It’s sad bc this is pushed onto black women harder bc of misogynoir 😔

My maintenance as a woman is taking a shower when I need it and using deodorant 😂

maintenance also implies that we are a commodity! it suggests that we need regular upkeep to remain “useable” - like a road or a machine

My maintenance as a black woman is trying to eat vegetables daily. Drinking water. Washing my body daily. Brushing my teeth and flossing. And keeping my colon clean. Oh yeah and keeping my hair and nails clean.

"maintenance" is eating properly, exercising, stress management and adequate sleep

I believe everyone needs basic maintenance (like hygiene, taking care of yourself, etc), but doing high maintenance isn’t absolutely necessary and I hate that society makes it seem that way.

Most don’t even enjoy it! They do it because they just wanted to be treated like a ‘worthy’ human. 😢

It's tiring as fuck. I quit all beauty practices: makeup, nails, hair and everything else. I'm technically "low maintenance" now...and yet I keep feeling the pressure to go back to engaging in beauty practices. It feels so draining not being comfortable in my most natural state. It feels like I'm never making it out of the patriarchy.

Their “maintenance” is a mask. Maintenance means to maintain what you naturally already have, not hide it with artificial crap.

Lashes and fake nails have never appealed to me. They are a sensory nightmare to me.

We also need to discuss the exorbitant costs of these “maintenance” practices especially when it comes to installing wigs and sew ins and other extensions. They are linked to cancer causing chemicals as well as just being an insane amount of money to be leaving someone’s account on a monthly or tri weekly basis. Same with nail and lash appointments.

This video really opened my eyes it never occurred to me that maintenance is taking care of your health not your exterior.

Humans have ALWAYS loved to decorate ourselves, paint ourselves, do intricate hair styles and what not so being experimental with your look is normal and honestly super cool. But it's no coincidence that as women we all seem to gravitate towards the same type of "look" aka feminine. Even across cultures you see the pressure to put on makeup to be "presentable", have your nails done, long hair etc. None of these things are wrong on their own, but men are not taught or raised to do these things it's mostly women.

I do my own maintenance and it's extremely tiring. It's also never ending.

I feel like this concept only applies to the "baddie aesthetic" ! If you embrace a more natural look, maintenance has a total different meaning. It's not that expessive and not even into looks only

They create insecurities and give you a commercial solution. Many days ago a I read that " women spend time focusing on beauty instead of thinking". I don't mean that appearance is irrelevant, I mean just think and look around. Beauty facilities are real, but u don't have to focus or toun u entire life about just looking good. Also, investing on your self is about invest in your knowledge 😊

I remember when a man asked me why do i put so much makeup on when i couldnt even see my own face...i was speechless tbh

Just drink water, eat healthy and exercise. As harsh as it sounds genuine beauty doesnt require intense maintenance, it's something you're born with.

For me, this is an interesting video and maybe a reflection of social media beauty standards vs. corporate or real-life beauty standards. Also, I've literally never had enough money to ever cater to beauty standards like having every part of your body 'manicured' in some way (being broke be like that). The question really is, even if you enjoy doing it for yourself, is there also an issue of body dysmorphia when you see what you actually look like? Whether that's with a filter, without your hair done, when you're bloated and considered 'unattractive'? Is there this worry about how men will perceive your desirability when you're out and about? Are you worried about looks, giggles, or whispers, maybe even comments from older women, peers, your parents, etc. whenever you're in public? Insecurity is a difficult beast to deal with, and beyond the corporate systems that were built off of profiting from them, there is also a social culture around shaming people who don't meet the 'standard'.

The breaking point for me is realizing whatever terrible advice or backhanded compliments I get from people in regards to my appearance. They were never going to like the way I looked. It wouldn't matter if I could meet their standard tomorrow because they dgaf about me, honestly. Its just someone else's preference being projected onto me, its not a me problem, its a them problem. Its for them to solve and for me to leave and exist in spaces around people where I'm celebrated and not tolerated.

I never got into any of that because it’s entirely too expensive. Ruins your hair and nails as well. Not worth it