If you want to be cool be in middle school, you have to pay attention to how you lookand smell. To make sure you're always fresh and clean, brush your teeth and wash your face every morning and night, shower or bathe every day, and put on a combination antiperspirant and deodorant after you get out of the bath. 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. Having a great hairstyle instantly makes you look cooler, but looking nice usually takes at least a little work. Every morning when you're getting ready, spend a few minutes taking care of your hair. Depending on your style, that might just mean combing your hair or smoothing it out with your fingers, or it might mean wearing your hair up or adding hair accessories. 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! Whether you have to wear a uniform or you can wear your own clothes to school, if you want to be cool, you should wear clothes that are clean and free of wrinkles. Also, for the most flattering fit, choose clothes that skim loosely across your body without being too tight or too baggy. 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. Accessories are an easy way to make an outfit cooler. When you're shopping for clothing, check out the accessories as well, and look for pieces that you feel reflect your personality. Then when you get dressed every day, pick 1 or 2 accessories that match what you're wearing. 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. A lot of kids start experimenting with makeup in middle school for the very first time. You can use concealer, powder, and blush to smooth out or brighten your complexion. If you want to define your eyes, lightly line your eyes with eyeliner and apply a little eyeshadow to your eyelids. Then, try a light coat of mascara on your lashes. 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!
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One-sentence summary -- Take good care of your personal hygiene. Style your hair each day. Wear clean clothes that fit well. Add trendy accessories to your outfit. Wear light makeup if you wear any.

The sign's message doesn't have to be complicated. It can be a simple "Will you go to prom with me?" or even just "Prom?" If you want to write something more involved, spend some time thinking about what will be easily understandable, what will fit on a sign, and what you wouldn't mind other people seeing. A very personal anecdote, a long story, or a really obscure in-joke may not work out very well. You can also decorate your sign with glitter, photos, or balloons. Try leaving your sign somewhere your date might come across it on their day-to-day lives. Make sure you put both of your names on it if you do this! Why make a sign when you can wear one? Write your promposal on a shirt or a baseball cap and wear it to surprise your date. You can do something simple like writing "Prom?" on your shirt, or you can even have a custom shirt made for both of you as a souvenir. If you and your prospective date love a crowd, try promposing with your sign at a big event with everybody you know present. Any lighthearted or fun event is fine to choose. You can pick a sports game, a pep rally, or even just a really crowded hall or lunchroom. Avoid formal events like speeches and plays. You want everyone to be thinking about how cool your promposal is, not wondering why you're interrupting everything. Definitely don't plan a promposal at a sad event or a party for someone else. If your school has a marquee at the entrance or in the sports complex, get your promposal on that sign! Find out who's in charge of the marquee and ask if you can use it for your promposal. Remember to include both your names!
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One-sentence summary -- Write a message on a sign. Use a t-shirt or hat to ask them out. "Prompose" at a school event. Get your sign on a marquee.

Wet fibers absorb dye more easily than dry ones. Make sure your sweatshirt is thoroughly soaked, then wring out any excess water. You can also use this step to wash your sweatshirt to make sure there aren't any fixatives, dyes, or fabric softener residues in the material that will affect color saturation. Follow the directions on the dye package to determine how much water you should add to the dye. Add about a cup of salt to the dye bath to help the color set in. Experiment with different ways of manipulating the fabric for different tie-dye effects. Use rubber bands to tie off sections of your sweatshirt, making sure to secure it tightly so the dye doesn't bleed. You can get different looks by folding, swirling, and crinkling your shirt. Use multiple rubber bands in the same area to get a bulls-eye effect. Your sweatshirt should be immersed in the dye for about 10-30 minutes, depending in the color you're trying to achieve. Leave it in less time for a lighter color or more time for a deeper shade. If you're dying your shirt more than one color, you'll need to hold each section in the dye for the required amount of time. This takes a little patience, but it really allows the dye to spread into the folds of fabric and create those cool tie-dye effects. After allowing your fabric to rest overnight, rinse the dye out with cool water until the water runs clear. After it is thoroughly rinsed, cut off the rubber bands and see your new masterpiece!
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One-sentence summary --
Soak your sweatshirt in warm water and wring it out. Mix your dye and add it to a large pot or plastic bin. Fold, twist, or tie your sweatshirt into a pattern. Dip the sweatshirt into the dye mixture. Place your sweatshirt in a plastic bag and allow it to soak overnight. Rinse your sweatshirt in cool water, then remove the rubber bands.