This article was co-authored by Dina Scherer and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA. Dina Scherer is an Image and Wardrobe Stylist and the Founder of Modnitsa Styling, based in New York City. With over a decade of experience, Dina specializes in color analysis, style development, closet editing, and personal shopping. She helps her clients elevate their personal style and curate a wardrobe aligned with their lifestyle. Dina holds degrees in Advertising and Marketing, Fashion Merchandising, and a Certificate in Image Consulting from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Summer break is the perfect time to become your best self so you can start the school year off right. You can have a major makeover during the summer by building a wardrobe that expresses your personal style, caring for your hair and skin, and practicing makeup application, if you wear it. Additionally, adopt healthy habits so you look and feel your best. Then, build your self confidence to complete your makeover.
Steps
Expressing Your Personal Style
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1Clean out your closet and purge clothes you don’t like. Take everything out of your closet and try on all of your clothes. Look at yourself in the mirror to see if you like each item. Keep items that make you look and feel great and donate items you don’t like.[1]
- Wearing clothes that make you feel amazing will help you have more confidence, which makes people see you as being more attractive.
Variation: Instead of donating clothes you don’t want, host a clothing swap with your friends. This way each of you can get clothing that’s new to you.
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2Shop for clothing and accessories that express your personal style. Look for items that fit your sense of style and fashion preferences. Additionally, choose clothing and accessories that relate to your hobbies and interests. This will help you express your personality through your style.[2]
- For instance, you might look for a leather jacket if you want to create an edgy or rocker look. Similarly, you might get band t-shirts if you love music or sports jerseys if you’re an athlete.
- You don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a great wardrobe. Look for sales and shop at thrift stores to find budget-friendly finds.
- Have fun with layers, too. For example, wear a bodycon sweater with a long cardigan, leggings, boot socks, and ankle boots.
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3Create outfits that make you feel your best. When you do your back to school shopping, try on each item that you’re considering purchasing to make sure that it flatters you. Purchase items that show off your best features and make you feel amazing. Then, arrange your closet so that it’s easy to pull out outfits that you like.[3]
- To show "just the right" amount of skin, go with what you're comfortable with. For some people, that might mean wearing a high-waisted pants with a crop-top to conceal your midriff.
- It’s better to have a couple of outfits that look great on you rather than a bunch of clothes that are just okay.
Tip: Pick out the outfits that you plan to wear during the week on Sunday night so that it’s easy to pull them out when you need them. Hang your outfits at the front of the closet so that they’re ready for the week.
Caring for Your Hair, Skin, and Teeth
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1Pick a hairstyle that works with your hair texture and flatters your face. Look for hairstyles that work best with your hair texture, whether it’s straight, wavy, curly, or kinky. Then, consider which of these styles flatter your face shape. Bring pictures of the hairstyle you want to your stylist.[4]
- If you pick a style that works well with your texture, it’ll be easier to maintain your look.
- If you’re unsure about which style will work best for you, ask your stylist for recommendations. Take advantage of their expert advice!
Variation: For a more dramatic change, color your hair! Go for an all-over color, add highlights, or go for an ombre look. If you’re doing it at home, stick to a shade that’s within 1-2 shades of your natural hair color.
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2Use a hair mask for strong, shiny hair. Apply the hair mask to your hair, then wrap your head with plastic wrap. Next, wrap a warm towel around your head. Allow the mask to sit on your hair for 10 minutes or as directed on the package. Finally, wash your hair with shampoo to remove the mask.[5]
- You can buy a hair mask online or at a beauty store.
- For an easy option, apply mayonnaise, olive oil, or coconut oil as a hair mask.
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3Wash your face twice a day for clean skin. Splash your face with lukewarm water. Next, apply a gentle cleanser to your fingertips, then massage it into your skin. Rinse away the cleanser with warm water, then pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Repeat this in the morning and before bedtime.[6]
- Look for a cleanser that’s formulated for your skin type, such as dry, normal, combination, oily, or acne-prone skin.
Tip: Exfoliate your face once or twice a week using a face scrub or face wash that contains a chemical exfoliator. Massage the exfoliator into your skin using circular motions, then rinse your face clean. This will remove dead skin cells and brighten your skin.
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4Moisturize your face after you wash it. Use a light day cream that contains an SPF in the morning. At night, apply a thicker moisturizer or night cream after you wash your face. This will help you have brighter, smoother skin.
- If you have oily or acne prone skin, pick a formula that’s labeled for your skin type. For instance, some lotions contain acne treatments that will help clear your skin.
- If you have dry skin, you may prefer a thicker cream that will add more moisture to your skin.
Tip: If you have acne, dab an acne treatment cream onto your pimples to help clear your skin.
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5Apply body lotion after you bathe daily for soft, supple skin. Pick a body butter or cream formula for best results. Then, slather the body butter or cream over your entire body right after you get out of the shower. This will lock in the moisture so your skin is soft and supple. Repeat this once a day after a bath or shower.[7]
- It’s best to take warm showers to avoid drying out your skin. Hot water can deplete the moisture in your skin, leaving it dry.
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6Use a self tanner if you want a bronzed look. Self tanner can make your skin look brighter and may make you look thinner. Pick a self tanner that’s 2-3 shades darker than your natural skin color. Then, apply a thin, even layer to your skin. Wait for the product to dry before you put on your clothes.
- Read and follow the instructions on your product label.
- If you already have dark skin, look for a product that adds a glow to your skin, like a shimmery bronzer.
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7Brush your teeth twice a day with a whitening toothpaste. Good oral hygiene is super important because it keeps your teeth strong, healthy, and pearly white. To help your smile look it’s best, pick a toothpaste that’s labeled for whitening. Then, brush your teeth every morning and evening.[8]
- Visit your dentist’s office for regular cleanings and checkups to make sure your teeth are healthy.
Tip: Floss your teeth before you brush your teeth at night before bed. This will clean between your teeth and under your gums.
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8Play around with makeup techniques if you wear it. Makeup can help you enhance your natural beauty if you like wearing it. Watch makeup tutorials online or read magazine articles to learn new techniques. Then, practice applying your makeup so it becomes easy for you.
- For instance, you might try creating a smokey eye or contouring your face.
- You don’t have to wear makeup to look great, so don’t worry about it if you hate makeup.
Warning: Make sure it’s okay for you to wear makeup to school.
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9Shape your eyebrows so they better frame your eyes. Your eyebrows can change the entire look of your face. Visit a professional to have your eyebrows styled, or shape your eyebrows at home using a pair of tweezers. If you have thin brows, use an eyebrow pencil to fill them in.
- Maintain your eyebrows by shaping them once a week. This will keep them looking their best.
Adopting Healthy Habits
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1
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2Eat healthy meals based on fresh produce and lean protein. You don’t need to go on an extreme diet to look your best. Instead, focus on eating foods that are healthy for your body. Fill half your plate with fresh produce, 1/4 of your plate with a lean protein, and 1/4 of your plate with a complex carbohydrate. This will help you feel great and will nourish your body to keep it healthy.[10]
- For instance, eat an egg white and veggie omelet with a side of fruit for breakfast, eat tuna fish and a leafy green salad with tomatoes and cucumbers for lunch, and eat grilled chicken with a sweet potato and roasted veggies for dinner.
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3Limit processed foods and treats because they aren’t nutritious. Processed foods and sugary treats add extra calories to your diet but don’t contain nutrients. Don’t worry about cutting these foods out of your diet if you enjoy them. However, eat them in moderation so that your diet is balanced.[11]
- For instance, you might enjoy a treat or your favorite processed snack over the weekend.
Building Your Confidence
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1Stand up straight so you look and feel confident. When you look confident, it makes you appear more attractive. To project confidence, straighten your spine, roll your shoulders back, and tilt your chin up so you’re looking forward. When you pass people, flash a smile and make brief eye contact for 1-2 seconds.[12]
- You don’t have to feel confident. If you act like you’re confident, people will think you really are.
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2Use positive self-talk to boost your self-esteem. You likely have a stream of thoughts all day, some of which might be negative. Catch these negative thoughts and replace them with positive or neutral statements. Additionally, pick a few positive affirmations to repeat to yourself throughout the day.[13]
- For instance, you might catch yourself thinking, “I look so gross today.” Replace this thought with, “I’m doing my best today, and that’s what matters,” or “I might not feel my best, but I’m projecting my best self today."
- You might use affirmations like, "I'm enough," "I always try my best," and "Today is a great day to be happy."
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3Keep track of your accomplishments to remind yourself you’re awesome. Focusing on your strengths will help you feel more confident. Make a list of your best qualities and your achievements. Add to your list whenever you make a new accomplishment. Review this list regularly to help you remember what makes you amazing.[14]
- As an example, you might write down things like, “Won an award for my essay,” “Elected to student council,” “Took guitar lessons,” and “Helped animals at the shelter.”
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow can I build my abs?
Community AnswerJust exercise for about 20 minutes each day. Do stomach-centered exercises, such as crunches,sit ups, planks etc. -
QuestionWhat if I'm in England and my summer is shorter and I have a uniform and can't wear makeup to school?
Community AnswerTry accessorizing with jewelry and testing out new hairstyles. You can still eat healthy and exercise and maintain a nice personality. -
QuestionI have trouble staying motivated. I am super lazy, but I still want to look good. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Community AnswerIf you really want to look good, use that as motivation. Try this: Put in a bunch of effort one day to look the best you can (do your makeup, style your hair, etc), and see how amazing you look. Then the next time you're lacking motivation to look good, think of the time when you looked amazing, and that should motivate you.
Warnings
- Talk to your doctor before you change your diet or start a new exercise plan. They’ll make sure you’re making healthy choices that are right for you.⧼thumbs_response⧽
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References
- ↑ https://www.self.com/story/worklife-lifestyle-makeover-weekend
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200507/the-value-style
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200507/the-value-style
- ↑ https://www.glamour.com/gallery/how-to-find-the-best-hairstyle-for-your-face-shape-2009-03
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/your-summer-makeover#1
- ↑ https://www.self.com/story/how-to-wash-your-face
- ↑ https://www.thecut.com/2014/12/winter-skin-guide-to-locking-in-the-moisture.html
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/your-summer-makeover#1
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/exercise/faq-20057916
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/healthy-eating.htm
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/healthy-eating.htm
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/your-summer-makeover#1
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201205/building-confidence-and-self-esteem
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201205/building-confidence-and-self-esteem
About This Article
To have a major makeover during the summer, start by donating clothes you don’t like. Then, shop for clothing and accessories that express your personal style and make you feel your best. For example, if you love music you might buy band t-shirts. If you want an edgier, more rocker look, you could get a leather jacket too. Talk with your stylist about trying out a new hairstyle that flatters your face. If you really want a dramatic change, you can even color your hair! Adopt healthy habits like exercising regularly and eating balanced meals. This can help you feel happier and more energetic, which will also make you seem more confident! Just remember that you have many amazing qualities no matter how you present yourself to others. Read on for some ways to care for your hair, skin, and teeth!
