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Jun B's avatar

The way I was smiling from start to finish reading about this life of yours👏🏾🥹 I truly love to see it for you. I cut off my locs, shaved my head recently and have become more intentional with protecting my Orí. My wig collection has been growing too and can agree it is a fun & fab game changer. Those brown loose waves look great on you 🔥🖤

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Jacquie Verbal's avatar

Thank you so much Jun for reading and commenting on this post. I think when we cut our locs specifically and shave our head immediately after it opens a portal for our most vulnerable experiences yet. At least that has been my experience over the past almost 2 years now. I am looking to play with braids in the coming months so I'm sure this piece might have a few changes but for now, I am loving it here!

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Andree Koehler (she/her)'s avatar

You go on, honey and work that! And to know that someone tried to steal your fire by doing that to your hair? True -- deserves the beating but life will dole one out bigger and badder than any of us in your corner could.

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Jacquie Verbal's avatar

Thank you so much Andree for not only reading my work but for also engaging with in, that means everything to me. I openly write about when people wrong me, but I think I need to change that and start openly writing about when people support me and love on me, like this comment! I can't help but smile from ear to ear.

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Andree Koehler (she/her)'s avatar

Thank you for bringing us on your journey <3

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Ashleigh Noelle's avatar

First of all, let me say that you look tf amazing sis!!! Take all this energy and put ya foot on they necksssssss. Second of all, I came back to Substack under my real name. I’ve missed your community so much!! Can’t wait to catch up on your writings.

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Jacquie Verbal's avatar

Girl!!! I am so happy to see you back in my notifications! At first, I thought it was my absence keeping us apart so I'm happy that we are both back now. I can't wait to see your new writings from this new page, and I just opened Blackstack back up so you should be able to subscribe again! Was it Mase who gave us the "Welcome Back" song? Either way, baby, welcome back!

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Ashleigh Noelle's avatar

Period!!

I am one day out from a hysterectomy with 6 weeks off lol I have nothing but time 🫶🏾 to read and write all the good stuff

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Kristen Jeffers, MPA ✊🏽🌈's avatar

Yeah, I am taking more time to mantain my mane. I love giving mermaid and lion at once, but I am still calibrating the timing. I’ve got the process down to three hours and I have a great colorist to help with the bleach, but now it’s time to incorporate doing a color rinse each shampoo.

I love this idea of protection and like I said, my Halloween wig might have to be my “odds ever in my favor in the Babylonic Capitol” shield.

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Jacquie Verbal's avatar

I think the quality time spent on our manes is the spiritual crown upgrades we need right now. By you being right there, girl there is some crown protection you have to start exercising to keep your mind from going in the wrong direction. I had to be extremely protective in NY which is how the wig and hat combo came to life. Play with your Halloween wig and one of your crochet hats, I think that might be a bomb look for you! I love you I will text you back today!

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Manny's avatar

This is beautiful. “I didn’t know I really had all it took”. Idk you, but I’m proud of you!

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Jacquie Verbal's avatar

Thank you so much, Manny! This comment means everything because I'm proud of myself too. I've been thinking of you a lot since we connected on my LIVE so I'm grateful for you taking the time to read and reply to my work! It means the world!

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Aura Binah Marie's avatar

Omg I loved everything about this. Praise God for you reclaiming every part of yourself, I am on the same journey. I’m also going to start doing my own gel manicures at home for a few of the same reasons. I just acknowledged my gift of reiki and have started my journey to learn more. I also create and sell herbal remedies and it’s important for me to have the ability to do my work with ease. I’m figuring out my signature style at the age of 31 and right now I’ve been loving my silk press but I don’t want to continue putting too much heat on my hair so I want to try out rod sets for awhile to see how I feel, it’s fun experimenting and figuring out what is “me” and sparks joy. Really appreciate this post 🙏🏾

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Jacquie Verbal's avatar

YES!!!! See I am 34 and I've been trying to tap into my style since I turned 30 but I'm now just finding that balance between fly af and practical comfort. The gel manicures have been a dream of mine for a few years and now that I am doing it 4 months strong I'm so glad I started when I did. I can't wait to hear updates about your style and how it's developing...should this be a series for the girlies 30 and up? I could see this series developing fast on Blackstack.

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Aura Binah Marie's avatar

YES!!! Let’s make this a series!!! I am looking forward to my style developing and so far I’m discovering I’m low key into sneakers!!! I didn’t think myself that much into it but I am. I also loveeeee bags. I plan to do my first gel manicure at home this weekend!

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Jacquie Verbal's avatar

Post pictures and tag me when you do! I have to do my daughter's and wife's this weekend too so I might have a few photos to share as well. I only wear sneakers now because I walk often and honestly it's comfortable. I even have a pair I wear in the house only that allows me to stay productive when I'm in the house. I am going to add this to the prompt list, so be on the lookout for that newsletter on Blackstack in the next couple of days.

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Aura Binah Marie's avatar

I sure will! & that’s awesome definitely share your photos as well! Wearing house sneakers is actually a great idea I love that. I’m so excited for the next Blackstack!

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Ambar Wortham's avatar

Deeply appreciate this. So glad you have a style that works for you, in more way than one 💁🏾‍♀️

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Jacquie Verbal's avatar

Thank you so much, Ambar! I second this statement!

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Melissa's avatar

I absolutely love this post. I'm bi-racial but have always identified more with being a black woman. Going through menopause the texture of my hair changed and all my curls fell out. I chopped it all off and they grew back. Now, I am taking a chemo medication (not for cancer), I will be on for life, and my hair is falling out in clumps. I've been wanting to start buying wigs for a fee years, but I don't want to start super expensive in case I just cannot stand wearing it. There are so many options, I'm lost. The langth, density and lace front..I got. It's the brand and hair type that has me lost. Do you have some tips? Any good online places?

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