Featured among Essence's top beauty professionals prioritizing mental health, True + Pure Texture founder Pekela Riley shares her transformative Q&A on wellness, resilience, and self-love liberation.
Published in Essence by India Espy-Jones 5.30.25
4 Beauty Experts Share Their Top Mental Health & Wellness Practices - Essence | Essence
From Essence's Beauty & Wellness Spotlight
Essence Magazine recently highlighted four leading beauty experts who are championing the crucial connection between mental health and wellness in the beauty industry. Among these trailblazers is Pekela Riley, founder of True + Pure Texture, whose personal journey from childhood resilience to texture innovation exemplifies how mental wellness becomes the foundation for revolutionary beauty solutions.
In this exclusive Q&A, Pekela opens up about her wellness practices, mental health insights, and how a pivotal childhood moment sparked her mission of self-love liberation through hair. Her story, featured alongside other beauty industry mental health advocates, demonstrates why wellness isn't just personal—it's professional power.
What's Your Earliest Wellness-Related Memory?
Pekela Riley's transformative childhood experience reveals the power of inner strength:
"One of my early childhood memories was my grandmother styling me and giving me an extension braided ponytail. I went to school feeling like 'That Girl', swinging my ponytail into class, and this boy shouted out, 'That's not your hair.' I said, 'Yes it is' and he replied, 'No it ain't because your hair is fuzzy.'"
The moment that sparked a movement: For a second, Pekela felt embarrassed—but she still felt cute and owned that she could do whatever she wanted with her hair. This experience taught her how external validation can shake self-worth, but it didn't knock her off her throne.
"Sometimes our greatest wellness memories aren't completely about feeling good—they're about recognizing your resiliency and what needs to heal and then becoming the healer the world needs."
That boy's words became the catalyst for Pekela's life work: championing self-love liberation through texture innovation as founder of True + Pure Texture, creating hair extension options that celebrate every textured hair type.
How Do Wellness Practices Impact Your Mental Health?
The connection between self-care and mental clarity is undeniable:
"I can have seasons of anxiety, and if I don't incorporate wellness practices into my weekly routine—the difference in my mental clarity and sense of psychological safety is huge," Pekela explains.
Essential wellness practices include:
- Morning walks without screen time
- Mindful moments of rest
- Protecting sanity and recharging spirit
"These are not rituals... they are God-given rights that help me lead, invite inspiration, and keep stress and external BS in check, reminding me that self-care isn't a luxury—it's just essential."
What Are Your Top Mental Health and Wellness Practices?
1. Morning Walks: Moving Meditation
"That sunrise stroll is my moving meditation. It clears my mind, boosts my mood, and sets my intentions for the day."
2. Quarterly Vacations & Staycations
"I put 'me time' on my calendar like it's a headline tour! Whether it's a romantic getaway with my hubby or chilling at home, I need that reset to stay inspired."
3. Spa Days: Sanctuary Time
"A spa day is my sanctuary. It's where I let go of tension, reconnect with my senses, and remind myself that softness is strength."
4. Present Moment Divine Downloads
"I create emotional and mental space for those sacred, in-the-moment downloads—when inspiration hits, when clarity flows in, or when I need to process feelings. Whether journaling, breathing, or during a hair mask, I honor those moments as gifts from the universe."
What's the Biggest Wellness Lesson You've Learned?
Stop measuring your decisions against others' approaches:
"Most people haven't walked through the kind of life experiences I have. So much of being well—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—is learning to tune out judgment and tune in to your own inner knowing. You know what's best for you. Period."
The power of self-love attraction:
"What you are seeking is also seeking you. When you open your heart to self-love and believe you're more than enough, you attract the peace, healing, and joy you truly deserve. Self-love equals self-regulation."
Mental Health Advice for Wellness Beginners
Starting your wellness journey? Pekela's guidance is clear:
"Know that saving yourself is not selfish. It's a life law."
Simple steps to begin:
- Daily walks
- Few minutes of deep breathing
- Scalp massage to reset mind and spirit
- Give yourself grace—progress is about presence, not perfection
"Trust that you're more than enough and that every act of self-love brings you closer to the peace and balance you deserve."
Pekela's journey from that childhood ponytail moment to founding True + Pure Texture demonstrates how mental wellness and beauty innovation intersect. Her inclusion in Essence's feature on beauty experts prioritizing mental health and wellness highlights a growing movement within the beauty industry—one where self-care isn't just encouraged, it's essential for authentic leadership.
Key takeaway: True beauty innovation stems from self-love liberation—when we heal ourselves, we create solutions that heal others.
Ready to embrace your own self-love liberation journey? Follow Pekela Riley's wellness wisdom and discover how texture innovation meets mental wellness at True + Pure Texture.
4 Beauty Experts Share Their Top Mental Health & Wellness Practices - Essence | Essence