How to Be Pretty

Co-authored by Kathi Burns, CPO®

Being pretty is a goal for many people--it’s a great way to improve your self esteem and self confidence! Everybody is beautiful, and it’s important to remember that it’s not just what’s on the outside that makes you pretty. The way you treat other people goes a long way in how they see you. Learn how to treat people the way they want to be treated while improving your confidence and looks, and soon everyone will think you’re pretty! You don't have to wear makeup to be beautiful you are beautiful at heart!

Things You Should Know

Take care of yourself! Get 8+ hours of sleep at night, drink at least 8 cups of water a day, bathe often, and ensure your hair, nails, and teeth are well-groomed.
Build your confidence with positive affirmations. Practice accepting compliments and don’t compare yourself to others; act confident even when you’re not.
Show off your inner beauty by smiling and being friendly towards everyone. Let your loved ones know that you care and go out of your way to help others.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Caring for Yourself

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Get plenty of sleep. Being well-rested can drastically improve your appearance. Most adults need about eight hours of sleep, but teenagers can require up to ten.^{[1]
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Tip: If you constantly feel tired, try going to bed a little earlier each night until you feel entirely rested in the morning.
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Drink at least 8 cups (1,900 ml) of water a day. Staying fully hydrated will make you look better by clearing up your skin, improving the health of your hair and nails, and keeping your body healthy. If you mostly drink soda, coffee, or juice, try replacing some of them with water until you are drinking at least 8 cups (1,900 ml) daily.^{[2]
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- Alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes, and drugs are especially bad for your appearance and health.
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Bathe every day. Be sure you shower every day and clean yourself thoroughly with soap and water. How often you wash your hair will depend on your hair type, but you should at least clean your body daily.^{[3]
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Use moisturizer on your skin. You should use a moisturizer on your face and body every day, even if you have oily skin--moisturizer will stop your skin from producing its own oils. You can use any kind, but check the label first to see if it’s the best kind for your skin type.^{[4]
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Tips for Fresh, Glowing Skin
Wash your face in the morning and at night. Splash your face with warm water and apply a soft and gentle cleanser that works with your skin type. Rinse, then dab on a moisturizer to keep your skin fresh and hydrated.
Exfoliate your face 2-3 times a week. Exfoliating your skin will clear away dead skin cells and leave your face clean and fresh. If you have normal skin, go for an exfoliating scrub that removes skin cells with chemical enzymes and small beads. For sensitive skin, try a gentle exfoliants with smooth beads to scrub the skin.
If you have acne, use a benzoyl peroxide product. Benzoyl peroxide gets rid of acne-causing bacteria. It’s available right in your drugstore, but read the label carefully and remember that this product can make your skin quite dry. If your acne isn’t affected, see a dermatologist for prescription options.
Tip: Remember, no one has perfect skin! You can still be pretty if you have a few pimples, or if your skin is a little splotchy.
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Keep your nails clean and trimmed. You don’t have to put on a new shade of nail polish every day, but your nails should be clean and manicured all the time. Clip and file your nails so they are even and clean under them daily. If you wear polish, check for chips every day and fix them if you have polish on hand. Biting your nails is the best way to break them and make them weaker. Refrain for biting them at all costs. Dip your hands in lemon or rub lemon on your nails and fingertips so if you feel the urge to bite them you will taste lemons.
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Make sure your hair is clean and styled every day. Keep your hair brushed and styled every single day. Make sure your hair doesn't have any knots or tangles, and that it is neat and clean. If your hair gets flat and oily by the end of the day, try to wash it every day; otherwise, every other day is fine.^{[5]
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Styles for Every Hair Length
Short: Try a side part with a small French Braid near the crown of your head, or a half-up look with a small ponytail or bun. You could even do two high, tight “space buns” for a cool, trendy look.
Shoulder-Length: Add lots of curls, bending them away from your face for a fun, beachy look. Slick your hair back and straighten it for a sleeker ‘do. You can also try pretty braids and unique updos; your hair length is versatile enough for a lot of looks!
Long: Try a long, relaxed braid or a messy bun for a cute, casual look. Scoop your top layer away from your face and add soft curls for a pretty style, or straighten it and put it in a high, tight ponytail to look sleek and stylish.
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Wear deodorant or perfume. Smelling nice is an essential part of being pretty! Be sure you use deodorant every single day. You can also wear perfume--many people have a signature scent they wear every day. If you don’t wear much perfume, try a light floral or fruit scent first. But always be careful to not wear too much. ^{[6]
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- Don’t use deodorant or perfume as a substitute for bathing. People can tell.
- Use as little perfume as possible, and only use it on pulse points like your wrists and neck. Your perfume should be a subtle fragrance that people only notice when they’re next to you, not a strong smell that hangs in the air around you.
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Brush and floss your teeth twice a day. Pretty people keep their teeth as clean as possible. Brush and floss at least twice a day, and be sure to use mouthwash or mints to keep your breath smelling fresh. Carry floss with you, and use it after every meal or snack.^{[7]
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- It’s okay if your teeth are crooked or if you wear braces. Just make sure they’re clean and white.
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Improve your posture. It’s hard to imagine a pretty person slouching! Practice sitting with your back straight against a chair and walking with your chin parallel to the ground. It will make you look more confident and attractive!^{[8]
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Wear light makeup. If you aren’t happy with your looks, try wearing a little bit of makeup. Light makeup will help you accentuate your best features, and it’s much easier to learn to apply than a full face of makeup. Keep practicing until your makeup looks natural and is easy for you to apply.^{[9]
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Doing a Natural Look with Makeup
Face Makeup: Dab on some concealer over any spots, then blend foundation over oily areas, making sure it matches the color of your neck; make sure to blend into your neck, too. Brush a bit of light pink blush over your cheekbones for a simple, dewy look.You can also apply highlighter to the higher points of your face such as your cheek bones, tip of the nose and the bridge, and the inner eye corners and brow bones. This will give you a fresh, blinding and beautiful glow.
Eye Makeup: Line your upper lash line in a brown or black eyeliner pencil. If you want eyeshadow, brush a gold, brown, or silver tone all over your lid and just above the crease, then blend the colors. Brush on some mascara as the finishing touch. Mascara makes a huge difference with the eyes.
Lip Makeup: Slide on a sheer lip gloss that matches the natural shade of your lips. You can also try a simple nude-pink lipstick for a more noticeable color and shine.
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Keep your clothes clean and pressed. Wearing clothes that are wrinkled or stained can make you look messy, unattractive, or even dirty. Iron your clothes before wearing them and be sure they’re clean when you put them on.^{[10]
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- Read the instructions on your clothing labels. Some clothes can’t be ironed or can only be ironed on a low setting.
- If you don’t want to iron, try hanging clothes up immediately after you dry them, or letting them run in a dryer on the permanent press cycle.
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Wear clothes that fit properly. You don’t have to wear the latest trends to be pretty. A great shortcut is to make sure all your clothes fit you properly. Don’t wear clothes that are too tight or too baggy. None of your clothes should be so tight that they pinch you, show your underwear, or are hard to put on and take off. They also shouldn't hang loosely off your shoulders or hips, or need to be adjusted as you go about your day.^{[11]
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EXPERT TIP

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Image Consultant
Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University.

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Image Consultant

Our Expert Agrees: When buying new clothes, always try them on in the store before you make the purchase. Not all brands have the same standard measurements. A medium shirt for one brand might be just slightly different than a medium from another, which means the fit will be different, too.
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Consider getting a makeover. If you still feel hopeless about your looks, you might just need a little outside perspective. Call your local makeup store, hair salon, or beauty counter and schedule a makeover. They’ll be able to teach you tricks and techniques you hadn’t considered before, and you’ll go home looking great!^{[12]
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- If you can’t afford a professional makeover, ask a friend or relative who’s into makeup and beauty to help you.
- Don’t feel intimidated about going into a makeup shop or hair salon. They've seen everything and they’re here to help you.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Improving Your Confidence

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Say something positive about yourself every day. A great way to improve your confidence and begin to feel pretty is to take a little bit of time every day to say something positive about yourself. You can set an alarm for the same time to remind you, or even just practice saying something positive every time you think something negative about yourself.^{[13]
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- Try saying something like “My eye color is beautiful” or “I did a great job putting together this outfit today” or “I did great on that algebra test.”
2
Learn to accept compliments. If you ignore or shut down other people’s compliments, they’ll think you don’t want to hear anything good about yourself. When somebody says something good about you, resist the urge to say something like “No, you’re wrong.” Instead, say “Thank you! That really means a lot to me.”^{[14]
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Avoid comparing yourself to others. You are a unique individual, and nobody has the same life and the same circumstances as you. Don’t worry too much about what other people are doing or what they have that you don’t. If you start to compare yourself to others, tell yourself that you’re a different person and you have your own set of positive qualities.^{[15]
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Focusing on You
When you get jealous, remind yourself that you’re beautiful, too. Every time you catch yourself thinking something like, “Her hair is so much prettier than mine,” remember that just because her hair is pretty doesn’t mean yours isn’t. Looking or acting a little differently than someone else doesn’t mean that you’re doing something wrong! It means that you’re being your own person, and that’s a good thing.
Remember that beauty standards are often unfair. Look up “modern beauty standards” online and learn about what today’s society considers beautiful and why. Understanding where beauty ideals come from will help you see how much pressure there is to meet an impossible standard, and help you learn to overcome it.
Love what makes you different. You’re a totally unique person, which is a pretty amazing thing. Don’t waste time comparing yourself to others. You’re a completely different person, with your own amazing strengths and dreams.
4
Try something new every day. A great way to build confidence is to branch out and try new things every chance you get. It doesn’t have to be anything huge--it can be as easy as wearing a new hat or taking a different route to school. Make a goal to try something new every single day.^{[16]
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- If you usually wear dark or neutral-colored clothes, try wearing a bright blue top one day.
- Join a new club at school.
- Order something different at your favorite restaurant.
5
Take more selfies. Selfies are a great way to boost your confidence. Spend some time snapping a few dozen photos of yourself. Look through them and pick out the one you like the best. You don’t have to post it, but you can still decorate it with a filter or sticker.^{[17]
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- It’s totally normal to hate some of your selfies! Even supermodels have outtakes they don’t want anyone to see.
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Act confident even if you don’t feel it. It’s normal for it to take awhile to start feeling confident. If you’re trying to improve your confidence but aren't feeling it yet, try faking confidence! It sounds silly, but if you act confident all the time, you’ll soon find that you really are confident.^{[18]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Showing Inner Beauty

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Smile and make eye contact throughout your day. Lots of people who aren't necessarily great-looking have an inner beauty that radiates and attracts others. Practice your inner beauty by smiling and making eye contact with the people you encounter every day. It doesn't matter if you know them or not--everyone likes a smile!^{[19]
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- Many people interpret smiling and making eye contact as an invitation to chat. If you’re in a hurry or don’t want to talk, be sure to make the eye contact last for only a second.
2
Be friendly and polite towards everyone. Be nice to everyone you meet. Introduce yourself if you don’t know them, and address them by name. Ask how they’re doing and take an active interest in their lives.
- This doesn’t mean that you should let people treat you badly--if you have to tell someone to stop or to leave you alone, do so clearly and firmly.
3
Show your loved ones how you feel about them. If you care about someone, let them know how you feel. You can simply say “I care about you” or “I love you”, but it doesn't have to be direct. You can also show them how you feel by paying attention to them, listening to any problems they have, and making time for them.
- Tell your parents that you appreciate all they do for you.
- Text your best friend a note saying she's awesome and the best friend ever.
4
Offer to help others as often as you can. People are more likely to find a helpful person attractive and enjoyable to be around. If you are in a situation where you can help someone, do it! Offer to open doors, carry boxes, or help someone with their homework.^{[20]
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- Don’t go overboard. You shouldn't offer to help do something if you aren't fully up to the job. Offering to help too often can lead to burnout and being taken advantage of.
5
Tell other people they’re pretty. Pretty people don’t just sit back and reflect on how pretty they are. They look for beauty in other people too! Look at the people you care about and the people you interact with, and find something nice to say about everyone’s appearance. Once you get into the habit of looking for beauty in others, you’ll be able to see it in yourself too.
- You don’t have to walk up to people and announce “You’re pretty.” Try saying something like “I like your haircut” or “You look nice today.”