Through stories and statistics, we have learned that dressing for success leads to success.
While rocking a tailored suit may be considered dressing for success, it is also important to incorporate your personality into your career looks. I will admit that for years I chose to wear more classic styles because I was fearful of what my coworkers would say. Tyra Banks said it best, "Never dull your shine for somebody else."
We should all feel empowered to be the perfect balance of Annalise Keating and Cookie Lyon in our respective workplaces.
We all strive to be booked, busy, and blessed, much like style aficionado, Kéla Walker. This #girlboss is a seven-time Emmy nominated television host, producer, and life and style content creator. Kéla manages to boss up 24 hours a day and keeps it super stylish while she does. She's the woman we all strive to be with her bubbly but relatable personality. There is never a moment we aren't wondering what she's wearing and how she so skillfully curates her outfits.We follow her on Instagram, not only for inspiration, but to see how she's able to infuse her personality into her work wear.
"I work in a creative environment so the dress code policy isn't very stringent," Walker said. "As a result, I get to wear whatever I want, but I'm no slob. I wear a lot of dresses, matching sets, and dressed up denim. I feel smart and most stylish when I wear a dress—specifically a great fitting shift or sheath dress with a pair of killer heels. I feel like the boss even though I'm not."
Though dress codes can vary between offices and industries, Kela gave us the scoop on how we, too, can look stylish at work.
Here are her suggestions for how you can feel like a boss (even if you aren't—yet):
Isn't she great? Be sure to check out her style blog, Kéla's Kloset for more tips for maximizing your style.
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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.
Delmaine Donson/ Getty Images
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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Feature image by AzmanL/ Getty Images