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Black is beautiful. You don’t need to be a Nubian princess or an African rose to feel stunning. When you believe in your ability to inspire and impress, confidence naturally follows. Owning who you truly are on the inside completes the whole picture. This article will guide you in highlighting your natural features and building the self-assurance to pursue what you love.
Steps to Follow
Caring for Your Hair
Celebrate your natural hair. Embracing your texture connects you to your roots and lets your one-of-a-kind beauty shine. It might require effort at the start, but with consistency, it becomes second nature.
Shield your hair while you sleep. Opt for a silk or satin bonnet, scarf, or pillowcase to minimize breakage and signal downtime after a long day. If you're unsure how to wrap your hair, online tutorials can help.
- Be sure to wash your scarf, bonnet, or pillowcase weekly to keep it fresh. Having a few on rotation can help.
- Avoid wrapping your hair too tightly.
Use natural oils, sprays, and moisturizers to nourish your hair. When washing, choose conditioners specifically made for black hair—they’re formulated to retain moisture better than products made for other textures. Avoid using hair grease, as it may damage shine and cause thinning.
- Black hair tends to be drier because its natural oils stay close to the scalp. Most shampoos made for straight hair strip essential oils, leading to breakage. Proper moisturizing is key to growth and strength.
- Good oils to keep around include castor oil, black castor oil, argan oil, and coconut oil—which also benefits your skin.
Let your hair air dry and detangle with a wide-tooth comb while damp. Avoid using hot hair dryer combs. If you do use a hair dryer attachment, make sure your hair has been well-moisturized beforehand and apply oils afterward to protect it.
Take proper care of your weave. Leave space between installations equal to the time you kept the last one in. This helps protect your hairline and prevent thinning or patchiness. Remember, complete hair loss from weaves is rare and usually linked to already dry or short hair.
- Weaves should be removed every 1–2 months, depending on tightness, style, and cleanliness.
- Don’t allow others to pull or tug on your hair to avoid unnecessary damage.
Be thoughtful before applying chemical treatments. Perms and relaxers can be harsh. If you're considering one, watch documentaries like Good Hair to understand the risks and chemical effects.
- While perms require less daily maintenance and allow for straight styles, they can cut your hair length drastically. Some opt for black hair extensions for added volume, but glued-in types can worsen damage.
- To preserve a permed look, avoid contact with water as much as possible.
Handle perms with caution to avoid serious damage. Never attempt a perm on your own unless you're highly experienced. It's safer to let a professional handle it, as they've done it many times before. At best, a bad perm might just harm your hair—but at worst, it can cause lasting harm to your body.
- Perm chemicals can trigger psoriasis or worsen eczema, and may cause severe burns or permanent scarring. If the chemicals get into your eyes or ears, they could result in blindness or hearing loss.
Prevent hair damage whenever possible. While methods like hot combing can temporarily straighten hair, they can also lead to breakage—especially if your hair is already dry or brittle.
Skin Care and Makeup
Pick skincare products that nourish your skin type. Many black individuals favor cocoa butter, and unless you’re allergic, coconut products are also great for both skin and hair. They’re nutrient-rich, and cocoa butter can even help fade scars over time.
- Cocoa butter deeply moisturizes and helps reduce dry spots, with hydration that can last post-shower—though daily morning application is best.
- Other top choices include shea butter and aloe butter. Look for products with minimal chemicals and light fragrance. Ingredients listed further down are used in smaller amounts.
Opt for makeup that suits your skin tone. Explore markets or neighborhoods where there’s a strong black community—these areas often stock cosmetics tailored for darker skin tones, especially in shops that sell black hair care products.
Experiment with deep "nude" lip liners and lipsticks. If you're feeling adventurous with blush, consider a rich purple shade. It may not flatter everyone, but it can look stunning on deeper complexions.
Stick with jet black mascara. Black mascara enhances your eyes beautifully against darker skin, unlike brown-black or blue, which might not pop as well and can be harder to remove.
- For a creative twist, try purple highlighter on your eyelids’ center for a subtle holographic glow.
Always match your foundation to your skin tone. Wearing foundation that's too light is like someone overdoing fake tan—it creates an unnatural, uneven look and exaggerates dark circles.
- Sometimes a darker foundation works better if it matches certain areas of your face.
- Focus on finding a formula that suits your undertone. Blending two shades can help achieve the ideal match.
Embracing Black Identity
Seek out empowering Black role models. They can inspire you in both your style and life goals.
- Look up to well-known Black individuals who remain authentic and grounded.
- Explore the works of Black writers at your local library—they offer powerful perspectives and stories.
- Don’t overlook the strong, compassionate Black women around you—in your family, school, church, and neighborhood. Learn from how they live and don’t hesitate to ask for guidance.
Don't sacrifice your hair or skin for trends. Your well-being should always come before appearances. Avoid risky or low-quality treatments. Hair dye often doesn't work well on Black hair and can cause more harm than good, especially on thicker strands.
Don't change who you are just to please others. Chasing someone else's standard of beauty, especially trying to appear 'white,' is not the answer. Black is beautiful—and so are you.
- Beauty comes in many forms. Just because someone else looks different doesn't make you less. Would you tell a carnation to mimic a daisy to be lovely? Or would you help it bloom into the best version of itself?
Be true to yourself without stressing over stereotypes. There’s no single way to be a Black girl. Whether or not you fit someone’s label of “ghetto” or “too white” doesn’t matter. Follow your own path.
- You are Black enough. You don’t need to dress, speak, or act a certain way to honor your Black identity. Do what feels genuine to you.
- Own your Blackness. Don’t feel like you need to shrink yourself or blend in. You deserve to take up space just as you are.
Think about how you’ll handle uncomfortable or backhanded remarks. People might say things like "you're pretty for a Black girl" or comment oddly on your hair. You could respond with:
- "Thanks for recognizing my beauty—Black girls are gorgeous."
- "You're pretty for a white person, too."
- "I love my hair just the way it is."
- "Only my hairdresser, friends, or family can touch my hair—and you’re not one of them."
- "That comment was hurtful."
- "I’ve asked you to stop making comments like that. Why do you keep doing it?"
Tip: If someone keeps making inappropriate remarks about your hair or skin, talk to a trusted adult. Let them know what’s going on and ask for support. You may need to create distance from anyone who continues to be disrespectful after being told to stop.
Cultivating a Beautiful Mindset
Let your beauty shine through kindness and a good heart. Choose to be generous, encouraging, and thoughtful. Make it a goal to do or say at least one kind thing to someone every single day.
Be someone who lifts others up. Look for ways to brighten someone else's day. It could be a kind word or helping with something big at home. Aim to be a positive influence.
- People might forget your words or actions, but they'll always remember how you made them feel.
Feed your curiosity. Your teen years are perfect for exploring, asking questions, and discovering new interests (safely, of course). What excites you? What makes you want to learn more? That's where your spark lives—that's beauty too.
Handle your emotions in healthy ways. As you grow, your feelings can become deeper and more intense—and that’s okay. It’s important to recognize and manage them so they don’t take over. Here are a few tools:
- Keep a journal
- Move your body through exercise or yoga
- Practice meditation
- Create art
- Speak or write out what you're feeling
- Talk to someone you trust about what’s going on inside
Choose company that uplifts you. Spend your time with people who make you feel valued and happy. Stay away from those who bring negativity. Ask yourself:
- How do I feel after being around this person?
- Do I feel pressured to do things I’m not okay with?
- Does this person encourage my best self?
- How do I feel when I see a message from them?
- Do I truly enjoy their presence?
Make the most of your teenage years. This time can be tough, but it’s also full of joy. Spend time doing things you love, being with people who matter, and exploring what makes you happy. Don’t forget to rest and recharge.
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Some people make false claims about Black beauty—just look at Beyoncé, Naomi Campbell, or Jourdan Dunn. That’s all the proof you need.
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If you're the only Black girl in your circle, expect curiosity about your heritage, especially in places like England. If you were born there, just say so—"I’m British/American/etc. You?"—without guilt or discomfort.
The tips in this section come straight from Mytour readers who’ve lived these experiences. Got a tip of your own? Share it with the community using the form below—we’d love to hear it.
- Real beauty starts with self-love and self-assurance — don’t let anyone make you feel you’re not "Black enough." Do what brings you joy and feels true to who you are.
- Celebrate the beauty in every form — in friends, celebrities, historic icons, and your own family. Diversity is what makes the world shine.
- Fill your life with positive people and energizing activities. That spark you carry inside will radiate outward.
- If someone keeps making disrespectful remarks about your looks, speak up clearly and confidently. And don’t hesitate to involve a trusted adult if it doesn’t stop.
- Let go of anyone who tries to dull your shine. Focus on growing relationships that build you up, not break you down.
- There’s no rulebook for how a Black girl should look or dress. Express yourself in the way that makes you feel most empowered and real.
Cautionary Notes
- If you're part of a racial minority at school, expect to stand out more quickly than others. That visibility often leads to rumors spreading faster. But remember—gossip is just noise. Surround yourself with people who have your back, and let the rest fade into the background.
