Business Spotlight! | Nadula

The Fall season is here. The autumn leaves are sprinkling the ground with vibrant colors. With the cold weather upon us, it can take time to bundle up. But not only does your body need protection. Your natural hair does as well.

Too much cold hair can make your hair dry and brittle. Sometimes you need to give your natural hair a break and let it grow under a weave. Nadula is a top-brand hair seller that can get you styled and dolled up for this time of year.

Luxury Hair At A Discount

You deserve to slay at an affordable price. Nadula prides itself on durable hair that is trendy and always at a discount. From October 19-21st you can even get up to $30 off. They have wig products in 12 categories and have been sold in more than 50 countries on every continent of the world. When you sign up, they even offer a “Spin To Win” advantage, where you can get a $10 off coupon or a 10% off coupon. If you want a coupon package, simply go to their website, scan the code, and contact them on Whatsapp. By doing that you can receive up to an $80 coupon package. 

Stylish Wigs

Wigs are a rad way to try something new without having to spend hours to install. It is exciting to know that Nadula Hair has innovated the TL412 lace frontal wig. Many wig brands have tried to adopt their style and match up to their authenticity, but they are the first to have a unique wig that looks real, natural, smooth, soft, and dynamic. 

It is no surprise that they would have such a huge following because they are so versatile when it comes to wigs. Whether you need a glueless wig, a lace wig, a half wig, or different highlighted wigs, Nadula has you covered.  Click here to get a glueless wig of top quality. 

Bundles Galore

I know so many Queens that already have a beautiful crown of hair. But maybe you have a special event coming up in your life. Your wedding anniversary with your longtime boo or a recent job promotion. Why not celebrate by adding some razzle dazzle to your hair?

Nadula can come to your rescue with kinky straight lace wig extensions, Brazilian curly hair, Indian mink hair, etc. Adequately moisturize your natural hair before sewing in any weave.  

What’s Trending Now

On their site what’s hot right now is the autumn colors. You know how the leaves change to a reddish, orange hue? This season’s colors are selling like hotcakes right now. 

Give your natural hair a vacation. It needs some downtime to revive itself from excessive wind and wear and tear. Weaves are a form of enhancement that accentuates our beauty. Give Nadula a try. Their motto is “Be Confident, Be Bold, Be You”. In 2017, Queen Naija signed as a Brand Ambassador. Since 2020, they have had over 1 million happy members. Judging from the endless amount of good reviews that they get online, their hair is worth the purchase.

My Loc Journey

By: Queen SueSue

I have been natural for 7 years now. WOW. It definitely has been an uphill battle, but I would not change a thing. I have learned a lot about 4c hair, maintenance, what not to use, and loc repair. I also feel closer to my African roots and conscious of my ancestor’s findings. 

Many have jumped on the bandwagon simply because locs now is a trending hairstyle. I chose it because it aligned with my free spirit and gives me more free time. I want to extend some seeds of wisdom so others can learn from my milestones and mistakes. 

Don’t Be a Product Junkie

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

It is relatable that hair products have a special type of allure. The sweet smell. The moisturizing texture. The model with picture-perfect hair posing on the front of the bottle. Don’t binge on tests/trials with too many hair products. The buildup will be hard to get out of your locs. 

You don’t want to overspend on hair products when you know that the natural route was meant for simplicity. Think of oils that you love to use for your food. Olive oil, jojoba oil, and black seed oil are all perfect ingredients to add to a bottle of water. Lightly spritz your hair to retain moisture and then let it be. Too much manipulation can be detrimental. 

Self-Love Your Roots

Photo by Joshua Mcknight on Pexels.com

To each his own, but I often get perplexed by those who claim they love their hair but perm their baby edges! Like what? You can’t nourish one part of your hair while chemically frying the outline. That sounds like an oxymoron to me.

Investing in self-love can save you from financial ruin in the future. If you want to retire comfortably or even early, you have to start teaching yourself how to budget. Love the natural beauty you were born with. Be self-aware of the educational expenses you can cover when less is spent on outward appearance. 

Learn Loc Lingo

Image Credit: achievement.org

You can’t just rely solely on a loctician. Do needed research so you can find which type of locs you prefer. So far there are:

• Two Stand Twists
• Comb Coils
• Braids
• Interlocking
• Semi-free form
• Free-form

I started my locs with comb coils, then transitioned to interlocking. And now I’m maintaining a semi-freeform look. It’s giving Lauryn Hill vibes. More of thick bushy curls, versus a manicured scalpy look.

Concluding Thoughts

When I think of the pain my ancestors went through, I often wonder as a descendant why add more? Wigs are ok from time to time, but the constant pain of pulling, weaving, perming, or ironing 4c hair is a road I’d rather not travel on ever again. Next up on my loc journey is a much-needed trimming and loc repair. An enriching protein treatment. Possible dark coloring to cover up lint/buildup. But nothing major. 

Ultimately, I want all of my Queens to have healthy hair. Rock styles that stay true and authentic to you. Live your best natural life.

Would you like to start a loc journey yourself? If you have, how is it going?

The Chinese Exploitation of Black Beauty

Image Credit: Radii China

Just this Monday, June 20th was World Refugee Day. The United Nations created an international day to celebrate and honor refugees from around the world. While African countries welcome European and Middle Eastern refugees with open hands, migrants from the motherland routinely receive the cold shoulder. To the woke eye, this is very disheartening.

I am an avid watcher of World News. My journalistic mindset never wavers even when I go through writer’s block. I keenly view snippets of BBC News Africa online. One series that delves deep is called “BBC Africa Eye”. In a recent episode, I watched in horror as Chinese filmmaker Lu Ke casually exploited village kids in Malawi. Children that were clearly supposed to be in school were being taught to say insults in Chinese such as “My IQ is low” and “I am a black monster”. He was exposed by an undercover journalist and later arrested.

Image of Lu Ke Credit: BBC Africa Eye

Incidents of the Chinese race exploiting the Black race are not new. I see that almost every time I walk into a beauty/hair supply store. As a Grand Rapids resident, I can think of 5 local beauty/hair supply stores that cater to the black race, with black hair care products filling the shelves. I frequently shop at all of them, and it is obvious that they are mostly owned by Chinese people. When you are “shopping while black”, assumptions are made. Being profiled as a potential shoplifter is to be expected. That is why online stores have become a safe space for women of color. No one wants to feel like they are being watched while searching for their favorite hairspray.

Photo by Godisable Jacob

While black women in the U.S worry about racial profiling, black women within the African diaspora face even bigger issues. The market for human hair is booming. The African hair care business is a multi-billion dollar industry, with an estimated $1.1 billion being spent on shampoos, relaxers, and hair lotions in South Africa, Nigeria, and Cameroon alone.

China owns 70% of human hair factories. Black salons make 80% of their income from human hair products. While the Black community spends a lot of their earnings on human hair extensions, most of that money goes back into the hands of the Asian community.

The Asian Advantage

Image Credit: SupChina

Any black beauty enthusiast would feel puzzled at the harsh reality of where most of our shopping revenue goes. From the surface level, it would appear that we do support each other. I have attended many pop-up business events where black-owned businesses received consumers from the black community in an abundance. So what is giving so many Chinese beauty shop owners the upper hand?

Because China is universally the epicenter of where a lot of products are made, Chinese people can get products for extremely cheap based on their connections. 

The average black woman’s path to entrepreneurship is not peaches and cream. You don’t automatically have connections. To succeed in a short amount of time you would need to have ample start-up funds. And even then, to get a low price you would have to either form partnerships overseas or with a Chinese vendor.

This has created a low percentage of black women who own small beauty supply stores. Less than 10 percent to be exact. It is as if our Queens are fighting for a piece of pie that we never really had fair access to, to begin with.

An Easier Alternative

A lower-cost alternative to trying to start a beauty supply store is buying a hair vending machine. These machines cost as low as $9,995 and can be leased for as little as $249 a month (with good credit of course). That is less than half of what it would cost you to start a beauty supply store. Place it in a popular high-traffic area and you are looking at making $500 up to $2,000 a month.

Also, the cool thing about vending machines is that you can put whatever product you want. It can be handmade products or popular name brand products. And there are chains of vending machines like Tress Obsessed Beauty Vending that specifically stock beauty products for WOC. 

Where there is a will, there is a way. Many WOC are creating unique hair products from the kitchen of their own homes. We are constantly inventing new effective methods to treat and care for natural hair. And we are here for it. We are here for diversity, inclusivity, and profiting from our black beauty. 

Y’all my African Beauty And Braids blog has organically gained 1,000 followers and over 900 likes on Facebook! Woot, woot! Feel free to comment below and let me know what topics in the realm of African Beauty And Braids you want to get addressed. “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” ― Maya Angelou

The Liberian Entrepreneur Who Is Making 50K a month Selling Jewelry

Photo Credit: Millie’s International Creations/ Facebook

Many people give up on their dreams and ambitions before seeing the breakthrough that they always wanted. This can come from a plethora of reasons. Lack of funds, lack of confidence, or lack of hard work ethic.

Penny Clarke is an exception to the masses. She started her company 6 years ago and saw her sales explode from $5,000 a month to $50,000 a month during this COVID pandemic. Here’s how she did it.

Humble Beginnings

Photo Credit: Monrovia, Liberia Pinterest

Penny is the last baby of 8 children. She was born and raised in Monrovia, Liberia. She looked up to her mother who worked as a schoolteacher and sold cornbread to make ends meet. Seeing that her mother had a side hustle inspired her to expand her streams of income. She migrated to the United States at age 16 to further her education. Her mother passed away in 2014 from congestive heart failure, which moved her to be more committed to helping women of color achieve their dreams.

In 2015 a trip to South Africa inspired her to build a team of African designers. Together they created a line of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, headwraps, handbags, and more. When her company was first launched she was still working as a government employee in Washington D.C. The pandemic has really propelled a lot of online businesses in the right direction. Economists are coining 2021 as the year of “The Great Resignation”. People are quitting their jobs in droves to pursue remote work.

Inflation is a huge issue within the job market. With travel restrictions still in place, many are taking this time to go back to school and really pursue what they love to do. Immigration and work visas have also been on the decline, which means they are a shortage of foreigners to take on jobs that are temporary and seasonal. Many “quitters” are not quitting work entirely. They are on the search for better opportunities.

Penny is among those who are taking a leap of faith to invest in an online business. The memories of how resilient her mother was accompanied by her love of travel, fashion, and foreigners birthed “Millie’s International Creations”. Most of her online boutiques’ materials are derived from Africa.

How Her Business Grew

Photo by Christina Morillo on Pexels.com

Digital marketing is an in-demand skill because it can powerfully scale a business from zero to hero. Facebook ad campaigns can target your ideal demographics. A website with a sales funnel can generate awareness, consideration, and qualified leads which can turn into daily buyers.

Penny attributes her growing sales to the digital marketing agency 7th Pro Solutions. “When I started working with Edwin Jardin (the founder of 7th Pro Solutions), he really helped me to create a sales funnel for my website that has literally increased my revenue by 500%. My company now gets sales every single day, and it’s a challenge to keep up with inventory – which is a great problem to have.”

Creating a sales funnel can be a daunting task when you try to do it alone. The 3 main stages of a sales funnel are awareness, consideration, and decision. During awareness, a potential buyer is shown the product or service. How well the advertisement is towards gaining awareness is crucial for consideration. The 2nd stage, consideration is when interest is sparked. The person’s curiosity ignites in them the desire to buy. The last stage, the decision is when the buyer decides to buy a product or service.

7th Pro Solutions is a Digital Marketing Agency that focuses on accelerating business growth through effective strategies. Facebook ads can cause sales conversions to grow rapidly. Each ad has to be tailored to your individual social media platform. A business manager usually decides to use Facebook advertising in a strategic marketing plan when they want to reach new qualified prospecting audiences.

Are You A Passionpreneur?

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Millie’s International Creations has a simple mission statement: “Millie’s aims to bring quality merchandise by women designers and artisans at an affordable price to the U.S. market. Part of our proceeds benefits various nonprofits around the world. I am continually traveling and seeking out women who wish to achieve their dreams and support their families through their craft.”

What’s your craft? Is there any hobby of yours that gives you butterflies anytime you daydream about it? Turning your dreams into reality takes investment, a concrete business plan, and a supportive team that works in harmony with your goals. During this pandemic, hustling can open many avenues if you are persistent.

Starting a side hustle can push you to expand past the boundaries in your comfort zone. Need some inspiration? Check out Etsy. You can take common household items to create your own handmade goods. From hats to unique bracelets, people love creations that took time and skill to make. Writing an e-book that inspires others can help you to make connections in the blogging industry. Take your expertise in a field to teach valuable lessons to others.

Monetizing your social media is another way to start building an online business. Instagram is the top social media platform for making sales. Once you have over 10,000 followers, you can monetize your posts and close deals with advertisers. Facebook Marketplace is another great place to create listings and sell handmade items. It’s free to start and you can share your items in various Facebook business groups.

Do you have a success story similar to Penny Clarke? Sound off below!

Business Spotlight: Curls Queen

During these hot summer months, sometimes we need a break from wearing our hair out. Extensions offer the unique advantage of versatility and protection. Finding extensions that match a tight coily hair texture can be a task. Curls Queen online hair store provides textured human hair extensions, wigs, and ponytails. They offer high-grade human hair with at least a 6-month lifespan. Our lives can get hectic, and styling natural hair does take time. With Curls Queen extensions, you’ll be out the door in no time!

Vlogger Ms. Naturally Mary Rocking Curls Queen Extensions

Advantages of Yaki Clip-Ins

When worn properly, clip-ins are a great way to add volume and length to your natural hair. You can use them as a reference as to how long your natural hair can grow with added time and correct maintenance. They won’t feel too heated or add too much weight to your scalp. Do you have commitment issues? Yaki clip-ins can give you the chance to experiment with the type of hairstyles you want to try.

Vlogger Porsche Lua Showing Off Her Curls Queen Clip-Ins

Flexible. Growth stages while embarking on this natural hair journey can vary from person to person. Some women of color can grow long hair naturally in a matter of months, while others’ growth can take years. Yaki hair matches 4c curls while giving you a “wow” factor that you want during date night or special events.

Confidence builder. Your hair can reach lengths that you haven’t reached before if you regularly keep it covered in a protective style. Curly hair can quickly get tangled, dry, and overwhelming. Yaki-clip-ins can cover your natural hair, giving it a shield from the sun and other natural elements. The added length is also a confidence booster. Clip-ins can enhance your natural beauty. Have you ever had a bad hair day and no amount of frizz control could contain your hair? Try clip-ins. It is worth the purchase.

No heat is needed. A lot of naturalists will admit that in the past the constant use of curling irons did cause burns to their scalp and breakage to their strands. Curling irons when not used in moderation can fry your hair. Clip-ins don’t require any heated devices. Once you know what your hair type is, you will see that Curls Queen has hair extensions that blend in with kinky hair. No hassle, no pain.

Drawstring Ponytails Are Beneficial

Beginner-friendly options are all the rage since many are jumping on the self-care bandwagon. With a Curls Queen Convert-Cap Wig, you have the benefit of an easy hairstyle that can be done in a few minutes. You can cornrow your hair and add a ponytail. Using the rubber band or threading option also works. Or french twist your hair into a drawstring ponytail. The styling options are limitless. 

Image Credit: Curls Queen

Custom-made design. Be authentically you with a style that brings out your face the most. With drawstring ponytails, you can sleek your hair back and wear your hair up. This is a perfect look for professional business settings. And you don’t have to worry about it feeling too tight. Curls Queen has a breathable and flexible cap that you can simply place over your natural ponytail. It comes in different lengths and colors, so you can order one that best suits you.

Versatility. With an updo comes the use of headbands, scarves, and hair accessories. Almost anything you can think of. It can adapt to many looks. Curls Queen Converti-Cap Wig has many uses. Its adjustable drawstring can stretch or shrink to fit your hair. It is made with human hair, so you can rest assured that it is high-quality. 

Washable. Keeping extensions clean is imperative to your hairstyles lasting long. It is not recommended that you do not blow-dry extensions, because it can cause major hair fallout. Just wet the clip-ins thoroughly. Purchase sulfate-free shampoo to rinse your clip-ins with. After washing with shampoo, allow your extensions to sit in a conditioner for at least 10-15 minutes. Rinse out and gently comb your hair. Then hang it up for air dry. It is advised to only wash hair extensions every 4 to 6 weeks. Hair extensions do not receive natural oils as natural hair does. They also are more liable to breakage. So using a wide-tooth comb when styling is best.

Curls Queen has many positive reviews and ideal textures for African hair. Whether you have 3a or 4b hair, need light yaki to coarse yaki, or a coarse kinky blowout, you can use them as a one-stop-shop for hair extensions. 

Have you tried out clip-in extensions for your natural hair before? Sound off below!

Edge Naturale: Trust It Or Trash it?

Your edges, commonly referred to as baby hairs, are the most delicate strands on your head. They grow along your hairline. You have to keep them protected to prevent losing them because your edges help to frame your face. 

When your protective style is too tight your edges will be damaged. I have had thinning edges from wearing protective wigs that were too tight for my head. Using Edge Naturale follicle enhancer was a great choice. It has helped me to grow not only my edges but also other problem areas.

How Do Edges Get Damaged?

So many factors can affect the healthiness of your edges. Hair loss can be caused by alopecia, which is a condition that results in your hair falling out in small patches. Tension from tight overprotective hairstyles can suffocate your follicles. Hormonal changes and chemical damage like perms can create hair breakage. Nutritional deficiencies can attack the immune system, which can lead to hair loss as well.

Visible hair loss can cause you to be stressed, have low self-esteem, and feel anxious. Trying to cover and hide your edges can cause more harm than good. It is best to look for a solution that is affordable and safe. 

What Makes Edge Naturale Trustworthy?

So many expensive hair product companies make products that don’t deliver. You can end up becoming a hair product junkie, spending way too much on products that are full of chemicals, and fail your expectations. Edge Naturale Follicle Enhancer is easy to use, isn’t costly, and has natural ingredients. Essential oils can keep your hairline moisturized. Edge Naturale contains Argan and Jojoba oils. Argan oil is full of antioxidants and vitamin E. It can help to soothe a dry and itchy scalp. Jojoba oil contains vitamin B, vitamin C, copper, and zinc. It strengthens your hair. Edge Naturale has a unique blend of cruelty-free, naturally sourced elements that promote hair growth.

Easy To Use

Edge Naturale can be easily added to your hair regimen. Simply:

1. Cleanse your edges and your problem areas with a warm, damp cloth. 
2. Apply a thin layer of the follicle enhancer to your hair.
3. Gently massage it in.

And that’s it! In only 30 days you should see results.

My Personal Results

I tried Edge Naturale with a skeptical mindset. I am always trying and testing hair products to see what will work for my locs and some products have not given many results. They just left me with a buildup and a headache. While using Edge Naturale I immediately felt a soothing sensation. It smells great. I applied it every day and I could see a difference after about a month of usage. My edges have grown back and my problem areas, mainly around the middle of my head have grown back. And the new growth is thick and soft.

I would personally recommend Edge Naturale Follicle Enhancer to anyone who needs help with hair growth, especially around their edges. It’s an amazing follicle stimulant cream that delivers results. 

Do you like what you see? Then try out this edge reviving formula: https://edgenaturale.com/products/follicle-enhancer

Rihanna Rocks A Classic African Hairstyle For Vogue

For the May 2020 issue of Vogue, Rihanna chose to represent with a beautiful, classic hairstyle.  Her hair was styled in what is called the Betsimisaraka hairstyle. Such homage brings awareness to the distinctive styles that women of color display.

Image Credit: UK Vogue

 

The Betsimisaraka Hairstyle Originates From Madagascar

Image Credit: eBay

What makes this hairstyle so iconic, is the fact that Madagascar was discovered by women. Tropical and serene, this island is located off the east coast of Africa. The natives that inhabit the land carry Indonesian genes. A vessel arrived 1200 years ago on the island holding 30 women. It is a possibility that they sailed off course. Extensive DNA studies have traced today’s residents to these 30 women, who probably mated with African men who were already there. Indonesia and Madagascar have a distance of 5000 miles. So their trip across the Indian Ocean was quite a lengthy one.

Image Credit: Picuki

Madagascar prides itself on having a mixture of Asian and African descent. They have many tribes, one of them being Betsimisaraka. Plaiting hair is seen as important to one’s beauty among their women. The Betsimisaraka hairstyles includes 5 tufts, 2 on each side, and one behind. They also wear numerous plaits that are not fully braided at the end, as Rihanna modeled.

Gold and silver pins are sometimes put in their plaits, right above their forehead. Other ornaments used are crocodiles teeth, bones, or shells. In the late 19th or early 20th century, the way you wore your hair let people know your rank and financial level. The rich would wear many silver and gold ringlets in their hair. Married women would wear their hair twisted up. Unmarried women would let their hair flow over the shoulders. In the year 1822, the Europeans arrived, and they introduced their unique way of styling hair. But that did not stop the Madagascar women from wearing their native hairstyles.

A Barbados Singer Who Pays Tribute To Culture

“I feel like I have no boundaries. I’ve done everything – I’ve done all the hits, I’ve tried every genre – now I’m just, I’m wide open. I can make anything that I want.” – Rihanna

This is not the first time Rihanna has shown love for her people. Just recently she donated $700,000 to Barbados so her people can have respirators during this pandemic. And for the cover of her Limited edition i-D Rihannazin cover, she sported cornrows. Her stylist for both magazines was Yusef Williams, a British-Nigerian. Cornrows are another popular African hairstyle. They have been seen in ancient paintings dating back to the early 5th century BC.

Image Credit: i-D Magazine

Our motherland is where civilization started. So many inventions that began in Egypt have reached every corner of the globe. This includes different stylings of hair. How amazing. Our roots don’t only grow past our scalps. They have grown to touch many hearts.

An African postal stamp, Image Credit: Dan’s Topical Stamp

 

What classic African hairstyle do you like to rock? Comment, like, and subscribe.

Sources:

https://www.seeker.com/madagascar-founded-by-women-1765687347.html

https://www.msn.com/en-za/lifestyle/lifestylebeautyandstyle/crowning-glory-rihannas-top-3-iconic-fashion-cover-looks/ar-BB120Xet

History of Madagascar, By William Ellis, Joseph John Freeman

How Does Body Image Affect Our Self-Esteem?

A thin waist, clear complexion, and perfect hair. It is every Queen’s dream to have the perfect body image. But is your idea of body image realistic? If not kept in check, the way we view our bodies can severely impact our self-esteem and mental health.

What Exactly Is Body Image?

When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see, or do you wish that you were someone different? Our body image is how we view our self in our mind. It is how we behave when we think of our height, weight, skin tone, facial structure, curves, and hair. Some avoid looking into the mirror because they struggle with self-hatred. A positive body image is essential to our mental health.

Eating disorders and depression is linked to having a negative body image. Women are more likely than men to have an obsession with how they look. This is because of the pressure from the media. Magazine covers often show thin bodies and light skin complexions. TV shows have adjusted to an extent, but it still the norm to see someone with light skin and a thin frame to be playing the lead role. Your past and circumstances also affect how you view your body. If you were always teased and bullied as a child, you might be the adult that is always trying some extreme diet. And struggling with obesity causes some to have a form of bulimia. To avoid weight gain, some even force themselves to vomit by putting their finger down their throat. This is an unhealthy practice that can lead to heart failure.

Myths That We Need To Ignore 

So many myths in the fashion industry has distorted how one views their body. Because of false advertising, many resort to methods that may change their appearance for a while. But in the long-term, your inner health and outer beauty will suffer.

Photo by Retha Ferguson on Pexels.com

Lightning creams. Having dark skin is a beautiful thing. Don’t ever feel like you have to buy lightning cream to change your skin tone. The side effects of these creams are cancer, infertility, permanent scarring, skin inflammation, etc.

Photo by Retha Ferguson on Pexels.com

Butt injections. The beauty industry sadly likes to push the whole “Big Booty Judy” hype. What is not being promoted enough though, is the females who have lost limbs, skin tissue, and even their lives from butt injections. Even if you get it done by a licensed professional, the dangers are not worth the risk.

Tanning beds. There is an infatuation with being light-skinned and it has caused skin cancer in Caucasian women. Tanning beds emit UV rays. This can cause premature aging of the skin, wrinkling, and age spots. It also can cause melanoma, which is the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Photo by Ree on Pexels.com

Extreme fasting. It is a huge myth that starving yourself is a healthy way to lose weight. Intermittent fasting can help you control how you eat, but going without food for days can affect your kidneys and damage your metabolism.

Our bodies can be likened to a temple. We need proper nourishment, respect, and love. As long as you are eating healthy and getting the proper exercise, you are on the right track. Don’t overstress yourself with unrealistic standards. Practice saying positive statements about yourself in the mirror every day. How we look on the outside is only one component of what makes us. How we are on the inside matters more. So, love what you see, and keep on working on becoming a better you.

 

Sources:

https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/body-image-and-mental-health/body-image

Toward a More Inclusive Understanding of the Body Image Construct: Findings from Studies with Black Women: The Role of the Media in Body Image and Eating Disorders

 

 

 

 

 

 

Queen Boss: Madam C.J. Walker

Many self-made bosses jumped for joy when they heard about Netflix coming out with a new series, centering around the life of Madam C.J. Walker. It was inspired by her great-great grand-daughter A’Lelia Bundles’ biographical book “On Her Own Ground”. As Black History Month comes to an end, let’s all learn more about the first black female millionaire in America.

Humble Beginnings

Madame C.J Walker’s real name is Sarah Breedlove. She was born on December 23, 1867, on a cotton plantation in Louisiana. Her parents were slaves. By the time they had her they were free, which made her the first in her family to be a free-born child. By age 7 she was an orphan and by age 14 she got married. One of the reasons she married so young was because she was trying to escape an abusive household. By age 20 she was a widow and had a 2-year-old daughter.

Ambitious Spirit

Sarah knew she did not want to live a life of financial distress. Plus she had a baby looking up to her. So by 22, she moved to St. Louis Missouri. There she became a part of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where she met many business-minded black men and women. This inspired her. She was a washerman only making a measly $1.50 a day, but she had dreams of building an empire.

By the early 1890s, Sarah had financial troubles and a scalp disorder. Her hair was falling out and she needed a solution. She became her own hero and created hair care treatments with home remedies. She used Annie Turbo’s Malone “The Great Wonderful Hair Grower”. Annie was a successful black hair care entrepreneur. She recognized her ambitious spirit and hired her as a sales agent.

From Rags To Riches

Sarah moved to Denver Colorado in 1905. There she fell in love with Charles Joseph Walker, an advertising agent, and got married again. With that marriage she reinvented herself, learning about marketing from her husband. She changed her name to Madam C.J Walker and created her own hair care line. Her husband was a great supporter. He was the driving force behind her getting promoted all across the country. Before she knew it, she went from making $1.50 a day to gaining thousands of customers and employing 3,000 workers. Indianapolis became the state where she relocated, and from there she built a factory for her products. She created countless job opportunities for women of color. She educated, trained, and encouraged many through her various clubs/conventions. With 40,000 workers in the United States, Central America, and the Carribean, she truly transformed herself into a self-made boss. Her net worth was the equivalent of several million dollars by her late 40s.

As she got older, she developed high blood pressure, which caused the health of her kidneys to deteriorate. But that did not stop her from being a kind, giving person. In her will, she asked that one-third of her money be given to her daughter. The remaining two-thirds was to be given to charity.

To this day there are hair products bearing her name. Madame C.J Walker Beauty Culture is available at Sephora retailers. The United States Postal Service issued a stamp in the remembrance of her. She proves that if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, your past does not determine your future.

Sources:

Featured Image Credit: fromgirltogirl.com

https://www.biography.com/inventor/madam-cj-walker

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/madam-cj-walker

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/madame-c-j-walker

How Cornrows Saved Slaves Lives

Image Credit: Face2Face Africa

Cornrows have a long history. They hold a lot of significance in African culture. It is worn by children, men, and women all around the world regardless of their ethnicity. Originally from the Sahara region, paintings show that this hairstyle has been worn even in 3000 B.C.

The most known way to wear it is straight down, which each cornrow paralleling each other. But it also can be worn uniquely in zig-zags or by mimicking the form of a snake.

In the Carribean region, it is called “canerows”. They do this to respect all of the slaves that planted sugar cane. What many World History classes won’t teach you, is that cornrows are lifesavers.

Cornrows Were Used As A Map To Escape

In many African communities, cornrows convey a person’s social status, age, marital status, and even their amount of wealth. Blackdoctor.org has written this about cornrows: “Depictions of women with cornrows have been found in Stone Age paintings in the Tassili Plateau of the Sahara, and have been dated as far back as 3000 B.C. There are also Native American paintings as far back as 1,000 years showing cornrows as a hairstyle. This tradition of female styling in cornrows has remained popular throughout Africa, particularly in the Horn of Africa and West Africa. Historically, male styling with cornrows can be traced as far back as the early nineteenth century to Ethiopia, where warriors and kings such as Tewodros II and Yohannes IV were depicted wearing cornrows.”

When the Atlantic Slave Trade occurred, millions of innocent civilians were stripped from the Motherland against their will. Some rebelled by jumping off the slave ship before they even arrived on the land. They viewed death as a better option than a life of being treated as property. Others who fought back where terminated immediately. And some cleverly used another approach.

Upon arriving on North/South American soil, slaves were forced to shave their heads. Slave owners claimed that the shaving of their heads was just for sanitary purposes, but it was more behind it. Thick African hair has a lot of weight to it. Some slave owners would say that our hair was “unruly” and a distraction. This was a tactic used by Whites to strip Africans of their identity and culture. But not every slave would keep their hair cut. Some would grow their hair out because they had a masterplan in mind.

Cornrows are styled in a neat and tidy way. The creative geniuses amongst us used this beautiful hairstyle as a map with directions to escape plantations. All across North and South America paintings have been seen of zig-zag cornrows. A story that proves this is the story of Benkos Bioho.

The Brave Benkos Bioho

Image Credit: Alchetron

Benkos Bioho was a King that was captured from Africa in the 17th century. He managed to find a port city on the Colombia Carribean coast. It took several attempts to escape from his masters. One day he finally managed to escape. He then proceeded to build San Basilio de Palenque.

This King strategically built a walled city within a foreign land that he was forced to be in. It was with the intent of saving slaves and giving them a place of refuge. A place that they can experience freedom while getting their lives together.

After building a village, he invented a new language. Then he got an army to assist others to freedom. He came up with the idea to create maps in cornrows.

Most slaves did not know how to read or write. And even if they did know how to read or write, if they were caught writing messages of escape, they would have to bear extreme punishment.

Cornrows were a way to communicate without getting caught.

Braids And Gold

Another informative fact that many do not know is that gold and seeds were hidden in slave braids. After escaping, to survive you needed food and money. So the seeds were used to plant their own crops. The gold was preserved so they could make transactions on their own land. Today San Basilio De Palenque still stands. It has a population of about 3500 people.

In this modern age, from West Africa to North Korea you can see humans showing off their own version of cornrows. We no longer have to hide gold in our hair. We can proudly intertwine them over our braids. The tradition of wearing this hairstyle will be popular for years to come.

Image Credit: Youtube

Sources: https://face2faceafrica.com/article/how-cornrows-were-used-as-an-escape-map-from-slavery-across-south-america

https://www.edtimes.in/africans-used-to-hide-escape-maps-from-slavery-in-their-hairstyles/