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Why Denver Should Be On Your Travel List: A Black Woman’s Perspective
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If someone had asked me if living in Denver, Colorado, for nearly seven years was on my Bingo card, I probably would have laughed in their face. But you know what they say: we make plans, and God laughs. Truth be told — moving to Denver was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was able to find myself and my voice in a city that was somewhat foreign to me, and I am forever grateful.
Denver may not have the largest Black population, but its vibrant community offers plenty of ways to find connection, culture, and self-care. With less than 10 percent of the city's residents identifying as Black, it can sometimes feel challenging to find spaces that truly resonate. That’s why we wanted to offer a guide to help Black women navigate the city, find community, and experience everything the Mile High City has to offer.
Listen up sis, here's how you can live your best life in Denver.
Denver Travel: The City vs. The Mountains
Let’s start here because many people believe that Denver is in the mountains, and while that’s technically true, you still need to travel outside of the city to be in the mountains. Winter Park is a great place to do mountain activities and also see more Black folks. Strawberry Park Hot Springs has the most magical hot springs, as the snow-capped mountains serve as the perfect landscape.
Ski Noir 5280is a great resource for mountain tings as they are working hard to diversify the mountains. They offer training and equipment as a means of support so that more of us take over the slopes.
Wellness and Self-Care Experiences in Denver
Courtesy of Joce Blake
Denver has a variety of Black-owned businesses and wellness services designed to help you prioritize self-care. BodyLove by Tal, for example, offers organic skincare products created to heal, nourish, and restore your skin naturally. If you’re looking to reconnect with nature, the Potted Peace Project promotes racial healing through plant love, offering plants and nature-centered events.
If you're more into holistic wellness, Sound Baths with Courtneyoffers guided meditations and sound baths that can provide much-needed relaxation and healing energy.Urban Sanctuaryand Charismatic Movement Yogaalso offer yoga classes to help you find balance, both physically and emotionally.
Beauty and Haircare Services in Denver
Finding a trusted haircare provider can be essential to maintaining your confidence. Denver has a variety of Black-owned beauty salons, including B&B Beauty Supplyin Aurora, where you can find all your hair care needs, from extensions to braids. For specialized braiding, Tay, The Braid Bestie, is known for her work with knotless braids and feed-ins, offering services to both men and children.
If you're looking to keep your hair on point,Official Micahspecializes in sew-ins, frontal wigs, and high-quality hair products, whileStylez by J’Niceat Timeless Designs in Aurora offers a range of hairstyling services, from natural hair to weaves to a buss down boho knotless style. Janice has been getting me together for years, and I adore her hands.
Looking for a MUA? Tatiana Artistry and Angela Ranaeare the best to ever do it. And if you need your nails did, I only trust theNail Transformerswith my fingertips. They also offer pedicures, lash extensions, facials, and more.
Denver Cultural Activities and Nightlife
Denver offers a host of cultural events where Black women can connect and feel represented. One thing that shocked me when I first moved was that the Juneteenth Music Festivalis one of the city’s major cultural events, celebrating Black heritage with music, food, and community. For a unique art experience, visitThe Museum for Black Girls, which celebrates iconic moments in Black culture through its interactive selfie installations.
When it comes to nightlife, you’ll find some great spots catering to the Black community. If there’sMunchies & Mimosas happening while you’re in town, get that ticket. This event that mixes culture, cuisine, and music in one unforgettable experience. If you love a good night out, The Lobbyis another must-attend spot, where you can enjoy great music, hookah, bottle service, and a lively atmosphere.
Vibes in the Parkis also a wonderful space dedicated to connecting us with our roots. From park events to networking, it’s always a vibe with this gang.
If you’re into fashion, you’ll want to check outColor of Fashion. They are transforming the fashion industry by advancing inclusivity, diversity, and racial equality.
Honestly, if you’re looking for specific moves and vibes, follow the Mile High Tribeand Community Keison Instagram — they keep you up-to-date on the Black and brown spaces and events going down.
Shopping Black-Owned in Denver
Courtesy of Joce Blake
Supporting Black-owned businesses in Denver is easy, with several options around town.Be a Good Personoffers streetwear that promotes positivity, while Rachel Marie Hurst and M.Bolden Boutiqueprovide luxury fashion, including custom handmade pieces. For high-quality, eco-friendly apparel, check out The Common Collective, a Denver-based brand committed to sustainability and social impact.
Whether you're looking for unique clothing or just want to support local Black entrepreneurs, Denver's shopping scene has something for everyone.
Green Spacesis also an amazing community hub for Black and Brown folks. From Black & Blossomed, which serves up flowers for the culture to Migas Coffeewith the best matchas, it's a one-stop shop to grab some goodies and co-work.
Food for the Soul
Courtesy of Joce Blake
Denver’s food scene is as diverse as its community, with several Black-owned restaurants offering soul food, BBQ, and Southern cooking. Mattie's Soul Food is a family-owned spot that brings the flavors of the South to Denver, serving everything from collard greens to chicken and dressing. Another great spot is Saucy Southern, known for its delicious southern-style BBQ wings and soulful meals.
For brunch lovers,Mimosas is a retro-inspired restaurant that serves up creative comfort food alongside its namesake beverage. If you're craving a taste of New Orleans,Nola Jane’s, and Four Friends Kitchen have you covered with gumbo, po’boys, other classic dishes, and collard greens to die for.
Living your best life as a Black woman in Denver means finding spaces that celebrate your identity, support your wellness, and connect you with the community. Whether you’re indulging in self-care at a yoga class, enjoying a soulful meal, or dancing the night away, Denver has plenty to offer.
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Featured image courtesy of Joce Blake
Joce Blake is a womanist who loves fashion, Beyonce and Hot Cheetos. The sophistiratchet enthusiast is based in Brooklyn, NY but has southern belle roots as she was born and raised in Memphis, TN. Keep up with her on Instagram @joce_blake and on Twitter @SaraJessicaBee.
'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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Forget About Filters. Try The Cloud Skin Makeup Trend Instead.
Okay, so I know that I can’t be the only one who has seen those AI bikini pics that seem to be popping up more and more on Instagram. What’s truly wild to me about them is not the portraits themselves but the comments. What I mean by that is the number of people who have no clue that what they are looking at isn’t exactly real.
Know what I think was the gateway drug for the illusion? A lot of these filters. Boy, the way filters have folks thinking that what they see is what is happening…off social media is a trip. And to be real about it, like King Solomon once said, there isn’t anything new that’s under the sun. Before social media filters, there were camera lenses — both on- and off-screen — that also “softened up” people’s looks.
Thing is, though, no one can be behind a camera forever. Eventually, folks are going to see them, live and in living color and so, if they still want their face to appear absolutely flawless, what ever should they do then?
One solution? It’s a makeup trend known as cloud skin. If you’ve never heard of it before, I’ll explain.
What Is Cloud Skin All About?
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Although I wouldn’t exactly say that I’m afraid to fly (been on far too many flights for that resolve), at the same time, I must admit that flying isn’t my top 10 favorite things in life to do. Still, there are moments, while I’m thousands of feet in the air, that I do appreciate the experience. Like when I’m above the clouds, the sun is about to set, and the clouds look both fluffy and radiant at the same time.
Believe it or not, that is where “cloud skin” gets its name — it’s all about cultivating a matte skin look without it looking dry or caked up. Another way to look at it is it’s where matte and the dewy skin look “meet up” and find some common ground on the same face.
From what I’ve read and researched, a make-up artist by the name of Dominic Skinner actually coined the term and, according to him, “It’s all about specifically placed powder, a touch of foundation, and a facial oil to prime the skin.” When he was quoted as saying this, it was back in 2020; however (surprise, surprise), thanks to TikTok, cloud skin has experienced a resurgence in popularity and is predicted to be one of the most popular cosmetic looks for the next several months.
Why Cloud Skin Is Such an Appealing Make-Up Trend
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And why is cloud skin something that you should consider for your own face (at least every once in a while)? To me, I think it’s a dope approach to makeup if you’re looking for a way for your skin to look youthful, even-toned, and delicate without having a pack on a pile of layers of foundation in order to do it. Plus, even if you’re not an expert at applying makeup (or you don’t have a ton of time on your hands), the steps are relatively easy, even for a novice.
Another perk is, if you apply each step correctly, your skin will remain well-hydrated, your face will look picture-perfect and you won’t have to worry about using a filter when you do make a social media post.
These all sound like huge wins to me, so let’s get into how to actually achieve the cloud skin look.
5 Steps to Achieving Amazing-Looking Cloud Skin
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1. Hydrate your skin. It doesn’t matter how well you apply the other four steps if you overlook this one. That’s because, there is no way around the fact that if you want your skin to look dewy and fresh, you are going to need to make sure that it is well-hydrated. You can do this by applying a moisturizing serum or a lightweight moisturizer. Just make sure that it’s more water than oil-based. Oh, and in order to “lock everything in,” follow this up with a skin primer.
Primers are the unsung hero of make-up looks because they do everything from “fill in pores” (temporarily) and soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to make sure that the cosmetics that you apply are able to last for a longer period of time. If you need help selecting one, TikTok has posts for days on the topic. Just go to the app and put “best primer make-up Black women” in the search field.
2. Apply a semi-matte foundation. Now you’re ready to put on your foundation. It’s important that it has a semi-matte finish to it because that is what will help to “blur away” any imperfections that your skin may have. Come to think of it, you may actually want to go with a foundation that also has concealer in it, just to keep the application steps down. Oh, and definitely apply with a damp cosmetic sponge instead of your fingers — that will help to create the cloud effect too.
3. Next up: blush. In my opinion, these days, blush isn’t given enough of the respect that it deserves. Not only does it add a pop of (subtle) color to your face, but it helps to contour, hide imperfections, and even bring out the best in some of your facial features (like your cheeks and chin). That’s why I think it’s dope that it’s a part of the whole cloudy skin process. For this look, opt for a cream or liquid blush in a color that will bring out the best in the next step: bronzer.
4. Definitely add a touch of bronzer. Although I personally try not to wear make-up often (beyond mascara and lipstick), when I do, especially during the warmer months, I am definitely gonna apply some bronzer. In my opinion, few things can make your skin look sexier in a really short amount of time. Bronzer also has a way of making your skin appear absolutely radiant. The hack here, for us (Black women), is to go with a warm and rich hue, one that is a shade or two darker than your complexion, and to preferably apply it with a brush; that way, it’s not too heavy on your face.
5. And now it’s time to “bake” your skin. Final step, do what is known as “baking your skin” which simply means that you set the work that you’ve just done with a translucent or finishing powder (and the help of a foundation brush). This is what ensures that your final result will last for hours at a time (you can read more about how to bake your skin here).
BONUS: Gloss those lips up. If you Google the whole cloud skin look, you may see a lot of women with a matte lip color to boot. My two cents? Go with a glossy look instead. There’s something about the way that the gloss plays off of the bronzer that really sets everything off in excellence!
There you have it — a way to look like you’re using a filter…when you’re not on a screen.
Enjoy sis. Enjoy!
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