7 subtle ways to change your look without much effort

Some women are content to have virtually the same appearance for years. If you are one of those people who value a consistent appearance, you probably don’t feel the need to change your look once you have figured out what suits you. But it’s perfectly normal to get annoyed with your appearance from time to time. Even if you’ve spent years perfecting your hair and makeup and optimizing your wardrobe, you’re not alone if you’re starting to get bored with your static look.

Many women are unsure what to do when they feel the urge to change their appearance. The worst way to combat boredom when it comes to beauty is to make a drastic, permanent (or semi-permanent) change to your appearance. These desperate attempts to change one’s appearance—think short hairstyles and instant tattoos—usually end in regret. If you want to rejuvenate your look but don’t want any regrets, experiment with one of the many ways you can change your look without committing to a completely new style.

1. Move your part

You probably don’t think much about your part until the hairdresser asks, “Which side should I part your hair on?” It’s normal to take your part for granted. Most women keep the same natural part in their hair for so many years that they don’t even consider changing it. However, moving your normal hair part can dramatically change your appearance and make you look like you have a whole new hairstyle without having to reach for the scissors.

If you have been parting your hair in the same place for a long time, it may be more difficult than you think to suddenly move your part successfully. Hair needs time to get used to being parted in a certain place, and it often takes a while for it to adjust to a change you want to make. Don’t be frustrated if your hair keeps falling back awkwardly to its original part. You can speed up the adjustment process by parting your hair immediately after washing it, while it is still very wet. Brush the damp hair flat against your head with a fine-toothed comb and add gel after drying to hold it in place.

2. Bold red lipstick

Red lipstick takes a lot of courage, and many women shy away from using this bright, bold shade in their everyday makeup. However, if you’re feeling brave, applying red lipstick is a surefire way to transform your look for a day. Red lipstick instantly draws attention to your face and accentuates your features.

It is a common misconception that red lipstick only suits women with a certain skin tone. On the contrary, there is a perfect red lipstick for women with every skin tone, hair color, and eye color. If you have fair skin, choose a rosy red shade, and if you have medium or deep skin tones, try red shades with brown and purple undertones.

3. Artificial eyelashes

Adding false eyelashes to your daily makeup routine will instantly give you a glamorous, elegant, and eye-catching look. Falsies turn heads and accentuate your eyes, making them appear larger, brighter, and wider.

If you want eyelashes without looking like you’re preparing for a beauty contest, try individual eyelashes instead of a complete set. Individual eyelashes look much more natural, but still have considerable volume and length.

4. Try dip dyeing

Dip-dyeing is the classic solution for long-lasting hair color. Bleaching your entire head to recolor your hair damages it extremely and requires a lot of time and money to maintain. If you are willing to have slightly shorter hair, you can try bleaching and coloring only the bottom few inches of your hair. When you get tired of the new color, simply have your hair cut.

There are also other ways to temporarily change your hair color without picking up a bottle of bleach. Experiment with semi-permanent hair dye, hair chalk, and even Kool-Aid to enjoy the fun of a new color without committing to it.

5. Hair shine

With hair glossing, also known as shine treatment or glossing, you can easily color and highlight your hair without bleaching or damaging it in any way. In addition, the effect of a high-gloss finish is completely temporary and only lasts for about three to four weeks.

The shine will breathe new life into your hair. It adds shine, smooths dry and damaged hair, and covers overgrown roots. This temporary hair treatment is usually quite inexpensive and revitalizes the hair to give it a shiny and healthy appearance.

6. Get a piercing

A new piercing is one of the most drastic—though technically not permanent—changes you can make to your appearance. Although they are much less temporary than false eyelashes or red lipstick, piercings are removable. New body jewelry allows you to express yourself and your style in a fun, creative way that is anything but boring.

Don’t get a piercing on a whim. Before you let someone stick a needle through your skin, make sure you’re prepared to put in the effort required to care for your new piercing properly. Also, keep in mind that some piercings—such as most facial piercings—will leave a small, permanent scar even after the jewelry is removed.

7. Change your eyebrows

Your eyebrows are one of the most important features of your face. They frame your eyes, balance your facial features, and even have the power to completely change your expression.

Even a small change to your eyebrows can alter your appearance. Try using an eyebrow pencil to give your brows more angle and a more defined look. Use eyebrow products that are one or two shades darker than what you normally wear to draw attention to your eyes. Or use concealer to complete your brows. This extra step will make your eyebrows stand out and give them a clean, shiny look. Don’t think you have to choose between permanently changing your look or staying the same for the rest of your life. Get the best of both worlds and try one of the temporary options to overcome beauty boredom and refresh your look without committing.