Jenn Jackson

Hey hey! 

As I review the YouTube channel for 2024, I’d love to hear from you. What were your favourite videos from this year? 
And what types of content would you like to see more of in 2025?

I also want to share something I’ve been reflecting on: earlier this year, I set a goal to pivot away from focusing primarily on natural hair content. Honestly, I didn’t feel like I fully achieved that. It’s challenging to step out of what feels familiar, especially when I genuinely enjoy discussing natural hair issues. It’s a balancing act, I think, to create content I love while also pushing myself toward new directions that excite me (and that I know will be helpful to you as well). I have felt this "pull" for a while now - I just know there is much more I can share, if I allow myself to.

Finding that balance is a work in progress, but I’m committed to continue to make progress in 2025.


PS. Who remembers the orange hair? 👀

4 months ago | [YT] | 408

Jenn Jackson

Is this thing on? 🫣

Hello all my beautiful people. How are we doing? It's been a little while but I needed to give birth and recover. Your girl is a whole mom of 2 (under 2), life is certainly different these days but also so fulfilling. Who entrusted ME with these kids?? 😅

I feel I may have missed a lot on here so catch me up! Between building a business and embracing/adjusting to motherhood all over again, I’ve learned so much and can’t wait to share it all with you.

Stay tuned for more content but do let me know if you have any questions. I may do a catch up Q&A video. Until then, here is a little life update:

4 months ago | [YT] | 60

Jenn Jackson

Happy Father's Day to all the good fathers, the great fathers, those trying and striving to be good to their kids, I celebrate you toady. To those who have a great Dad, who have a positive influence in their lives, please call/text them today. If they are no longer here, celebrate them by sharing life lessons you learned from them. I posted a video today that I am so proud of (loved how it was filmed/edited, all the things that brings me joy). It has a great message so I hope that you watch and enjoy it as well!

10 months ago | [YT] | 32

Jenn Jackson

Happy Sunday!

Transparency Moment: My heart hasn't been into creating hair videos, and a lot of you have noticed. I've mentioned this for a few years, but never fully allowed myself to pivot into something new. They say that changes happen when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change, and they are correct.

This has been a long time, but I have decided to move away from hair entirely. For 13 years, I have created hair videos and shared with the community everything I learned from caring for, styling, and building confidence around our natural hair. It is now time for me to say goodbye and move on.

I will still share any significant changes with my hair and the occasional wash day videos. Still, the plan is to move into the self-improvement space, storytelling, and topics I wish someone had told my younger self when navigating life as an immigrant black woman in my 20s.

I know you are now in excellent hands with the stylists who have entered the hair scene, and I am always rooting for your success with your hair journey. I considered deleting my past videos and starting from a clean slate, but my audience on Instagram built a strong argument as to how my videos are an excellent resource for anyone starting their journey. So, moving forward, I will simply put ALL of my videos in ONE "Natural Hair" playlist and then categorize the new content accordingly. I also have a few hair videos that were already recorded, so I will post those in the coming weeks, and that will be the end of it.

I am so grateful that our paths have crossed and for the online community I have built over the years. I never take it for granted. You have been part of my life when I need you the most. I always say that "hair saved me," and it is true. When I started my channel, I was in the worst state mentally and spiritually, and you brought me back and helped me become who I am today.

So I thank you.

And I cannot wait to continue to connect with you in different ways.

With love, always!
Jenn

11 months ago | [YT] | 904

Jenn Jackson

It's happening!

Tune in to the next episode of Couch Conversation today at 4pm EST. Meet Nicole McCardy-Miller , aka "The Curly Chemist": A professional cosmetic scientist, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for curly hair care science, blending her expertise in chemistry with her love for education and entrepreneurship.

See you soon!

Here is the link: youtube.com/live/P0okonrB-_0?feature=share

11 months ago | [YT] | 228

Jenn Jackson

Hey y'all!

So many amazing questions on the last post. The live with the cosmetic chemist will likely happen April 27th (TBC). Below is an updated agenda. I ended up copying and pasting some of your questions directly because... they were so good.

Also - if this isn't your thing, that is completely fine. There is no need to respond to others and try to invalidate their questions. You are wasting your time🤷🏾‍♀️. I think we can all agree that continued education in the hair space is beneficial to us all and even looking at the questions, we are all confused lmao.

If you have any last minute question that you want to squeeze in, leave a comment below. Please keep in mind that she is a chemist and not a stylist. She may not be able to answer questions such as "what products should I use". 👀

---
Draft Agenda:

➰ Let’s start off with some definitions to make sure we are all on the same page. For example, sulfate vs surfactant. Types of proteins (like hydrolyzed vs amino acids).

➰ From a formation standpoint, what are the roles and purpose of the following products when it comes to haircare? - Shampoos - sulphate free shampoo that still contains stripping ingredients vs no subs cowash. What’s the difference between all these shampoos and what’s best for 4C hair? how to best use them so they don’t “eat” our hair

- Conditioners
- Deep conditioners (are they real or a marketing schemes)
- Protein treatments - are they needed?
- Leave-in Conditioners - Are they needed?
- Formulated vs raw butters/Oils
- Gels
- Mousse/Foams
- Silicones. How fast or slow they build up, what changes are happening to the hair as they build up, and how often should a person clarify to remove them?

➰ What about product formulation especially when it comes to black hair - Is there such a thing as black hair products vs white hair products? Does it all come down to marketing?

➰ In your professional opinion, are raw oils needed in a healthy hair care regimen or can one maintain the integrity of the hair without them? Do they truly block moisture from entering the hair? Can they simply be removed with shampoos?

➰ It seems like we are swapping one coating (oils) for another (layered gels). Is layering gels just as effective at retaining/ locking in hydration as oils are?

➰ Splits ends/ weathered ends will happen regardless but it seems like they are happening at an accelerated rate without the continuous use of oils/butters (formulated or not) in afro hair care. Do you have any hypothesis as to why that may be?

➰ Any thoughts on the Webbing/velcro ends phenomenon that is happening even after conditioning the hair? Any potential solutions as the hair grows out

➰ Are gels as drying as we claim them to be? Is there such a thing as a hydrating gel?

➰ Is a gel coating just as moisturizing as an oil coating when it comes to "sealing" our hair?

➰ There was a lot of talk on the last live about "toxic" ingredients in cosmetic products - can you elaborate on that? What makes a product toxic? Do all harmful ingredients need to be eliminated or does the percentage of the ingredients make a difference in how harmful a product is?

➰ Also, if an ingredient is "bad" or "toxic", what exactly is the consequence of using it? Is it that the hair might be dry or the risk of cancer is higher? Those are 2 very different outcomes.

➰ Are there known carcinogens in the products? What are the safest product ingredients that we can use on ourselves and children. What is the life span of the ingredients? Are they effective if they have expired? Are they harmful after expiration?

➰ What types of ingredients usually get lumped in the term fragrance?

➰ Thoughts on hair grease for hair and scalp?

➰ How do chemists receive feedback from both stylists and consumers?. Cosmetic chemists grapple with the science and theory. Those on the ground grapple with the actual performance.

➰ What 5 first ingredients to look for in a moisturizing shampoo because some shampoos claim to be moisturizing but are mostly not

➰ I'd also like to hear about dosing. In a typical formulation what is the concentration of the different categories of ingredients. I think our issue is not understanding how much or how little we need of certain ingredients like oils, humectants, and ingredients for hold.

➰ With so many hair growth products, are there any ingredients that are proven to actually grow our hair back at a faster rate? Are most of these products marketing?

➰ I know you can’t evaluate a product based purely on the inci, but if love to learn more about what kinds of things I should be looking for based on my hair and desired styling finish. I like trying new products, but not wasting money.

➰ What causes breakage close to the root of the hair strand?

➰ I’d love to know about what to look for in shampoos (specifically chelating vs clarifying vs moisturizing). There are "gentle", sulfate-free shampoos that I find to be extremely cleansing. Is there any merit to the clear/translucent vs pearly consistency?

➰ How much water does our hair need and should we be more worried about hydrating (with water) or conditioning (lubrication with emollients, oils, butters). Essentially, when BGC tells us to let allllllll the water ever in our hair on wash day - is that actually evidenced as being a good hair care practice/lead to healthy hair/help retain length?

➰ A brief discussion on high porosity versus low porosity and if there's medium porosity hair and which hair products works best. And the chemist thoughts on natural pure henna for conditioning of the hair and how that might affect other products used in the hair

➰ Are tea rinses a thing? What do they actually help with? How long should they be left on if they are useful?

➰ Why does gray hair act so different and what are the best types of products to keep it in line?

➰ Are DIY Products Recommended? When doing DIY what is important to do (should they be stored in cool setting or refrigerated )

1 year ago (edited) | [YT] | 618

Jenn Jackson

Hello all my beautiful people!

I hope you are doing well. We are finally going to have a COSMETIC CHEMIST on the channel and since the conversation can go in many different ways, I figured we could draft the agenda together 🎉.

If you did not like the last live, and many of you did not hold back🥱, this is your opportunity to ask all the questions that you would like answered and we can all learn together.

Topics that I am thinking about discussing so far:
- Product formulation especially when it comes to black hair
- Purpose of products such as deep conditioners, leave-in, oils, Gels, mousses etc
- Are oils/butters necessary to maintain the integrity of kinky hair? How about our scalps?
- Hypothesis on the splitends/webbing/velcro ends phenomenon that is happening
- Is a gel coating just as moisturizing as an oil coating when it comes to "sealing" our hair?


Anything else? Don't be shy now, and leave a comment below.


Adding a picture for aesthetic reasons 😌

1 year ago (edited) | [YT] | 603

Jenn Jackson

Last week, I was on a podcast discussing one of my favourite topics: mental health. Thank you for having me, ‪@survivingsecondgenpodcast‬, and for your work within the black community, particularly with immigrants.

Yes, her name is also Jennifer, such a common name 😅

1 year ago | [YT] | 43

Jenn Jackson

Happy Sunday!

New video just dropped on the channel and it is all about my recent salon visit. It was NOT what I expected and I thought my hair was going to be damaged.

Watch and let me know your thoughts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW6nF...

1 year ago | [YT] | 19

Jenn Jackson

Hi...

So I am looking to start a list of guests for COUCH CONVERSATION, since it is becoming a series🎉. Bonus points if you fall into one of the following categories, in no particular order:

1. Cosmetic Chemists
2. Scientists
3. Stylists in general, especially CIK 👀
4. Someone who is successful with NONB (no oils, no butters method)
5. Someone who tried it and had damage (sorry friend)
6. Someone who is waiting for my hair to fall out too 😮‍💨

I welcome you to the Couch. Email me jenn@itsjennj.com.

Happy Valentine's Day btw. Let me know if you need any links to the look below because your girl was looking GOODT 👇🏽

1 year ago | [YT] | 479