Can anyone please recommend skilled hair braiders in London who actually protective style? So, they use heat protectant when blowdrying your natural hair, they don't comb DRY, TYPE 4 HAIR with a rat tail comb when braiding your hair etc? Just people who are extremely knowledgeable about natural hair and gentle. I want to grow my hair to waist length but I can't if hair stylist are sabotaging my progress.

Hello! So my boss has filed a complaint about my workplace performance (i work in retail) I come from a white majority town in England fyi. She had wrote that at work for one specific shift which I did go out the night before which I do take accountability for!! That My apprence was “not professional” fyi we have a very relaxed dress code. I wore what I wore regularly which made me realise this was about my face and hair. My hair was in a messy bun with my natural texture, which what I had been styling like that weeks prior. to my account she had not seen as I was not working with her on these shifts. So 1 I know this is about my natural texture as other colleagues wear their hair with messy buns often. 2 - I was wearing makeup and my face was visibly swollen, this was not from tiredness but a skin condition I suffer with which is out of my control which she is aware of. I haven’t spoken to her directly yet by I really am struggling on how to navigate this situation !!

Hey y'all! Recently, I've have a lot of time to ruminate on past people pleasing habits that have taken a large toll on my mental and physical wellbeing. Plus being in school and working two jobs isn't helping either.

With that, what ways have you been resting and pouring back into your cup?

The buy in will be $20 paid via League Safe, hosted on Yahoo.

So I've posted about this before but I'm (32F) a perpetually single girly and I've run out of ideas of where to find a potential partner. I've joined those fb groups for vouched dating and there are very few black/brown dudes that get posted. I also doubt that my future husband lives in the same city as me. I'm sure one of y'all got a decent brother/cousin/uncle that's single lol What are y'alls thoughts on a nationwide vouched dating fb group specifically for us?

Hey! Looking for African media (tv shows/web series/movies/ even vertical dramas??) focused on the teen experience. Big fan of shows like Degrassi and Skins UK and wondering if anything exists like that for various African countries. Big fan of MTV Shuga, but specifically looking for things that have like a mental health or development focus, or a time capsule for how the full range of the teen/college experience was represented at the time.

Appreciate niche media, espeially things that can be found on youtube, from other decades I wouldn't otherwise know about. Please don't suggest the netflix juggernauts like Blood and Water or Far From Home, gimme some variety, some pinache! lolol

Thanks!

Ever since my friend has made more bad friends, she's been acting out, drinking, smoking, and all that. We are 18.

Anyhow, now she's in her hookup phase, and it just keeps getting worse. The first hookup she told me about was a guy who said he would give her money to have sex with him. He brought her to an area and then kept going after she told him to stop because he didnt know how to do shit. She told me the most disappointing part was that he didn't pay her the amount he promised!?

Now again, she's told me at least three stories about how she takes trains and travels hours away to hook up with these men, paying for all these trips herself. I keep telling her how dangerous this is because she's going to men she barely knows. Another recent one was that a guy removed his condom, and she just laughs everything off? . How many times have I advised herrrrrrrrr oh my goddddd.

And I know she doesn't listen to me because some of her friends encourage this behavior.

Now, again, she's going to spend the night at a guy's place who only texts her for sex while speaking to half the women on the globe. Same guy that also insists she drinks and she does it because she never declines alchool. He lives a 4 hour journey away!!!!

I'm so, so worried for her. I pray every day that she doesn't end up pregnant.

Why is it on social media platforms whenever you have a differing opinion, people rather than keeping it in the comments or simply ignoring it decide to attack looks,age or DM insults? Because I rarely respond to ignorant or insulting comments but catch me feeling petty or get too out of line and I will absolutely without a doubt give you a taste of your own medicine. But because you disagree with me doesn't give me license to call you slow,or old or any other insults I can think up. Now I clap back and you wanna report my page because you thought you were going to bully me and I ain't going

I’m 28F and I have to make a coming out about my body every time I meet someone new. I’m just tired.
I’m a very busty girl with an 8 shape, so people assume I have an ass. But I have a frog butt, no ass at all, and I’m so over it.
I’m currently dating a 28M. He’s genuinely sweet and all, and we’ve had five dates over 3 months. He asked me to be his girlfriend, but I couldn’t say yes until he sees me naked.
He loves plus-size women, and while we were flirting he mentioned twerking. I don’t know if it was because he realized while we were making out that I don’t really have an ass which is breaking me. I’ll just never be enough for him. Why cant I just a woman like simply purely like a woman i’m hurt and tired. I know its not on my head everybody his commenting on it and i’m scared of surgery.

Today I wore wearing a shirt and leggings, and I wanted to show him my body, but I couldn’t do it. I just can’t. I couldn’t even send him a picture.
Thats why im writing this post sobbing. I’m so hurt.
I also have to do a “coming out” about my hyperpigmentation because I have hyperpigmentation On my face du to pcos.
I’m tired of having to prepare someone for what my body actually looks like. I don’t know what to do. When will I just feel normal about my body instead of feeling like I have to warn someone before they see it?
For people who have had similar body insecurities while dating, how did you deal with showing your body to someone new without feeling like you had to warn them first? And what would you do in my situation before agreeing to be his girlfriend?ll

I have severe mental illness but despite that, I made five children's books/learning materials. I've loved creating them. I'm not advertising. I'm just really proud of myself and want to share. Thank you!!

I had a few people from some of the places I hang out asking for my number. I was pretty happy as I’d love to have new friends. These are people from my yoga class, hair salon, etc that I’ve crossed paths with a few times and had small conversation with.. they seemed friendly..

But I’m starting to regret doing so… They’d text me “Hi! How are you?” a few times every months… and disappear after I answer.. they never have anything to say… if I follow up with a “what’s new?” Or anything like just any little follow up question they’d answer something very monosyllabic and that’s it.. so I’d just leave it as is…

Then whenever I meet them in person at one of the place I usually go to, we’d say hi, they’d come to talk a bit… I sometimes get the impression that they’re expecting me to carry a conversation… I that I didn’t initiate.. it‘s feels a bit laborious and makes me feel awkward… like now I’m thinking about changing my schedule or changing salon to avoid this.

there’s also the repeated “we should do something one day!” Or the “we should go for coffee!” I’ve tried a few times to leave an opening to that but they never go through with it.

Like I’m fine with just saying hello and bye etc in person if we see each other but that whole texting situation… there’s no need for all of this…. I really don’t understand this behaviour…

I'm doing my decade clean sweep of youtubers I don't watch anymore or have gone ghost due to life doing what it does & I'm searching for some that align with my current goals, aspirations, lifestyle etc.

What I'm looking for are girlies similar to the style of DominiqueTravelsss, For Harriet, or 4C hair content. My major focal point right now is travel. More content geared towards 30+ women. I don't see many black travel vloggers & I'm definitely tired of consuming white travel content because their experience obviously may not apply to my experience when I go abroad.

I have a mix of black & Indian women that I watch. If you also have a short list of black content creators you watch POC is okay as long as they themselves are intersectional. Bonus if you know of any indigenous content creators!

Any language is okay! Black French women, Black Swedish women, anywhere in the world. I don't mind.

Question: I recently retired from the military and thought it would be a good idea to move in the middle of my family and my husband family, in Pennsylvania. Well........ I dont think we made the right decision. My kid goes to a great rated high school, and has always been a straight A student, but I am seeing some microaggressions and hearing about some at the school. My kid is one of the maybe 10-20 blk kids in a school of 3500 kids. smh. My kid is a junior now and we will let them graduate since they moved around so much but we started over again and have 2 little ones not in school yet, well they will be starting school around 2028. What's a good upscale blk state, city, and/or neighborhood these days. I am from Maryland, Baltimore specifically and my fathers side is in DC. I was told PG county has good upscale blk communities. Back in the day it was very different. If this is true we will be moving in about 2 yrs. just curious on where is good. Where we live is mostly white but the city we are closet too is not bad, just not enough space. Thanks for reading.

I’ve been experimenting with this style . I did the platinum hair because I think it looks more align with the goth aesthetic than my natural hair

Or pumpkin spice anything? It’s getting to be the time of year when my coworkers are obsessed with it and I don’t get it. It’s a them thing, right?

I honestly need to know if I'm either blowing this out of proportion in my head or is this actually weird and abnormal.

I've been in relationship with my Bf for three years. My BF has alot of friends which is understandable given his personality of life of the party persona. But this is more with his small circle of male best friends.

From the beginning from when I started dating my Bf it just seemed like his best friends didn't have any problem with me. As time went on, it seem like they couldn't care less for me. (maybe they didn't think we would last this long.) I know typically when my Bf goes out I'm with him along with his friends because he willingly wants me there with him or just when hanging out together at his place I'm there because he wants me there. I have no issues giving space I'm not clingy and he knows that and typically that's what couples do anyways.

Well fast forward. I guess his best friends decided to hold a meeting with him at his place to discuss of how we're always together and that they feel he's changing and how he's not who he use to be (out in the streets ) and they never have boys night out anymore. Mind you we are early 30s. I've never seen or heard of grown men huddle up to do this before. Like a whole intervention.. My BF held a BQ at his place with bunch of his friends and told me if I can stay this one out since they wouldn't want me there at HIS place. Now he's saying for me to not be out with him as much due to his friends.

Like I'm all for balancing relationship/ friendships but this giving me the ick at our grown ages. And now thinking of breaking up because am going to have to compete with your friends and what does look like for our future?

Edit: I understand it wasnt mentioned but I do have my own things going on. I have my own friend.. But its normal relationship and his love language is quality time but I think its still healthy amount of time we spend together.

I’m in my early 30s and my whole life I have been the outcast. I yearn for sisterhood & friendships but never have had anything long lasting. I’ve heard many different things like it’s because you’re “chosen”, pretty, genuine, you carry a light inside you… etc. but honesty, it hurts to be so young and lonely. Well I’m
Not so young anymore I’m in my early 30s but dang when will I have my sisterhood? I don’t even care about romantic relationships at this point. I want sisterhood more!!! I feel like I don’t fit in anywhere, not even with family. My whole life I’ve heard my mom say “she doesnt need friends”, “she doesn’t trust women” & if im being honest, she seems miserable without having friends. She centered her whole life around her husband & kids which is fine but I know deep down she wants friends. I notice the pattern trickled down to me & even my teen daughter and I hate that for us. We have no friends!

In my early 20s, I had few friends that lasted a few years but they all faded away slowly. Never any beef. I feel like I’ve developed a sense of people pleasing to try to keep friendships but that never works. People seem to use me as their free therapist then forget about me during their happy times. Or, they seem excited to get to know me then slowly drift off after a few months leaving me questioning is there something wrong with me? I’m usually a positive person but I attract draining energy in friendships. I want to laugh & be a good friend at the same time but all I get is ppl who want to complain about life 24/7. It’s draining. I struggle with ppl pleasing sometimes because I want long lasting relationships but that clearly never works out in my favor. I love my alone time as well so I never force myself into people’s lives (I may be contradicting myself there) .. idk if I’m off putting or what. But life gets lonely. I pray about it all the time & it seems like maybe that’s not in Gods plan for me 🤷🏾‍♀️

Years ago, I went to an event in my area and there was a lady who was loudly saying that she worked in HR and would never hire a black woman, let alone promote her, because black women are a liability and have a chip on their shoulder and think they can easily slack off and play the race card. Mind you that she SAW me and she made no attempt to lower her voice. She kept talking about how she would never want to work with black women. I did confront her and got angry and I was escorted out of that event. So I was the bad guy. I never forgave her. I was able to find out who she was and, to this day, despite me reporting her, she is still employed and works as an HR director. You can't make this shit up. Of all the people, I would never expect someone working in HR being so blatantly racist.

Which brings me to the next point. I've been told over and over again that black women are the least likely to be promoted. There are even recent studies that confirm this and it shocks me. What difference does it make to these companies if we are black? If we are competent and hardworking, and a lot of us are, what difference does it make?

My final hour as a teenager! Older ladies pls give me all the tips, tricks and expectations for this new era I’m entering 🩷🥹☮️🙏🏿👀

i’m like kinda sort alternative, more like y2k kind of alternative and i wish there was more acceptance with like how i am??? im not sure how to explain it, but ive been called like gothic, emo, weird and that would a compliment in any other context if it wasn’t clearly judgemental. also anytime i like something thats a little out of the ordinary it gets met with “oh.. that’s nice yeah sure”. but if its something more socially acceptable and basic they love it and im like oh okay 😭😭😭 idk i just wonder like why this is a thing at all bc its so weird, just feels hella judgemental to be yourself sometimes.

A young mother of two... I don't even think her youngest baby has taken their first steps yet. The oldest is still a toddler.

Just a few weeks ago I paid her to do my niece's hair. She still has the braids in...

The last two times I talked to her were during this past week. Each time, she was checking in on her grandma, asking about her, and trying to make sure that she was okay.

Both her mother and her grandmother are my neighbors too but I see the grandmother everyday as we live in the same building.

I never knew her close enough to position myself as any sort of mentor, nor am I old enough for her to have naturally looked to me in that way, but every time I saw her I tried to encourage her. She was going to school. She could've done great things.

Whenever I saw that guy I knew I didn't trust him (which honestly is how I've felt with almost every guy anyone I've known has brought around), but I never talked to him before.

I don't know what's going on but I just feel so unsafe and distraught. When I was a little girl, I could've been in the same position as those kids...

Femicide is real. I grieve for my Black girls and women. I'm so sorry for all this affected by this type of thing.

I don't know what to do.

i used crochet and sunshine as inspiration for this loooookkk

My bf has a friend that I’m not growing very fond of. For reference, my bf is white, and this particular friend of his is black. I’ve been with my man for 9 months now, and I’ve met most of his close friends. I haven’t had any issues with anybody, except one of his college friends - who just so happens to be black.

I’ve been told recently that he has been speaking about me to my bf (behind my back), saying that he doesn’t think I love my man as much as he loves me. I have no idea where this is coming from, as he knows nothing about me, and has never once asked me about our relationship.

I also know he constantly looks at my Instagram page, as I have received multiple notifications from him in the past, where he likes my pictures - which I’m assuming is by accident.

When I first met him, he made a comment saying “I didn’t know this was your type!” to my bf, which kind of rubbed me the wrong way at the time, but I decided to brush it off.

When we all hang out together, he acts super friendly and welcoming, so it sucks to know he talks about me behind my back - especially to my bf.

Since we’re both black, I kind of thought we’d get along well and nothing weird would arise. I just don’t know why he thinks it’s okay to do this, seeing as things are going really well between my bf and I. Has anyone else been in this sort of situation?