BB Weekend Dispatch 6.28.25
Soft Rows Launch, Girlfriends x Pattern Beauty, Welcome to "We do not care" Club
Hi Beautiful People!
I try not to work on the weekends, BUT there were a few things that happened after yesterday’s newsletter drop that I want to highlight. Also I’ve attached an audio version of this weekend dispatch. Let me know what you think!
Welcome to BB Weekend Dispatch
Soft Rows launches. I started seeing Quani, the founder’s posts on LinkedIn about 2-3 weeks ago and was curious. I really love the packaging (not that I’m biased). The website is live and accepting pre-sale orders. The assortment includes 3 products that focus on styling for texture rich hair. Soft Rows was also a Sephora accelerate alum.
Girlfriends x Pattern Beauty. During one of my doom scrolls last night, this popped up on my screen. Tracee just gets it! Girlfriends sitcom (2000 - 2008) was a definitely a part of my high school and college years (although I probably had no business watching it). The group (Tracee Ellis Ross, Persia White, Golden Brooks, Jill Marie Jones) came together and it was amazing to see them back in character for this Pattern Beauty spot. It’s been great to see brands lean on nostalgia in recent commercials like Old Navy x Lindsey Lohan and Lancôme Juicy Tube Relaunch x Kelly Rowland (and other 90s x early 2000s pop celebrities).
Botox…for your vagina? More women are considering or getting botox for their kitty post childbirth. Now this may be TMI but when I was dealing with some feminine issues, one of my doctors recommended Botox (I don’t have children). The idea was to relax the muscles while also going to physical therapy. Based on my doctor’s nonchalant attitude about the recommendation, this is actually not a new phenomenon. Have you considered Botox for down there? Would you try it? Let me know in the comments!
What I’m reading
Black Beauty isn’t about them This article really caused me to pause and reconsider that Black Luxury isn’t about an approximation to white wealth as it really is a reclamation of Blackness.“There is an overlap in whiteness and wealth, white families always have been far more likely to hold the type of assets—homes, stocks and bonds, retirement accounts. But there's more at play, and at stake than shaming people, especially Black women, for desiring proximity to whiteness. For example, Black women's renewed interest in pilates is exactly that, renewed.”
Beauty brands built to sell. I’m annoyed this is behind a paywall (but I get it!). Instead, I’ve shared the LinkedIn Thread so you can read the commentary if you’re curious. To summarize, people are building brands not to create impact as much as to get a big pay day at the end of the rainbow.
Ehhhhh it’s a slippery slope. The other day a close friend of mine asked me if I were to launch a product what would it be1. Although it was because they were thinking of launching a product themselves, I shared a word of caution: launching a product is more than finding a chemist and doing R&D you have to actually believe in the product and there has to be a story consumers can relate to and believe in.
As much as I hate to say it, Black and Brown founders have to lean into their stories in order to gain traction and build connection within their community (and maybe not having to is progress?). Moreover, Black + Brown founders get only less than a percent of VC funding…although more founders seem to be steering away from VC and the strings that come with it. Lastly, it can take years before actually seeing a ROI. So yes, launch a product but make sure you believe in it AND you have the money to keep it afloat for at least the first 3 years (if not more).
Welcome to the “We do not care” Club This was really funny. Melanie Sanders, 46, shares her truth as she goes through perimenopause. As I get older (and I’m in the early stages of perimenopause) I really do not care about a lot things. I may have an opinion but there are some things I just don’t care about anymore. This made me smile inside and out.
Are you going to Essence Fest next weekend? NOLA has a special place in my heart (I’ve been 4 times) but shockingly, I’ve never been to Essence Fest. I’d love to live vicariously through someone… anyone!
Want to share your Essence Fest experience? Send me an email at hello@dardencreative.com with the subject line Essence Fest
**My original story was where is the Essence Fest rollout? I feel like it’s been quiet for the last few months. Last night someone posted what I’d call a rage bait post calling out Essence Fest’s lack of sponsorship compared to last year. Luckily, I put on my media research cap and saw sponsors are still being announced. Is there possibly a story about less sponsorship? Maybe, but I won’t make that declaration until after next week.
It would be a problem specific beauty or personal care product.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing BBP 💕