1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: Hey, y'all, Eve's here. I know you're ready to get 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: into this episode, but really quick. We have been loving 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: connecting with y'all over black storytelling, and if you've really 4 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: been loving the show, then we would really appreciate it 5 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: if you would leave us a rating and review, subscribe 6 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: to the show, and share it with your friends. Thanks y'all, 7 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 1: Now time for the episode. On theme is a production 8 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 1: of iHeartRadio and fair Weather Friends Media. Hey, y'all, welcome 9 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 1: to our channel. 10 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 2: I'm Katie and I'm Eves, and you're tuned into Friends. 11 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 1: With FROs, a channel where we show you how to 12 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: pretty fi your puff. 13 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 2: How to let your silk press sing and big. 14 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: Chop Bellow, how to help your braids go from busted to. 15 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 2: And how to let your kitchen cook because naps are 16 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 2: what Eves natural. 17 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: We'll make sure your hair is looking right so you 18 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:09,959 Speaker 1: can keep fighting the good fight. 19 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:13,480 Speaker 2: That's right. This channel is all about pro black hair hair. 20 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: So without further ado, let's get into today's tutorial. 21 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 2: Today's episode wash day Woes. 22 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: Early in my high school years, I stopped getting perms, 23 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: and it wasn't really a principal thing. They just didn't 24 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,679 Speaker 1: work for me. They burned no matter what I did. 25 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 1: I hated the process and upkeep, and I wasn't the 26 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: biggest fan of how I looked with my straight hair anyway. 27 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: And my mother didn't get relaxers, so I saw what 28 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: it was like to live without, so I decided to 29 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: let my hair grow out without getting touchups. 30 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 2: I do remember when you went natural, mm hmm. 31 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: It was a rough period, but so freeing that I 32 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: didn't have to deal with the creamy crack anymore. So 33 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: I committed to growing it all out, got made fun 34 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: of here and there, and eventually had a head free 35 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: of relaxer chemicals. 36 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 3: Yeah. 37 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 2: I went natural a couple years later than you when 38 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 2: I was in college, I think my sophomore year or 39 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 2: right after my sophomore year. But you're definitely like one 40 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 2: of the people I look to. I was like, well, East, 41 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:20,359 Speaker 2: what natural? So I can too? 42 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 1: Oh yeah. But for me, throughout that whole transition, I 43 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: never would have made it. Q Marvin sapp if it 44 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 1: weren't for the natural hair YouTube girlies. 45 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:34,519 Speaker 2: They have given so many people free game. 46 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: Yes, ma'am, and I was one of them. Now, they 47 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 1: weren't super popping on YouTube around the time that I 48 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: started my process. At first, I was reading articles on 49 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,920 Speaker 1: old hair blogs with tiny pictures, scrolling through the comments 50 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: section looking for folks who could co sign or condemn 51 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 1: the tips given by the author, you know, trying to 52 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: figure out what the hell and loc method is. The 53 00:02:56,919 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: struggle was real, but baby, when folks started putting hair 54 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: tutorials up on YouTube, it was a game changer. And now, 55 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,359 Speaker 1: years after the phenomenon first blew up, we have been 56 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: blessed with so much information, so much value, and look, 57 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: a lot of it is wrong, girl, But to be honest, 58 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: all the misinformation is one of my favorite parts about 59 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 1: the whole genre. 60 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 2: Now you're gonna explain that a little bit. 61 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: Okay, okay, hear me out first, the misinformation begets reality 62 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 1: TV worthy drama. People have called out YouTubers on how 63 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,359 Speaker 1: their advice is just flat out wrong. Sometimes the trends 64 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: don't be having no basis. In fact, it's just all 65 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 1: vibes and that's entertainment, yes. But second, and less messy 66 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 1: than that point is that we all end up learning together, 67 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: Like figuring out how to care for your individual hair 68 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 1: is a whole process and we have to experiment anyway, 69 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: So we're making mistakes and updating our knowledge when we 70 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: learn from it collectively. And third, the misinformation is indicative 71 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: of the whole genre. Starting as an each one tach 72 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: one project, it was black folks showing other black folks 73 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: how to do their hair, and the educators were on 74 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 1: a wide spectrum of experience and professional status, So of 75 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: course some debris came in with a tide. If you 76 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying. 77 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 2: I'm catching your drift. That makes sense. Folks from all 78 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:18,719 Speaker 2: backgrounds definitely felt empowered to share whatever ounce of knowledge 79 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 2: they had and a lot of folks have benefited from that. 80 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, And since the birth of the genre, its creators 81 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 1: have gone through a lot having to figure out how 82 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: many more ways they can spin a twisted updo for content, 83 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 1: upgrading their filming equipment and setup. 84 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 2: Ooh, figuring out how to show what they're actually doing 85 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 2: in the tutorial. 86 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: Oh my god, child, I'm saying, detailing washday routines, peddling 87 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: weed for foreign companies, arguing about the merits of hair types, 88 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: hair porosity, washing, weekly oil usage, prepoods, protein treatments, you 89 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 1: name it. 90 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 2: They have the whole storytelling genre from the ground up. 91 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: Exactly what I'm saying point number one. Think about the 92 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: way is that hair YouTubers format their videos to be 93 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 1: able to educate us best. The ways that they narrate, 94 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: the intros they use I got beef with those but alas, 95 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 1: the obligatory slow mode three sixty and glamour shots at 96 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: the end of the video all hallmarks of the genre 97 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: that creators built and solidified over time. Our nervous systems 98 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: know what to expect when tuning in to a hair 99 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: video at this point. 100 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 2: It's given formulaic, it's giving Shakespearean play, it's giving aque 101 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 2: Act two, Act three, it's giving climax, it's giving falling action. 102 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: All of the things. They created a set of standards 103 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: and practices that they use for their brand of visual storytelling. 104 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: We're used to our parents and aunties and family friends 105 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 1: showing us how to do hair, but filming it staying 106 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: engaging but not belaboring points, learning what to cut and 107 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 1: what to keep, working with technology and figuring out how 108 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 1: to get people to see it all. In the end, 109 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 1: they have put in work to create quality content that 110 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: actually feeds the people and looks good, and. 111 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 2: They've honed the craft in such a short period of 112 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 2: time formula is tight as car rolls after a fresh. 113 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:06,919 Speaker 1: Install, crispy as greased parts. 114 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 2: So what's your next point? 115 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: This one's related to the artistry of it all too. 116 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: It's that hair YouTubers are all the archetypes that we 117 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: see in our favorite stories. They're unreliable narrators. Like I 118 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 1: said earlier, they don't always know what they're talking about, 119 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 1: and something they say that works for them will absolutely 120 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: not work for everybody. 121 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 2: They're also unsung heroes. They've saved me once or dice. 122 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 2: Let's be real a million times when I couldn't think 123 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 2: of a style to put on my head. 124 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 1: Yep, And they're villains. Let a non perm YouTuber get 125 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:39,039 Speaker 1: a relaxer and watch the people turn on her with 126 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:40,280 Speaker 1: a quickness. 127 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 2: In the comments, cussing name Colin. 128 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: They inhabit the roles of celebrities as they gain audience 129 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 1: and visibility, struggling artists when they're learning hair techniques, mentors 130 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 1: as they teach us new hairstyles and hair care methods 131 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: and introduce us to new products. And when someone's doing 132 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,039 Speaker 1: their thing on YouTube for a while, it can be 133 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:00,479 Speaker 1: a whole coming of age story. You get to see 134 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: how they and their hair grow and evolve, we see 135 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,679 Speaker 1: their channel grow, we see them get married or have kids, 136 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: and we see them decide to stop sharing on YouTube, 137 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 1: or we see them come out with their own product lines, 138 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: like Layla Washington of the YouTube channel Fusion of Cultures, 139 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: who started a skincare company called Wilsea Botanicals. 140 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 2: All that main character and energy. 141 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 1: Yep, and that leads me to my next point. The 142 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: genre and as creators carry some weight. They have a 143 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 1: big presence on YouTube. They created a community that's been 144 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: thriving for more than a decade now. Their followers are 145 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: super engaged, partly due to the fact that YouTubers are 146 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 1: charismatic and beautiful and personable and doing things that are 147 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: aspirational for lots of people, but also because of the 148 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: nature of the beast. We're interacting with the content in 149 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: the most authentic way, taking the creator's advice and tips 150 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 1: and using them on our own or on others' bodies, 151 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: and we might be watching their videos over and over again, 152 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: rewinding and replaying. 153 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 2: They've had a definite impact on creator culture on YouTube. 154 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 2: A lot of hair YouTubers like Whitney White, also known 155 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 2: as Natural eighty five, are ogs in the YouTube content 156 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 2: creation lane. 157 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: They became more than just people who knew how to 158 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: do hair. They were bloggers, influencers, entrepreneurs. They started getting 159 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: paid the big bugs, by sponsors and YouTube itself. Once 160 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: they started doing numbers, their recommendations bought or not drove 161 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: many of their adherents to purchase items that they wouldn't 162 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: even think about needing had their favorite YouTuber not used 163 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: it in their latest upload. 164 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 2: Girl and some of those products collected dust. Popularity came 165 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 2: and went, some just fell out of favor, and some 166 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 2: just weren't great to begin with. 167 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 1: True, but we can't deny how these YouTubers filled a 168 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:48,559 Speaker 1: gap that was growing as more Black people embraced their 169 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:52,559 Speaker 1: natural hair journeys and sought a vice from bloggers. Not 170 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: that we weren't embracing it before. 171 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 2: See Black as Beautiful and the glorious froze of the 172 00:08:57,679 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 2: sixties and seventies. 173 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 1: For sure, It's just that the phrase slash concept of 174 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: a natural hair journey was gaining steam as a measurable 175 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 1: phenomenon in the early oughts. And speaking of airs and hair, 176 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: this takes me into the next point, which is this 177 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: one's pretty simple. Hair YouTubers are documentarians. They document changes 178 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: in style over time. I can look back at videos 179 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: from past years and see when Senegalese twists, Voho braids 180 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 1: are band two knots were really popping. Through their videos, 181 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: we get a timeline of black hair trends. 182 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 2: And sometimes the YouTubers are the ones setting those trends. 183 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 1: And amplifying them by sharing them and spreading them to 184 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: wider audiences. So my next point is the last. But 185 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 1: who would we be if we didn't make you wait 186 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 1: to get it till after the break. 187 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 2: We're ready for you. 188 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 1: Last point, all right, this is my favorite one. That's 189 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:00,680 Speaker 1: why I saved it for last, is that as a whole, 190 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 1: black YouTubers have used the art the storytelling to help 191 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 1: us consider our relationship to our hair and how it evolves. 192 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 1: They've made us think about how we best love on 193 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 1: our hair, consider the reasons we want to reject perms 194 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: and embrace the kinks or not. They've made us question 195 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 1: our hair care practices and pay more attention to what 196 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: we're doing to our hair and why. They've encouraged us 197 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: to consider what brands we support, where we direct our money. 198 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 1: They've given us direction when we needed it most and 199 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 1: they've spurred innovation in the hair care industry. They have 200 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: helped us think more critically and act more intentionally around 201 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: black hair. 202 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 2: And that's what the best storytellers do. Make you think 203 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 2: more critically right and actually spur action in the real world. 204 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 2: I know, seeing the girls with the big afros, you know, 205 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 2: hair goals, hair goals, and now I can look and 206 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:53,319 Speaker 2: see myself with a big aufro. I'm like, dang, I'm 207 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 2: really my own hair goals. 208 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:57,839 Speaker 1: Did you see yourself like this in the future when 209 00:10:57,840 --> 00:10:59,319 Speaker 1: you first started watching them? 210 00:10:59,640 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 3: Oh? 211 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I wanted my hair to be long as 212 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 2: it is, Like I wanted to be long month too, 213 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 2: Like what's going on here? I think at first when 214 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 2: you start looking at these YouTubers, you're really impatient. But 215 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 2: now like on once your hair is like at the 216 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 2: length where you're like, okay, I can like do these 217 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 2: styles that I want to do. You're kind of like 218 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 2: more relaxed about it, you know, but also like happy 219 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,719 Speaker 2: to see other people really experimenting with their hair. I 220 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 2: don't experiment with my hair that much anymore, but being 221 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 2: able to see how people like tell stories with their hair, 222 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 2: Like there's that one girl who like does sculptures with 223 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 2: her locks. You know that. Yeah, I've seen her, Like 224 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 2: there's so many cool ways to do it. But then 225 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:40,680 Speaker 2: also just like living your life with your natural hair. 226 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 2: It's like that's also like a story that we're telling 227 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 2: is like a collective, right, because I think when like 228 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 2: our parents was raising us and putting it on in 229 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 2: perms in our hair, like that was like a different 230 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 2: mindset that people were having. Absolutely, and so now like 231 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 2: you don't really see little kids with perms like that. 232 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: And I was singing the just for Me themes on 233 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 1: the other day. Yeah, like that's how ingrained it was. 234 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 2: They were it. You're like, dang, I want to look 235 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 2: like her. 236 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: When that yes, it poked out to the side, it hurt. 237 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, And like so to see that shift collectively is 238 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:16,080 Speaker 2: really interesting. And I liked what you said about these 239 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 2: YouTubers being documentarians because I remember when the Lemonade raids 240 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 2: was it, you know, like be yes, they had the 241 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 2: girls shook when that hair, you know what I'm saying. 242 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 2: So like being able to see those different iterations because 243 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 2: you know, like YouTube's been around for a minute now, 244 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 2: so it's it's really like a great archive of like 245 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 2: what everyone was doing with their hair. 246 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:38,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I'm not the fondest of this phrase, but 247 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 1: I'm going to use it now anyway because I think 248 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: it's fitting. They are kind of thought leaders in a 249 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:45,760 Speaker 1: way when it comes to hair. Because when you just 250 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: said something about you wanted your hair to be really long, 251 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:50,439 Speaker 1: that made me think about how much we prioritize length. 252 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:52,200 Speaker 1: And I think a lot of that did have to 253 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 1: do with the way that YouTubers were sharing. Like I know, 254 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: a lot of that is also society things that are 255 00:12:56,760 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 1: deeply ingrained in US, but I think there were so 256 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:05,720 Speaker 1: many like videos about length checks on YouTube. It's like okay, 257 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 1: Liane check and the best way to do your line. 258 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 2: Check white t shirt. Yeah, wear the same shirt every time. 259 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 1: And different tips for being able to get your hair longer, 260 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:16,959 Speaker 1: like when that chebe thing got really big, like putting 261 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 1: mud on your hair was something to You're looking at 262 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:21,680 Speaker 1: me like you have no idea what it is. Girl, 263 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:22,560 Speaker 1: that's how deep it goes. 264 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 2: Please skip me. 265 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 1: And I don't even know if I'm pronouncing it right, 266 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 1: but it's just there have been so many things to 267 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: help you with hair length, and so many YouTubers talking 268 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 1: about how your hair is growing, it's about length retention, 269 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 1: and this is how you keep it. Make sure you trimp. 270 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:40,560 Speaker 1: After that, it felt like there was a swing back 271 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: toward your hair is great at any length, and I'm 272 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 1: looking for people with TWA's who can do this. Are 273 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 1: I feel like when I go to YouTube that I 274 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: can't find people. I always see people who are doing 275 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: styles that don't relate to me because I have four 276 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 1: sea hair or something like that. So it's interesting to 277 00:13:55,520 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 1: see how the thoughts that leaders on YouTube when it 278 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: comes to hair start to resonate and ripple throughout black folks. 279 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, speaking of like the I can't find someone with 280 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 2: four sea hair conversation, one, I think with hair YouTube, 281 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 2: there are a lot of like cliches and like tropes, 282 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 2: Like you said, like your hair is growing, it's about retention, 283 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 2: like people saying like the same thing over and over again. 284 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 2: But then also I think, just like I think one 285 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 2: of the major tennants maybe this was like a twenty 286 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 2: tens YouTuber thing, and it's indicative of like larger issues 287 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 2: in like black storytelling is like the racially ambiguous or 288 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 2: like biracial person who just like has long, curly hair, 289 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 2: not because of the routine they're doing just because like girl, 290 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 2: you're mixed with white and your hair is gonna curl 291 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:51,359 Speaker 2: that certain way or elevated. But you see it perpetuating 292 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 2: these like different ways of storytelling that you wouldn't think 293 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 2: would seep into like someone's bathroom or bedroom, but the 294 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 2: way that the audience reacts to them is very similar. 295 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 2: I think. 296 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 1: I think that reflects the way that it's changed over time, 297 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: because there was an era, and you'll see in some 298 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 1: of these people's videos that we mentioned in today's episode, 299 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 1: like for a Natural eighty five who has a My 300 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: Natural Haircare Journey video from like two thousand or nine 301 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: years ago, so from a while ago where it was 302 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: just her showing pictures of herself. There is no narration happening, 303 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: there is her showing a tutorial, There is no edit 304 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: of an intro in the beginning, music only played in 305 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 1: specific spots. All of the things that come with videos 306 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 1: that people make on hair YouTube today and over time 307 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 1: that morphed into Okay, I understand, I'm a personality and 308 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 1: people need to come to my page. Okay, I get 309 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 1: subscribers and this is how I do it. Okay, YouTube's 310 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 1: algorithm is changing. I feel like I can say with 311 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: confidence that back then it wasn't as much about getting 312 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: more people to see. They cared about sharing, of course 313 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 1: that's why they posted it, but it wasn't so prioritized 314 00:15:55,360 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: to gain more followers or gain more engagement. And also 315 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: all of the hate that came with it afterwards. You know, 316 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 1: they had to combat about against that over time too. 317 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: So it's more I guess, freedom to be able to 318 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 1: put up what you want, how you want, versus there's 319 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 1: more thinking now around. Okay, I can't say this, I 320 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: can't be this real. I can only be a little 321 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 1: bit real. I have to be this authentic with the 322 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: capital a that everybody use about people on social media 323 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 1: these days, so people understand it as more of a 324 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 1: storytelling platform now that is meant to be constructed, and 325 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 1: that's why all of these expectations like you mentioned have entered. 326 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, the Internet has just changed since they first started, Right, 327 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 2: Like people weren't personalities, people weren't getting so much money 328 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 2: for like posting themselves doing their hair. But like once 329 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 2: you know, all these sponsorships get involved, once you realize 330 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 2: people can look at the view out your window and 331 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 2: see what city you live in and you've said your 332 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 2: last name a few too many times that they can 333 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:05,919 Speaker 2: pull up on you, like it really changes the dynamic 334 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:09,400 Speaker 2: of how you can share, even if it is about 335 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 2: something like hair. It's also, I think, like a small 336 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:14,919 Speaker 2: microcus of just like how the Internet has changed and 337 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:16,640 Speaker 2: how we've changed along with the Internet. 338 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:22,160 Speaker 1: And there are videos now that people are posting about 339 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 1: how hair YouTubers are struggling. So I just feel like 340 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:28,680 Speaker 1: now is a good time to think about this because 341 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 1: I know they're still going you know, of course, they're 342 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 1: still making videos about hair on YouTube, like their channels 343 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:36,359 Speaker 1: are still popping. I'm not saying that they're not, but 344 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: it definitely is a different landscape now. But there are 345 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,639 Speaker 1: people who are posting videos saying content creators in the 346 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:44,400 Speaker 1: hairspace on YouTube are struggling, like it's harder for them 347 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 1: to gain more views. People who should have bigger platforms 348 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 1: haven't been able to get bigger platforms even though they've 349 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: been working for a decade or even longer. And I 350 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 1: just think it is fascinating and very admirable to see 351 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 1: how something seemingly started from some such a noble place 352 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:06,680 Speaker 1: like sharing how to do hair and techniques for doing 353 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 1: hair is such a familial and warm and intimate thing. 354 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:13,879 Speaker 1: I have so many, like fun and rich memories of 355 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: getting my hair done as a child and struggling to 356 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: learn podocormra, which I still don't know how to do. Yeah, 357 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 1: I say no, I don't. I wish I did. I 358 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,119 Speaker 1: didn't learn how to break though, and that was you know, 359 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 1: that was a struggle too. But I have so many 360 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 1: good memories of that, And I think that people started 361 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 1: wanting to as a genre, share this experience and this 362 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 1: knowledge with other people. Is like exploding this culture that 363 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 1: already existed. But it still feels personal. So we went 364 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 1: straight to the source. We spoke with LaToya Eboni, who's 365 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:53,160 Speaker 1: been making haircare videos on YouTube since twenty ten. 366 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 3: My name is LaToya Eboni. I am an online content creator, 367 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 3: a professional actress as well as an organic skincare formulator 368 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 3: soon to be hair care formulator. 369 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 1: Can you take us back to when you first decided 370 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:14,680 Speaker 1: to start a YouTube channel? What were you feeling, What 371 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:18,400 Speaker 1: were some of the ideas that were going through your mind, 372 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: What was the support and maybe lack of support that 373 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,479 Speaker 1: was happening. Can you just take us through what that 374 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:24,199 Speaker 1: time was like. 375 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, I was in grad school studying acting and teaching. 376 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:36,119 Speaker 3: And I remember one day I was in class and 377 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 3: I just kind of looked around and some of my 378 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 3: female like counterparts would just show up to class with 379 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 3: their hair like still wet, you know, slapped it back 380 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:53,919 Speaker 3: in a ponytail. Meanwhile, I had, like, not only was 381 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 3: I doing prep for, you know, the work at hand, 382 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 3: but I'm like making sure my hair is in a 383 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 3: ball and all the things. Like I'm putting so much 384 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 3: effort into how I show up. And I remember looking 385 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 3: around being like, wait, I am doing the most. Meanwhile, 386 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 3: everyone else seems to be very comfortable just showing up 387 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:23,239 Speaker 3: as they are, including their hair. And when you're in 388 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 3: graduate school for acting and you're studying the craft of acting, 389 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:29,879 Speaker 3: you have to do a lot of self reflection, a 390 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 3: lot of self work in order to take on different 391 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:38,960 Speaker 3: characters and being sort of these fantastical worlds. And I 392 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:41,439 Speaker 3: was doing a lot of writing and self reflecting. And 393 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 3: I remember being at home and I was about to 394 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:51,199 Speaker 3: go get my relaxer touch up. And I'm living in 395 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:59,800 Speaker 3: South Carolina, by the way, and I remember thinking like, 396 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:03,960 Speaker 3: why am I so ashamed of my hair? Why are 397 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:06,640 Speaker 3: we collectively as a people the people that I grew 398 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,240 Speaker 3: up with. Why are we so ashamed of showing up 399 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 3: as we are? And of course there's a whole lot 400 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:17,439 Speaker 3: of historical context around that, But I really wanted to 401 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:22,920 Speaker 3: start the journey for myself and kind of find out, 402 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 3: like what's underneath all of these like these weaves and 403 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 3: wigs and chemical treatments. I had no idea really what 404 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 3: my hair looked like outside of the new growth that 405 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 3: was coming in before I decided to like chemically relax it. 406 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:43,199 Speaker 2: I'm curious to know how your acting training, how that 407 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 2: translates into your YouTube channel, because I think that's a 408 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:48,879 Speaker 2: pretty unique angle to come into it with. I know 409 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 2: a lot of influencers might get into acting, but that 410 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 2: was your start. So how did that influence you? 411 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,919 Speaker 3: Oh my gosh, So when I started acting, it was 412 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:03,400 Speaker 3: and so it's not it's a different medium than being 413 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 3: on camera, but I knew that I wanted to do 414 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 3: like more film and television, so I was used to 415 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:15,440 Speaker 3: critiquing myself watching myself, you know, So for me, I 416 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 3: think there wasn't necessarily the intimidation factor of being seen, 417 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 3: So that was that was definitely a big plus and 418 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 3: a big help. But I will say that the way 419 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 3: that it influences me is through storytelling. I think of 420 00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:39,400 Speaker 3: things and acts. So you know, there's the you know, beginning, middle, end, 421 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:43,159 Speaker 3: or like chapters of a book. Right, So it's like 422 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 3: act one you present the problem or the subject of 423 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:55,920 Speaker 3: the story. Act two you are like going through the 424 00:22:55,960 --> 00:23:00,400 Speaker 3: trials and tribulations of whatever that you know the subject is, 425 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 3: whether it's like testing a product, doing a hair tutorial, 426 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 3: telling telling a story. Act three is typically like the 427 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:18,680 Speaker 3: conclusion after the big climax, right, what was the result? 428 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 3: And then the conclusion is is like the final act 429 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:27,760 Speaker 3: would be my thoughts and feelings behind what happened, and 430 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:29,680 Speaker 3: then we end curtained. 431 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:33,919 Speaker 2: Down, say really trying to take folks on a journey 432 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:34,159 Speaker 2: with you? 433 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:38,239 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I do. And it wasn't something that was 434 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 3: in the beginning intentional. I think that's just how my 435 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:47,120 Speaker 3: mind works. And then as I got more and more 436 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:51,200 Speaker 3: into content creation and what engages viewers, I think became 437 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:52,560 Speaker 3: a lot more solidified. 438 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 1: Are there any other creators that you look to, maybe 439 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: in the past or today when you're creating your haircare 440 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:01,159 Speaker 1: videos YouTube? 441 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 3: Ooh okay, So in the past, I African Export was 442 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 3: one that I looked at there was another called her. 443 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 3: Her name was like unique unique, something uniquely or you 444 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:24,200 Speaker 3: after young Unique, I think, I want to say. And 445 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 3: there was oh my gosh, none of these people create 446 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 3: content anymore, by the way. So and there weren't a 447 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 3: lot of people who had my hair type. There were 448 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:38,199 Speaker 3: people who were close, but not really like four C 449 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:44,919 Speaker 3: except for maybe African Export I'd say colored Beautiful. She 450 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 3: did some hair content back in the day as well. Uh. 451 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:51,880 Speaker 3: And of course I look at other people and other niches, 452 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:58,240 Speaker 3: but today I'm gonna be honest. I don't watch a 453 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 3: ton of people except for my YouTube friends. So there's 454 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 3: Jim Jackson, we have four Sea hair. We're pretty close friends. 455 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:12,439 Speaker 3: There is Nappy Fu her real name is Grace. I 456 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 3: watch her her channel as well. We're also close friends. 457 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 3: Fay in the City. I love her personality. I love 458 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:24,960 Speaker 3: how she injects yeah, she just she has a great personality. 459 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:30,639 Speaker 3: And Charae del Soul I would say she doesn't have 460 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 3: the same kind of hair hair type. I believe her 461 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:36,000 Speaker 3: is this looser, but I really enjoy her her content 462 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:38,479 Speaker 3: as well, and the hairspace. 463 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:41,720 Speaker 2: I'm curious, like putting on your actor hat and your 464 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 2: YouTuber hair. What archetype do you see yourself as? Like 465 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 2: are you the hero, the lover, the everyman? Like, what 466 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:54,800 Speaker 2: do you see yourself when you're on YouTube as well? 467 00:25:54,840 --> 00:26:00,879 Speaker 4: I'm always the hero and we're the main character here. Okay, 468 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 4: but you know, it really is a hero's journey, and 469 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:08,400 Speaker 4: I have to think about it in the concept of 470 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 4: like the long term. There's the individual video of like 471 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 4: the hero's journey, right the things that happen. But I've 472 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:20,840 Speaker 4: been doing this for like thirteen years. That's a long time, 473 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 4: and you know, starting in the beginning, it literally was 474 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:27,960 Speaker 4: only exploration and being excited about like the small things, 475 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 4: like the things that seem small to me. Now like 476 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 4: I got my first afro puff, the first time I 477 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 4: did a quail out, my big chop, and all of 478 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:40,680 Speaker 4: those sort of like emotional. 479 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 3: Investments and things like that. Right now, it's a lot 480 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 3: more research and diving deeper and you know, like how 481 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:54,680 Speaker 3: many times can I do a twist out? And I'll 482 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 3: still do them, but you know, now it's about the 483 00:26:57,080 --> 00:26:59,400 Speaker 3: science of hair and you know, how do we keep 484 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 3: it healthy? Certain products, how they may or may not 485 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:07,399 Speaker 3: benefit you, my my you know, product reviews, things like that, 486 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:13,399 Speaker 3: so it's changed, but I mean we always got to 487 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 3: have a little drop at least some some you got 488 00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 3: You've got to be entertaining, you know. But yeah, I'm 489 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 3: always the main character. 490 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 1: So I want to hear about your relationship with the 491 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 1: YouTube hair care creator community, all the people who love y'all, 492 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 1: who engage with y'all, who have been rooting for y'all, 493 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 1: and like sticking with y'all throughout all the years. I 494 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:38,359 Speaker 1: know there have been a lot of changes. There are 495 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 1: a lot of trends. There's a lot of accountability holding 496 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:44,639 Speaker 1: for what like the creators we care about and that 497 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:48,480 Speaker 1: teach us share with us, like you know, people relaxing 498 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:52,640 Speaker 1: right now, all kinds of trends. So what is your 499 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:56,399 Speaker 1: experience of those ups and downs with the community or 500 00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 1: your community specifically. 501 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 3: I got to give a shout out to anyone who 502 00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:08,440 Speaker 3: chooses to do natural hair content. It is challenging because 503 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 3: it can be so emotionally charged on so many levels, 504 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:20,960 Speaker 3: especially for people of color, and navigating those spaces when 505 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:25,520 Speaker 3: you're speaking about sensitive topics and even how you show 506 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 3: up on camera and you represent your hair type, people 507 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:34,280 Speaker 3: will pick things apart. And I think when I first started, 508 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:38,320 Speaker 3: you were a lot more able to just be yourself 509 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 3: and there wasn't so much sensitivity around everything that you say, 510 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:48,720 Speaker 3: and now I have to be very cognizant. So yeah, 511 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 3: it's a really challenging space, but it's also a beautiful space. 512 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 3: This is the space in which I learned about myself, 513 00:28:57,120 --> 00:29:01,240 Speaker 3: I learned about my community more, I learned from other creators, 514 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 3: especially in the time where people with type four hair 515 00:29:06,280 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 3: just weren't really welcome in hair salons unless you were 516 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:14,120 Speaker 3: trying to get locks or braids. People just even today, 517 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:18,720 Speaker 3: really aren't willing to deal with the length of time 518 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:21,480 Speaker 3: it takes to do type four hair. And there are 519 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:25,640 Speaker 3: so many licensed cosmetologists out there and hairstylists should I say, 520 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:31,240 Speaker 3: that are just not experienced and are completely intimidated looking 521 00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:36,200 Speaker 3: at our hair. And it's not just white people, it's 522 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:40,640 Speaker 3: black people, you know. The discrimination is real. And so 523 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:44,520 Speaker 3: being able to turn to a platform like YouTube where 524 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 3: there's other creators that are sessing through any challenges with 525 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:54,160 Speaker 3: their hair and teaching how to get it healthy, how 526 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:56,080 Speaker 3: to make it grow, how to style it has just 527 00:29:56,160 --> 00:30:01,920 Speaker 3: been such a treat and really invo valuable. So shout 528 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:09,680 Speaker 3: out to all the creators out there more after the break. 529 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:16,320 Speaker 1: I'm thinking about all of the different kinds of tropes 530 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 1: that come up in the visual storytelling of YouTube haircare. 531 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:24,680 Speaker 1: So like, I don't know, the slow turn, the glam intros, 532 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:28,920 Speaker 1: you know, the before and the afters. What are some 533 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:31,640 Speaker 1: of those tropes that you really like and have been 534 00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 1: as maybe have been inspired by, you know, I. 535 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:39,800 Speaker 3: Think for comedic effect, I'll use slow B role. I 536 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:41,920 Speaker 3: think I did that a little bit earlier in my career, 537 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:43,960 Speaker 3: where I'll be like touching my hair and I'll be 538 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:47,520 Speaker 3: like the slow falling of the hair. I would make 539 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:50,360 Speaker 3: fun of it by like putting almost like porn esque music, 540 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:55,280 Speaker 3: like just making fun of it. But uh, in terms 541 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:58,840 Speaker 3: of editing, I use a lot of B role. B 542 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:01,200 Speaker 3: role is so important, and especially when you're on a 543 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 3: visual platform, people want to see what you're talking about. 544 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 3: They don't just want to hear it, So B role 545 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:13,680 Speaker 3: is so important for that. I do a lot of 546 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:21,760 Speaker 3: fast cuts to keep the engagement there. People's attention spans 547 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:25,480 Speaker 3: are just shorter and shorter, so I do a combination 548 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:28,239 Speaker 3: now of long form and short form videos on all 549 00:31:28,440 --> 00:31:29,600 Speaker 3: all of my platforms. 550 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:32,920 Speaker 1: I know that there also have been a lot of 551 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 1: changes to the YouTube platform itself. I'm wondering if any 552 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 1: of those changes have been particularly positive or negative, and 553 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:43,640 Speaker 1: how have you responded to those. 554 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:47,600 Speaker 3: For YouTube? YouTube is the goal. I'm just going to 555 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:50,440 Speaker 3: say this because I feel like of all of the platforms, 556 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:55,200 Speaker 3: the people who are in charge of creator success and 557 00:31:55,280 --> 00:31:59,560 Speaker 3: whatever that looks like, I feel like they really take 558 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:03,640 Speaker 3: care of their creators the best. Like my largest sort 559 00:32:03,720 --> 00:32:09,719 Speaker 3: of passive income checks come from YouTube as opposed to 560 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:13,560 Speaker 3: any other platforms. Some platforms don't even pay, So there's that. 561 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:22,760 Speaker 3: As far as protections against like bullying, racial slurs, like 562 00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:27,800 Speaker 3: being able to I guess blacklist certain words, certain phrases 563 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 3: has been so helpful. The introduction of YouTube Studio so 564 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:37,920 Speaker 3: that I could see comments in real time, because once 565 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 3: you have a lot of videos, you just you're not 566 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:43,040 Speaker 3: going back to your older videos. So when you use 567 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:46,440 Speaker 3: an app like YouTube Studio, you can see the newer 568 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:49,200 Speaker 3: comments a lot easier. So it helps me stay engaged 569 00:32:49,240 --> 00:32:55,080 Speaker 3: with my audience. But I would say an area of 570 00:32:55,120 --> 00:33:02,680 Speaker 3: opportunity that these platforms have would be protections against original 571 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:07,440 Speaker 3: content and reposting and making sure that creators get their 572 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:11,280 Speaker 3: credit and that they get a piece of the views. 573 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:14,640 Speaker 3: I mean, historically, people of color have had so many 574 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:18,800 Speaker 3: ideas stolen from them, and you know, I want the 575 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:20,800 Speaker 3: original creators to get that credit. 576 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:25,120 Speaker 1: Did you have any mentors, any YouTube haircare creator mentors 577 00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:26,160 Speaker 1: when you were first starting? 578 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:30,040 Speaker 3: No, I didn't. 579 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:31,120 Speaker 1: I didn't. 580 00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:33,840 Speaker 3: I actually didn't find my tribe of people until like 581 00:33:34,160 --> 00:33:36,480 Speaker 3: much later on, when I was already established. 582 00:33:39,040 --> 00:33:42,080 Speaker 1: I think I'm thinking about that because I feel like 583 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:46,000 Speaker 1: now it seems to be at least from the outset 584 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:48,680 Speaker 1: looking in, like a lot of people you know, shout 585 00:33:48,680 --> 00:33:50,520 Speaker 1: out to other people that they know that are helping 586 00:33:50,560 --> 00:33:52,680 Speaker 1: them and give them tips. But it's probably because there's 587 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:56,640 Speaker 1: so much more structure around it now and people are like, 588 00:33:57,000 --> 00:33:59,000 Speaker 1: you know, they can create courses about how to do 589 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:01,840 Speaker 1: this thing that it's easier for them to access help, 590 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:04,280 Speaker 1: which is probably a good thing that happened. If it 591 00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:06,480 Speaker 1: weren't for people who just tried to figure it out 592 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:09,120 Speaker 1: on their own before, then this wouldn't even be possible today. 593 00:34:09,560 --> 00:34:15,759 Speaker 3: Absolutely agree. Yeah, there just wasn't no one I when 594 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:18,759 Speaker 3: I turned on my camera in twenty ten, no one 595 00:34:18,840 --> 00:34:21,200 Speaker 3: I knew was doing this. People were making fun of me. 596 00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:24,120 Speaker 3: I was working for support at the time as a 597 00:34:24,440 --> 00:34:28,960 Speaker 3: I was a certified makeup artist there and my friends 598 00:34:29,680 --> 00:34:32,799 Speaker 3: or my coworkers, I would call them, you know, when 599 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:35,680 Speaker 3: they found out that I was doing YouTube videos. You know, 600 00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:39,480 Speaker 3: they knew and they would say sly remarks or about 601 00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:42,080 Speaker 3: you know, these YouTube makeup artists and things like that. 602 00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:44,680 Speaker 3: It was it was, you know, and then fast forward 603 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:49,200 Speaker 3: like five years later, they're asking for advice. So I think, 604 00:34:51,360 --> 00:34:53,040 Speaker 3: you know, I think that you just got to do 605 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:54,600 Speaker 3: what you what you have to do, whether you have 606 00:34:54,719 --> 00:34:59,120 Speaker 3: help or not. You know, I think women, Black women 607 00:34:59,160 --> 00:35:02,360 Speaker 3: in particular, were very resourceful. We've gotten through a lot, 608 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:06,080 Speaker 3: and you know, sometimes people don't want to help until 609 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:11,160 Speaker 3: you've put some sweat equity into it, you know, that's 610 00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:12,600 Speaker 3: the nice way of putting it. 611 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:15,680 Speaker 2: I think that also go back to what you were 612 00:35:15,719 --> 00:35:19,000 Speaker 2: talking about with not being afraid of being seen and 613 00:35:19,120 --> 00:35:22,480 Speaker 2: your actor training helping you with that, because I can 614 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:24,759 Speaker 2: see if you're going to work every day and some 615 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:27,240 Speaker 2: folks are, you know, making fun of you, Like someone 616 00:35:27,239 --> 00:35:29,520 Speaker 2: who didn't have that mindset would be like, okay, let 617 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:33,040 Speaker 2: me stop, like this is silly, but you were like, nah, 618 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:35,640 Speaker 2: I'm gonna keep doing it. And like you said, five 619 00:35:35,680 --> 00:35:39,040 Speaker 2: six years later they want your help m hm. 620 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:43,360 Speaker 3: For me, it was an outlet that I wasn't willing 621 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:47,839 Speaker 3: to let go. You know, as an actor in particular, 622 00:35:48,600 --> 00:35:51,120 Speaker 3: or even working at a job, you're relying on someone 623 00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:54,160 Speaker 3: else to pay you, someone else to say yes, that 624 00:35:54,239 --> 00:35:57,200 Speaker 3: you're good enough that you can do the job. And 625 00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:01,480 Speaker 3: when I turn on my camera, there are very there's 626 00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:04,880 Speaker 3: very low barriers. I turned on my camera. If as 627 00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:07,880 Speaker 3: long as you have internet and a little bit of equipment, 628 00:36:08,760 --> 00:36:11,719 Speaker 3: you're there. And so there was no way I was 629 00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:17,520 Speaker 3: going to let some sly remarks get to me and 630 00:36:17,560 --> 00:36:21,600 Speaker 3: you and I had I didn't know what YouTube would become. 631 00:36:21,680 --> 00:36:23,799 Speaker 3: I wasn't getting paid to do anything. I wasn't doing 632 00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:26,359 Speaker 3: brand deals or anything like that. That stuff just what 633 00:36:26,560 --> 00:36:30,480 Speaker 3: didn't exist, especially for black and brown people. When we 634 00:36:30,520 --> 00:36:34,560 Speaker 3: started finding out that like the Juicy Stars and the 635 00:36:34,600 --> 00:36:38,240 Speaker 3: glitter Whoever's of the world, you know, we're getting paid. 636 00:36:38,360 --> 00:36:41,680 Speaker 3: We weren't getting paid then, and when we were getting paid, 637 00:36:41,680 --> 00:36:46,560 Speaker 3: it was pennies. So yeah, I did it because it 638 00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:49,080 Speaker 3: was an outlet. It was something I had control over, 639 00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:52,280 Speaker 3: and you know, yeah, I wasn't gonna stop. 640 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:56,520 Speaker 1: Do you feel like YouTube haircare creators get the recognition 641 00:36:57,040 --> 00:36:59,880 Speaker 1: that they deserve today. 642 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:04,960 Speaker 3: Yes, and no, I think that the community that has 643 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:11,040 Speaker 3: been helped absolutely uplifts natural hair creators. Absolutely. I think 644 00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:15,440 Speaker 3: other creators uplift other creators. I think in terms of 645 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:21,280 Speaker 3: economics and how things work in business, Like for example, 646 00:37:24,239 --> 00:37:29,080 Speaker 3: it's very rare that you'll see platforms like TikTok, Meta, 647 00:37:30,239 --> 00:37:36,520 Speaker 3: Google actually giving recognition to natural hair creators. Google did recently. 648 00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:43,000 Speaker 3: I was a part of natural hair creator like appreciation 649 00:37:43,360 --> 00:37:47,680 Speaker 3: like playlist and all this, But I mean, those are 650 00:37:47,840 --> 00:37:52,799 Speaker 3: those are small little recognitions. I would like to see 651 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:56,319 Speaker 3: the platforms do a better job because we really do 652 00:37:57,680 --> 00:38:03,440 Speaker 3: bring a completely different flavor demographic. We bring the spice 653 00:38:03,880 --> 00:38:06,560 Speaker 3: and they need us, and I think it would be 654 00:38:06,640 --> 00:38:09,640 Speaker 3: nice to get a little bit more recognition publicly. And 655 00:38:09,719 --> 00:38:13,600 Speaker 3: I would also say that hair care brands, I don't 656 00:38:13,600 --> 00:38:17,439 Speaker 3: feel like they really, I don't know, we're not really 657 00:38:17,440 --> 00:38:24,279 Speaker 3: getting our kudos for helping so many, especially like I mean, 658 00:38:24,320 --> 00:38:26,960 Speaker 3: any hair company really, to be honest, but even the 659 00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:31,080 Speaker 3: black owned brands, I've had a lot of disappointment in 660 00:38:31,120 --> 00:38:35,840 Speaker 3: that area in which I will see, you know, like 661 00:38:36,640 --> 00:38:39,960 Speaker 3: the shade moistures of the world and the you know, 662 00:38:40,080 --> 00:38:42,440 Speaker 3: all of those not necessarily calling them out. They've never 663 00:38:42,440 --> 00:38:45,799 Speaker 3: done anything to me. But you know, those companies that 664 00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:50,600 Speaker 3: started being predominantly black owned, and we've talked about their products, 665 00:38:50,600 --> 00:38:53,840 Speaker 3: we've recommended them, we've done it for free. And to 666 00:38:53,960 --> 00:38:57,719 Speaker 3: have them be successful and reach these heights and turn 667 00:38:57,760 --> 00:38:59,600 Speaker 3: around and say we don't have a budget for you, 668 00:39:00,160 --> 00:39:05,120 Speaker 3: while they have a budget for celebrities, a budget for billboards, 669 00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:08,120 Speaker 3: a budget for everything else except for investing into the 670 00:39:08,239 --> 00:39:14,120 Speaker 3: very people that invested in them. That's hurtful, very hurtful. 671 00:39:15,719 --> 00:39:17,120 Speaker 3: There's a lot of opportunity there. 672 00:39:18,680 --> 00:39:22,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I've noticed that with brands. It's like they're happy 673 00:39:22,440 --> 00:39:24,520 Speaker 2: to get their free promo, but when it's time to, 674 00:39:25,320 --> 00:39:29,400 Speaker 2: you know, pay what it's worth. Because I'm more inclined 675 00:39:29,400 --> 00:39:34,759 Speaker 2: to believe a YouTuber showing me their process versus a commercial, 676 00:39:34,800 --> 00:39:36,600 Speaker 2: because like, of course you're going to say your product 677 00:39:36,600 --> 00:39:39,000 Speaker 2: works well, but you know this YouTuber they are going 678 00:39:39,000 --> 00:39:40,560 Speaker 2: through it and I can see the before and after, 679 00:39:40,640 --> 00:39:42,960 Speaker 2: I can see the slow mo and see what it's 680 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:45,759 Speaker 2: hitting on, you know what I'm saying. So it's it's 681 00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:49,400 Speaker 2: interesting that that's what the that's what the I guess 682 00:39:49,760 --> 00:39:52,439 Speaker 2: ethosis for a lot of these companies and like you said, 683 00:39:52,480 --> 00:39:53,560 Speaker 2: hopefully that changes soon. 684 00:39:54,239 --> 00:39:58,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, because a lot of haircare creators have quit. It's 685 00:39:58,239 --> 00:40:01,440 Speaker 3: just not sustainable. You know, the people who are doing 686 00:40:01,600 --> 00:40:05,680 Speaker 3: more lifestyle content, who are you know talking about big 687 00:40:05,760 --> 00:40:09,200 Speaker 3: brands and you know there they have the money, they 688 00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:12,000 Speaker 3: have the budget, they have the checks, and they're willing 689 00:40:12,040 --> 00:40:17,040 Speaker 3: to invest into creators. They typically don't really come our 690 00:40:17,080 --> 00:40:18,920 Speaker 3: way unless it's a Black History Month, but you know, 691 00:40:18,960 --> 00:40:19,680 Speaker 3: were working on that. 692 00:40:19,960 --> 00:40:24,200 Speaker 1: Would you recommend a black person getting into hair care 693 00:40:24,560 --> 00:40:28,240 Speaker 1: on YouTube? Yes? 694 00:40:29,040 --> 00:40:37,520 Speaker 3: And no. I think that I think that we need 695 00:40:37,560 --> 00:40:39,920 Speaker 3: to see more change so that it could be sustainable 696 00:40:39,960 --> 00:40:42,640 Speaker 3: for black creators. You know, we have bills to pay 697 00:40:42,760 --> 00:40:45,000 Speaker 3: just like everyone else, and we need to be recognized 698 00:40:46,160 --> 00:40:50,640 Speaker 3: that we have businesses too. We may be relatable, but 699 00:40:50,760 --> 00:40:56,120 Speaker 3: it's still a business. I think that if you if 700 00:40:56,160 --> 00:40:58,440 Speaker 3: you're going to go into natural hair care, you have 701 00:40:58,560 --> 00:41:02,560 Speaker 3: to be aware of the sensitivities of the topics because 702 00:41:02,600 --> 00:41:05,200 Speaker 3: there's a lot of there's a lot of energy behind 703 00:41:05,360 --> 00:41:09,239 Speaker 3: what some people say. You have to be aware that 704 00:41:09,320 --> 00:41:11,960 Speaker 3: a lot of brands won't be willing to pay you 705 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:16,759 Speaker 3: as much as your white counterparts. You just have to 706 00:41:16,800 --> 00:41:19,600 Speaker 3: go into it with your eyes wide open. And eventually 707 00:41:19,600 --> 00:41:23,560 Speaker 3: get to a space where, honestly, for me, you create 708 00:41:23,640 --> 00:41:27,080 Speaker 3: something of your own and you start creating opportunities for 709 00:41:27,160 --> 00:41:27,760 Speaker 3: other people. 710 00:41:28,280 --> 00:41:33,479 Speaker 1: Does it make you happy this work? It does? It does? 711 00:41:34,640 --> 00:41:38,680 Speaker 3: I think you can't be a creator and hate it. 712 00:41:38,680 --> 00:41:42,480 Speaker 3: It shows way too much. We all can see when 713 00:41:42,480 --> 00:41:44,279 Speaker 3: people are kind of going through the motions that are 714 00:41:44,320 --> 00:41:47,440 Speaker 3: burnt out. I love having the control over this story. 715 00:41:47,680 --> 00:41:50,879 Speaker 3: I love telling stories. I love being able to turn 716 00:41:50,920 --> 00:41:53,720 Speaker 3: on my camera and connect with people all around the world. 717 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:59,279 Speaker 3: I love the impact that I'm able to create, and 718 00:41:59,320 --> 00:42:03,360 Speaker 3: I love the few opportunities for other people that I'll 719 00:42:03,520 --> 00:42:07,760 Speaker 3: hopefully be able to employ and help along with this process. 720 00:42:07,800 --> 00:42:11,480 Speaker 3: So I absolutely love it. I wouldn't change I wouldn't 721 00:42:11,560 --> 00:42:18,759 Speaker 3: change anything so far. It takes grit, determination, persistence to 722 00:42:18,840 --> 00:42:21,960 Speaker 3: do anything really in this world. But to put yourself 723 00:42:22,000 --> 00:42:26,760 Speaker 3: out creatively, it takes something in you that you can't 724 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:31,680 Speaker 3: let anybody else touch. You do the work that you love, 725 00:42:32,040 --> 00:42:34,920 Speaker 3: that edifies you, that fills you, that feeds your soul, 726 00:42:35,080 --> 00:42:37,520 Speaker 3: and you focus on the people, and that is what's 727 00:42:37,520 --> 00:42:38,360 Speaker 3: going to keep you going. 728 00:42:41,200 --> 00:42:43,560 Speaker 2: And now it's time for role credits, the segment where 729 00:42:43,560 --> 00:42:45,840 Speaker 2: we give credit to a person place or thing we 730 00:42:45,920 --> 00:42:49,000 Speaker 2: encountered during the week, and we have our guests with us. 731 00:42:49,040 --> 00:42:51,000 Speaker 2: But first, Eves, who are what would you like to 732 00:42:51,000 --> 00:42:53,200 Speaker 2: give credit to today? 733 00:42:52,640 --> 00:42:55,840 Speaker 1: I like to give credit to working outside. So I 734 00:42:56,080 --> 00:42:58,799 Speaker 1: just got a new computer and finally I am not 735 00:42:59,400 --> 00:43:02,960 Speaker 1: stuck to either, you know. I'm grateful for them, of course, 736 00:43:03,040 --> 00:43:05,239 Speaker 1: but like I wasn't able to move around as much, 737 00:43:05,280 --> 00:43:07,520 Speaker 1: so I don't have to just be at my desktop 738 00:43:07,560 --> 00:43:11,000 Speaker 1: inside working anymore. I can enjoy the sunlight and the 739 00:43:11,000 --> 00:43:13,479 Speaker 1: fresh air and also the bugs that come around. Because 740 00:43:13,520 --> 00:43:15,920 Speaker 1: I am in Georgia, y'all, and it is hot outside, 741 00:43:16,480 --> 00:43:19,480 Speaker 1: but it's nice. I've been working outside a lot, So 742 00:43:19,520 --> 00:43:21,200 Speaker 1: that's what I like to give credit to today. 743 00:43:22,840 --> 00:43:25,359 Speaker 2: How about you, LaToya, I'm going. 744 00:43:25,360 --> 00:43:30,640 Speaker 3: To give credit to my husband, Ja Cuserles. We're both entrepreneurs. 745 00:43:30,760 --> 00:43:34,719 Speaker 3: We're both navigating the space. He's talking to investors and 746 00:43:34,760 --> 00:43:37,840 Speaker 3: all the things, and he's teaching me so much about business. 747 00:43:38,400 --> 00:43:42,200 Speaker 3: And that's the thing. The thing that I love about 748 00:43:42,200 --> 00:43:45,799 Speaker 3: our relationship is not only do we fulfill each other 749 00:43:46,520 --> 00:43:49,560 Speaker 3: in a sort of romantic way, he has made it 750 00:43:49,600 --> 00:43:54,560 Speaker 3: a point to pass down his knowledge from meetings and opportunities, 751 00:43:54,760 --> 00:43:57,160 Speaker 3: and he wants to see me win just as much 752 00:43:57,200 --> 00:43:59,000 Speaker 3: as I want to see him win. And that's the 753 00:43:59,080 --> 00:44:01,680 Speaker 3: kind of partner that I needed. And he's a wonderful 754 00:44:01,760 --> 00:44:04,839 Speaker 3: father too, So I'm gonna shout him out. Shout out 755 00:44:04,880 --> 00:44:11,160 Speaker 3: to all the good husbands out there and strong, beautiful 756 00:44:11,239 --> 00:44:13,000 Speaker 3: black man. 757 00:44:11,920 --> 00:44:21,920 Speaker 2: Okay, I would like to shout out the Creative Commons 758 00:44:21,960 --> 00:44:27,799 Speaker 2: license slash public domain, especially for things that are like 759 00:44:28,000 --> 00:44:30,600 Speaker 2: not old, that are in there, Like I'm one hundred 760 00:44:30,640 --> 00:44:34,640 Speaker 2: percent here for people getting their payments for their. 761 00:44:34,600 --> 00:44:35,360 Speaker 1: Art they're created. 762 00:44:35,440 --> 00:44:38,000 Speaker 2: But if you put your stuff in Creative Commons license 763 00:44:38,080 --> 00:44:41,240 Speaker 2: or public domain before it automatically gets in there, shout 764 00:44:41,239 --> 00:44:43,000 Speaker 2: out to you, because that has helped me so much 765 00:44:43,080 --> 00:44:47,120 Speaker 2: this week. And I'm always so pleasantly surprised. I'm like, what, 766 00:44:47,680 --> 00:44:50,279 Speaker 2: this isn't the this isn't the public domain? Oh my god, 767 00:44:50,320 --> 00:44:52,680 Speaker 2: I'm so excited. But yeah, I love the knowledge sharing, 768 00:44:52,840 --> 00:44:56,000 Speaker 2: the art sharing that is going on with that license. 769 00:44:56,080 --> 00:44:58,600 Speaker 2: So that's what I would like to shout out to. 770 00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:03,200 Speaker 2: And where can people find you? 771 00:45:03,320 --> 00:45:08,360 Speaker 5: On the interwebs so many places, so if on pretty 772 00:45:08,400 --> 00:45:13,240 Speaker 5: much every platform, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, you can search LaToya 773 00:45:13,280 --> 00:45:17,040 Speaker 5: ebenie or LaToya ebeni haare and I will pop up. 774 00:45:17,320 --> 00:45:21,360 Speaker 3: Have two YouTube channels, LaToya Ebnehair and LaToya Ebenie. And 775 00:45:22,360 --> 00:45:28,279 Speaker 3: for my company you can look up Someday Sunday dot com. 776 00:45:28,680 --> 00:45:30,719 Speaker 2: Well, thank you so much for joining us. This is 777 00:45:30,800 --> 00:45:31,440 Speaker 2: really fun. 778 00:45:31,800 --> 00:45:34,359 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for having me. Have a great 779 00:45:34,440 --> 00:45:39,040 Speaker 3: day YouTube Bye Bye. 780 00:45:41,400 --> 00:45:45,440 Speaker 1: On Theme is a production of iHeartRadio and Fairweather Friends Media. 781 00:45:45,920 --> 00:45:49,000 Speaker 1: This episode was written by Eves Jeffco and Katie Mitchell. 782 00:45:49,360 --> 00:45:52,839 Speaker 1: It was edited and produced by Tari Harrison. Follow us 783 00:45:52,880 --> 00:45:56,279 Speaker 1: on Instagram at on Themeshow. You can also send us 784 00:45:56,280 --> 00:46:00,680 Speaker 1: an email at hello at on Theme dot show. Head 785 00:46:00,680 --> 00:46:02,600 Speaker 1: to on Themed Show to check out the show notes 786 00:46:02,640 --> 00:46:07,320 Speaker 1: for episodes. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, 787 00:46:07,560 --> 00:46:11,839 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.