Black-Owned Nail Press-Ons, Polish & Products To Use While Quarantined
This quarantine made me realize I've definitely been taking my salon trips for granted. Don't get me wrong, not getting my nails done isn't the worst thing in the world, but I definitely miss that fresh set feeling. Recently, we dropped an article on this site called "10 Press-On Nail Inspo To Get You Through Quarantine"; and now we're giving you the tea on who, what, and where to get the things you need to get your nails on track. And you already know, this list is going to be blackity-black-black!
Before I get into the list though, I have to say, I love the variety of black-owned businesses to shop. I mean to go from growing up without many black businesses to variety, our ancestors would be proud. While it's necessary to have businesses for us and by us, it's just as important to support them.
From press-on nails to nail growth products, here are some black-owned nail brands to use while in quarantine.
Nail Supplies & Wraps
bVAIN Nail Supply
First of all, you had me at the name. Vanity usually has some negative perception but this business wants to encourage you to take pride in your looks, especially your nails. bVAIN offers everything you need to enhance your nails like: charms, decorations, crystals, and more.
Power Nail Decals
If you're wondering what the heck is a nail decal, it's pretty much a sticker or gem that is applied to a portion of your nail. Power Nail Decals offer a variety of high-quality but affordable nail decals that highlight black culture one handshake at a time.
Press-Ons
ETN (EthereallyTouchedNails)™️
Ethereally Touched Nails is a luxury nail company based in the UK. Ethereally offers trendy and custom nail designs, from animal prints to ombre styles.
Complimenté Nails
Complimenté Nails offer a variety of vibrant gel color press-ons. Get into the spring/summer season with light and bright colors like this "Madame" red.
Precious Kreation
Precious Kreation creates a variety of custom nail options for your birthday, prom, etc. This LA-based nail company offers one-of-a-kind designs for every moment in your life.
Léluxx
If long nails are your thing, then I definitely recommend that you check out Leluxx Beauty. Their press-ons give you long chic but classy vibes. They offer long-length coffin, stiletto, and almond shaped nails in almost every design you can imagine.
Sassy Nails Studio
Sassy Nails are nothing short of its name. It's far from basic, this is for the girls who like to add sassiness to their nail design. Sassy Nails offers high quality custom multi-design press-ons, plus the option to make your own.
Glam NailZ
Glam NailZ offers a variety of affordable glam-worthy press-ons and accessories for those who like both an edgy and natural look.
Nail Polish
Law Beauty Essentials
LAW Beauty Essentials is a luxury nail polish line that's innovative and eco-friendly. Their pigments are high shine, chip-resistant and 13-free and cruelty-free, meaning no animal testing or harsh chemicals.
LaPierre Cosmetics
LaPierre is a luxury nail polish brand that embodies elegance and class. Their polishes are free of harmful ingredients so you don't have to put your health over beauty.
Rooted Woman
Rooted Woman bridges nail care and self-care together. It's a non-toxic, ethical nail brand that offers treatments to promote radical self-care for women.
POLISHED BY PRETTI
Polished by Pretti offers acrylic nail powders in a variety of colors, nail cuticle oil, and press-on nails. Polished by Pretti gives a very girly and trendy look for your nails.
Triple O Nail Polish
Triple O Nail Polish is dedicated to inclusivity. They provide imagery, nail lacquers and gel polishes for underrepresented skin tones so no color is off limits. Their mission is to inspire people to explore beauty that is relatable.
Breukelen Polished
Breukelen is a luxury vegan nail polish brand straight out of Brooklyn. They cater to the health conscious who isn't afraid to own their dopeness.
Kaeess Nail Polish
Kaeess Nail Polish empowers everyone to break boundaries through color and self-expression. This brand was created to be diverse and empower those who are boxed in and want an outlet to express themselves through subtle yet bold color art.
People of Color™ Beauty
People of Color Beauty offers quality and vegan-friendly nail polish that represent everyone who lives in and loves color. One of their main missions is to represent People of Color and the various shades of brown skin when curating our nail polish collections.
Pear Nova
Pear Nova is the perfect mix of function and fancy and is committed to celebrating the strength and beauty of women everywhere. Pear Nova is cruelty-free, vegan-friendly and 5-free, which means — no harmful ingredients.
Mischo Beauty
Mischo Beauty nail lacquers are vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and free of artificial fragrances and ingredients. Mischo offers over 16 soft and very pigmented nail lacquers.
Nail Growth
Woo Me Beauty
Woo Me Beauty offers a nail growth nail serum made with all-natural ingredients like Olive Oil, Biotin Oil, garlic, and Vitamin E Oil. The nail serum claims to transform brittle and fragile nails that refuse to grow into strong healthy nails.
Nail Gel System
Pottle
The Pottle offers a variety of nail care systems for you to get the most out of your nail design like the Ebony and Ivory set. This set inspires more DIY projects and allows you to create your own colors and creations. They also offer healthy gel nail alternatives.
Featured image via LaPierre Cosmetics/Instagram
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Freelance writer, content creator, and traveler. She enjoys the beauty of simplicity, a peaceful life, and a big curly fro. Connect with Krissy on social media @iamkrissylewis or check out her blog at www.krissylewis.com.
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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Feature image screenshot/ xoNecole YouTube
Celebrity Engagements Of 2025: All The Stars Who Locked It Down This Year (So Far!)
February might be in the rearview, but love is most definitely still in the air as the gworls are getting wifed up left and right. We love love over here at xoNecole, and 2025 is already shaping up to be a year full of celebrity engagements. Zendaya had the innanet in a chokehold when she kicked off award season flashing a stunning rock on her ring finger, and more recently, Normani announced her engagement to long-time partner DK Metcalf.
As more of our faves take that next step to saying "I do," keep reading for all the couples who got engaged in 2025. Stay tuned!
Every Celebrity Engagement of 2025 (So Far)
Normani and DK Metcalf
“Hold that rock up, baby!” That’s how DK Metcalf casually dropped the news of his engagement to singer Normani while speaking during a press conference that followed the announcement of his trade from the Seattle Seahawks to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a five-year, $150 million contract. And just like that, we all wanted in the group chat.
But before this love story led to a ring, it had to have its start. And for that, we can thank Ciara and Russell Wilson. The couple's mutual friends played matchmakers for Normani, 28, and DK, 27, bringing them together at a party for Ciara’s rum brand after DK had already manifested their love years earlier. “Me and Ciara are really close, and Russell and DK were teammates on the Seattle Seahawks,” Normani shared with Vogue.
“About two years prior to us even meeting, they were playing music videos in the locker room, and ‘Motivation’ ended up popping up on the screen. DK said, ‘The moment I saw you come up on that screen, I said, ‘That's going to be my wife.’’” At the time, Normani was in a relationship, but two years later, Ciara made sure the stars aligned. “I ended up going [to the party], and lo and behold, he ended up being there, and the rest is history.”
As for the actual proposal, DK had been planning it for over a year—initially hoping to pop the question during a family trip to Turks & Caicos. But with Normani focused on her album at the time, he decided to wait for the perfect moment. That moment came on March 12 during another family trip, this time to Houston, where he surprised her with an intimate proposal surrounded by their loved ones. To say that Normani was shocked is an understatement. “I was like, ‘Baby, you knew for over a year?’” she recalled to the publication. “To get anything past me for over a year is crazy!”
Swooning!
Winnie Harlow and Kyle Kuzma
There might be something in the water in Turks & Caicos because while DK Metcalf had dreams of proposing to Normani there, Kyle Kuzma made it happen for Winnie Harlow this past Valentine's Day. The NBA star popped the question to his longtime love in the same place they took their first baecation back in 2022, a trip that, according to Kyle, cemented his plan to propose to the fashion model one day.
The Milwaukee Bucks player went all out for the occasion, chartering a private jet decked out with roses, balloons, chocolates, and champagne, all of which Winnie assumed was just an elaborate Valentine’s Day surprise. But the real moment came when Kyle, 29, read Winnie, 30, a heartfelt poem he had written, which ended with the words, “Will you be my wife?” The 8.5-carat oval-cut engagement ring that accompanied it sealed the deal.
The couple celebrated with a dreamy beachfront dinner, fireworks lighting up the sky as Winnie held up her ring in disbelief. She later shared the news with her fans on Instagram in a post, writing “To eternity” alongside a carousel of photos capturing the magical moment.
Amber "AD" Smith and Ollie Sutherland
If you know the Love Is Blind lore, this engagement announcement is going to hit a little different. After all, AD Smith and Ollie Sutherland both made it to the altar in their respective seasons, but not with each other. Now, in a full-circle plot twist for the ages, the two reality stars found love off-screen, and they just made it official.
During the recent Love Is Blind reunion special, AD and Ollie dropped the bombshell news that they’re engaged! The couple met while filming the upcoming season of Netflix's Perfect Match, but while we don’t know all the ins and outs of how their love story began (yet!), we do know where they are now. The pair opened up more about their engagement on AD’s podcast, What’s the Reality?, while Ollie took to Instagram to hard launch their love with a collab post captioned, “THIS is how you do a hard launch! 💍 #TheSutherlands.”
After everything they’ve been through in their respective Love Is Blind journeys, AD and Ollie are proof that sometimes, love finds you when and where you least expect it. And we’re always here for a second chance at true love.
Paige Hurd and Royce O' Neal
Paige Hurd is engaged, y'all! The actress, known most recently for her work in Power Book II: Ghost, and Phoenix Suns forward Royce O’Neale are officially tying the knot following a romantic proposal in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Their love story feels like something straight out of a rom-com. Paige, 32, had just sworn off dating, fully focused on her faith and personal growth—then, boom, in walks Royce, 31, to change everything. “Nice as can be,” she recalled in a PEOPLE exclusive, though she initially only saw him as a friend. But Royce? He had a very different vision of who he saw her as in his life. “She was my lifelong crush,” he admitted. “A couple years ago, I told my friends, ‘One day I’ll meet her, date her, and marry her.’ Of course, they thought I was joking, but I was serious.”
Fast forward to February 13, and that longtime manifestation became reality. During an intimate oceanfront dinner at the Viceroy Riviera Maya, surrounded by candlelight and rose petals, Paige was served a slice of red velvet cake with “Will you marry me?” written on the plate. And their journey to a lifetime is only beginning.
From childhood crush to future husband, Royce spoke this love into existence. And with Paige calling him “the most thoughtful, down-to-earth, gentle man I’ve ever known,” it’s clear this is a love story written in the stars.
Jilly Anais and DeShaun Watson
Jilly Anais and her longtime love DeShaun Watson are officially engaged! The Cleveland Browns quarterback popped the question to the singer/content creator with the help of a gorgeous beachside backdrop. On March 16, the couple announced the news in a collab Instagram post, where Jilly beamed ear to ear while showing off her massive diamond ring. “Mrs. Watson loading…” she captioned the post, sending friends, fans, and NFL teammates into a frenzy.
Their love story first began in 2019 when Watson slid into Jilly’s IG DMs, and they’ve been inseparable ever since. From celebrating career wins to house-hunting together on Selling Sunset, these two have been building a life together—and now, wedding bells are otw.
Kyle Massey and Hana Giraldo
From Disney Channel star to fiancé, Kyle Massey is officially an engaged man! The That’s So Raven and Cory in the House alum popped the question to his longtime love, Hana Giraldo, daughter of rock legend Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo.
Hana announced the big news on Instagram, writing, “IM ENGAGED 💍 to my best friend, my soulmate, and my forever @kylemassey. A lifetime of love, laughter, and adventure begins now! I love you so much Xo.” The couple, who have been together for years, couldn’t be happier to step into this next chapter together. “I'm marrying my best friend, this is a dream come true,” Hana shared.
DeVon Franklin and Maria Castillo
DeVon Franklin and celebrity trainer Maria Castillo are engaged! The preacher and producer proposed during a romantic getaway in Maui on December 27, 2024, but the couple kept their engagement under wraps until February 2025 (which is why they are on this list), when they shared the news exclusively with PEOPLE.
DeVon, 46, gave them the deets of how he pulled off the ultimate surprise. As they posed on a grassy cliff for what she thought was a regular photo shoot, DeVon turned to Maria, 29, and told his bride-to-be, “You know, this whole time has really been an engagement photo shoot.” Shocked, Maria dropped to the ground before DeVon got down on one knee to pop the big question. “Finding Maria has been one of God’s greatest blessings in my life, so I wanted the proposal to be as special as our love,” DeVon told PEOPLE. “It was truly a magical moment, and I can’t wait to spend a magical life with Maria!”
The couple, who were introduced by a mutual friend last year, have been inseparable ever since. “To know I’ll be spending the rest of my life with this incredible man is a dream come true,” Maria shared with the outlet.
Zendaya and Tom Holland
This wouldn’t be a list of celebrity engagements of 2025 without the engagement announcement that kicked it all off: Zendaya and Tom Holland! The pair sparked loads of speculation after Zendaya blinded us with a stunning diamond ring at the Golden Globes in January 2025. And while the notoriously private couple has yet to publicly address the news, multiple reports have confirmed that they are, in fact, officially engaged.
Adding to the confirmation, PEOPLE recently reported that Tom’s Spider-Man co-star Jacob Batalon—who also got engaged this year—set the record straight about their proposal timelines. According to the publication, sources confirmed that Tom and Zendaya were engaged as of January 6, but Jacob argues that he had his proposal plans set in motion before Tom. “No, we did not know about each other's plans like that,” he told Metro Entertainment. “But I will say I thought about it first.”
Zendaya and Tom have always kept their love story low-key, so an official announcement might never come. But between the ring, the reports, and their inner circle spilling deets, it looks like they are locking it down on their own terms.
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Featured image by Normani/Instagram