More on how you look

None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.

How this was put together

If you only read a few

Learn to dye and pluck your eyebrows at home instead of paying for appointments.
Home dye costs less than salon visits.
one person who lived it
Watch short YouTube videos to learn how to tailor a shirt yourself.
It can save hundreds in tailoring costs.
one person who lived it
Avoid caffeine and screens for at least one hour before bed.
It leads to better quality sleep.
one person who lived it
Use the screen-free hour before bed to take a walk.
to help with sleep
one person who lived it
Inhale as deeply as possible to create tension on the diaphragm, then hold your breath for about a minute.
The purpose is to help the diaphragm relax and stop spasming.
one person who lived it

hair, shaving, nails, nail58

Use straight olive oil as a makeup remover.

Ask salons if you can refill bottles from their gallon-sized products.
It saves cost.
- Only some salons allow this.
one person who lived it
Use petroleum jelly instead of chapstick or lip gloss for lip care.
It is inexpensive and long-lasting.
- Petroleum jelly may trap dirt on skin and block real moisture.
one person who lived it
Attach two or three black hair ties to your vehicle's gear stick or shift handle for easy access.
It ensures you have them handy if a wife's or daughter's hair tie breaks.
one person who lived it
Squeeze hair lightly to dry instead of twisting it in a towel.
Wet hair stretches more; tension causes strands to become brittle and split when dry.
one person who lived it

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Learn to cut your own hair and do your own nails and lashes to save money while maintaining self-care.
It helps you feel nice when you cannot afford salon services.
one person who lived it
Blot hair dry by wrapping it in a towel instead of rubbing it.
Rubbing may cause you to start over.
one person who lived it
Use Tea Tree Tingle shampoo and conditioner to keep hair clean for longer periods between washes.
It keeps hair clean for a while and makes it super silky.
one person who lived it
Paint your nails with art or designs to encourage growing them out for a larger canvas.
The time invested in the art makes you want to protect the design from being wrecked.
one person who lived it
Use men's disposable razors to cut down on nicks and cuts while shaving.
Men's razors are reported to prevent cuts better than women's razors.
one person who lived it
Avoid eyelash extensions if you want to preserve your natural lashes, as they can ruin them and leave you with too few lashes to glue false ones onto later.
Even with a highly recommended professional, lash damage is a side effect.
- It is a personal choice.
one person who lived it
Use a long Japanese shower cloth, holding one end above and one below your back to scrub the entire area.
This ensures you clean everything and know you have done so.
one person who lived it
Use straight olive oil as a makeup remover.
It breaks down makeup and moisturizes the skin.
4 people, independently
Purchase unscented, alcohol-free wipes from the dollar store.
They are often available at a low price point.
one person who lived it
Wash glasses with hand soap or dish soap and dry with a tea towel for streak-free results.
Soap cuts natural oils and makeup.
one person who lived it
Try Barbasol shaving cream for a smooth shave at a low cost.
One user found it superior to Eos, Skintimate, and Kheils.
one person who lived it
File the tops of your nails before applying polish.
It helps a lot and is described as a game changer.
one person who lived it
Use a tie tack or tie chain instead of a clip to keep the tie straight.
Clips often fail to stay straight.
one person who lived it
Keep a hair tie on your wrist at all times.
It allows you to save the day for others, which can earn you smiles.
one person who lived it
Reverse and fold up the plastic bag after use to dispose of it cleanly.
It leaves no mess.
one person who lived it
Run your hand over your skin and hair after turning off the water to knock off large droplets before towel drying.
This removes a significant amount of moisture, making air-drying hair faster.
one person who lived it
Use ELF mineral eye primer as a substitute for Urban Decay primer.
It lasts just as long and the color difference is non-existent.
one person who lived it
Try using cheap shampoos containing glycerine as a shaving lubricant.
They are clear, slick, and long-lasting.
one person who lived it
Walk with long strides to look more confident.
Looks more confident.
one person who lived it
Use a pre-shave product when switching to safety razors to reduce cuts, particularly if you are prone to being lazy with your technique.
One person reported getting more cuts when they were lazy and did not use it.
one person who lived it
Buy an epilator to remove upper body hair without the recurring costs of waxing or shaving.
One person reported stopping payments for waxes and shaving after a single purchase five years ago.
one person who lived it
If you feel pulling while shaving, stop immediately because it indicates a dirty or dull blade; clean the blade between swipes or replace it to prevent razorburn and cuts.
Pulling means the cut is not clean, which leads to razorburn and skin cuts.
one person who lived it
Be cautious with ultrasonic cleaners for glasses as they can strip paint off frames.
Ultrasonic cleaners can be aggressive and strip paint off frames.
one person who lived it
Buy Ulta hair care products during their sales events.
Prices can be very cheap.
one person who lived it
Apply thin coats of Wet n Wild nail polish, allowing each layer to dry, to improve chip resistance.
Thin coats are more chip-resistant; patience with drying prevents issues.
one person who lived it
Squeeze excess liquid from makeup wipes before use to extend their supply.
Most wipes are over-saturated; squeezing them out allows you to use plain cotton pads with the remaining liquid.
one person who lived it
Buy floss at Walmart when available for 98 cents instead of buying it at Dollar General.
Walmart sometimes offers floss for 98 cents, whereas Dollar General charges $1.25.
one person who lived it
File your nails smoothly to remove snags and uneven parts that trigger the impulse to bite.
Snags and uneven parts are a primary reason for biting; smoothing them removes that specific trigger.
one person who lived it
Put the plug in the sink before exchanging body jewelry to prevent losing expensive pieces down the drain.
Body jewelry is expensive and easy to lose down the sink.
one person who lived it
Carry nail clippers with you everywhere and clip your nails instead of biting them.
You may develop a new compulsion to clipping, which is an improvement over biting.
one person who lived it
Apply mascara after curling your lashes.
This sets the curl and prevents product waste on the curler.
one person who lived it
Use Kopari coconut lip balm during the day to protect lip skin.
to protect skin
one person who lived it
Try using hair conditioner as shaving cream.
Some users find it superior to traditional shaving creams.
- This is based on one person's experience.
one person who lived it
Deposit the toothpaste directly onto the brush without streaking the tube across it.
Streaking the tube causes brush hairs to spatter paste; depositing it in place stops this.
one person who lived it
- Load toothpaste onto the brush with a sideways motion instead of squeezing while pulling the tube away.1
Wash glasses lenses with cold or lukewarm water only; avoid hot water.
Hot water causes crazing in coatings, resulting in permanent soft focus.
one person who lived it
Rinse conditioner out with cold water to constrict cuticles and trap moisture.
Constricting cuticles traps moisture inside hairs, boosting shine, smoothing flyaways, and protecting ends from split damage.
one person who lived it
Do not buy toothpaste in bulk.
Fluoride functionality steadily declines after about a year.
one person who lived it
Use baby oil as an excellent makeup remover.
It is scented mineral oil.
one person who lived it
Avoid using certain cleaning products on glasses to prevent degrading anti-scratch coatings.
Certain cleaning products can degrade anti-scratch coatings over time.
one person who lived it
Focus on basic hygiene over cosmetic enhancements like makeup or styled hair.
People care more if you are greasy, stinky, or ratty-headed than if you dress frumpily.
one person who lived it
Buy quality perfume instead of cheap options.
Quality perfume lasts longer, allowing you to use fewer spritzes for a strong smell, whereas cheap perfume fades quickly after leaving the house.
one person who lived it
Verify that your 3D solution is compatible with passive 3D technologies only; do not attempt these methods for active 3D systems.
Active 3D is described as a completely different system.
one person who lived it
Clean up nail polish spills immediately using an old eyeshadow brush and acetone.
The cleanup makes the most difference.
one person who lived it
If you want lower-cost hair and nail services, try a beauty school that offers a subscription for unlimited haircuts and discounted manicures, facials, and waxes.
- Appointments take significantly longer than at a full salon because the providers are students.
one person who lived it
Use nail polish containing denatonium benzoate if you find that you enjoy the pain of other deterrents.
Denatonium benzoate is a very bitter substance.
one person who lived it
Try VO5 Strawberry shampoo from dollar stores if you enjoy strawberry scents and want an effective hair product.
One user reported it works amazingly for their hair and loves the scent; another mentioned their grandmother used it.
one person who lived it
Use bright-colored nail polish to visually remind yourself not to bite, rather than relying solely on bad-tasting clear polishes.
Bright colors provide a better visual reminder than taste-based deterrents.
one person who lived it
Maintain personal hygiene by cutting fingernails, cleaning or trimming your beard, keeping a suitable haircut, and removing nose and ear hairs to boost confidence.
boosts overall confidence
one person who lived it
If you are a student at beauty school, request that only one specific instructor supervise your sessions to avoid conflicting instructions from different teachers.
Different instructors may suggest contradictory techniques, which can ruin the result.
one person who lived it
Make small, manageable improvements to your appearance rather than overhauling everything at once.
It boosts confidence without overwhelming you.
one person who lived it
Consult Labmuffin for trustworthy, no-nonsense cosmetic reviews.
She is described as knowing what she is talking about and having a trustworthy approach unlike many other reviews.
one person who lived it
Have a spouse or partner do your nails as a regular bonding activity.
one person who lived it
Reframe self-care as a human trait rather than a gendered one, recognizing that equating grooming with femininity is toxic masculinity.
one person who lived it

wear, clothes, jeans, fabric19

Accept that women's jeans often lack functional front pockets, making front-pocket wallet storage difficult.

If you want your ties to lay flat, leave them tied after wearing instead of untying them.
One person reported that leaving ties tied for years resulted in them still laying flat later.
one person who lived it
Use nylon trekking clothes for heavy walking or biking.
They are exactly what you are looking for in these activities, though they are not cheap.
one person who lived it
Buy basic, well-made purses instead of cheap ones to ensure they last for years.
Cheap purses do not last.
one person who lived it
Make the thinner end of the tie slightly shorter when starting the knot to get a longer final length.
Tying it with equal or longer thin ends results in a tie that is too short.
one person who lived it

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Tie a reef knot instead of a granny knot to keep your shoes secure.
A granny knot is not as secure.
one person who lived it
Dry clean silk ties alongside their accompanying suits rather than washing them in a machine.
Washing silk ties in a machine causes failure.
one person who lived it
Wear old or ratty clothes for private settings where no one else will see you.
To avoid spending money on items others won't see.
one person who lived it
Wear ventilated shoes and choose breathable fabrics like cotton or wool, avoiding polyester which traps heat and odor.
Polyester traps heat, raises body temperature, causes sweating, and holds odor worse than other fabrics.
- One source suggests wool might not be ideal for this specific situation compared to cotton.
one person who lived it
Buy cashmere sweaters second-hand for warmth, softness, and longevity.
They last for years, are super soft, and very warm.
one person who lived it
Wear activewear or cycling-specific pants instead of jeans for biking or long walks.
Jeans are not designed for exercise; cycling pants often feature gussets and double-layered crotches for better fit.
one person who lived it
Shop thrift stores to find unique clothing items that distinguish you from others wearing mass-produced mall fashion.
In small towns, everyone wears the same mall shirts; thrift stores provide shirts almost nobody else has.
one person who lived it
Expect cheaper clothing sizes to fit inconsistently because the fabric stretches under weight during mass cutting.
The heavy stack of fabric layers causes the bottom pieces to stretch and become smaller than those cut at the top.
one person who lived it
Choose Wrangler Riggs jeans for heavy-duty construction work.
They are designed for construction and are not overly expensive.
one person who lived it
Recognize that women often cannot follow advice to use front pockets because their clothing rarely includes them.
Women are often lucky to have any pockets at all, and they are usually only phone-sized.
2 people, independently
- Accept that women's jeans often lack functional front pockets, making front-pocket wallet storage difficult.4
Wear light layers made of natural materials like cotton or linen to allow airflow between fabric for cooling.
Airflow between fabric creates a cooling effect.
one person who lived it
Choose thicker, compression-style leggings to resist pilling and thinning from friction.
Compression fabric is stretchy but thicker, making it typically resistant to wear caused by friction.
one person who lived it
hand wash and air dry clothes labeled 'dry clean only' instead of using professional services
one person reported their clothes remained fine after decades of this practice
one person who lived it
Sell clothes in good condition to motivate yourself to declutter your closet.
It provides motivation.
one person who lived it

bed, sleep, avoid8

Set a second alarm to go off one minute after your main target time.
If you turn off the first alarm and return to bed, the second alarm forces you to get up again almost immediately.
one person who lived it
Gradually re-adjust your sleep/wake cycle by going to bed earlier over several days or weeks.
- This approach requires losing all evenings, which may be why it did not work for some people.
one person who lived it
Use an LED light mask for 20 minutes before bed, using blue, green, and red lights to fight acne and promote collagen production.
to fight acne and promote collagen production
one person who lived it
Get two cats from different places to act as natural alarms.
They are matutinal and crepuscular hunters.
one person who lived it

4 more on this

Avoid coffee and other caffeinated drinks until you reach the lab.
Caffeine adds extra liquid volume and acts as a diuretic.
one person who lived it
Consider switching to contact lenses to avoid the discomfort of layering glasses.
It is reported to be more comfortable than wearing glasses over glasses.
- This is not an option for everyone.
one person who lived it
Stand up, stretch, or perform light exercises when moving only your feet does not suffice to warm them.
Getting the whole body in motion benefits more than just the feet, especially if you are seated all day.
one person who lived it
Glue a rigid, flat object like a coin over a touch or flush snooze button to block activation.
It prevents the button from being activated while allowing the function to be restored afterwards.
one person who lived it

shoes, toilet, sweat, leather15

Rotate between two pairs of shoes to allow each pair to dry out.
Shoes worn daily never dry; letting them air out for 24 hours prevents moisture buildup and extends their lifespan.
one person who lived it
Never put wet leather shoes on a heater to dry.
It cracks the leather.
one person who lived it
Change your pants while sitting on the toilet with your legs in the air.
This keeps clean clothing from touching dirty surfaces.
one person who lived it
Maintain Goodyear welted leather boots with mink oil, polishing, and brushing to extend their life.
One pair lasted three years with only one resole and looked better than when new.
one person who lived it

11 more on this

Switch to metal watch bands to avoid leather odor issues.
Leather bands can accumulate sweat and dead skin.
one person who lived it
Step into an open plastic bag when removing your shoes so your pant legs rest inside it instead of touching the floor.
The bag prevents your pants from contacting the floor.
one person who lived it
Sit down to urinate to prevent splatter.
There is no other way to prevent splatter.
one person who lived it
Stash spare cardboard boxes above a toilet stall if you need a dry place to hide them from coworkers.
It keeps them dry and unnoticed by colleagues.
one person who lived it
Apply antibacterial agents to your feet before putting on shoes.
Shoe odor is caused by bacteria living on human skin; this helps kill them.
one person who lived it
Wrap shoes tightly in a pillowcase before machine washing them.
It prevents scuffing from the drum.
one person who lived it
Wipe the toilet seat with toilet paper before sitting down.
To avoid contact with residue from previous users.
one person who lived it
Wear Graphite from Bath and Body Works for a clean, not overpowering scent.
One user loves it for being very clean smelling and not overpowering.
one person who lived it
Apply baby powder to areas prone to sweating.
It provides a cooling sensation and helps reduce sweat.
one person who lived it
Lay a flattened cardboard box on the floor to stand on.
It provides a large surface that absorbs water without getting soaking wet immediately.
one person who lived it
Remove tight shoes or switch to sandals to allow sweat evaporation and prevent interference with circulation.
Open or no footwear allows sweat to evaporate and prevents interference with circulation.
one person who lived it