I’m not shy about changing up my look, I’m very good at putting on makeup or an outfit and then forgetting about it entirely for the day. Maybe I’m walking around looking like a real weirdo and nobody has told me . . .but whatever, I’m rolling with it. It has to be something really absurd looking for me to feel self conscious. So for me, changing up my makeup look is really easy, and I change it from day to day without a second thought. But I notice a lot of my lady friends seem to worry and feel weird all day if they change up even a very minor detail. This applies to hair and makeup, as well as fashion, but since makeup and hair are my thing, let’s concentrate on that.

The one thing I always hear when someone is afraid to try something new is “I like it, but I can’t pull that off”. Let me be the first to say that this is most likely complete bullsh*t. Sure there are things that will look more flattering on some people than others, but if you apply makeup correctly and then wear it with confidence, odds are you will pull it off. And if you don’t, who cares? At least you tried something new.

I guess I’m making it sound easier than it is. I know feeling self conscious is hard to overcome, so here are a few tips that I find help people ease the transition.

1. Gather Inspiration: Look around through magazines and blogs, and find looks that you like. Pinterest is a fantastic way to gather your inspiration. Just create a board of makeup and/or hair inspiration and start pinning away. Once you have all of the images gathered together you will probably begin to see a pattern of what you like. It seems silly, but it’s a great way to begin to understand your own taste, and if you make a change that is really within your own taste, you are more likely to feel good wearing it.
2. Switch Your Focus: If you really don’t know where to begin, try switching the focal point of your makeup. So if you usually play up the eyes, try playing up your lips. Even a small change in this will make a big impact on your look. If you decide you like it, you can make it more intense next time. Baby steps are a great way to gain confidence as well.
3. Phone a Friend: Choose a friend who’s style you admire, and have them pick something for you. Sometimes other people can have an easier time picking out a look for you, because they see the best in you, instead of focusing on your “flaws” . Here’s a little secret, most of the time you are imagining the flaws anyway. 100% facts here folks. Nobody sees it but you. So with their outsiders objective view of how you look, they can pick out something that will look great, but you might never try. And if you admire their style, you know they have good taste. It’s basically a recipe for winning. Plus who doesn’t like shopping or doing your hair with friends?
4. Application is Key: Take the time to go online and learn the correct way to apply or create the look you want to try. YouTube and Blogs are filled to the brim with makeup and hair tutorials. Learning how to apply your look or style your hair properly will make it infinitely easier to pull off.
5. It’s Only Temporary: At the end of the day if you don’t like what you tried, it washes away! Wash the new style out of your hair, wipe away the makeup and you’re the same old you again. So what’s there to be afraid of? If someone is going to make fun of you, they must not have a whole lot going on in their life if they have time to make fun of your new lipstick, ya know? Screw it, just give it a try! And If it’s something more permanent like a short haircut, first of all I admire your guts, and even that will grow back!

To sum it all up, take the time to become familiar with your own taste. Remove yourself from the picture and see what you like on others. Learn how to apply. Then just go for it 🙂