An antiperspirant helps reduce how much you sweat, while a deodorant helps prevent body odors from forming. Shampoo your hair every 2-3 days, or more often if it starts to look oily between washes. In addition to brushing twice a day, you should also floss your teeth every night to remove plaque that can lead to problems like bad breath or cavities.
You can use styling products like gel, mousse, or salt spray to help you style your hair, but remember to only use a little bit of product or your hair will look wet and greasy. If you have a hair straightener or a curling iron, you can use these tools to style your hair each day. However, heat can be very damaging to your hair, so it’s best to wear your hair in its natural texture at least some of the time. When you get your hair cut or trimmed, ask your stylist to help you find a hairstyle that will suit your face. If you’re not sure how to style your new cut, ask the stylist to show you before you leave!
Dirty clothes can smell bad, and wrinkles will make you look sloppy. If you can wear your own clothes to school, keep it casual most days by wearing jeans or shorts and a T-shirt. In cool weather, add a hoodie or a sweater to keep warm. If you want to dress up, like if you have to give a presentation in front of your class, try wearing khaki pants and a button-down or collared shirt. If you have a more feminine style, you might wear a dress, instead.
Try adding a canvas belt and cool sneakers to make jeans and a T-shirt look more interesting. If you wear a uniform, you might show your style with a stylish bracelet, watch, necklace, scarf, colorful socks, or a fun belt. Just make sure it follows your school’s dress code! Look at your favorite celebrities and style icons for outfit and accessory ideas.
As you’re experimenting with makeup, keep in mind that usually, the more natural you look, the better. If you look like you’re trying too hard to change your appearance, you might seem like you’re not self-confident. Remember, if you want other people to think you’re cool, first, they have to believe that YOU think you’re cool!
Being cool is about more than just being popular. Popularity can change overnight and is based on the opinion of others, while being cool means staying true to yourself no matter who else is around.
Be careful what you say about other people, too, so you’re not unintentionally the source of any rumors yourself. For instance, if your friend tells you in confidence that her parents are getting a divorce, don’t share that information with anyone else.
If you’re frequently the target of teasing or physical aggression, tell a teacher or another adult, and stick close to other students as much as possible to help make yourself less of a target. If you need to, find someone who’s sitting alone and say something like, “Those kids over there keep messing with me. Is it okay if I sit here for a few minutes so they’ll leave me alone?”
If you see bullying happening at your school, stand up straight, look the bully in the eyes, and tell them to stop. If you’re concerned that this will put you in physical danger, report the incident to a teacher, parent, or another responsible adult instead.
For instance, if you spill something on your shirt at lunch, don’t get upset about it. Just start laughing, instead! More than likely, other people will laugh with you—which is way more fun than having people laugh at you!
Being cool doesn’t mean skipping school and failing tests, although you don’t necessarily have to have the highest grade in your class, either. If you make a habit of breaking the rules, though, you’ll have a reputation as a troublemaker, rather than a reputation for being cool. As a bonus, paying close attention in class might make your after-school assignments easier to finish, so you’ll have more time to spend with your friends!
For instance, you might always wear unique, funky outfits if you’re into fashion, you might draw illustrations for the school paper if you love art, or you might try out for the track team if you’re a runner.
Also, don’t share or post unkind comments about anyone, especially if you wouldn’t say those things to that person’s face. Internet bullying can be very hurtful, and it won’t make you seem cooler. If you see online bullying, do your best to ignore it, even if it’s directed at you. However, you can report the bullying, either online or to a parent or teacher.
For instance, if you see your favorite celebrity wearing an awesome pair of sunglasses, you might look for a similar pair when you go shopping. If a lot of your friends wear baggy jeans, you might look for a pair of relaxed-fit jeans. However, going against trends can make you seem cool too, so if you want to wear skinny jeans instead, go for it!
For instance, if you’re athletic, you might try out for your school’s soccer, baseball, cheerleading, or dance team. If you love music, you might join the band or choir. If you’re really great at math or science, you might join the robotics team. Don’t join a club you don’t really like just because you think it will be cool. For instance, if you’re not into sports, cheerleading probably isn’t a good fit for you, even if that seems like a good way to get popular.
