If you wish you could change your looks, you are not alone. It’s a common feeling amongst a lot of people, particularly young women. Chances are, you’re already beautiful and you just don’t know it. By learning to feel more comfortable with yourself, and by changing your look to better suit who you are on the inside, you can feel like a totally different — and totally beautiful — person!
Steps
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Cut and/or color your hair. Whether it’s cutting it into a different style or dyeing it another color, changing your hair can dramatically affect your overall appearance. Think about what hairstyles and colors might best suit you.
- Ask yourself, what do you want your hair to say about you? Are you outgoing and love taking risks? Maybe you’ll want short, colorful hair. Are you more down to earth and a bit of a hippie? Natural tones and long, layered hair might be the way to go.
- Do an online search or look through some hairstyle magazines to see which hairstyles stand out to you. (You can purchase hairstyle magazines at most drugstores and bookshops.)
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Determine your face shape . An important thing to consider when changing your hairstyle is your face shape. There are several types of face shape. One way to figure out yours is to look in the mirror and outline your face with lipstick or an eye pencil.< [1] X Trustworthy Source University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment Program in the University of Kentucky devoted to scientific research and public education Go to source
- Oval faces are balanced, and shaped like ovals (a little wider in the middle).
- Square faces are equally wide at the brows, cheekbones, and jaw.
- Triangular faces have more width at the bottom of the face, with a strong jawline.
- Heart-shaped faces (aka inverted triangle faces) feature delicate chins and wider cheekbones.
- Circle faces are shaped like circles, meaning that they are fairly round.
- Diamond faces are angular and have cheekbones that are wider than the brows and jaws.
- Oblong faces are consistently wide from the forehead to the jaw, which makes them look longer.
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Decide which hairstyles best suit your face shape . To make your hair look as good as possible, choose a style based on your face shape. [2] X Research source
- Oval faces go well with most haircuts, although styes that accentuate length could make an oval face look long.
- Square faces are best with hair that is longer than the jawline. In particular, avoid haircuts that stop right at the jawline, as these can make a square face look even more square. Also avoid cuts with strong, angular lines such as blunt bangs or bobs. Side-swept bangs, waves, and layers that frame the face are good choices.
- Triangular faces do well with short hairstyles that balance the larger jawline by adding width to the top of the head. If you do go for long hair, ensure that it’s longer than your jawline otherwise your face may look too full at the bottom.
- Heart-shaped faces look great with chin-length layers (bobs are good!). Avoid short haircuts and thick bangs as these can make your face look top heavy. Tight ponytails and otherwise slicked-back hair can emphasis your small chin, so avoid these too.
- Circular faces go nicely with asymmetrical cuts and layered cuts, which help balance the face’s width. Chin-length cuts and blunt bangs can make the face look wider, and so can parting your hair in the middle. Side parts and side-swept bangs will look nice though!
- Diamond faces go nicely with hair that is full at the sides but not at the top. In other words, avoid high hair! Bangs and layers that frame the face will look nice. Avoid middle parts though.
- Oblong faces can look long, so it’s all about breaking up the length of the face. Avoid overly long hairstyles. Bobs, layers, and blunt bangs will go well with this face shape.
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Consider coloring your hair . Dyeing your hair is a great way to add some drama to your appearance. Before dyeing your hair, consider which colors will look best with your skin tone and eye color.
- Your skin tone and eye color may go with most colors of hair, but they may not go with every shade of that color. For example, warm skin tones go well with warm red shades like strawberry, but pink or blue skin tones go better with cooler, brighter reds.
- Choosing a hair color close to your skin tone and eye color will give you a more natural look. As an example, think of how a “beach bum” looks with sandy hair, tanned skin, and pale blue eyes.
- The stronger your skin tone and eye color contrast with your hair, the more dramatic you’ll look. For example, pale skin and green eyes with rich, vibrant auburn hair will be quite a striking combination.
- If you’re unsure of what your skin tone is, take a few online quizzes to see what hair color suggestions they come up with.
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Keep your hair healthy . Wash your hair as often as needed using shampoo and conditioner that match your hair type (e.g. colored, normal, oily etc.). This may be every other day to once a week depending on the quality of your hair. The drier it is, the less it needs to be washed.
- If your hair is dry and damaged, do a weekly deep conditioning treatment on it. An easy at-home treatment is to blend together olive oil with two egg yolks, an avocado, mayonnaise, and hair conditioner, and leave it on your hair for up to several hours (even overnight is okay). [3] X Research source
- If you have dandruff or other hair issues, avoid home-made products. Instead, use products specifically made to help with your condition. If the hair issue is severe, see a doctor or a dermatologist. [4] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
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Find your style. Look online to consider what styles you like the best. Base your decisions on what styles appeal to you, and what you feel most confident in. Consider who you are as a person, and ask how you can show that off through your personal style.
- Look through your wardrobe to find the colors, styles, and patterns that show up the most. Chances are, these appeal to you for a reason—this can help you define your personal style. [5]
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Expert Source
Ashley Kahn
Wardrobe Stylist Expert Interview. 30 September 2020. - For example, if you’re more outgoing and like punk music, you might take your inspiration from retro punk photos, whereas if you’re more natural and a bit of a hippie, you might look at old photos of people from the ‘60s and ‘70s for inspiration.
- Make your clothes an extension of who you are. This means you should feel comfortable and great in your clothes, and not like you’re trying to be someone else.
- Look through your wardrobe to find the colors, styles, and patterns that show up the most. Chances are, these appeal to you for a reason—this can help you define your personal style. [5]
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Expert Source
Ashley Kahn
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Know your body type . Knowing your body type will help you dress in a way that accentuates your best features, and hides the things you’re not too happy about. Here’s one way to determine your body shape through measurements: [6] X Research source [7] X Research source
- Use a measuring tape to measure your shoulders, bust, waist, and hips. You may need to get someone to help you do this.
- Inverted triangle: If your shoulders or bust are larger than your hips, this is your body type. Your shoulders or bust should be over 5% larger than your hips.
- Rectangle: This is your body type if your shoulders, bust, and hips are roughly the same size, and you have no defined waistline. Your shoulders, bust, and hips should be within 5% of each other, and your waist should be less than 25% smaller than your shoulders or bust.
- Triangle: If your hips are wider than your shoulders, this is your body type. Your hips should be over 5% larger than your shoulder or bust measurements.
- Hourglass: This is your body type if your shoulders and hips are roughly the same size, and you have a defined waistline. Your shoulder and hip measurements should be within 5% of each other, and your waist should be at least 25% smaller than your shoulder, hip, and bust.
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Dress for your body type . Now that you know your body type, you can choose the clothes that will make it look its best: [8] X Research source
- Inverted triangle: Keep your top half relatively clean and simple, and free of any detailing that might add bulk to it. Leave the bulky stuff to your lower half to give it more volume and help balance it with your top half. An example might be a clean v-neck top with a wide belt and a pair of wide-legged, high-waisted trousers.
- Rectangle: The goal with this body type is to define your waist so that you have more of an hourglass shape. To do this, wear bottoms with embellishments that create gentle curves, and fitted tops that give shape to the waist. Avoid boxy clothes, or clothes with noticeable waistbands.
- Triangle (aka pear): The goal is to balance your wider lower half (hips and legs) by wearing clothes and accessories that add volume to your upper half and make your shoulders look broader. Avoid adding any bulk to your lower half by wearing bottoms with simple, clean lines and no embellishments.
- Hourglass: Wear clothes that follow your body line. Fitted clothes are generally a good choice as these are sure to accentuate your naturally curvy figure. Avoid wearing baggy clothes that hide your small waist, otherwise you may look more bulky.
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Consider your height. Beyond your body shape, you’ll also want to consider your height. In particular, think about whether you have a longer torso or longer legs, as this will affect how you dress.
- If you have longer legs, you may want to wear hip-hugging pants with longer shirts, or dresses with dropped waistlines to give your body more balance.
- If you have shorter legs, you’ll want to wear skirts and pants with high waistlines, and cropped or tucked-in tops to make your legs look longer .
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Wear clothes that fit you. No matter what you decide to wear, make sure that your clothes fit you well. Clothes that are too baggy or too small will never look good on you, and can also make you feel less confident.
- To get an idea of what styles look best on you, go through your closet and try on a couple of your favorite clothing items. Pay attention to how they fit you. Then, try on a few things that you don't like that much—notice any different in the fit, then use that as a guideline when you're buying new clothes. [9]
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Expert Source
Ashley Kahn
Wardrobe Stylist Expert Interview. 30 September 2020. - When you wear an outfit you really like, take a picture of it so you'll remember how you styled it. [10]
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Expert Source
Ashley Kahn
Wardrobe Stylist Expert Interview. 30 September 2020.
EXPERT TIPPersonal StylistAlena Le Blanc is the Personal Stylist and the Founder of Le Blanc Label. Based in San Francisco, California, Le Blanc Label is the leading personal stylist brand for sustainable style transformations. Alena and her team specialize in seasonal wardrobe refreshes, closet edits, styling for special events, travel, photoshoots, and general personal needs. Alena has been featured in podcasts including EMPOWERED BY WMN, I Am Fearless, and Mind Power Meets Mystic. Alena received her BFA in Fashion and Apparel Design from the Academy of Art University.Invest in well-made garments. Choose clothes made of high-quality fabrics like wool, silk, and cashmere. They last longer and exude luxury. Look for clean stitching, smooth seams, and a well-tailored fit. Focusing on clothes of this quality will help you build a personal style that conveys understated elegance.
- To get an idea of what styles look best on you, go through your closet and try on a couple of your favorite clothing items. Pay attention to how they fit you. Then, try on a few things that you don't like that much—notice any different in the fit, then use that as a guideline when you're buying new clothes. [9]
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Expert Source
Ashley Kahn
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Know how to keep it looking natural . Going for a natural look means enhancing what you already have. Having natural-looking makeup doesn’t mean wearing little makeup. You can still wear foundation, blush or bronzer, mascara, eyeshadow, and lip color even with a natural look.
- You can use makeup to give yourself smoother, more even-looking skin (foundation and concealer); longer lashes (mascara); higher cheekbones (blush, bronzer or contouring kits); and fuller lips (lip liner and lipstick).
- As an example, it can take a lot of makeup to give your face that dewy look that’s so popular.
- If you’re uncomfortable wearing makeup but would like to improve the appearance of your skin, try using a tinted moisturizer or a sheer powder. These can help improve the overall appearance of your skin without feeling too heavy or oily.
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Use eye makeup to play up your eyes. You can use different colors of eyeliner and eyeshadow to make your eyes really stand out: [11] X Research source
- If you have blue eyes, aim for light natural tones like coral and champagne. The dark, smokey look may overpower your eyes, so experiment with it at home before wearing it out.
- Grey or blue-grey eyes look nice with sooty and smokey shades of grey, blue, and silver.
- Green eyes look great with muted purples and shimmery browns.
- Hazel or brownish-green eyes look nice with metallics and pastels that bring out the flecks of color in the eyes. Dusty pink, soft copper, and gold shadows would look wonderful with hazel eyes.
- Brown eyes go well with most colors and styles of eye makeup. Neutral shades of salmon and bronzy gold work well. For a smokey eye you might even add a bit of black shadow in your eye crease.
- A popular style of eyeshadow is to do a smokey eye , which involves mixing two or three shades on your eyelids to give them a graded look, often from dark to light as the colors move up the eyelid towards the eyebrows.
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Wear lipstick . Lipstick is a great way to play up your lips and add interest to your look. Red is one of the most popular colors. It can be worn by everyone. The secret is just to find the right shade for your skin tone.
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Use lip liner. Apply lip liner to your lips before applying lipstick to help it stay on longer. You can also use lip liner to change the shape of your lips, making them look more full or even a bit thinner, if that’s what you want.
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Balance your makeup. Wearing dramatic eye makeup with a dramatic lip color is something that stylists generally advise against as it can be overpowering. If you wear a smokey eye, for example, go with a more natural lip.
- If you wear red lipstick, keep the rest of your makeup relatively subtle. A classic look is to wear a cat’s eye with red lipstick.
- Similar rules apply to balancing hair colors and makeup. For example, having fire-engine-red hair can limit which colors you wear on your lips.
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Consider using contour makeup . Contouring involves using dark and light shades of skin-toned makeup to change the appearance of your face. For example, with contour makeup you can make your nose look smaller and your cheekbones look prominent.
- Contouring takes a bit of time to learn, but if you really dislike your natural features, it’s worth giving it a try.
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Wash the makeup off well. Makeup can irritate your skin and cause breakouts. Washing your face well at the end of the day and removing all traces of makeup will help prevent this from happening.
- To help avoid breakouts, choose non-comedogenic (i.e. non-pore-clogging) makeup. It will say the words “won’t clog pores” or “non-comedogenic” on the packaging. Even with this type of makeup, you might still experience breakouts.
- If you’re wearing heavy eye makeup you may want to use eye makeup remover or coconut oil to ensure that you get it completely off your eyes each night.
Have a Transformational Glow Up with this Expert Series
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I refresh my wardrobe without replacing it completely?Ashley Kahn is a Wardrobe Stylist based in Houston, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, Ashley styles women both in-person and virtually and is passionate about empowering women through the art of personal style. She believes every woman deserves to feel comfortable, classy, and confident every single day. Ashley holds a business degree from Sam Houston State University. She has been featured on KPRC's Channel 2 Houston Life and ABC 13's Check This Out Houston and in the Houstonia magazine. Ashley has also hosted Macy’s “The Wardrobe Edit” and the “It List” fashion shows.Look through your closet, paying special attention to the color, style, and fit of the clothes you like the most. Then, when you go shopping, look for pieces you can mix and match with items you already have.
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QuestionHow do I make myself beautiful without wearing makeup? I'm only 11.Community AnswerInstead of mascara, you can wet a toothbrush and comb out your lashes. Get enough sleep, and you won't need concealer for eye bags. You can substitute slightly-tinted lip balm for lipstick. Wash your face morning and evening with a mild face wash, and moisturize afterward. Wear clothes that fit you properly, and remember to drink plenty of water.
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QuestionHow do I make myself look different so a girl will like me?Community AnswerDon't try to change yourself for someone else. Be yourself, and just try to get to know her. If she doesn't like you for who you are, that's her loss.
Tips
- Remember to be patient, particularly if you’re trying to lose weight through healthy lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. It could take a month or more before you start to notice the effects of healthy living, but you will see (and feel) results!Thanks
- A great way to start learning about what styles of clothes and hair would look good on you is to look to celebrities for inspiration, as they are often professionally styled. Just remember to always put your own twist on the style and stay true to you.Thanks
- If you’re concerned about the possible risks of hair dye, consider naturally lightening or darkening your hair, or using henna . With the exception of henna, natural methods will only change your hair by a couple of shades, so don’t expect dramatic results.Thanks
Taking Care of Yourself
- Drink enough water
. Drinking enough water can help you stay more focused and energetic, and may even help you drop a few pounds. To calculate how much water you need each day, divide your body weight in pounds in half: that’s how much you should drink in ounces.
- A 150-pound woman would need between 75 and 150 ounces of water each day, depending on her living climate and activity level. If she were active and lived in a hot climate, she would need closer to 150 ounces each day. [12] X Research source
- Eat healthfully.
Avoid eating too much sugar, salt or processed foods. Your diet should include the following: [13]
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Trustworthy Source
HelpGuide
Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources.
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- Protein: Fish, white meat, beans, nuts, and eggs are healthy examples.
- Healthy fats: Nuts (almonds are very healthy), vegetable oils (extra virgin olive oil is a popular choice), and fatty vegetables like avocados are good examples.
- Whole, unprocessed carbs: These include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans and other legumes.
- Vitamins and minerals: These are available as supplements, and can be taken if you know well about them and when your diet is not providing all you need.
- Listen to your body. Drink when you’re thirsty, and eat when you’re hungry. It may take a while to learn to read your body’s signals if you’ve previously ignored them, but once you do, you’ll find it easier to stick to a healthy diet and maybe even lose some weight.
- If you eat or drink something that gives you a headache or makes you feel unwell, keep note of it and try to avoid it in the future, especially if you feel unwell regularly after eating or drinking the item.
- Pay attention to what foods and drinks make you feel well. Having a clean diet with plenty of water and nutrients should help you feel healthier and happier. When you’re healthier and happier, you will also feel more beautiful.
- Exercise
regularly. Aim for at least 30 minutes of activity 3 to 5 days a week — more if you want to lose weight. [14]
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- The most effective exercises to do if you’re short on time are those that exercise multiple muscle groups. Swimming, dancing, or even vigorous cleaning exercises multiple muscle groups.
- Going for a brisk 20-minute walk two times a day is another effective way to keep fit and healthy.
- Yoga is a wonderful exercise for relieving stress, and building and toning your muscles. Just be sure to combine it with cardio activities such as walking, running, or swimming. [15] X Research source
- Have good hygiene
. Wash and moisturize your face, and brush your teeth
twice a day. Shower at least every second day, and wash your hair whenever it begins to feel greasy (this could be every second day to once a week, depending on hair type).
- If you have breakouts on your face and back, you may need to wash your hair more often as the oils from your hair can transfer to your face, neck, and back, and cause breakouts.
- To keep your teeth healthy and strong , be sure to go to the dentist every 6 months.
- Having good hygiene will keep you feeling refreshed and more attractive on a daily basis. Try to take care of yourself every day, even if you’re feeling down.
- Keep a daily journal
. Regularly writing in a journal can ease anxiety, stress, and depression. It can also help you work through problems and improve your self-confidence. Try to write for 20 minutes each day. [16]
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Trustworthy Source
University of Rochester Medical Center
Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research
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- Write in your journal even if you have nothing you want to say. You can even just start by saying you’re not sure what to say, and see where the journal entry goes from there. Often something will come up — maybe even something you weren’t expecting.
- Meditate
regularly. Meditating helps you be in the moment and get more in touch with your feelings. It has also been scientifically proven to change the structure of your brain and make you smarter and happier
. [17]
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- There are a lot of different ways to meditate. [18] X Research source A popular one is to sit in a comfortable position with your eyes closed, and try to remove all thoughts from your mind.
- When you’re meditating and a thought comes into your mind, imagine it dissipating, or you can name the thought and mentally swipe it out of your mind. The goal is to focus on the moment you’re in, and not be distracted by thoughts.
- You don’t have to start with long meditations. Even just 1 to 2 minutes is a fine place to start. Ideally you would work up to at least 10 to 15 minutes of meditation each day. If this isn’t possible, just do what you can!
- Be positive
. Most of us have those voices inside that see the bad in things, and that tell us why we aren’t good enough. You can counter those voices by practising gratitude and countering the negative voices with positive ones. [19]
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- Being positive can be a difficult habit to adopt, so be patient with yourself as you learn to observe your negative thoughts and counter them with positive ones.
- A physical trick for feeling more positive is to stand with a good posture: stand straight with your shoulders back and your chin held high, then stretch out your arms as wide as they’ll go. Allow yourself to feel powerful and positive while you do this, and the feelings will linger.
- Smile
. Studies have shown that the happier you look, the more attractive you are to other people. [20]
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In addition, research has proven that even when you don’t feel happy, smiling can boost your mood. [21]
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- If you’re feeling down, try smiling for up to 30 seconds to give yourself a boost.
- Be confident
. Building self confidence is easier said than done, but it’s worth working on. With good self-esteem you will be healthier and happier, which will automatically make you more attractive.
- One way to boost your self esteem is to make lists of your strengths, achievements, and things you like about yourself. It may be really difficult at first. Maybe you’ll only have one item on each list, and even that will have taken you hours to come up with, but the lists will grow as your self-esteem does. [22] X Research source
- Counter your negative self talk. This is related to being positive. Catch yourself when you think negative things about yourself, and counter those thoughts with positive ones. For example, when you think “I’m fat” or “I’m ugly”, counter those thoughts with “I have a great butt” or “I have nice eyes”. [23] X Research source
- Get enough sleep
. When you lack sleep your mind will not operate at its full capacity, and you’ll be more likely to struggle with eating healthy, exercising, and staying positive and confident.
- Adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night, and teens need between 8.5 and 9.5 hours. [24] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source
Warnings
- Note that dyeing your hair can be dangerous as dyes contain chemicals that can cause allergic reactions that can be fatal. For this reason it is imperative to do a patch test 48 hours before dyeing your hair.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/fcs2/fcs2847/fcs2847.pdf
- ↑ https://www.butlertec.us/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=635&dataid=1199&FileName=Cos-%20Chapter%2016%20Haircutting.pdf
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD_PVQ5aDys
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/got-skin-problems-can-tell-specialist-best/
- ↑ Ashley Kahn. Wardrobe Stylist. Expert Interview. 30 September 2020.
- ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355699501_A_Study_on_Category_of_Female_Body_Shapes_and_their_Clothing
- ↑ https://www.uen.org/lessonplan/view/3832
- ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355699501_A_Study_on_Category_of_Female_Body_Shapes_and_their_Clothing
- ↑ Ashley Kahn. Wardrobe Stylist. Expert Interview. 30 September 2020.
- ↑ Ashley Kahn. Wardrobe Stylist. Expert Interview. 30 September 2020.
- ↑ https://www.academia.edu/43995006/HISTORY_OF_MAKE_UP
- ↑ https://calculator-online.net/water-intake-calculator/
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/healthy-eating.htm
- ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/exercise-and-mental-health
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/yoga-stress.html
- ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=4552
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/meditation-modern-life/201309/meditation-will-make-you-smarter-and-happier
- ↑ https://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780195371109/pdf/00_Mullin_Appendix_10.pdf
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hope-relationships/201409/6-ways-become-more-positive-today
- ↑ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02699931.2013.817383#.VlcjiYRszdQ
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hope-relationships/201409/6-ways-become-more-positive-today
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201205/building-confidence-and-self-esteem
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201205/building-confidence-and-self-esteem
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/sleep/sleep-needs-get-the-sleep-you-need.htm
About This Article
To give yourself a completely different look so you feel more beautiful, try changing your hair or beauty routine. When thinking about a new hair cut or color, ask yourself what you want your hair to say about you. For example, if you’re outgoing and fun, try a short cut with a fun color. Or, if you’re more down-to-earth, go for long layers in natural tones. Whether you already wear makeup or are trying it for the first time, think about keeping it natural-looking and accentuating your favorite features. For instance, focus on your eyes or lips to make these features pop. Another way to feel more beautiful is to wear clothes that fit your body, since baggy or overly tight clothes won’t look or feel good. To learn how to pick the best haircut based on the shape of your face, keep reading!
Reader Success Stories
- "I know these tips will help since I've started year 7 and I'm still trying to develop self-acceptance and self-confidence. I do struggle often, feeling insecure with my looks; since I'm quite tall for my age, I feel kinda awkward!. Thank you for creating this." ..." more