Most times, we complain a lot about our skin tone, our natural hair, our environment, and our origin. Sometimes, we feel less fortunate to be Black.
For many African women, this feeling often arises because we believe we would have had better opportunities if we were from or lived in a place where development and growth are highly prioritized.
It’s quite understandable, but some of the habits we’ve picked up as Black women must be reviewed and, if possible, totally ditched with reckless abandon.
In this article, Elowell Max has compiled five habits Black women must quit.
1. Comparing Yourself to Other Races
One of the habits Black women must quit is comparing themselves to other races.
As Black women, we’ve all been guilty of this at one point or another. Come to think of it—we grew up under circumstances that hardwired our brains to fantasize about things outside of our race and identity.
From Barbie cartoons to fairy tales—Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Nickelodeon, and Wonderland cartoons—these shows did a lot to shape our psychology. We saw our favorite female characters with long, flowing hair while ours looked nothing like it. We dreamed of castles in green forests, imagined ourselves wearing dresses we couldn’t even reach, and the list goes on.
To make matters worse, some of these fantasies followed us into adulthood, making us feel we should be “better,” more beautiful, and more “acceptable” than we are.
If you’re guilty of this—you need to stop. Accept and understand that your hair and skin tone are just as beautiful as those of other races. The moment you correct this mindset and ditch the habit of complaining, you’ll be shocked at how much personal growth you’ll experience.
2. Ignoring Your Skin Needs
Just because you’re dark-skinned or Black doesn’t mean you should leave your skin to take care of itself. Your skin needs more care than you can imagine.
The habit of ignoring the basic necessities that help your skin glow should be abandoned. And no, you don’t need expensive or imported skincare products to tend to your skin. Fortunately, even the most affordable products can get the job done perfectly.
Your skin is highly delicate and needs your deliberate effort to shine and stand out. Sadly, some Black women believe the misconception that “skincare is for white people.” This myopic reasoning needs to change.
Your skin reveals your state of health and adds grace and splendor to your appearance.
3. Imitating Other People
At one point or another, we’ve tried to imitate or copy people we feel are living the life we want. But this habit is more detrimental than you think because it steals your originality.
Being Black is just fine, and you don’t have to imitate any race or person to leave your mark on the world.
It’s important to speak with a polished accent, but you don’t need to spend your entire life faking something that isn’t truly yours. It’s okay to have role models you admire and aspire to be like. However, in your pursuit of growth, you don’t have to talk like them, dress like them, or act the way they act. You can learn from them without becoming a copycat.
Imitating others reflects a lack of creativity, intuition, and self-confidence.
4. Leaving Your Natural Hair Unkempt
Leaving your hair unkempt and untidy reflects poorly on your hygiene and ability to care for yourself.
Beyond braids and extensions, your natural hair should also look neat and healthy. Unfortunately, some Black women don’t see the need to care for their natural hair or give it the pampering it needs to thrive.
Natural hair is highly enviable when properly cared for. You don’t need to buy expensive products to achieve great results. Care for your hair within your means, and you’ll still get amazing results.
Simple natural products like aloe vera, honey, shea butter, eggs, and natural oils can give your hair the shine and health it deserves—if not more than some of the most expensive products.
5. Neglecting Your Health
From eating too much junk food to ignoring the importance of exercise, these unhealthy habits eventually snowball into serious health problems.
Prioritizing your health should be an everyday affair, and one key step is filtering what you eat. Stuffing yourself with soda, sugar-saturated juices, and deep-fried snacks will only do more harm than good.
To minimize the risk of chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases, adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Other ways to care for your health include:
- Staying hydrated by drinking enough water
- Eating lots of fruits and vegetables
- Meditating regularly
We’ve all had our experiences and have had to deal with a lot. It’s easy to focus on the limitations and challenges we face, but if you look closely, there’s always something to learn.
What habits are you ready to quit?
