Beauty Experts Share Mental Wellness Tips

In a world where mental health can still carry a stigma, especially within the Black community, finding effective wellness practices is crucial. Despite facing higher rates of mental health challenges, Black individuals often seek treatment less frequently than their white counterparts. However, many are discovering that the rituals of beauty and self-care can play a significant role in nurturing mental well-being. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, four beauty experts share their personal go-to practices for staying centered and resilient.

Dija Ayodele: The Power of Small, Consistent Rituals

Dija Ayodele, founder of Black Skin Directory, emphasizes that wellness doesn’t need to be grand or elaborate. Her earliest wellness memories are tied to the communal and affirming experience of visiting beauty salons with her mother. These spaces offered not just grooming, but care, connection, and a sense of invincibility. For Dija, prioritizing herself through these moments is essential for her mental health, reminding her that she matters amidst the demands of entrepreneurship, motherhood, and more.

Her top practices are simple yet profound:

• Nature walks: Solitary strolls in nature provide clarity and peace, acting as a mental reset.
• Showers and body care: Symbolically washing away heaviness and mindfully moisturizing her body is an act of self-affirmation.
• Hair care: Washing and caring for her hair is a restorative ritual when feeling depleted.
• Prioritizing sleep: Recognizing sleep as a cornerstone of mental health and protecting it fiercely.
• Saying ‘no’: Learning to decline requests without explanation as a vital act of self-preservation.

Ayodele advises starting small with wellness, focusing on consistency over perfection. She also finds strength in the words of Myleik Teele, highlighting the importance of community and knowing you’re not alone.

Mamy Mbaye Polk: Embracing Gentleness and Presence

Mamy Mbaye Polk, co-founder of SLIQ, views her wellness practices as a vital check-in system. When she notices herself neglecting skincare, yoga, or journaling, she knows she’s in a low space. Re-prioritizing these activities is often the first step toward a better headspace. Her biggest lesson? Be gentle with yourself. She learned this after treating her wellness goals like tasks and becoming harsh when she didn’t meet them.

Her key practices include:

• Yoga: A practice that forces presence and self-focus, especially important when working from home.
• Washday ritual: Streamlining her hair care routine has transformed a source of anxiety into a confidence-boosting weekly ritual.
• Gentle self-care: Embracing walks or simply resting over constant productivity.

Mbaye Polk encourages others to start with accessible practices and to celebrate the effort, acknowledging that prioritizing wellness isn’t always easy.

Pekela Riley: Resilience and Self-Love as Healing

Pekela Riley, founder of True + Pure Texture & Salon PK, shares a powerful early memory of being shamed for her natural hair. While initially embarrassing, this experience became a catalyst for her life’s work in championing self-love and texture innovation. She views wellness not just as feeling good, but as recognizing resilience and becoming a healer.

For Riley, wellness practices are essential for mental clarity and psychological safety, especially during seasons of anxiety. Her top practices include:

• Morning walks: A moving meditation that clears the mind and sets intentions.
• Vacations & Staycations: Scheduling ‘me time’ quarterly for inspiration and resets.
• Spa days: A sanctuary for releasing tension and reconnecting with senses.
• Present Moment Divine Downloads: Honoring moments of inspiration, clarity, or emotional processing through journaling or mindful breathing.

Her biggest lesson is to stop measuring decisions against others’ expectations and to trust one’s inner knowing. She believes self-love is key to self-regulation and attracts the peace and abundance one deserves.

Tomi Talabi: The Power of Movement and Joy

Tomi Talabi, founder of Black Beauty Club, found her wellness ‘aha’ moment watching her mother run at sunrise. Despite facing acute depression, Talabi finds that simple acts of movement, like a quick dance party or a jog, can instantly lift the fog and remind her of her own energy.

Her favorite mental health and wellness practices are accessible and joy-focused:

• Random Dance Breaks: Unchoreographed dancing to music provides an instant mood boost.
• Easy Neighborhood Walks: Aimless wandering with music helps dissipate worries.
• Morning Jogs: Hitting the pavement for fresh air when feeling ambitious.
• Music on Repeat: Filling her home with Afrobeats or Bollywood music sparks joy and energy.

Talabi’s advice to other Black women is simple: forget grand commitments. Just step outside, walk for a few minutes, and notice how it feels. That small spark is enough to begin.