Not sure how to gear up and get ready for your impending Valentine’s date? — prepare yourself and make it a memorable one with expert advice
So you have a Valentine, or at least a date. Congratulations! But are you ready? Do you know how to get ready?
To ensure your date goes smoothly and not into the archive of “never again” memories, we’ve rounded up a selection of useful dating, styling and exercising tips from the experts.
We present our ultimate “game plan” so that you can impress your potential partner.
Be rid of pre-date jitters
Steph Sim, Date Coach of Fleek Image, says smiling will help to generate positivity and assurance.
If you’re feeling nerve-wracked about spending one-on-one time with your date, and you’re wondering about negative things he or she might say of you, here are some tips to help you be rid of your first-date jitters.
Steph Sim, Date Coach from Fleek Image, recommends getting mentally ready the night before by picking out your outfit and thinking about the image you’d like to portray. In addition, you should set aside ample preparation time for your hair and makeup.
To further stay calm, try exercising. Steph says, “Two hours before you leave the house, take a jog followed by a
warm shower to relax those muscles and thoughts.”
Furthermore, know how to leave a great impression by means of conversational flirting. Be concise with what you say and elaborate when necessary, Steph advises.
One should also avoid faux pas such as talking over the conversation. Instead, allow for pauses before giving your input.
For men, making your date laugh is half the battle won. “Try finding topics of interest to speak about and use the word ‘you’ often. When you both laugh together, this extends feelings of subconscious closeness and understanding, which lead to a good impression at the end of the night,” she says.
Ladies, on the other hand, should appreciate and encourage gentlemanly gestures such as holding the door.
Maintaining eye contact when speaking is important as this shows interest in your date as well as the conversation. Smiling will also help to generate positivity and assurance.
Mane Attraction
For ladies, classic waves are always a good option to match your date-night look.
Furthermore, don’t let a scruffy appearance leave a bad impression. Instead, boost your confidence with a hairstyle that’s fuss-free yet memorable.
Maurice Chee, Creative Director of PREP, recommends the following hairstyles.
For ladies, classic waves are always a good option for a timeless and stylish look. Simply create a high ponytail for easy and quick curling when using tongs or wands.
Prep your mane with ghd Curl Hold Spray before wrapping small sections of hair around the barrel of the ghd Curve Soft Curl Tong — holding it for five seconds to create curls.
Repeat working through your ponytail in sections. Release your hair from the ponytail and use the ghd Oval Dressing Brush to run through the hair.
Pick out any section framing the face to repeat the curling as necessary. Finish with the ghd Final Shine Spray.
Gentlemen, on the other hand, can attempt to create a textured look. Start by prepping your hair with ghd Heat Protect Spray. After which, take a few sections forward and backward in waves with ghd Platinum Styler to create a modern and relaxed finish. Raise the hair to 45 degrees if a little extra lift is desired.
Then, place a small amount of ghd Smooth & Finish Serum into your hands, rub your palms together and gently glide through your hair to create more texture.
Fit For Your Date
Hoping to show your six-pack abs to your date? Unfortunately, there’s no shortcut when it comes to losing fat and building muscle.
Nonetheless, if you’re hoping to look leaner and more toned within a short time, try to tone your physique and reduce water weight. Brittanie Firth, Yoga Instructor at Alpha Life, suggests hot yoga to help to detox your body and lose water weight, Pilates for toning and Muay Thai to burn calories and build muscle tone.
Brittanie Firth of Alpha Life suggests hot yoga to detox your body, Pilates for toning and Muay Thai to burn calories.
For a flat belly that won’t bulge in your date-night dress, take note of your diet for the quickest results.
“Reduce or eliminate sugar and gluten as they cause puffiness, bloating, and middle-section weight gain,” says Brittanie.
“Eating lots of vegetables really helps too. For a good digestion system, increase your water intake and take some fibre supplements before bed each night,” she says.
Prior to the big night, you should remember to have regular meals and stay hydrated. Bianca Pereche-Gamboa MD, Yoga Teacher at The Yoga Co and Tirisula Yoga, advises to avoid skipping your meals.
Bianca Pereche-Gamboa MD, of The Yoga Co and Tirisula Yoga, advises to drink a lot of water — it may seem like
you are hungry but you may simply be thirsty.
Says Bianca, “It may seem like you are dropping weight fast but in due time you will tend to binge.”
She adds, “Drink a lot of water; most times you can address that mixed signal of the body. It may seem like you are hungry but you may just be thirsty.”
By Samantha Francis
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