Black women have primarily been categorized as strong, independent, stressed out, and accepting of the bare minimum. But there is a new aesthetic that us Black women are claiming- femininity, rest, relaxation, luxury, which is simply the soft black girl life. 

If you're wondering what the soft life consists of, it's “the opposite of hard life. It’s where you make decisions that leave you feeling stress-free and vibrating higher.” The soft life is simple. It’s showing Black women that we are deserving of joy, unconditional love, safety, and peace.

The #softblackgirl hashtag has been used 12.5K times. Women are using it to share a day in the life of self-care, whether taking themselves on a solo date or wearing their favorite shade of pink. Or they are buying a luxury bag or enjoying a book and a glass of wine. 

So here at BET, we have rounded up ways you can enjoy a #SoftBlackGirlSummer.

1: Solo Date – Why wait for a friend or a partner to enjoy a nice dinner. Put on your fancy dress and favorite perfume and treat yourself to a lovely night out.

2. Spend A Day In Nature – Life will have us on a hamster wheel. So this summer, press pause and take a day to spend in nature. Try hiking, a long walk, a picnic in the park, or simply a day at the beach. It will help reset your mind. 

3. Wine Tasting – Whether with friends or solo, going to a vineyard is a fun and classy activity. You may even get lucky and make your own bottle of wine. 

4. Rest – Nothing screams soft life more than taking a day to rest. Sometimes, you need to curl up on your couch, grab a journal, and release your thoughts. 

5. Solo Travel– Traveling by yourself can be scary. But it can also be liberating and healing. We suggest booking that solo trip to enjoy your own company. 

6. Buy That Luxury Item – We don’t want to promote capitalism, but Black women work extremely hard and don’t necessarily enjoy the fruits of our labor. As caregivers to everyone, we put ourselves last. So this summer, we encourage you to buy the item you’ve wanted for years.