INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Comb the section of hair to be trimmed, and hold it firmly between the index and middle finger of your nondominant hand. Use the razor tool in your dominant hand to gently trim away the excess hair in short strokes. Using a razor tool instead of shears will help keep your ends from looking too blunt. The effect should be feathered and soft to help your true hair blend with the extensions. It's best to trim conservatively at first. You can pause and inspect your first attempt in the mirror. Go back and trim again as necessary until it looks right to you. Then, take the brushed hair in your nondominant hand and grip firmly between your index and middle fingers. You should be holding the hair about 1 inch (2.5cm) above the ends. Notice any extra long pieces that are out of line with the overall shape of the new ends. Angle your shears so the tips are just barely pointed into the line of hair between your fingers. Trim any extra long stragglers with the scissors perpendicular to the line of hair to even out the edge. The goal should be to create a soft, polished line. Clip the rest of your hair out of the way so you can focus on these pieces. Use a gentle trimming motion to slide down the length of the hair that frames the face on both sides. You can hold the ends to provide a little resistance if necessary. The goal is to connect and blend the sides of the extensions with your polished line in the back. Doing this should create soft, face-framing layers. A blunt or trendy hairstyle with harsh lines or that removes lots of length can be difficult to achieve on yourself at home, especially with extensions. Make an appointment with your stylist for the best result, and plan to only trim your extensions yourself. Your stylist can also help install your extensions for you, if you'd prefer professional help.

SUMMARY: Cut off the longer section with a razor tool. Leave some length and step back to evaluate how it looks. Comb through the hair you just trimmed. Use your shears to point cut the ends. Use your razor tool to blend in face-framing pieces. Seek out a stylist for complex cuts.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You can leave it blank, or you can add some designs onto here. This section will give you a few ideas. You don't have to use all of them; just choose the ones you like the most. Make sure what you are using an outdoor quality paint. When you are finished painting your design, consider letting the paint dry, then spraying the mailbox with a clear, outdoor sealer. This will help protect your beautiful work. This works great on white mailboxes. Choose some paint in bright colors, then ask your family members to write their names on the mailbox. If you want, they can even leave behind handprints or a little drawing. If you are using adhesive stencils, simply place them down onto the mailbox where you want the designs to go. If you are using non-adhesive stencils, then secure them using painters tape. Apply the paint using a foam brush or a stencil brush. You can also use spray paint instead. Whatever paint you choose to use, make sure that it is outdoor quality. Once you are done, pull the stencil off and let the paint dry. Consider using a color that contrasts with your mailbox; this will make the designs more visible. For example, if your mailbox is black, try using white for the stenciled part. For example, the body of the mailbox can be one color, the flap another, and the flag a third. This will add some visual interest to your mailbox. You can use the same color as the rest of your mailbox, or a contrasting color to make it more interesting. You can paint them directly using a paintbrush, or you can sketch the design out first with a pencil, and then paint over that. Here are some ideas to get you started: Paint something garden related, such as butterflies, ladybugs, tulips, daffodils, or ivy. Paint some random designs, such as spirals and swirls. If you like animals, you can paint your favorite animal, or animals commonly found in gardens, such as birds, frogs, and squirrels. Paint the mailbox to look like something different, such as a cat, cow, or dog (the flap of the mailbox becomes the mouth). You can even paint it to look like a bus, barn, house, or anything else that has a similar shape.

SUMMARY: Consider painting a design onto your mailbox. Create a whimsical mailbox with your family. Use stencils to create unique designs. Paint different parts of the mailbox a different color. Consider painting the inside of your mailbox. Paint some designs onto the mailbox.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Remember that though your intentions may be good, sometimes your words might hurt others. Before speaking about a sensitive topic, ask yourself if what you're about to say is true, helpful and kind. Use "I" statements to describe your own thoughts instead of guessing at what others think or feel. For instance, you can say "I'm feeling uncomfortable with the decision made in today's meeting" instead of "You should be upset about that decision today." Always make statements from your own point of view and perspective. Avoid being defensive or blaming others. If you need to discuss something serious with someone, practice your words beforehand. Always know your audience before delivering a message. This will help to ensure that it is well received and understood. Determine whether email or in-person communication works best or if news is best delivered in groups or in one-on-one settings. For instance, perhaps you need to tell your staff that there will be budget cuts. In the past you may have used email to deliver sensitive information, but have found that caused confusion. Call a staff meeting instead and deliver the facts while providing time for questions. Schedule individual meetings as necessary or requested. Instead of always making decisions on your own, listen to the perspectives of others. Thank them for telling you how they feel so that they always feel comfortable doing so. Take time to consider others' opinions, but stand firm by your own decisions when you feel that you have made the best choice. Say "Thank you for your honesty, Jason. I'll take what you said about universal healthcare into consideration and I'll do more research." When speaking to others, don't be aggressive, but do be confident. Speak slowly and deliberately. Sit with your legs and arms uncrossed and look people in the eye when they are speaking. You should still acknowledge when you don't know something. For example, say, "I'm not sure about that subject and don't know the answer right now, but I'll be sure to look into it further." Instead of being overly direct about your thoughts and feelings, add a bit of fluff. Make suggestions instead of telling people what to do. A diplomatic person does not bark out orders, but finds ways to inspire others to action instead. Your goal should be to collaborate with your team and encourage them to do their best. For instance, if you are managing a conflict between your children, you might say "You two might want to consider a better way to divide up the space in your room so that you fight less." You can say to an employee who's often late "Have you considered taking the interstate to work instead? It's a bit quicker in my experience." If you choose to say this, say it to someone who you have a good relationship with. It could be perceived as passive-aggressive in some contexts. Having good manners is key to diplomacy. Wait your turn to speak and never interrupt others. Be encouraging and avoid hurling insults. Keep your voice at a natural and neutral level and avoid cursing or yelling. Perhaps you have to work with people who you really don't like or whose actions you consider offensive. However, being diplomatic is not just for those you get along with. Practice deep-breathing techniques to calm you when others stress you out. If you feel that you are going to cry or yell, walk away for a moment to use the restroom. Consider trying a meditation app such as Insight Timer to help you manage your emotions. Alternatively, you could try grounding yourself in the moment. Focus your attention on how your feet feel against the floor or how your buttocks feels against your chair.

SUMMARY:
Choose your words carefully. Adapt your communication style based on the situation. Be open to new ideas. Be assertive with your words and body language. Use indirect language. Mind your manners. Control your emotions.