(Be sure not to overdo it.) If people know you are going through a style change beforehand, then they will not be as surprised as if they had no warning. Alternatively, change style after a long holiday. The time gap will make the switch more plausible. Again, start subtly before you go over-the-top.

Summary: Start telling your friends about visual Kei music or talking more about the style. Once you have changed your look noticeably, do not immediately wear all the brightest neons, biggest dresses or most vinyl bondage gear that you own.


Consider removing large plants that produce an excessive amount of leaves. While these plants may be lovely, if they're causing too much work you should consider replacing them with evergreen plants or statue gardens. Depending on the original plant you can usually find an evergreen that looks similar. This is an evergreen plant that produces edible berries and turns bright red in the winter. Shade-loving and drought-tolerant Oregon Grape is an excellent choice for low-maintenance xeriscaping. A popular evergreen shrub, junipers can be trained to nearly any size or need and function very well in xeriscaped lawns, even with very little natural rainfall. A large dramatic evergreen suited for curbs and borders. Standing nearly 2 feet (0.6 m) tall, this evergreen will bloom purple in the summer but does not lose its leaves in the fall, greatly reducing your workload as a result.

Summary: Do away with leaves forever by removing large plants that produce a lot of leaves. Plant an Oregon Grape Holly. Try Juniper shrubs. Add some Texas Ranger Sage to your yard.


Styling will be easier when your hair is full and pliable. Go ahead and clean it with shampoo and conditioner, then comb your hair to remove tangles. If your hair dries and you find it tough to cut, you can dampen it again by spritzing it with a spray bottle. Cutting your own hair is tricky at first, so it's best to ask someone to help you. However, if help isn't available, a handheld mirror can work. Hold it as you work towards the back of your head. It'll help you see what you're doing. Afterwards, you can use it to inspect the cuts you made and find any areas that need to be corrected. Adjustable electric clippers are your best tool for achieving a fade. Get ones that come with several guards because you'll need to attach the guards to your clippers when you want to cut hair at different lengths.  These different lengths are what will help you achieve that gradual length transition that the fade is known for. Some clippers may also have a bracket setting. When you flip off the setting, the blades cut off about an extra ⅛ an inch (3.2 mm), making it perfect for achieving lengths between those cut by guards. The fade is a short hair style, so if you currently have long hair, you'll want to remove the bulk of it before getting started on your fade. Pull hair back into a low ponytail and secure it with an elastic or clip. Cut the ponytail below the elastic or clip. Then hold out sections of hair and cut them to the desired starting length. Base this length on your balance. If you've decided to make the top of your hair 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) high, then make sure that you don't cut your long hair any shorter than that length. Start with the hair on the crown (top center) of your head. Hold your comb flat and sweep it over your head to pick up hair. Use scissors to cut the hair to the desired length. Continue working until you get to rounded portion of your head. Don't cut the hair below it.

Summary: Wash and comb your hair. Bring a handheld mirror. Make sure you have different clipper lengths. Cut long hair with scissors if necessary. Trim the top of your head.


If your shoes are particularly dirty, you may want to start by taking them outside and slapping them together to knock loose any large bits of dirt or mud. If you leave too much mud on the shoe, it will take a lot longer to get them clean.  Make sure to slap the shoes together outdoors so you don’t make a mess inside your house. You may even want to use a butter knife or key to scrape set mud out of grooves in the shoe. Before you begin scrubbing away at the rubber parts of your shoes, start by brushing or even scraping off any loose dirt that’s stuck to it. The more you remove with a dry brush, the less mess you’ll have to deal with once you create your cleaning solution.  Don’t worry about scrubbing too much, if the dirt doesn’t come free quickly, it will once you begin using the cleaning solution. Use a dry brush like a toothbrush, but avoid steel bristle brushes that may damage the rubber soles of your shoes. Depending on how much you need to clean, you likely won’t need much baking soda or laundry detergent. Begin by mixing a tablespoon of each in a small bowl thoroughly. You can always add more of each ingredient if you find you haven’t made enough.  The baking soda will act as an abrasive to help the soap remove dirt and grime. Avoid using laundry detergents with bleaching agents. Use your brush to apply the combination of baking soda and laundry detergent to the rubber portion of your shoes, then scrub it in. Using a circular motion with the brush is often the most effective way to remove dirt and grime.  You may want to avoid using this cleaning combination on the fabric of your shoes, as the baking soda may be difficult to thoroughly rinse off. You can make a separate mixture of just detergent and water to clean cloth portions of your shoes. Once you’ve adequately scrubbed the cleaning combination into the rubber soles of your shoes, take another clean cloth or sponge and soak it in clean water. Run it along the rubber, rinsing it with each pass until all of the mixture has been rinsed away..  Failing to remove all of the cleaning mixture can leave the rubber looking discolored. Leaving the detergent mixture on the shoe can also make them very slippery and dangerous. Once you have rinsed all of the soap off of the shoe, use a clean towel to dry the rubber before you wear the shoes again. Once you have the shoe dry, you’ll have a better sense of how well the cleaning mixture did, and you can repeat the process at this point if you need to.  Leaving the shoes wet could lead to them beginning to smell. Wet shoes can be dangerous to wear, so be sure they’re completely dry and free of soap before putting them on.
Summary: Remove any caked-on dirt. Use a dry brush to remove loose dirt. Mix one part baking soda and one part laundry detergent. Scrub the rubber with your cleaning solution. Use a different sponge or cloth to thoroughly rinse the rubber. Dry the shoe completely.