defined curls were no longer existent. Devastated, I took to social media to express my shock and frustration for going against my “no heat” rule. Immediately after posting a clip of my damaged hair, I received messages suggesting I use the Olaplex hair repair treatment to improve the look of my hair.
Courtesy of Shahirah Ahmed
Devastated, I took to social media to express my shock and frustration for going against my “no heat” rule. Immediately after posting a clip of my damaged hair, I received messages suggesting to use the brand Olaplex’s hair repair treatment to improve the look of my hair.
Within those 24 hours, I received several messages from women with a range of textures claiming this brand is an absolute game-changer when repairing hair to its proper state. Surprised by the number of recommendations raving about the positive results of the products, I was desperate to try anything with reviews from people I know in real life.
Does Olaplex Help Repair Damaged Hair?
My curls before using Olaplex.
Courtesy of Shahirah Ahmed
Olaplex is a patented system to treat extreme damage using technology that restores compromised hair by repairing it from the inside out. Within our hair, bonds provide structure, strength, and stability. When broken, these bonds become weak and the result can be flat, dull, and unflattering.
There are several causes of damage, including destructive hair habits, hot tools, chemicals, dye, and styling. Olaplex uses a patented single ingredient, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, which helps build bonds, and in alignment, you have healthy and beautiful hair. From curly hair to stick straight, the brand states it's suitable and beneficial for all hair types, so I decided to try it for myself.
Olaplex First Impressions
My curls after one week of using Olaplex.
Courtesy of Shahirah Ahmed
In all honesty, I was a bit skeptical of the blanket claim to help all hair types (even kinky curls like mine). Not all hair care is created equal. Starting off, I purchased the No. 0 Intensive Bond Building Treatment ($28/5.2 fl oz) and No.3 Hair Perfector ($28/3.3 fl oz). Because they were a pricey investment, I was hopeful each bottle was worth every penny.
The No. 0 Intensive Bond Building Treatment is a two-part at-home treatment for damaged hair created to absorb nourishment when used along with No. 3 Hair Perfector, 1 to 3 times per week. Considering the size of both bottles and the amount of repair I was in need of, I decided to apply the products twice per week.
Is Olaplex Worth It?
My curls after week four of using Olaplex.
Courtesy of Shahirah Ahmed
I didn't see much progress after the first week, but nothing great happens overnight. Not to be discouraged, I continued with the duo seeing a slight yet recognizable return of my natural curl pattern appearing in week two after the fourth application. By week three, I began to see texture reappear where curly strands had previously been completely lifeless and flat.
My curls after four weeks of using Olaplex.
Courtesy of Shahirah Ahmed
After week four, I noticed not only had most of my curls come back to life, but my hair also appeared more hydrated, more full. My curls were more defined than ever before. While there are still damaged areas in need of improvement, I’m convinced that continued and consistent use of Olaplex products will allow my curls to be at their peak.
A game-changer revolutionizing the hair industry, these are products that should remain in our hair-care collections at all times.
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Featured image courtesy of Shahirah Ahmed
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The episode was the perfect way for the multihyphenate to take control of her own narrative. By addressing the viral moment on her own platform, she was able to stir the conversation and keep the focus on her adoration for Braxton, an artist she says she grew up listening to and who still makes her most-played playlist every year. Elsewhere, she likely would’ve received questions about whether or not the costume was a subliminal aimed at her ex-boyfriend and his pop star fiancée. “I think that people will try to project their own narratives, right?” she said, hinting at this in the episode. “But, for me personally – I think it’s very important to say this in this moment – I’m not in the business of tearing other women down. I’m in the business of celebrating them.”
Kayla Nicole is among xoNecole’s It Girl 100 Class of 2025, powered by SheaMoisture, recognized in the Viral Voices category for her work in media and the trends she sets on our timelines, all while prioritizing her own mental and physical health. As she puts it: “Yes, I’m curating conversations on my podcast The Pre-Game, and cultivating community with my wellness brand Tribe Therepē.”
Despite being the frequent topic of conversation online, Kayla Nicole says she’s learning to take advantage of her growing social media platform without becoming consumed by it. “I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out,” she says.
On The Pre-Game, which launched earlier this year, she has positioned herself as listeners “homegirl.” “There’s definitely a delicate dance between being genuine and oversharing, and I’ve had to learn that the hard way. Now I share from a place of reflection, not reaction,” she says. “If it can help someone feel seen or less alone, I’ll talk about it within reason. But I’ve certainly learned to protect parts of my life that I cherish most. I share what serves connection but doesn’t cost me peace.
"I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out."
Credit: Malcolm Roberson
Throughout each episode, she sips a cocktail and addresses trending topics (even when they involve herself). It’s a platform the Pepperdine University alumnus has been preparing to have since she graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism, with a concentration in political science.
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She’s not just a podcaster, though. When she’s not behind the mic, taking acting classes or making her New York Fashion Week debut, Kayla Nicole is also busy elevating her wellness brand Tribe Therepē, where she shares her workouts and the workout equipment that helps her look chic while staying fit. She says the brand will add apparel to its line up in early 2026.
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Tap into the full It Girl 100 Class of 2025 and meet all the women changing game this year and beyond. See the full list here.
Featured image by Malcolm Roberson
My main motive? Mostly, I hope that it will serve as a solid reminder to embrace all of the things that you adore about this time of year, so long as you do it in moderation and you weigh the costs.
Especially as far as drinking alcohol is concerned.
PRO: Manages Blood Sugar Levels
GiphyHere’s something that you may have never seen coming. Were you aware of the fact that alcohol can actually help to stabilize your blood sugar? Yep, according to the American Diabetes Association, so long as you leave it to no more than 1-2 cocktails a day, alcohol may be able to lower your A1C levels. Pretty cool, right?
CON: It’s a Carcinogen
GiphyAlcohol is a carcinogen. The reason why this should somewhat alarm you is because carcinogens are things (like tobacco, UV rays, processed meats, etc.) that can increase your chances of being diagnosed with cancer (especially mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach and breast cancer). There are various ways this happens including the fact that alcohol, specifically, can hinder your body from breaking down certain nutrients, it can cause your estrogen levels to spike and alcohol can also cause certain toxins to damage your DNA and certain bodily proteins over time.
PRO: Cultivates Euphoric Feelings
GiphyIf you find yourself feeling more euphoric while you’re enjoying a drink, it’s not all up in your head. Although, for the more part, alcohol is considered to be a depressant, when consumed in small amounts, it can provide a stimulant effect. This happens due to the fact that when you first start to consume alcohol, it causes the production of the feel-good hormone known as dopamine to increase — and since dopamine makes us all feel more relaxed and confident while heightening our senses of pleasure too…well, there you have it.
CON: May Increase Anxiety/Depression
GiphyAs they say, “what goes up, most come down” at some point — and that is what you have to be careful of when it comes to alcohol consumption. For instance, when you drink alcohol, although it tends to initially cause your dopamine levels to uptick, because it is a temporary bodily response, sometimes the dips are lower than the rises…and that is when anxiety starts to kick in. A similar point is made with depression because oftentimes, people with depression-related symptoms, will use alcohol as a way to deflect from what’s really going on with them — and that can make them feel even worse than ever once the buzz of alcohol starts to wear off.
PRO: Has Some Heart-Related Benefits
GiphyWhen it comes to your heart, there are interesting findings surrounding its relationship to alcohol. For instance, some research states that, so long as the consumption is moderate, alcohol can actually help to increase the good cholesterol in your system while also breaking down proteins that can potentially lead to blood clots; both of these factors alone can reduce your chances of dying from heart disease.
CON: Packs on Pounds
GiphyIt’s no secret that alcohol tends to contain quite a few calories. That’s why, it’s not uncommon for people who’ve lost weight to mention “I’ve stopped drinking” as one of the causes for the shed pounds. That’s not to say that there aren’t some alcoholic beverages that have less calories than others including vodka (133 calories per serving), white wine (148 calories per serving) and tequila (99 calories per shot). Just keep in mind that the more you drink, the more calories get into your system and the more weight you stand to gain.
PRO: Lowers Inhibitions
GiphyAlthough you really should only be uninhibited around people who you absolutely trust, if that person is your partner and you’re looking to have a pretty — eh hem — active evening, alcohol can certainly help to make that happen. The science of it all is the prefrontal cortex of your brain is what regulates your inhibitions and levels of self-control. Meanwhile, alcohol suppresses your inhibitions which can cause you to be more spontaneous and open to trying things that you might not immediately do if you were sober. And with the right individual, that can be sexually beneficial (emphasis on “right person”).
CON: Makes It Harder to Orgasm
GiphyOn the other hand, as odd as it may seem (in light of what I just said), if you have too much alcohol in your system, it could make climaxing difficult. That’s because orgasms happen, in part, due to your nervous system being stimulated — and since alcohol is technically a depressant…well, it could reduce nerve sensitivity (especially as far as your clitoris goes) for you while making it challenging for your partner to remain erect or have consistent stamina. And yeah, that sucks.
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‘Tis the season. And with that, if some wassails or hot buttered rums are in your immediate future — hey, don’t let me stop you — not even a lil’ bit.
All I’m saying is now that you know what alcoholic drinks have to offer (both ways), you can know exactly how to incorporate them into your holiday plans. Enjoy!
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