How to Encourage Confidence and Self-Care for Black Boys and Teens

In 2018, “Black Panther” not only brought a Black king and superhero to the forefront for his own movie, the film also detailed a celebration of dark skin as well as a variety of natural Black hairstyles. Short, long, and in between, the diversity of twists, locs, naturals, and closely cropped looks displayed and celebrated Black hair and Black hair care in ways that had never before been seen on the big screen. Black hair was shown with beauty, with pride, and with care, with no heed or hindrance to Eurocentric ideals of beauty. 

At times in the workplace and schools, however, Black hair, in all of its gravity-defying glory, can be looked down upon, deemed unruly, unkempt, unprofessional. Too often we have seen Black boys and teens forced to have their hair cut in order to participate in the sport that they love or refused entry into school for not meeting dress code standards due to the nature of their hair. Black children—particularly Black young men—have their self-esteem attacked in many common spaces for how their hair grows naturally, or for having protective styles. That’s why building and maintaining their self-confidence is of the utmost importance from a young age. 

Here, father of two, parenting expert, and founder of family-run blog Parental Questions Mo Mulla shares tips for practicing self-care and self-expression with the Black boys or teens in your life.

How can Black young men express pride in their hair?

“As a Black parent, one of the best things you can do for your son is help him develop a positive self-image,” Mulla says. “This includes teaching him to love and appreciate all aspects of himself, including his hair.”

There are plenty of ways to help your Black son express pride in his hair. Here are some of Mulla’s suggestions: 

• Help him choose a hairstyle that makes him feel confident and handsome.

• Teach him how to style and care for his hair using positive language.

• Encourage him to stand up for himself and others who may be ridiculed because of their hair.

• Let him know that he is beautiful just the way he is.

What are some tips for hair care?

Mulla believes that caring for your son’s hair is of the utmost importance. “It will help reduce the amount of breakage, and maintain healthy hair growth,” he says. It’s also crucial to use products that are designed specifically for Black hair and Black hair textures, like the plant-based options from Young King Hair Care.

Not everything off the shelf at your local pharmacy will be appropriate, but the Complete Hair Bundle from Young King Hair Care includes five styling products plus wash day essentials to ensure your son’s crown is prepped and styled for any occasion. Getting a system for your son can also help him develop a regular routine as he grows older. Remember: Personal appearance and hair care are key parts of self-care. 

“Help your child understand that everyone’s hair is different, and that there is no right (or wrong) way to wear it,” Mulla says. “Your child’s confidence will radiate from the inside out.”

As parents, it is imperative to not only be supportive in these choices, but to be positive. By fully embracing your child’s natural texture and style choice, you can help instill a solid foundation of confidence within them. Who they are, and being proud of themselves for who they are, begins at home with you.

How should you go about building self-esteem for young Black boys and teens?

According to Mulla, building your son’s self-esteem starts with showing him that you love and accept him just the way he is. “Let him know that you appreciate his natural gifts and talents, and praise him for any accomplishments big or small. Teach him how to be confident in himself and his abilities, and help him learn how to handle disappointment and failure gracefully. Talk to him about the importance of being strong and independent while also showing compassion for others,” he advises. “Most importantly, let your son know that he can come to you with anything—no matter what it is—and that you will always be there for him.”

Self-care is king! Shop plant-based products from Young King Hair Care to help the Black young man in your life unlock confidence.

Are you a parent that's seeking solutions to help your son's hair? Are you frustrated with using lower quality products that leave his hair feeling dry and unmanageable? And are you tired of being forced to use products that weren't crafted with young men in mind?

Then you're like me. I experienced these frustrations when searching for hair products for my son Kade. After recognizing that there were no affordable, high quality products that represented young men with textured hair who look like my son, I decided to create Young King.

Parents of young men with textured hair should not have to sacrifice quality and utilize several different hair care products that too often fall short of their desired results.

Plus, I firmly believe representation is so important. Any young man should be able to see himself in the products that he uses. Because when he looks good, he feels good.

Young King is here to simplify hair care routines to make it easy for you and your son to care for his hair, so you don't have to waste time figuring out which products to use and in which order.

Leveraging the magic of plant based ingredients, we curated a bundle that helps you put his hair care regimen on autopilot...

Inspired by our son Kade and leveraging our 10+ years of corporate experience as executive leaders at a Fortune 500 companies, my husband and I created Young King to foster a more inclusive beauty industry for Black and Brown young men.

We're here to encourage the next generation to show up as their full authentic selves, which comes from self-love and taking pride in their self-care.

What parents are saying about us...

“I tried this for my son's hair and I love it! This product really defined my son's hair and really made it nice. I have been hesitating to get my son's haircut since he hadn't had one before but no product was working for his definition and with this product I can put the haircut off a little longer. This product far surpassed any expectations that I had for it. After I did his hair, my son was so proud that he walked over and posed. I will not use anything else for my son! Thank you, thank you, thank you for this product!”

— Shannon

All Young King Products are tailor-made for environmentally conscious parents and young kings.

We care about making our products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. That’s why we use plant-based formulations and ensure are products are free from harmful ingredients. We always stick to our no-no list: no mineral oils, no sulfates, no parabens or phthalates. We also never test our products on animals.

Anyone can have allergies. If you have any discomfort or a rash develops, discontinue use and consult your physician.