Reading Time: 4 minutes

Self care has become a growing priority for some Jamaican women who create a monthly budget of J$10,000 to $50,000 a month for maintenance.

Defined as the process of taking care of oneself with behaviours that promote health, self care is a necessity for some Jamaican women who do various activities often to preserve their mental health and physical health.

The process is relative and can include anything from retail therapy, hair care, exercise, skin care, waxing, lashes, pedicures and manicures.

In a recent TikTok trend, persons on the social media platform were asked to share how much they spend monthly on self care.

Jamaicans on the app began to participate with some sharing amounts of J$10,000 to $50,000.

This sparked conversations about how much is too much when it comes to self care, with many women defending their purchases as necessary for their mental health.

Our Today interviewed women who shared their monthly budget for self care and how important it is for their mental health.

Budget for self care and importance

When asked her monthly budget for self care, Moniffa Phillips shared that it sometimes costs her between $50,000 to $60,000, if she does everything.

“How I want to live I am not spending that yet but once a while to do lashes is probably $8,000. For my nails, I do them every two weeks and its $6,000,” said Phillips.

These expenses add up to $20,000, but it is her hair that she often spends the most on, budgeting $30,000 or more to buy a wig and install.

Danique Garvey shared that she spends $15,000 monthly.

“I do not pay to do my hair, but for nails and my lashes I would say I spend a good $15,000 every month as a form of self care,” she told Our Today.

She added that she believes self care is extremely important and she often does it for her mental health.

“Whenever I do my nails and stuff it give mi a little boost and mek me feel nice. Sometimes me a have a rough week and me do my nails and I feel better within myself,” she explained.

While speaking with Keandra Wellington, she also shared that self care is important for mental health.

“I think self care is important because if you look good then you will feel good,” said Wellington.

She also shared a break down of her monthly self care expenses which come to roughly $15,000.

“I usually make sure my hair is done but because my mom does it. I just buy the hair and that is usually $3,000 to $5,000. For my nails, both hands and feet, it would cost $4,500 but that is because I go to affordable places,” she explained.

Added to the list were waxing, which costs $5,500 and lashes which could range from $1,500 to $7,000, depending on if they are strip lashes or extensions.

Dawneth Spencer also shared that, for her, self care is important and should be practised. Though not a lash and hair person, she spends $14,000 monthly for waxing.

No limit to self care

With each person listing between $10,000 and $50,000 for self care, Our Today asked if they believe there should be a limit to self care.

The consensus was no, as long as you can afford it.

“It is dependent on your financial situation because you cannot put yuh hat further than you can reach it. But if you can truly afford it, there should be no limit on it because you only have one life and one self,” said Thalia McDonald.

“When you look good you feel good and it sometimes boosts your confidence. I don’t think there should be a limit to self care. Once you can afford it then treat yourself most definitely,” said Spencer.

For Shae-Shinel Stewart, self care “evokes a deep sense of satisfaction within oneself which directly links to self love, I believe. And for me, you can’t put a price on that”.

Others also expressed that, due to the costly nature of self care, they will find cheaper alternatives.

“I bought a wax kit the other day that I sometimes use when I cannot afford to get it done by someone,” said Wellington.

She added that strip lashes are also a cheaper alternative to lash extensions that she sometimes uses.