Skip to content
  • Essence GU
  • Beautycon
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Afropunk
  • Essence Studios
  • Soko Mrkt
  • Ese Funds
  • Refinery29
  • 2025 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Entrepreneurship
  • News
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
  • Subscribe
Home • News

Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break

Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
By Essence · Updated October 28, 2020
01
Leave the Exes Alone

If she ever loved him, you shouldn’t even consider him romantically.

Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
02
Give Them Their Space

If a good friend is in a serious relationship and having trouble choosing between you or him, don’t make it hard on her. Give them the space they need to build a healthy, happy relationship.

Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
03
Always Keep it Real

You know how the motto goes: If you see something, say something. Keeping a secret about the guy your friend is dating will only end badly. Fess up and clear your conscience.

Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
04
Try to Get Along With Him

Whether he’s the one you would have chose for her or not, you’re still going to have to play nice. Give him a chance and try not to hold things against her guy before you’ve had a chance to really get to know him.

Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
05
Dress Appropriately

If you’re around a friend’s man you should never be dressed as if you’re trying to land one of your own. if you’re showing more leg or cleavage than she is, that’s a problem!

Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
06
Call Her First

If you have something to say to a friend’s husband or boyfriend, you should bring it to her first. You may have a bone to pick with him, but she deserves the courtesy of a heads up.

Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
07
Support Her Decisions

If she’s happy, you should be happy for her — case closed. It’s not your life, it’s her’s, so don’t get too emotionally invested in a friend’s situation. If you force her to choose between him or you, you may not like her decision. Avoid backing her into a corner with this one.

Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
08
Watch What You Say

If a friend is dealing with a tough time with her man, she will inevitably want to call you and vent. It’s okay to provide a shoulder to lean on, but don’t jump on the bad-mouthing bandwagon if you don’t mean what you say. She’ll remember the things you said long after she’s forgotten those he said.

Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
09
Don’t Get Too Close
You should never, ever, under any circumstances, bad mouth your friend to her man. Even if you’re really upset with her in that moment, he’s not the person you should be venting with. Go to her!
Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
10
Keep Things Between You and Her

Your friend may wind up telling you more intimate details about her relationship or her man than he would like — it happens. The worst thing you can do is accidentally bring up something around him that you had no business knowing in the first place.

Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
11
1033633
Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
12
1033603
Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
13
1033593
Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
14
1033583
Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
15
1033573
Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
16
1033563
Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
17
1033553
Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break
18
1033543
Girlfriends: Friendship Rules (About Guys) Never to Break