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Black America Web
4 days ago
- Health
- Black America Web
7 Everyday Uses For Organic Coconut Oil
Source: Jacob Wackerhausen / Getty The beauty trend 'Black Girl Hygiene Routine' is currently occupying my TikTok feed. Rows of body washes, oils, exfoliating gloves, probiotics, tongue scrapers, herbs, and serums—all organized with precision and narrated with pride. And rightfully so. There's something powerful about seeing Black women create a space for themselves that's the gold standard of soft, sacred, luxurious care. But what makes me smile most is the way so many of those routines include the one thing that's been a staple in our community for generations, coconut oil. While the algorithm is just catching on, we been knew. Coconut oil has been in our bathrooms, kitchens, and medicine cabinets long before it was trending. Long before hashtags and Amazon storefronts, our mamas, aunties, and grandmothers were teaching us how to stay clean, moisturized, and ready. One of the first lessons I ever got in holistic hygiene came from my mother, a Southern Black woman with wisdom laced in everything she did. She taught me how to oil pull with coconut oil for fresh breath and gum health—before I ever heard the term 'oral microbiome.' Back then, it wasn't a wellness trend. It was tradition. So let me tell you why coconut oil is not only TikTok-approved, but soul-approved—and why every woman, especially Black women, should always have a few bottles in her life. 1. It's The Original Multi-Tasker—Because Simplicity Is Luxury We live in a time where everybody's trying to sell you something new. But coconut oil is that old-school, ride-or-die kind of product that shows up for you every time. It's moisturizer, deep conditioner, lip balm, shaving oil, cooking base, wood polish, diaper rash treatment—and still has room to surprise you. When life is complicated, this one simple jar feels like peace. And that's a luxury our mamas and grandmamas understood without needing to hashtag it. 2. It Loves On Our Hair—Because Black Hair Deserves Deep, Intentional Nourishment There's nothing like the bond between a Black woman and her hair. And coconut oil has been part of that story for generations. Whether it's massaging it into your scalp with a little peppermint oil, blending it into your shea butter mix, or using it to seal in moisture after a twist-out, coconut oil is the truth. It strengthens, softens, and adds shine without weighing down the hair. And when used with care, it becomes more than a product—it's a ritual. One that reconnects us to our roots—literally and spiritually. 3. It Heals And Protects Our Skin—Because Black Don't Crack…But We Still Moisturize Yes, sis—Black don't crack. But let's be real: it still gets dry, ashy, irritated, and exposed to the same environmental stressors as everyone else. Coconut oil is a blessing for melanin-rich skin. It helps fade scars, soothe eczema, soften stretch marks, and protect that glow we were born with. Use it straight out the shower. Add it to a sugar scrub. Mix it with lavender oil and give yourself a foot rub like the queen you are. Your skin will thank you—and your selfies will show it. 4. It Removes Makeup Gently—Because Softness Is A Form of Strength At the end of the day, when the lashes come off and the beat gets wiped away, you need something that respects your face as much as you do. Coconut oil gently dissolves even waterproof makeup without irritation. No burning, no tugging. Just smooth removal and moisturized skin underneath. It's like the softest goodbye—because even when you're taking it all off, you deserve tenderness. 5. It Supports Feminine Health—Because Every Part of You Deserves Care Our intimate areas need love too, and coconut oil can offer gentle support when used wisely. It can ease vaginal dryness, reduce friction, and soothe irritation. And because it's naturally antimicrobial, it can even help rebalance external areas after shaving or waxing. But here's what my mother taught me: just because it's natural doesn't mean you shouldn't be mindful. Use it clean. Use it pure. And use it with respect for your body. You are sacred, sis. Treat yourself like it. 6. It Cleanses From The Inside Out—Thank You, Mama I know oil pulling has been rediscovered by wellness girlies everywhere now—but let the record show: my mama did it first. She'd grab a spoonful of organic coconut oil, swish it around her mouth while boiling her morning tea, then spit it out like it was part of communion. She swore by it for fresh breath, gum strength, and gut health. And she was right. These days, I do it too—every morning. Not because it's trending, but because it works. It reminds me that Black women have always had sacred knowledge about our bodies. And coconut oil? That's one of the things we've been holding close all along. 7. It's More Than A Product—It's Ancestral Wisdom In A Jar The girls on TikTok are making hygiene glamorous, and I love that for us. But beneath the aesthetics and Amazon links is something deeper: a reclamation. We're not just keeping clean—we're keeping sacred. We're saying, 'My body deserves to be honored, daily.' And coconut oil is part of that daily devotion. Whether it's healing our skin, softening our hair, or being spooned into our mouths like my mama taught me—it's a reminder of who we are. Of how we care for ourselves and for one another. Whether you found out about coconut oil from your mama, your big sister, or your FYP on TikTok, just know this: it belongs in your life. Keep a jar in the bathroom. One in the kitchen. One in your bag just in case the day asks more of you than you planned. Because coconut oil is more than a trend. It's ancestral wisdom in a jar. SEE ALSO 7 Everyday Uses For Organic Coconut Oil was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
CNN
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Beyoncé kicks off Cowboy Carter tour with some help from her two daughters
Beyoncé kicked off her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit tour in Los Angles on Monday, delivering a nearly three-hour performance that proved it certainly ain't Queen Bey's first rodeo. The concert at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood was a celebration of Southern Black culture, freedom of expression and Beyoncé's own family, with appearances by her two daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi Carter. Beyoncé's approximately 35-song setlist spanned the Grammy-winners catalogue, as she performed songs from 2008's 'I Am… Sasha Fierce' to 2022's 'Renaissance' to, of course, last year's 'Cowboy Carter.' Visuals projected on the giant LED screens on the stage showed, at one point, Beyoncé wearing a sash that read 'Reclamation of America.' Other images included a scene of American flag-covered coffins with text that read 'history can't be erased.' Pyrotechnics on each side of the stage went off for dramatic effect when Beyoncé first walked out, clad in an all-white fringed bodysuit, while opening the show with 'American Requiem.' She then paused to thank the audience for the support before singing her Beatles cover of 'Blackbiird.' 'I want to thank you, to my fans, for allowing me to make this album,' she said. 'Thank you for giving me the creative liberty to challenge myself. Thank y'all for supporting it. It means so, so much.' Beyoncé's 13-year-old daughter Blue Ivy danced with her mom front and center during 'America Has a Problem.'Later on, while Beyoncé sang 'Protector,' she brought out her younger daughter, Rumi, 7. Beyoncé put on a show as big as Texas. She was served whiskey by a robot, flew through the air while suspended on a giant horseshoe, sang 'Tyrant' on a mechanical bull and performed at a piano that was lit on fire. The Houston-native capped off the concert with a rousing rendition of '16 Carriages and 'Amen' before taking her final bow. Celebrities including Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King were seen in the attendance. 'Cowboy Carter' released in March 2024 and features collaborations with Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, among others. The album broke several records on the Billboard charts and in January, Beyoncé took home a Grammy for album of the year. Beyoncé will take her tour to Chicago on May 15 after her run in Los Angeles.
CNN
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Beyoncé kicks off Cowboy Carter tour with some help from her two daughters
Beyoncé kicked off her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit tour in Los Angles on Monday, delivering a nearly three-hour performance that proved it certainly ain't Queen Bey's first rodeo. The concert at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood was a celebration of Southern Black culture, freedom of expression and Beyoncé's own family, with appearances by her two daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi Carter. Beyoncé's approximately 35-song setlist spanned the Grammy-winners catalogue, as she performed songs from 2008's 'I Am… Sasha Fierce' to 2022's 'Renaissance' to, of course, last year's 'Cowboy Carter.' Visuals projected on the giant LED screens on the stage showed, at one point, Beyoncé wearing a sash that read 'Reclamation of America.' Other images included a scene of American flag-covered coffins with text that read 'history can't be erased.' Pyrotechnics on each side of the stage went off for dramatic effect when Beyoncé first walked out, clad in an all-white fringed bodysuit, while opening the show with 'American Requiem.' She then paused to thank the audience for the support before singing her Beatles cover of 'Blackbiird.' 'I want to thank you, to my fans, for allowing me to make this album,' she said. 'Thank you for giving me the creative liberty to challenge myself. Thank y'all for supporting it. It means so, so much.' Beyoncé's 13-year-old daughter Blue Ivy danced with her mom front and center during 'America Has a Problem.'Later on, while Beyoncé sang 'Protector,' she brought out her younger daughter, Rumi, 7. Beyoncé put on a show as big as Texas. She was served whiskey by a robot, flew through the air while suspended on a giant horseshoe, sang 'Tyrant' on a mechanical bull and performed at a piano that was lit on fire. The Houston-native capped off the concert with a rousing rendition of '16 Carriages and 'Amen' before taking her final bow. Celebrities including Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King were seen in the attendance. 'Cowboy Carter' released in March 2024 and features collaborations with Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, among others. The album broke several records on the Billboard charts and in January, Beyoncé took home a Grammy for album of the year. Beyoncé will take her tour to Chicago on May 15 after her run in Los Angeles.
CNN
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Beyoncé kicks off Cowboy Carter tour with some help from her two daughters
Beyoncé kicked off her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit tour in Los Angles on Monday, delivering a nearly three-hour performance that proved it certainly ain't Queen Bey's first rodeo. The concert at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood was a celebration of Southern Black culture, freedom of expression and Beyoncé's own family, with appearances by her two daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi Carter. Beyoncé's approximately 35-song setlist spanned the Grammy-winners catalogue, as she performed songs from 2008's 'I Am… Sasha Fierce' to 2022's 'Renaissance' to, of course, last year's 'Cowboy Carter.' Visuals projected on the giant LED screens on the stage showed, at one point, Beyoncé wearing a sash that read 'Reclamation of America.' Other images included a scene of American flag-covered coffins with text that read 'history can't be erased.' Pyrotechnics on each side of the stage went off for dramatic effect when Beyoncé first walked out, clad in an all-white fringed bodysuit, while opening the show with 'American Requiem.' She then paused to thank the audience for the support before singing her Beatles cover of 'Blackbiird.' 'I want to thank you, to my fans, for allowing me to make this album,' she said. 'Thank you for giving me the creative liberty to challenge myself. Thank y'all for supporting it. It means so, so much.' Beyoncé's 13-year-old daughter Blue Ivy danced with her mom front and center during 'America Has a Problem.'Later on, while Beyoncé sang 'Protector,' she brought out her younger daughter, Rumi, 7. Beyoncé put on a show as big as Texas. She was served whiskey by a robot, flew through the air while suspended on a giant horseshoe, sang 'Tyrant' on a mechanical bull and performed at a piano that was lit on fire. The Houston-native capped off the concert with a rousing rendition of '16 Carriages and 'Amen' before taking her final bow. Celebrities including Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King were seen in the attendance. 'Cowboy Carter' released in March 2024 and features collaborations with Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, among others. The album broke several records on the Billboard charts and in January, Beyoncé took home a Grammy for album of the year. Beyoncé will take her tour to Chicago on May 15 after her run in Los Angeles.
CNN
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Ryan Coogler thanks audiences for seeing ‘Sinners' in the theater after big box office debut
Director Ryan Coogler is showing his 'eternal gratitude' for the moviegoers who saw his latest film 'Sinners' in the theater, helping the supernatural thriller overcome expectations and claim the No. 1 spot at the box office during its opening weekend. In a note posted to his X page on Tuesday, Coogler recognized the effort involved in making a trip to the theater for a movie, thanking those who 'booked a sitter and carpooled,' as well as those who 'changed their work schedules.' 'I want to thank you all who watched more than once, who recommended the film to others, both in person and on social media or on your text message chains,' he wrote. 'I had the gift of the opportunity of making a film inspired by my family and my ancestry but it was always a film that we wanted to make for audiences, in theaters.' Coogler wrote and directed 'Sinners,' a horror film that follows twin brothers – both played by Coogler's frequent collaborator Michael B. Jordan – who face unexpected paranormal visitors after opening a juke joint, a drinking and eating establishment that celebrates Southern Black culture and music, in their Mississippi hometown. The film also stars Hailee Steinfeld, breakout star Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell and Delroy Lindo, among others. 'Sinners' premiered on IMAX and standard screens on Friday and shattered industry expectations when it drew $45.6 million domestically in its opening weekend, surpassing previous estimates of about $35 million. Globally, the film has grossed more than $71 million as of Tuesday. ('Sinners' is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Warner Bros. Discovery is the parent company of CNN.) The film draws on Coogler's own ancestry, which he wrote on Tuesday 'breathed so much life and purpose into me,' making the audience's support of the film that much more meaningful. It also made history as the first time that a film was shot using two different aspect ratios (Ultra Panavision 70 and IMAX, for the film enthusiasts) and the first time a film was released combining both. 'To see your response to the film has reinvigorated me and many others who believe in this art form,' Coogler added. 'And together maybe we can expand the definition of what a blockbuster is, what a horror movie is, and of what an IMAX audience looks like.' Coogler is best known for directing the three 'Creed' movies, the acclaimed 'Fruitvale Station' and two 'Black Panther' films for Marvel, including the Oscar-nominated sequel.
