Hair Color Inspiration From Our Favorite IG It Girls
“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!
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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If you’re like many other people who are prioritizing wellness these days, then attending a wellness retreat might be something to consider. Wellness retreats are a cool way to get the relaxation you’ve been missing in a space with like-minded people who share a common goal. I descended upon my first wellness retreat, the Mind, Body, + Sol Retreat, a couple of weeks ago at the Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Zoëtry Agua is part of the Inclusive Collection for the World of Hyatt. It is nestled on a secluded part of Uvero Alto beach, which has crystal blue waters. The resort itself is picturesque, with its thatched roofs and lazy rivers that make you feel like you’re in a cute little village.
Mindy, Body, + Sol Retreat was hosted by Koya Webb, holistic health and wellness coach and yoga instructor, and it also featured other wellness practitioners who combined provided the ultimate gift of relaxation and getting back to oneself.
The first night was a Welcome Dinner that featured a five-course meal and an opportunity to meet our companions for the next three days. The food was impeccable and the only downside was that I wasn’t able to finish it all. The next day, however, was the official start of the classes, and I was ready to dive in.
Aura and Chakra Reading
Aura and chakra reading
Photo courtesy
My first class was an aura and chakra reading led by Laura McCann and James Levinson, an Asheville, NC couple. I’ve had chakra readings before, but never like this. There was a computer, a camera, and a scanner, which I placed my hand on for the reading. After two minutes, I received a 15-page report explaining my aura and chakra reading.
It breaks down what the colors of your aura are and what your chakras say. My main colors were green and yellow, which were defined by a variety of things. The top of my aura was green, meaning I have a social mental state and I’m a natural healer. My aura on my left side was yellow meaning my energy flowing is optimistic and light and so on.
After James discussed the findings with me, I then met with Laura, who gave me aromatherapy oils from their ADORAtherapy line that represented each chakra. She further explained the results of my chakra reading and shared how each oil can assist. Chakras are the energy centers in our body, and there is a total of seven: root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown. All of my chakras were high except for my heart chakra, which I have since been working on. I may follow up about that in another article.
Sound Bath
Sound bath class
Photo courtesy
Next was the sound bath class. It was located in the spa, which was indoor/ outdoor and the perfect setting for this kind of experience. Andrew Francis and Carrie Bailey of Zenden Meditation were the co-pilots in transporting attendees into a place of tranquility. I laid down, closed my eyes, and allowed the sounds around me to bring me into a relaxing state. From the singing bowls to the wind chimes, I was in heaven. I even fell asleep and got some of the best rest I’ve had in a while. It was a beautiful experience. However, remember when I noted it was an indoor/ outdoor venue? I forgot to put on bug spray and woke up pretty itchy. But it didn’t stop me from enjoying the moment.
Tea Party
Art of Tea Ritual Tea Party
Photo courtesy
The last event of the day was the Art of Tea Ritual located in the resort’s tea garden. It was everything you could want in a tea party. Delectable treats such as cookies, cakes, and white chocolate-covered strawberries, which are my fave. And, of course, tea. While I got to sip tea, I also got to make my own tea blend. There were many different teas to choose from, like hibiscus to your regular black tea. I decided to mix rose and mint and I called it RoseMint. I didn’t get to try my tea blend until I got home, and I’ll be honest, it’s probably the best tea I ever had. The tea herbs taste so fresh, and I love how fragrant it smells.
Breathwork
Breathwork Class
Photo Courtesy
The next morning was all about breathwork. If you exercise regularly, then you probably know the importance of breathing. But there’s more to it besides remembering to breathe during your workout. Margaret Townsend is a breathwork facilitator who helps people achieve wellness by consciously changing their breathing patterns. In her class, I learned to change my breathing pattern for energy as well as for relaxation. While I know that breathing is a relaxation tool, I was blown away to learn that it can also energize you. Because it was a different breathing pattern, I was also able to stay present and keep a steady pace.
Yoga
Koya Webb's yoga class
Photo courtesy
The final class of the retreat was evening yoga with Koya Webb, who, as I mentioned earlier, was the host. Her class was held beside the beautiful Uvero Alto beach, which made for a stunning backdrop and the perfect way to end the retreat. It was important for me to get back into my body after not doing yoga for a few weeks, so I was really focused on nailing the moves. However, Koya kept the energy light and fun, evening cracking a few jokes throughout, which made it easy for me to relax and enjoy the moment. She ended the class with a dance break and hugs from our classmates.
The Mind, Body, + Sol Retreat reminded me how important it is to take time to love on myself. Each class was an opportunity to be present and get reacquainted with oneself in the most loving way. Being surrounded by individuals who encouraged my journey was what I needed, and I am so honored to have had this experience.
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