

Wigs Helped Porsha Williams Rebuild Her Self-Esteem After Divorce
The next time I hear about a woman brag about not wearing wigs, I'll give her a cookie for her efforts and sashay away in my 28-inch frontal unit like a boss. The first time I saw my sister put on a wig, I wanted one of my own. She was in her mid-twenties when she was diagnosed with Leukemia, and despite her painful recovery process, she always looked f*cking fabulous. Even if she didn't feel that way. I realized then that wigs were a sort of armour for women of color and served as an outlet of creative expression for her in one of the roughest periods in her life.
When my sister put on her wig, she was no longer a woman who was hopeless and cancer-ridden. Having full autonomy to switch up her look despite losing her hair during chemotherapy was a sign of strength and demonstrative of the perseverance that eventually led her into remission. As a multifaceted, three-dimensional woman, I find that wigs and hair pieces offer me range in my personality and at times enable me with the bravery that it takes to kick ass in even the most uncomfortable areas of my life.
Some days, I wake up feeling like Ms. Celie, but soon after, I put on my mane of platinum blonde curls, I transform into Sasha Fierce. Don't get me wrong, I see so much beauty in Color Purple cornrows, but there is a whole wonderland of adventure that weave has to offer, and if you haven't yet, you should take advantage.
Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Sony Pictures Entertainment
Porsha Williams recently opened up to Allure about how a traumatic split from her estranged ex-husband led her discover new facets of her personality. In the interview, she said that she coped with the blow to her self-esteem after her highly publicized divorce from Kordell Stewart by tapping into known previously unknown archetypes of her personality and consequently finding love in her natural self.
Now, the reality star has her own line of unprocessed hair extensions and has a room in her home dedicated to more than 40 wigs of various lengths and colors that all have their own names. A few of the high-maintenance beauties mentioned in her glorious collection include Olivia, the highbrow business woman who doesn't take any bullsh*t, Carrington the Southern housewife with an eye for good houseware, and Pocahontas - yes, like the movie.
She told Allure:
"When my assistant got hired, he didn't think that half of his job would be maintaining my babies."
Wigs and frontal sew-ins are often given a bad name because it's assumed that since I'm using an alternative method of hair styling, there must be something that I don't like about myself. The truth is, protective styles are lit and can ensure that your natural hair stays healthy and without chemical additives.
A woman's hair is the extension of her personality, and wigs give us the opportunity to be whoever tf we wanna be without doubt or explanation. Porscha is a reminder that finding yourself means losing your old identity in more ways than one. Switching up your look can give you confidence that you didn't even know you needed.
For you, that may mean doing a big chop, or even taking a note from our girl and investing in your own personal wig closet.
Read Porsha's full feature over at Allure.
Featured image by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Sony Pictures Entertainment
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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.
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
It’s Time To Get Cozy With The 10 Best Weighted Blankets For Anxiety
If there’s one thing that every anxious baddie out there needs, it’s a hug and something comforting to ease their minds. That could come in the form of a warm embrace from a significant other or something inanimate yet reliable, like a blanket.
With the fall season finally upon us, the signals in our brains are telling us to curl up and get cozy by any means necessary. But on the flip side, shorter days and less sunlight are simultaneously telling us to brace ourselves for the impact of seasonal depression before it hits. With all factors considered, there’s no better time than now to prep your cozy-girl season survival pack with one at-home companion that will never leave your side; it's a weighted blanket.
Consider a weighted cover to be your therapeutic hug in blanket form. Filled with materials such as glass beads, plastic pellets, or metal chains to make them heavier than regular blankets — ranging from 5 lbs to 30 lbs — these blankets are designed to provide gentle and even pressure to the body for a calming and soothing effect.
The concept behind weighted blankets is based on deep touch pressure (DTP) stimulation, which is thought to release neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, promoting relaxation and reducing stress and anxiety, providing a sense of security and comfort.
Having a weighted blanket alongside you through the chillier months can give you a comforting touch when you’re feeling the effects of touch deprivation or just need to relax after a stressful, anxiety-inducing day.
Take this as your sign to surrender to the soothing, comforting sensation of a weighted blanket, and add one of the below to your cart while you’re at it.
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Featured image by JulPo/Getty Images