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Black Women in Beauty & Wellness
The best thing about being a Black Woman is being born into this astonishing community of women who celebrate their culture by being unapologetically black. One way or another we as a community of black people have been given the definition of beauty through the eyes of society. For as far as I can remember Black is Beauty and unfortunately society is now catching up to the standards that we have held for ourselves for hundreds of years. While in quarantine, I have learned so much about my natural state of beauty and have forced myself to experiment with what that means for me. Like others around the world, I have turned to Instagram and YouTube to find hair and beauty inspirations and I have loved every second of it. I have been happy and proud to see numerous virtual events that have targeted celebrating our culture when it comes to black beauty and wellness.
On February 18, 2021, the founders of Brown Girl Jane and Birchbox, Tia Beauchamp, Malaika Jones, Nia Jones, and Katia Beauchamp launched #BrownGirlSwap HERStory: A Virtual Event Celebrating the Stories and Legacy of Black Women in Beauty and Wellness featuring icons such as Tracee Ellis Ross, Kelly Rowland, Beverly Johnson, Nikki Taylor, Eunique Jones Gibson and many other women who have made a huge impact in the black community. Alongside this incredible virtual celebration, Brown Girl Jane and Birchbox announced their release of Inner & Outer Beauty: Your Wellness Toolkit featuring 9 black women-founded beauty and brands that support our total beauty and wellness journey. I was very honored to sit and listen to these women as they discussed their transitions with beauty and how it has shaped them to become who they are now. I was happy to know that I am not the only one going through similar experiences with beauty and wellness and my journey matters too.
One of my favorite parts of the evening was the interview with Tia Beauchamp and Tracee Ellis Ross. I learned about the power of identity, culture, and legacy and how to embrace it within my own life. The interview started with the magnificent Tracee Ellis Ross discussing her very own health and beauty brand, PATTERN. She explained that it was 10 years in the making and was created for curly, coily, and tight-textured hair. She wanted to celebrate our own authentic beauty and focused her attention on creating products to ensure just that.
During the interview, Tia Beauchamp asked Tracee Ellis Ross,
What does black wellness and beauty mean to you?
Tracee Ellis Ross: “I really believe hair care is self-care. It is one of the ways that we honor who we are and that we celebrate who we are and we take time for ourselves."
Growing up as a child I remember having to take the entire day or weekend to plan out getting my hair done. I didn’t understand how much time and nurture that had to be put into my hair process until I got older. I learned that my hair was and will forever be changing. I went through numerous shampoos and conditioning products to get my hair in the “perfect style” or what I thought was perfect. I love wearing my natural hair in braids and from time to time doing a good twist out. As an adult, I truly understand how hair care is self-care. Doing my hair is a time where I feel connected to my identity. It is a time where I can be free and can express my creative side.
Tia Beauchamp: Do you remember when you fell in love with your hair?
Tracee Ellis Ross: “I fell in love with my hair when I was a kid during my teenage years. That is the time when we realize how you are seen and how that matches up with the standard of what is considered as beautiful and sexy."
It was at this point that I reflected on my own hair journey as a teenager. She was right, I didn’t see us reflected and represented in main time media. I remember turning on the television searching to find more black women wearing their natural hair out or in braids because I would have been able to see myself in them. I am happy that times have changed and more women embrace their natural state, walk with their heads high, and more importantly with confidence.
Another favorite part of the evening was the interview with Tia Beachamp and Kelly Rowland. I learned that there are endless possibilities and opportunities in this world but you have to go after what you want. Kelly Rowland is the ultimate super mom and symbolizes that you can have a family and a career at the same time. This interview started with celebrating Kelly Rowland’s new music and the release of her new EP, K. On her new project, she has a song, Black Magic that embodies all the multi-dimensional layers that black people have within us. She hopes that after listening to her music that it shall bring all of us love, joy, pride, and strength despite any and everything that might be going on.
During the interview, Tia Beauchamp asked Kelly Rowland,
What has given you your ultimate sense of beauty and confidence?
Kelly Rowland: “I think that even though I didn’t understand it being younger, the foundation was being laid down. Growing up in the salon with Bey’s mom in Houston and seeing all these different women from so many different backgrounds I got a dose of wisdom and gems from them. I would have private talks with Mama T about me being a chocolate girl and how beautiful it is. She made me understand how beautiful it felt to be unique. Everyone should feel like that and know what you bring to the table, no one has."
We all have our moments of air hustling at our local hair salons. I remember I couldn’t wait until I got older to have some of those same stories of hair and beauty. I learned that there are so many different sizes, shapes, and tones in this world and everyone should be looked at the same but that wasn’t the reality and it still isn’t. When Kelly Rowland spoke about being unique and no one having what you has sparked a sense of warmth in my heart. I believe that we as a people do not hear things like this often and I am here to say you are enough, you are beautiful, and you are one of kind. It doesn’t matter if you are rocking a bald cut or long curly hair down to your ankles; love yourself because everyone is special. Do what makes you happy and walk with your head high because you deserve it all queen.
Make sure you check out Tracee Ellis Ross’s PATTERN health and beauty products and go listen to Kelly Rowland’s new single Black Magic.
I am looking forward to more events from Brown Girl Jane, you can find them on
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Until next post… Coach Tay
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