Beauty, Fashion & Style
Beauty, Fashion & Style
Black women have always set the trends, here we unpack and revisit them.
Featured content

Maxine Harrison
Is Our Obsession With Laid Edges Destroying Our Hair?
Wednesday 15 January 2025 8:00 AM

For better or worse, ‘black aesthetics’ are the cultural currency in the worlds of beauty, style and fashion – even if the credit is not so easily given.
From our ever-present influence, to the politics of ‘looking good’ and the trends across homeware and skincare that bring us joy, the Black Ballad archive is a one-stop shop that goes deep and narrow on all the things we like when it comes to fashion, beauty and style.
And if there’s a story here that you can’t see, why don’t you pitch us?

Black Ballad
BB Member's Perk: Holiday Breakfast & L’Oreal Luxe Pop Up
Friday 29 November 2024 7:30 AM

Black Ballad
BB Members Perk: Win A Garnier Curly Hair Edit Gift Box Or Goodie Bag!
Sunday 24 November 2024 10:25 PM

Black Ballad
BB Perk: Exclusive 1st Look At Garnier’s new Curly Haircare Range!
Wednesday 30 October 2024 11:19 PM

“Growing up, I also felt the constant tug of trying to comfortably slot into both Western and Somali standards of beauty, but not fitting well into either.”
– The African and Caribbean Beauty Standards That Defy European Ideals

Tobi Oredein
Founder's Letter: Investing In My Skin Gave Me Calm & Consistency
Sunday 9 June 2024 10:00 PM

Black Ballad
Watch Skin Rituals – A Short Film About Skincare, Esteem & Motherhood
Friday 7 June 2024 8:00 AM



Foyin Ejilola
The Problematic Impact Of The Saying ‘Black Don’t Crack’
Wednesday 22 March 2023 8:00 AM

Prisca McGuire
Yes, Black People Do Need To Wear Sunscreen – Here's Why
Wednesday 15 June 2022 8:00 AM
“I equated length with beauty and it’s just not real.”


Mia Thornton
Meet The Black Women Who Are Creating Their Own Space Whilst Renting
Friday 6 May 2022 8:00 AM
Kristen Bingle
Lockdown Reminded Me How Important It Is To Have My Own Space
Friday 5 June 2020 7:00 AM
“A brief discussion with my mother about my ‘baby pancake face’ (her words, not mine) ended with a big decision: I was to go to a MAC counter and get properly colour-matched.”
– What MAC's Infamous NW45 Shade Tells Us About The Beauty Industry And Colour-Matching


Maxine Harrison
How Black Women Are Managing Their Hair & An Active Lifestyle
Tuesday 6 August 2024 8:00 AM

Rachael Twumasi-Corson
Why I'm Saying Goodbye To Afrocenchix After 15 Years
Thursday 21 December 2023 9:00 PM

Black Ballad
Black Ballad & Untype Salon Presents: The Cornrow Classes
Saturday 9 December 2023 11:30 AM
“They hate that I went under the knife for something they deem frivolous. But my nose job helped my confidence and saved my mental health.”
– Why Are More Black Women Getting Nose Jobs?

Tobi Oredein
Founder's Letter: The Problem W/ Naomi's Response To The PLT Backlash
Sunday 10 September 2023 11:00 PM

Bashirat Oladele
Faith & Fashion: Black Muslim Women On Celebrating Eid
Wednesday 28 June 2023 8:00 AM

Henrietta Shirazu
Navigating Desirability Politics & Fashion As A Professional With ADHD
Tuesday 28 March 2023 8:00 AM


Mia Thornton
The Blurred Line Between Representation And Digital Blackface
Friday 22 April 2022 8:00 AM


Jendella Benson
June Ambrose On Trusting Her Younger Self & Her New PUMA Collection
Friday 18 February 2022 12:00 PM

Ata-owaji Victor
The Burden – And Limits – Of Representation In The Creative Industry
Wednesday 5 January 2022 2:00 PM
“To have my hair out always prompts disappointing looks of disdain from my gran and her generation. I often get comments like, ‘When are you going to do something with that hair?!’”
– Four Black Women On Style, Identity And Standing Out


Tobi Oredein
Founder's Letter: We Must Stop Shopping At Asian Owned Hair Stores
Sunday 17 September 2023 11:00 PM

Michaela Makusha
Why Don't Black Women Own Black Hair & Beauty Shops?
Friday 15 September 2023 8:30 AM

Esther Okusaga
3A? 4C? – Here’s What We Are Getting Wrong About “Hair-Typing”
Wednesday 9 August 2023 8:00 AM