

“Beautiful hair comes in all types, not stereotypes.”
Hair is such a significant part of being a black woman. We are often told to tame, to make smaller, and to accommodate to the comfortability of others when it comes to our hair. Yes, it’s that big of a deal. It’s become so programmed in us that sometimes we don’t even realize that tendency is in our actions and decisions. In an effort to not intimidate, we constantly accommodate - and that act unfortunately extends to what we do with our hair. If there is not one thing that I’ve loved more about the natural hair movement, it’s our acceptance and our pride of our true selves and one another and embracing beauty that was not always considered as such.
In the same way that we as people come in all types, so does our hair, and that should be an aspect of ourselves that we all embrace.
ORS Olive Oil is doing the damn thing with their new line of hair care products catering to the parts of all of us that thirst and crave for a change when it comes to our looks. With their new hair color line, Hues, ORS seeks to redefine what beautiful hair looks like by incorporating our sisters that live for a little color in their life. A little hair dye never hurt nobody, and especially not with ORS Olive Oil Hues. The color it creates is long-lasting without any of the damage, thanks to their vitamin-infused formula. So color doesn’t have to mean dry, brittle, or damaged.
Hair color allows us to take our expressiveness to another level and wear our hair not only wildly, but also live and in color. Now that we're in a transitional season, it’s the perfect time to make a change in how you choose to express yourself by entertaining other colors. Hues offers a select range of colors that include Midnight Black, Cocoa Brown, Raging Red, Honey Blonde, and Light Blonde. Whatever the color, we are more than here for it!
Scroll down below for some of our favorite winter hair color inspiration from our favorite IG It Girls:
Midnight Black
Ambrosia Malbrough is one of my favorite YouTubers, but also makes a splash in the IG world as an influencer and natural hair goals aesthetic for many. She takes a minimal approach to life and her hair, relying heavily on protective styling, which is why her jet black 'do always looks full of life and luster. Check her out at @brosiaaa.
Cocoa Brown
Sunita V. is the ultimate "big hair, don't care" hair goals and has been slaying since the beginning. I absolutely love the cocoa/bronze tint that her strands have and feel like it adds another dimension to her curls. You can catch her serving #hairgoals on IG at @sunitav_
Raging Red
As Smartistabeauty, YouTuber Bri Hall teaches her viewers not only about the latest hair and beauty tips and tricks, but also shares and uses her influence to promote self-love and interior beauty just as much as the exterior, if not more. She's gone from her natural dark brown to bleached blonde to cotton candy pink, and as of late, has been rocking red/burgundy strands - all with an undercut by the way. She is daring with her hair color choices and keeps her looks bold, yet playful. Find her at @smartistabeauty.
SZA is a singer/songwriter and known as the first lady of TDE. The R&B songtress was daring in her hair choices earlier this year when she dyed her signature midnight black tresses to a bright red-orange color before dialing it down to a honey blonde and then a cocoa-tinted black. And while we await the arrival of her next full-length studio album A, we can use her hue as inspiration at @justsza.
Blonde
The Find Guru is a 22-year-old fashion, fitness, and beauty guru who is also the owner and curator of an online boutique also named The Find Guru. Her signature head of blonde curls is a combination of honey blonde, light blonde, and bleached blonde, and it all comes together making her texture and curls really pop. Find her at @goldennn_xo.
#NoStereotypes
Share your selfies and what being without stereotypes mean for you with ORS Olive Oil with the hashtag #NoStereotypes and follow them at @orshaircare!
What's your favorite hair color among the ladies? What hue do you want to try out this season? Let us know in the comments below!
Devale Ellis On Being A Provider, Marriage Growth & Redefining Fatherhood
In this candid episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Devale Ellis, actor, social media personality, and star of Zatima, about modern masculinity, learning to be a better husband, emotional presence in marriage, fatherhood for Black men, and leading by example.
“I Wasn’t Present Emotionally”: Devale Ellis on Marriage Growth
Devale Ellis On Learning He Was a ‘Bad Husband’
Ellis grew up believing that a man should prioritize providing for his family. “I know this may come off as misogynistic, but I feel like it’s my responsibility as a man to pay for everything,” he said, emphasizing the wise guidance passed down by his father. However, five years into his marriage to long-time partner Khadeen Ellis, he realized provision wasn’t just financial.
“I was a bad husband because I wasn’t present emotionally… I wasn’t concerned about what she needed outside of the resources.”
Once he shifted his mindset, his marriage improved. “In me trying to be of service to her, I learned that me being of service created a woman who is now willing to be of service to me.”
On Redefining Masculinity and Fatherhood
For Ellis, “being a man is about being consistent.” As a father of four, he sees parenthood as a chance to reshape the future.
“Children give you another chance at life. I have four different opportunities right now to do my life all over again.”
He also works to uplift young Black men, reinforcing their worth in a world that often undermines them. His values extend to his career—Ellis refuses to play roles that involve domestic violence or sexual assault.
Watch the full episode below:
On Marriage, Family Planning, and Writing His Story
After his wife’s postpartum preeclampsia, Ellis chose a vasectomy over her taking hormonal birth control, further proving his commitment to their partnership. He and Khadeen share their journey in We Over Me, and his next book, Raising Kings: How Fatherhood Saved Me From Myself, is on the way.
Through honesty and growth, Devale Ellis challenges traditional ideas of masculinity, making his story one that resonates deeply with millennial women.
For the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker peels back the layers of masculinity with candid conversations that challenge stereotypes and celebrate vulnerability. Real men. Real stories. Real talk.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by YouTube/xoNecole
We Thought All-Inclusives Were Boring Until We Found These Twin Jamaican Gems
I’m not your typical all-inclusive resort girlie—especially for a couple’s trip. My man and I usually hop from one Airbnb or boutique hotel to the next, cooking our own meals, and chasing off-the-beaten-path adventures. But after eight years of host ghosting, catfish listings, and DIY travel stress, we decided it was time to switch gears. Our latest Jamaica baecation was the perfect excuse to give an all-inclusive resort a fair shot.
We landed on Couples Negril and Couples Swept Away—two Jamaican family-owned sister properties nestled in western Jamaica. With Caribbean roots dating back to 1949, this wasn’t just any chain resort—it had legacy and soul. And honestly? It was the reset we didn’t know we needed.
What made it even more special? We were back in the place where we first fell in love, now creating new memories in the same sun-drenched paradise. From booze cruises, pickleball matches, and wellness shots, to alluring late-night jacuzzi rendezvous, soul karaoke, and far too much champagne mixed with tequila, to really good jerk chicken and repeat-visit-worthy Asian cuisine, bae and I had a time.
Couples Negril And Couples Swept Away: Twins On The West Coast Of Jamaica
And it’s fitting that we visited in June (which is considered low season—a time when there are less travelers and better deals) because these sister resorts are like Gemini twins that embody two distinct sides of the same spirit.
Set between Negril and Hanover, Couples Negril is the social butterfly, full of energy and artistic flair; Couples Swept Away is the introspective dreamer, grounded in nature, wellness, and tranquility.
While they’re quite opposite in vibe, they’re united by a shared history and reflect the classic Gemini duality: light and shadow, play and peace, expression and reflection.
Bae’s Favorite: Chic, Modern, And Cozy At Couples Negril
Couples Negril Suite
Courtesy, Couples Negril
Bae’s favorite was Couples Negril—which has more than 230 rooms and spans 18 acres—for its mix of entertainment, modern minimalist vibes, and a diverse crowd of couples. He especially loved Otaheite Restaurant with its low-lit red velvet love seats and dishes meshing luxury with traditional island flavors (like the merlot stewed rabbit served with coconut polenta and the filet mignon with the jerk glaze.) And he lives for hearing me sing, so the piano bar was our jam.
We also spent lots of time at the beach bar, one of five on the property, snacking on fish tacos and sipping margaritas just steps from our suite.
We saved the rum for the included catamaran cruise (book ahead!), which came with endless punch and views of Negril’s West End—a fave spot of ours. Couples Negril made the all-inclusive life feel surprisingly easy and fun.
The property also features a treehouse spa, two pools, four jacuzzis, an au naturale beach (whew, chile!), and sports facilities. Everything was easy to access—the layout felt cozy and well-organized, making it simple to move between activities and amenities. At this resort, you can really have some grown-and-sexy fun without it feeling like a raunchy spring break episode of Couples Gone Wild.
My Favorite: Private, Classic Charm, & Nature Mystique At Couples Swept Away
Couple's Swept Away Suite
Courtesy, Couples Swept Away
While I loved Couples, once we stepped over to Couples Swept Away, the lush nature set on 19 acres won me over. This twin, which has 312 suites, 7 restaurants, 8 bars, 3 pools, 5 jacuzzis, and a spa, leans into intimacy and seclusion, and I felt like we had more privacy and room to explore–just the two of us—at this property. The rooms are rustic-luxurious, dressed in island cedar, with classic shutters and expansive verandahs that have hammocks where you can enjoy bright flora, the sounds of exotic birds, and the sea views.
The absence of TVs—along with its tropical fantasy allure— meant a 10 out of 10 experience for me. This resort invites couples to breathe deeper, slow down, and truly get to the core of intimacy, all within the hum of nature.
There were hidden enclaves with dipping pools, jacuzzis, open-air cafés, and quiet corners where you can sit by ponds filled with fish and bird watch (or have a little sneaky link with bae!)
One of my favorite stand-out amenities at this resort: the 10-acre fitness complex just a short walk across the road from the main property where I’d have my early-morning me-time while bae slept in. It has 10 tennis courts, squash and racquetball courts, a fully equipped gym, and a wide range of wellness and fitness classes are held there. I also enjoyed turmeric and ginger shots at the wellness bar.
Other standouts for food and nightlife included Lemon Grass (where you can enjoy Asian-inspired food and listen to the live music coming from downstairs), the chic Patois Bar (which was the late-night hotspot overlooking one of the pools and serving your usual bar fare like burgers and quesadillas—felt like we were at a Miami nightclub), and the Aura Bar (where bae sang with a quintet of other slightly drunken men and where we did the cliche but super-lit millennial couple thing: danced the night away to Top 40 hip-hop, salsa, and rock classics).
The Patois Bar
Courtesy, Couples Swept Away
Baecation Tip: Just be sure your partner packs a few linen or dress pants, loafers or soft dress shoes, and a few button-down shirts for the restaurants that require reservations. Also book your table and all-inclusive excursions in advance (or on the first day you arrive at the resort).
All in all, this resort-hop wasn’t the stifling, prison-in-paradise all-inclusive experience I remembered from the Jamaica family vacations of my youth. It also wasn’t the stereotypical AI disaster of bland food, lackluster customer service, and senior citizen activities that many complain about on social nowadays.
Both resorts offered a fresh take on luxury, great food, and good vibes—all without losing the intimacy we craved. All-inclusives might not be our every trip vibe, but for this chapter? It was exactly what we needed, and we look forward to making repeat bookings at both Couples Negril and Couples Swept Away in the future.
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