As uncomfortable as sexual health topics may be, not forewarning her ahead of time is worse — “Why do people see a gynecologist?” I asked my mother. It was the kind of question that was probably as thrilling for a parent to answer as “Where do babies come from?” And when I talk to women, too often they have mixed responses about how their parents handled such…

Tips for men and grooming, proper shaving techniques — This post has been repurposed from a now-defunct Chicago Black Hair & Health Examiner column. The original interview took place on September 22, 2010. Finding a shaving cream or a razor that gets rid of unwanted hair but doesn’t leave your chin and neck looking like San Francisco hills can…

Men weigh in on their favorite traits about women — I never thought I wanted to be “Best __________” a high school yearbook until I cut my hair. I’d been playing with the idea freshman year and finally wacked it off sophomore year. I knew how to dye hair, perm hair and was an all right braider. But once I…

How colorism made me more attracted to dark-skinned men — “Simon says dance in place.” “Simon says pat your head.” “Simon says kiss the person next to you.” I was playing this childhood game with expertise, knowing when and when not to follow the commands. The two teachers’ assistants were entertained watching us, and I was having a blast while…

2022 is the worst of spring allergens for all, especially pet lovers — In the past two weeks, I was thoroughly convinced I was one of the latecomers to coronavirus. Regardless of the number of cases dwindling down, if Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert, Desus and Jon Batiste could get it in the fourth quarter (after being boosted and vaccinated), I knew I wasn’t…

Banks want their money, but are you being too hard on tenants? — Eviction court. Legal fees. Affidavits. Payment ledgers. Bankruptcy checks. Bylaws. Rental agreements. There is absolutely positively nothing less fun for landlords (and condo boards) than the paper pushing involved in evicting someone for not paying rent (or condo assessments). In a perfect world, that tenant (or association member) will find…

From pet trauma to wet fur, here are ways to get your dog to get past weather fear — When I was hired to walk one particular dog Monday through Friday, it was easy money and great tips for about a year. However, I felt so bad for this curly haired dog on rainy days. She hated getting wet. I understood why. It’s not like she had an umbrella…

Rom-coms often make men the goofy one in the relationship — then there’s me — If you watch rom-coms enough, you’ll often notice that the guy is usually the clumsy, goofy one who is trying to get the woman’s attention. It’s fun to watch, but I often appreciate the Issa Raes of the world — the women who know they’re nowhere near as smooth as…

… and Kendrick Lamar ‘Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers’ — while ignoring Kodak Black — There are two artists who you’ll never get a pass for insulting around me: author/poet Langston Hughes and singer Marvin Gaye. In my first apartment fresh out of college, I had a massive poster of Hughes greeting visitors as soon as they walked by my front door. The same energy…