• Rooted In More Than Beauty: How Sally Beauty Is Investing In The Next Generation Of Textured Hair Leaders

    By Essence ·Updated February 26, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… There’s a certain kind of magic that happens when beauty meets intention. Not the kind found in perfectly curated shelves or trending tutorials, but the kind that shows up in community spaces where conversations feel honest, affirming, and rooted in culture. Sally Beauty, in partnership with Impressions of Beauty, is deepening its commitment to the textured hair community for the second consecutiv
  • Black Wealth Watch: Katt Williams Enters AI, Student Loan Relief Gets Taxed, And Isaac Hayes’ Estate Settlement

    By Kimberly Wilson ·Updated February 26, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Welcome to Black Wealth Watch, where we round up the biggest stories in Black business and economic news each week — the wins, the setbacks, the deals getting done, and the conversations we should be having about money, power, and who actually gets a seat at the table.This week we saw one of our favorite comedians quietly tap into the AI boom (in the best way possible), a tax change that c
  • Megan Thee Stallion & Coco Jones Stun At Milan Fashion Week

    By Larry Stansbury ·Updated February 27, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Milan Fashion Week has gotten a dose of unapologetic Black girl magic. This season, so far, Megan Thee Stallion and Coco Jones are turning the front row into a masterclass in beauty,decoding="async" src="https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2026/02/GettyImages-2263219032-scaled.jpg" alt="Megan Thee Stallion & Coco Jones Stun At Milan Fashion Week" width="400" height="600" />Megan
  • ESScent Of The Week: Valentino’s Purple Melancholia Is A Darker Take On Born In Roma

    By Kimberly Wilson ·Updated February 26, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… To know me is to know that Valentino’s Donna Born in Roma sits firmly on my Mount Rushmore of fragrance favorites.It’s a scent I come back to over and over again and it never once lets me down. Date nights, homecoming tailgates, airline rides, concerts, sporting events… you name it, I’ve worn it there. So when Valentino announced a new chapter in the Born in Roma world,
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  • Black Fashion Archives: Honoring Edward Buchanan’s Impact On Modern Luxury

    Kristy Sparow/Getty Images for The Business of FashionBy Mecca Pryor ·Updated February 26, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Black Fashion Archives offers an in-depth exploration of some of the most influential Black figures in fashion that deserve more praise. Here, we highlight and celebrate their journeys and the legacies that have helped secure their place in the history of fashion.Edward Buchanan is recognized as the first design director at Bottega Veneta—lo
  • Celebrity Hairstylist Suzette Boozer Breaks Down Her Top Tips

    Greg Doherty/Getty Images for MUAHS AwardsBy India Espy-Jones ·Updated February 26, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… “In The Chair” spotlights the incredible hairstylists and makeup artists in our community who are giving us major inspiration. Each week, they discuss their personal beauty and career journeys, what they’ve learned from their clients, and their top glam tips.“As a hairstylist, I’ve done everything to my hair,” celebrit
  • Inside The Era Of Undetectable Injectables

    Getty ImageBy Shani Hillian ·Updated February 26, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Your favorite celebrities aren’t looking better because they’re getting less work done; they’re just getting better work. The last decade has been SKNdustry in Philadelphia. She’s an aesthetics expert who’s performed over 20,000 injections and has built a reputation for delivering natural, anatomy-first results. Through subtle, methodical facial balancing, &
  • Uncle Nearest’s Financial Troubles Mount As Assets Go Up For Sale Amid Ongoing Lawsuit

    By Andrea Bossi ·Updated February 26, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Uncle Nearest has been wrapped up in a lawsuit, on the Black-owned whiskey brand’s financial turmoil, for several months. While it remains at risk of foreclosure, new reports show that asset liquidation is underway, too.The brand — which ESSENCE previously reported is financially insolvent and owes millions of dollars to external parties — may soon be losing its four-bed, four-bat
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  • Nene Leakes Steps Out With Her New Man At Memphis Grizzlies Game

    By Elizabeth Ayoola ·The post Nene Leakes Steps Out With Her New Man At Memphis Grizzlies Game appeared first on Essence.
  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘You, Me & Tuscany’ Promises Black Love, Laughter, And The Italian Countryside

    Courtesy of Universal PicturesBy Okla Jones ·Updated February 26, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Black love is heading to Italy, and ESSENCE has an exclusive look for You, Me & Tuscany, the upcoming romantic comedy executive produced by Will Packer, directed by Kat Coiro, and starring Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page.In the video, Packer talks about what drew him to the film and why he wanted to back it as a producer. Coming off a run of crowd-pleasing hits
  • The Evolution Of Cool: Erykah Badu’s Most Transformative Fashion Looks

    By Mecca Pryor ·Updated February 26, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Erykah Badu is a soulful visionary whose lyrics feel like ancestral whispers and affirmations all at once. She creates music that makes you feel seen, held, and spiritually aligned as a Black woman. Expanding the boundaries of what artistry,src="https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2026/02/GettyImages-2181644319-scaled.jpg" alt="The Evolution Of Cool: Erykah Badu’s Most Transformative
  • I Grew Up Knowing I Was Unwanted By My Mother. Now, I’m The Only One Willing To Be Her Caretaker.

    Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… My mother’s laughter echoed at our family gathering as we sat around the table playing cards. Between the banter and the utensils scraping at plates, her favorite story always found its way back into the room. I sat wide-eyed, hanging on to every word as she declared, yet again, that I was the surprise baby she never wanted. Her mindset had started with a caregiving parenting toxic relationships traumaThe post I Grew Up Knowing I W
  • Op-Ed: Halle Berry Speaks Out Against Faking Orgasms—And It’s About Time Somebody Said It

    By Elizabeth Ayoola ·The post Op-Ed: Halle Berry Speaks Out Against Faking Orgasms—And It’s About Time Somebody Said It appeared first on Essence.
  • How Rocking Fun Patterns Is Helping Me Beat Seasonal Blues

    Composite by India Espy-Jones.By Akili King ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… ESSENCE Senior Beauty & Style Editor Akili King believes ‘glow’ is more than skin deep. In The Ritual Report, she shares personal healing practices—from acupuncture for skin and grounding benefits to ‘dopamine dressing’—designed to inspire readers to find creative ways to soothe their nervous systems and reclaim their magic from the
  • The Latest Pixie Cut Recruit? Justine Skye

    Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… “I’m about to cut all my hair off,” singer Justine Skye says in an Instagram reel. Crossing over to the land of pixie cuts is a rite of passage. Joining the likes of Teyana Taylor, Keke Palmer, and Taraji P. Henson, this week, Skye is the latest crop cut recruit. And, who better to initiate her than hairstylist Jawara Wauchope? From a pixie cut on Anok Yai at the 2025 Met Gala to an eye-framing >wolf cut pixie, he got to
  • Stylish Snow Boots For Every Budget

    XNY/Star Max/Getty ImagesBy Mecca Pryor ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… The snow is here, yet the girls still have places to go. After our second storm of the season, we’re all hoping it was the last, but with flurries back in next week’s forecast, winter clearly isn’t finished with us just yet. While snow boots aren’t usually my go-to when planning an outfit, a chic new pair has completely changed my perspective. The
  • Robert Cosby Jr., Son Of RHOSLC’s Mary Cosby, Dies At 23

    Courtesy InstagramBy Shelby Stewart ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Robert Cosby Jr., the 23‑year‑old son of NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 07: Mary Cosby is seen at the Bravo Clubhouse on October 07, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by The Hapa Blonde/GC Images) Salt Lake City police said officers were called Monday night for a “full arrest/medical emergency” involving a 23‑year‑old man. Fire crews and parame
  • Raven-Symoné Just Started Her Loc Journey

    By India Espy-Jones ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… “It’s happening,” said Raven-Symoné in a TikTok video with over 25,000 likes. Sitting in celebrity hairstylist Erinn Courtney’s chair, the once buzz-cut star—who’s dyed her hair from pink to multi-color polka dots—is trying something different. But, this time, that means something more permanent than usual. “I’m starting my loc journe
  • Damson Idris Is Formula 1’s New Global Brand Ambassador

    By Kimberly Wilson ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Damson Idris is on a generational run right now. The British actor has spent the last few years collecting career highs like infinity stones, and his latest is one nobody (or maybe, everybody) saw coming: he is now an official Global Brand Ambassador for Formula 1.“I’ve always been drawn to spaces where culture, performance, and precision meet, and Formula 1 sits right at the ce
  • Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Announces 2026 Nominees: Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, Luther Vandross, Sade And More

    By Okla Jones ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its nominees for the Class of 2026, unveiling one of its most genre-spanning ballots in recent memory. Revealed Wednesday, this year’s list includes 17 nominees, representing 18 artists, and blends rock mainstays with R&B icons, hip-hop pioneers and global pop stars.According to the Rock Hall of Fame, leading the nominees are Mariah Carey, Laur
  • The Spring Book Guide: 9 Must-Read Titles

    Penguin Random HouseBy Veronica Wells ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… If the state of the world is bringing you down, get lost in a new one. Whether you’re reading to learn and expand your world view or indulging in some much-needed pleasure, reading helps us escape, often returning better than we were before. And speaking of things we’re looking to break free from, that includes winter. Thankfully, there are a slew of releases coming
  • Why Black Barbershops Are the Heart Of The Community

    By Larry Stansbury ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Black barbershops are more than just places to get a fresh cut—they’re the heartbeat of the community. From the moment you walk in, you’re stepping into a safe space where culture, connection, and conversation thrive. It’s where Black men share life lessons, exchange laughs, and build bonds beyond the barber’s chair. These spaces have long been hubs for self-express
  • Black Journalists, Don Lemon & Georgia Fort Face Federal Charges Amid Press Freedom Battle

    (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)By Tevon Blair ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Black members of the press have educated the public about the injustices and oppression in America since the establishment of the first Black newspaper, Freedom’s Journal, in 1827. Now, two-centuries later, independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort face federal charges after their coverage of an anti-immigration enforcement protest, adding to the
  • Exclusive: From ‘Married to Medicine’ To Congress? Heavenly Kimes Says Her Fame Helps, Not Hurts Her Chances

    By Rayna Reid Rayford ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Dentist and Married to Medicine cast member Heavenly Kimes, known as Dr. Heavenly on the series, has joined the reality TV-to-politics pipeline. The 55-year-old is aiming to turn her platform into a political run against ten-term incumbent David Scott to represent Georgia’s 13th district in the U.S. House of Representatives.As the campaign ramps up for the Democ
  • How Ellaé Lisqué Founder Maxie J. Rebuilt Her Fashion Brand With Women At The Center

    By William Thompson ·The post How Ellaé Lisqué Founder Maxie J. Rebuilt Her Fashion Brand With Women At The Center appeared first on Essence.
  • Kenya Moore’s Hair Spa Is Facing Eviction As Judge Orders $88K Payment

    ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 09: Kenya Moore attends the Atlanta screening of “Mean Girls” at AMC Madison Yards 8 on January 09, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)By Andrea Bossi ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Kenya Moore’s hair salon has some serious financial woes. A judge ordered the Real Housewives of Atlanta alum to pay nearly $88,000 in unpaid bills, including rent and utilities, relat
  • Best Spring Beauty Products 2026

    Composite by India Espy-JonesBy Valerie Butler ·Updated February 24, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… “Spring cleaning” has become something of a cultural punchline: Throwing out your expired mascara, wiping out your vanity drawers, and weeding through the products that actually work. The idea of clearing out your baggage and changing your ways because you’ve crossed the threshold of a new season feels like a wives’ tale we’ve collectively
  • MAC Cosmetics Is Coming to Sephora—And It Might Say More About the Economy Right Now Than Beauty

    By Kimberly Wilson ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… When I first saw that MAC Cosmetics was entering Sephora, my first thought was “this is a recession indicator, for sure.” And that thought says a lot about the state of MAC right now then it says about the state of Sephora.16-year-old me remembered when these two stores were fierce competitors. I had to go to MAC for my Riri Woo, and then I had to go to Sephora for my Illamasqua foun
  • All Your Faves Are Going On Tour—Here’s How To Get Your Coins Together

    INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: (Exclusive Coverage) Cardi B performs onstage during the Little Miss Drama Tour at The Kia Forum on February 15, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)By Andrea Bossi ·Updated February 23, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… The past few years have been busy for anyone who loves live music, from Beyoncé’s two major stadium tours and The Weeknd’s multi-year “Afte
  • Exclusive: Delroy Lindo Reflects On First Oscar Nom After 50 Years Acting: ‘One Does Not Work For Awards’

    By Okla Jones ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Delroy Lindo’s recent Academy Award nomination is long overdue, but he has never carried himself like a man waiting for validation. His résumé spans nearly five decades, and since he began his career, it’s always been about the work. When the London-born actor learned of the Oscar nod, the information came from a trusted source. “Well, my son was the one who deliv
  • Delroy Lindo On His Oscar Nod, Working With Ryan Coogler, And Blues Music

    Photo Credit: Gareth CattermoleBy Okla Jones ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Delroy Lindo’s recent Academy Award nomination is long overdue, but he has never carried himself like a man waiting for validation. His résumé spans nearly five decades, and since he began his career, it’s always been about the work. When the London-born actor learned of the Oscar nod for his role as Delta Slim in Ryan Coogler’s Sinne
  • Channel Jodie Turner-Smith’s Unapologetic Chic For Less

    Neil Mockford/WireImageBy Mecca Pryor ·Updated February 24, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Jodie Turner-Smith lives rent-free on our >Burberry Autumn/Winter 2026 show in London, the actress delivered yet another unforgettable look. Posing in front of the iconic London Tower Bridge, Turner-Smith stunned in a grey mirror-paneled dress that reflected the city lights with every movement. She paired the statement piece with sleek thigh-high leather boots and layered an
  • The Best London Fashion Week FW26 Street Style Moments

    By Stixx Mathews ·The post The Best London Fashion Week FW26 Street Style Moments appeared first on Essence.
  • Black Women Are Rewriting The Corporate Natural Hair Narrative

    Jon Feingersh Photography Inc / Getty ImagesBy Donnetta Monk ·Updated February 24, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… During my first year in corporate, I was taken aback when my coworker made an off-hand comment. He mentioned that my many different hair>CROWN research study revealed that Black women’s hair is two-and-a-half times more likely to be perceived as unprofessional. And, for many of us, that’s not just a statistic, it’s our reality. A
  • The ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Is Returning With Two New Housewives

    By Shelby Stewart ·The post The ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Is Returning With Two New Housewives appeared first on Essence.
  • Sarah Bond, Xbox’s First Black Woman President, Steps Down After Nearly A Decade

    By Andrea Bossi ·Updated February 24, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Sarah Bond, who was the first Black woman to be president at Xbox, is stepping down from her executive role at Xbox.At Xbox, Bond served as president for nearly two-and-a-half years. Throughout her time at the company, she led teams through unprecedented times, from the pandemic to technological >post. During her time at the company, she also helped finalize Microsoft’s $68.7 billion Activ
  • Mara Brock Akil Announces Her Debut Novel: And We Have The Cover!

    By Bridgette Bartlett Royall ·Updated February 24, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Girlfriends, Akil is an iconic storyteller. The wife and mom of two possesses an undisputable gift for creating characters who have layers, and are ambitious, intelligent and resilient, while also being fly, flawed and vulnerable. We become invested in their relationships, their careers and their families. She gets us. She is us.Now, the Northwestern grad is turning the page in her car
  • Black Beauty Reigned Supreme On The Front Row At London Fashion Week

    By India Espy-Jones ·Updated February 24, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… London Fashion Week’s fall/winter 2026 season has officially ended. But, before celebrities move on to the third stop in the fashion month cycle, Milan, Burberry called some of the most famous celebrities to the front row. There, we saw Queen & Slim’s Jodie Turner-Smith with a fluffy silk press and Industry’s Myha’la in her signature micro-braids. However, this
  • Megan Thee Stallion Says She’s ‘Manifesting My Engagement’ To Klay Thompson

    By Elizabeth Ayoola ·The post Megan Thee Stallion Says She’s ‘Manifesting My Engagement’ To Klay Thompson appeared first on Essence.
  • The Culture-Defining Moments From London Fashion Week

    Getty Images.By Mecca Pryor ·Updated February 24, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… London Fashion Week has officially wrapped, and all eyes now turn to Milan. The royal city set the tone for Autumn/Winter with a week full of standout moments. At British-Nigerian-owned fashion brand Tolu Coker’s show, there was a surprise appearance from Charles III and a powerful performance by Little Simz. Then, Mel B closed the Natasha Zinko show with signature Spice Girl energ
  • Charlamagne Tha God And iHeartMedia Announce The 4th Annual Black Effect Podcast Festival

    By Okla Jones ·Updated February 24, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… The Black Effect Podcast Festival is back.iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God announced today that the fourth annual Black Effect Podcast Festival will take place April 25 at Pullman Yards in Atlanta, Georgia. The one-day event will bring together leading voices from the Black Effect Podcast Network for live tapings, panel discussions and community engagement centered on the future of podcasting.Foun
  • Op-Ed: What Does It Look Like To Love A Black Man In The ‘Soft Boy Era’?

    By Natasha Crooks ·Updated February 24, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… As we near the end of Black History Month, it is important to reflect on and acknowledge how we express The post Op-Ed: What Does It Look Like To Love A Black Man In The ‘Soft Boy Era’? appeared first on Essence.
  • Eddie Murphy And Martin Lawrence Attend Baby Shower For Granddaughter Ari Skye

    By Elizabeth Ayoola ·The post Eddie Murphy And Martin Lawrence Attend Baby Shower For Granddaughter Ari Skye appeared first on Essence.
  • Inside The Airbnb Where Jamaica’s Bobsled Team Cooked, Connected, And Made Olympic History

    The post Inside The Airbnb Where Jamaica’s Bobsled Team Cooked, Connected, And Made Olympic History appeared first on Essence.
  • Product Of The Week: Mila Eve Essentials Flawless Glow Toner

    Composite by India Espy-JonesBy Tatayana Yomary ·Updated February 23, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… In an industry where there is an overwhelming amount of product launches daily, Product Of The Week helps you cut through the noise. To help you find your new beauty and wellness favorites, this series highlights the tried-and-true products that our writers can’t live without.Dealing with hyperpigmentation is not for the weak. From peeling off your skin with che
  • Tracee Ellis Ross Expands PATTERN Beauty With Indigo Rain

    Images courtesy of PATTERN Beauty.By Akili King ·Updated February 23, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… When Tracee Ellis Ross drops knowledge of any sort, I listen. After all, it feels, whatever she touches turns to gold. Consider everything from hit shows like Girlfriends and The post Tracee Ellis Ross Expands PATTERN Beauty With Indigo Rain appeared first on Essence.
  • Simone Biles Joins Mandarin Oriental As Its First Ever Global Wellness Ambassador

    By Kimberly Wilson ·The post Simone Biles Joins Mandarin Oriental As Its First Ever Global Wellness Ambassador appeared first on Essence.
  • Inside Sterling Lewis’ Hybrid Restaurant, Confessions

    Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… By the 2010s, Sterling Lewis was shaping Houston nightlife.The early aughts of Houston nightlife could be described as mythical, because quite frankly, you just had to be there. Lewis, in large part, played a role in that. He’s responsible for popular parties such as Belvedere Sundays and the That’s My Jam R&B series, which brought to Houston major A-list stars, including the likes of Drake and Usher. His ethos? Creating moments to
  • Gospel Star Marvin Sapp Is Engaged — Meet His Fiancée!

    CenomaxxBy Victoria Uwumarogie ·Updated February 23, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Gospel star Marvin Sapp is getting ready to say “I do.” The crooner announced his engagement to La’Boris Cole, PhD, with help from his adult children. Masking the event as a birthday party, once Sapp and Cole walked in, their respective family members were there, and he dropped to one knee to propose. Sapp and Cole were friends for more than a decade before they deci
  • Halle Bailey Is Giving Us Major Beauty Inspiration

    Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty ImagesBy Larry Stansbury ·Updated February 23, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… There’s no doubt that Halle Bailey is beauty muse status. Most recently, the singer and actress has been steadily sharing glimpses of her glam throughout the press tour for her new film You, Me & Tuscany, and every post feels like a masterclass in softness, romance, and glow-forward confidence. Bailey’s beauty choices prove just how intenti

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