Trauma is like a pair of glasses. Depending on your experience, living with past pain can potentially change the way you see the world entirely and after giving herself the time and space needed to heal, Kelis says that her vision is 20/20. Kelis, who has claimed that she was swindled out of royalties and abused by her ex, is a happily married business owner who has found peace after trauma, but according to her, solace didn't come until investing in her spiritual health.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, the Masked Singer contestant reflected on how her past relationships, both personally and professionally, have affected her lens on life, one of which she had with her first friend in the industry, Pharrell.
Way before her milkshake brought all the boys of the yard, Kelis was a 19-year-old performing arts school student who believed that she had just stumbled upon an amazing opportunity. The mother-of-two says that when she first met the Neptunes, they developed a friendship that she initially believed to be solid AF. It wasn't until later she learned that friends and money don't always mix:
"I thought it was a beautiful and pure, creative safe space. But it ended up not being that at all."
While being told that she and her two business partners would split her album royalties equally, Kelis said she ultimately learned that she had been "blatantly lied to and tricked" and would not make a penny from the sales her first two albums. While she noticed red flags early on, she chose not to stir the pot with her former label mates because she trusted them, a pattern that she now also sees was reflected in her romantic relationship with Nas:
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"The red flags were there. I was really young and didn't know that love isn't enough. It was crazy from the start, but I think as girls we're taught that that's what love is, like you can't breathe without them. What kind of shit is that? I want to breathe!"
While Kelis prides herself on being a private person, she says that walking in her truth has allowed her to find her voice:
"Well, I'm a very private person, and whether it's the stuff with the Neptunes and being assaulted from a business perspective, to then being assaulted in the home, I fought so hard to have my own voice---even with the umbrella of these men looming over what I was trying to do. I'm not broken, but I don't feel like protecting the sanctity of the black man anymore."
Despite her past trauma, Kelis says that she finds peace in knowing that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When asked why she isn't angry about her experiences, she had this to say:
"To be honest with you, I think if it were not for my faith, I feel like that would probably be the case. It's very clear to me, especially being on a farm, that whatever you put in the ground, that is what's going to come back to you."
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Featured image by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for UOMA Beauty
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Now, when you go to the hair store you are inundated with all kinds of hair textures, colors, and more. That’s why it was so upsetting to read the latest report about synthetic braiding hair.
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A Feb 27 Consumer Reports article revealed that most popular synthetic hair brands that are used for braiding have dangerous chemicals such as carcinogens, lead and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The report stated that 10 of the brands were tested and all 10 had these chemicals. These brands included Shake-N-Go, Sassy Collection, and Sensationnel.
These chemicals include benzene, which is a carcinogen that has been linked to acute myeloid leukemia and unsafe levels of lead, which can cause kidney damage, brain damage, and cardiovascular problems in adults.
In children, it can cause brain and nervous system damage, learning disabilities, behavioral problems and even developmental delays.
James E. Rogers, PhD, director and head of product safety testing led the testing for synthetic braiding hair. “Our exposure and risk analysis found all nine products could expose a regular user of any of these products to a level of lead that could be concerning over time,” he said.
As shocking as this is, it also brought some clarity around why I’ve had issues with wearing braiding hair as of late.
Not only have I dealt with scalp irritation, I’ve even had breakouts on my back from the hair touching. Since then, I’ve started rinsing the hair with apple cider vinegar, and haven’t had that many issues. However, the report stated that ACV isn’t a “cure-all” and can potentially release harmful chemicals when rinsing the hair.
@javonford16 Replying to @Julianna Rebundle vid: @Javon Ford Beauty #blackhairstyles #braidinghair #blackgirlhairstyles @Consumer Reports
While the report sparked some outrage, chemist Javon Ford has a different view. In a TikTok video, he shared that the report was tested for oral exposure and not dermal exposure.
He showed a screenshot of an email he allegedly sent Consumer Reports questioning their decision to test this way. The email said, “the best model to use, in our view, is the ingestion model for the reasons given in the article.”
“While I understand they went with that model, I don’t agree with it because you’re not intentionally ingesting braids,” Javon said. The chemist also said that the amount of chemicals found in the brands is “conservative” compared to other types of products.
So what does this mean for us braid-wearers? If you still want to wear braids, but have some concerns, you can limit how often you wear them. Another option is wearing non-toxic braiding hair or plant-based hair. The only downside is that it's pricier than synthetic hair.
The Consumer Report also suggested checking for recalls, reading labels carefully, and reporting adverse effects. Hair isn’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so it’s best to do your research when making purchases.
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