Being cute can be useful at many different times in life. Whether we want to know how to be attractive for a crush, to make people like us, or just for personal reasons, it pays to know how to make the most of our innate charms. In this guide, we’ll go over some of the best and easiest ways to be cute.
“Cute” can mean several different things, but usually, it means endearing. While cuteness is also often associated with being physically attractive to others, we will mostly focus on the former interpretation in this article.
Acting Cute
There are many things you can do while speaking or interacting with others that can boost your cuteness. If you think about someone who strikes you as cute, they’ll most likely tick a few of these boxes! Some of these tips and tricks might take a bit of practice to get right, but if you can incorporate them into your interactions with others, they will notice a difference in your cuteness right away.
Speak Softly
Speaking softly and quietly is an excellent way to up your cuteness appeal. When you speak softly, it has the added benefit of making people focus on you more since they have to listen carefully to hear you. Speaking softly also gives you an innocent, shy aura. However, be careful not to talk in a put-upon or fake way – tone your voice down by a few decibels and speak more slowly if you’re a fast talker.
Smile
Smiling is an excellent way to increase your appeal all around – not just in terms of cuteness! When we grin, we put others more at ease, and we show off our facial features, too. We invite other people to interact with us when we smile, and this helps us make friends more easily. We recommend spending a few minutes every day looking at your smile in the mirror and practicing it. This way, you can be sure you have the right “cute” look!
Play with Your Hair
Playing with your hair is a time-tested and accurate way to up your cuteness factor, but it only really works if you’re a female! Many of the tips in this guide are geared towards females, as “cute” is a term that’s typically used to describe women or girls, but playing with your hair isn’t possible unless it’s long. If your hair is at least chin-length, you should be able to play with your hair successfully.
There are many different provocative ways to play with your hair! Some that we recommend include:
- Twirling it around your finger
- Brushing through it with your fingers (if it’s long enough)
- Taking it down or putting it up in a ponytail
- Fluffing it
- Throwing it over your shoulder
- Tucking it behind your ear
Laugh
Laughing is a great way to make others feel comfortable and at ease, and it’s something that cute people often do! When you laugh, it makes other people feel like they’re guiding the conversation successfully, so it makes them like you more. While laughing with others is a great way to come off as cute, be aware that it can also become fake or too much if you laugh too often.
Make sure not to laugh in a put-upon or fake way; fake-laughing tends to be easy to see through, and it can turn others off just as quickly as it can make them like you. Instead of laughing all the time, make sure to intersperse it with these things to keep things exciting and varied:
- Giggles
- Chuckles
- Snorts
Listen
Cuteness often gets associated with submissiveness, kindness, and consideration. As such, instead of dominating the conversation, if you’re looking to come off as cute, try listening quietly instead. It’s okay to interject at meaningful places, of course, but you’ll likely be considered more adorable if you choose your words carefully and sparingly.
Being a good listener makes you more likable overall, but it also adds to your cuteness factor. Keep an eye on others around you, too, and pay special attention to those who might not feel as involved as the others. Focus your efforts on people who aren’t having as much fun or who aren’t getting as many chances to talk.
Positivity
Practicing positivity is an excellent way to boost your cute factor. Cute people tend to be bubbly and happy, and the best way to start acting happier is to start feeling happier, too! Try looking on the bright side of things more often, and pay special attention to cheering others up when they’re down or frustrated. Anything you can do to make yourself or those around you feel more positive, do!
Eye Contact
Eye contact is something to watch out for if you’re trying to look cute, and it’s also something that can take some time to get right. Eye contact is crucial for engaging in conversations, as you will seem uninterested, cold, or overly shy if you refuse to make eye contact with others, but too much eye contact can make you come off as too confident, also.
Instead, try to maintain reasonable eye contact with the other person, but break it every once in a while. A fair amount of shyness is often associated with cuteness, but don’t push it too far or too little.
Profanity
Since cuteness is often associated with innocence and purity, being crass, swearing, or telling dirty jokes tends to break the illusion of cuteness. As such, if you’re trying to come off as cute, it’s best to avoid these words and jokes as much as possible. Letting one slip every so often is okay – it can actually add to your cuteness, primarily if you act flustered or embarrassed afterward – but try to avoid them regularly.
Approachability
Approachable people are more likable, and if you’re agreeable, people are more likely to think you’re cute! There are many different things you can do to make yourself more approachable, but the most important ones are:
- Compliment others frequently
- Say hello to everyone
- Greet your friends and acquaintances when you see them
- Use open body language
- Ask others about themselves
Approachability is all about making it easy for others to talk to you and greet you. When you’re warm and welcoming to other people, they’ll be more excited to see you every day and ask how you’re doing!
Sociability
Being sociable plays a significant role in being cute, too. After all, if you’re not out and about and being sociable, there won’t be any people to think you’re attractive in the first place! Being sociable involves talking to people and being socially active while you’re in public or at events, of course, but it also means inviting people out, keeping in touch with friends, and attending events you’ve been invited to.
You don’t need to be overly social to be considered cute, but it certainly helps! While some people think the “shy” type is sweet, you’ll find more popularity if you’re a combination of shy and social instead.
Be Fun
If you’re looking for people to view you as cute, don’t forget to be fun! Fun people like to do things with others, enjoy themselves, and they’re generally happy overalll. While you don’t necessarily need to be adventurous to be fun (movie nights spent in are fun, too!), people tend to think that those who enjoy more active, social activities are more “fun-loving.”
Be Mischievous
People find someone willing to be a bit naughty and mischievous to be devilishly cute! Don’t overdo this, as if you’re too impish you may ruin the sweet image, but a little bit of mischief can do wonders to add to your cute look. Think innocent things that are good for a laugh, but don’t inconvenience or harm anyone. Harmless pranks are good territory, too!
Prim and Proper
As long as you don’t overdo it, people often find someone who’s innocent and proper to be adorable. Half of the fun is in “corrupting” the cuteness in these people, so don’t be afraid to let something improper slip now and then, but it’s essential to avoid crassness, swearing, vulgarity, and aggression whenever you can. This goes right along with no swearing, too.
Awkwardness
If you have a history of feeling awkward around others, don’t let this bother you. In fact, a little bit of embarrassment can even add to your cute appeal from time to time. Like some of the other traits we’ve mentioned, it’s important not to go overboard with the awkwardness, as this can have the opposite effect, but don’t let a little bit worry you. Confidence and self-esteem are desirable features, after all, and too much awkwardness can offset these traits in an undesirable way.
Be Coy
Coyness is a trait that was popular with our forefathers, and while it’s less popular today, it’s a trait that pairs well with the cute persona. If you’re coy, it means you’re playful, teasing, and provocative without being salacious or improper. It can be tough to hit the right level of coyness and not cross over to impropriety, but if you can practice and do it right, you’ll reap the rewards!
Intellect
Historically, there has been an idea that women and girls who aren’t as smart are more popular with men. While men might feel intimidated by a very intellectual girl, it’s not true that they like them less! Resist the urge or the advice to dumb down your intelligence among men; you don’t need to flaunt it, but don’t hide it, either. Men, don’t dumb down your intellect among women, either!
Body Language
Your body language plays a significant role in how approachable and friendly other people think you are. As such, it’s just as crucial for being cute, too. Your body language is one of the first things that other people notice about you, after all. If your body language is intimidating, they’re less likely to approach you at all. What’s more, if someone else is looking to meet cute people, they’re more likely to contact you if your body language says you’re cute.
You can make your body language cute in many different ways, but some standout examples are:
- Playing with your hair
- Acting shy or bashful
- Blushing
- Smiling
- Shifting your weight
Looking Cute
In addition to acting cute, there are numerous things you can do to make yourself look cuter. While a lot of these are geared towards women, some of them will be applicable to men, too. An attractive appearance isn’t defined by gender, after all, and both men and women can benefit from a few wardrobe and appearance tips to boost their cuteness factor!
Makeup
Makeup is one of the most powerful tools in a woman’s (and sometimes a man’s, too!) arsenal, and it can be used to make her look beautiful, sexy, scary, cute, and more. However, if you’re going for an attractive look, it’s best to keep makeup light, rosy, and in the same shades as your natural tones. Pinks and reds work exceptionally well, and browns and tans for eyeliner and eyeshadow also work wonders.
For cute makeup, stay away from bold, solid colors whenever possible. If you have a darker skin tone, you may be able to get away with black eyeliner or dark colors, but those with light complexions should be careful with them. If your makeup is too intense, it can detract from the cute look. Additionally, if you wear makeup at all, try to keep it as natural-looking as possible.
Clothing
The clothes you wear have a significant impact on how cute you look. After all, your clothes are some of the first things that people notice about you when you first meet them. Anyone with a sense of style that suits their body type and personality can be considered cute, but if you’re looking to fit in with the traditional definition, try wearing things like:
- Youthful-looking clothes
- Bright, pastel, or complementary colors
- Attractively layered clothing
- Flat-soled shoes instead of heels
- Flowery, billowing dresses
- Colors that accentuate your hair, makeup, or eyes
Stay away from clothes that are overly clingy or sexy. Clothes that show a lot of skin or leave little to the imagination tend to ruin the cute look, moving into more sensual territory instead. If you’re male, make sure to wear clothes that fit well – avoid sagging pants or ill-fitting shirts, but don’t wear clinging, skin-tight clothing, either. Mesh, see-through, and ripped dress tend to push the limits of cuteness, too.
If you’re going to wear skin-tight or see-through clothing, make sure to take the proper precautions. For example, if you’re intent on wearing some leggings, make sure to wear a top or dress that hangs down to at least your upper thigh. If you’re wearing tight or skinny jeans as a male, pair them with a professional-looking collared shirt or vest to tone-up the ensemble.
Patterns are always a good thing for cuteness! While it’s not always a good idea to mix multiple patterns in an outfit, patterns like flowers, plaid, and even printed words always add a fun, flirty aspect to your outfit. It goes without saying, but try to avoid too many dark and monochromatic colors, or dark shades in your outfits, as these can make you seem unapproachable and gloomy.
Accessories
When you’re going for cuteness, the accessories you add can be just as necessary as the outfits you wear! Accessories can pump up the cuteness factor of a good outfit, so choosing the right ones is very important. Accessorizing is mostly for women, but just because you’re a man doesn’t mean you can’t make some meaningful accessory choices, too!
If you’re a woman looking to accessorize your outfit, consider options like:
- Hair accessories, like barrettes, hair clips, scrunchies, ribbons, or headbands
- Jewelry, like necklaces, bracelets, and earrings
- Extras, like purses, wallets, handbags, or phone cases
If you’re a man looking to turn your style up with some accessories, think things like:
- Attractive hats, such as baseball caps or beanies
- Masculine jewelry, like rings, leather, some piercings, and some necklaces
- Optional accessories, like belts, backpacks, wallets, keychains, or phone cases
As long as you have the time to do it, we always recommend adding some accessories onto your outfit to style it up! However, don’t add too much – too many accessories added onto an outfit can be distracting rather than attractive. Choose a maximum of three or so accessories for each outfit, and boys should be even more conservative with this number than girls.
Hairstyle
Don’t forget your haircut when you’re trying to look cute! A cute hairstyle can add something special to a cute outfit or ensemble, and it can even take an ordinary outfit and turn it into a cute one. Of course, cute hairstyles differ for men and women, but most hairstyles that we consider sweet tend to be neat, trendy, and complement the face. If you can make it complement your outfit, too, that’s even better!
For girls, youthful, childish hairstyles tend to be the cutest. Think styles like:
- Pigtails
- Ponytails
- Buns (especially multiples!)
- Pixie cuts
- Bobs
You can add bangs onto your style or any of the ones above to give you a subtly shy look, too. Any hairstyle that adds youthfulness to the face is a great hairstyle for promoting cuteness. Don’t forget to add accessories to your hair, also!
For men, think of trendy styles that aren’t too edgy. Most short-cut styles tend to work well, especially the ones that are short on the sides and longer on top. Some men can pull off a small ponytail or bun, too!
On the topic of hair, we should mention that coloring your hair in bright colors can be tricky if you’re trying to be cute. Pastel colors like pink, blue, and purple tend to be very cute, but if you dye your entire hair that color, it can be overwhelming. Highlights, hair extensions, or clip-ins can be an excellent alternative to coloring your full hair, but we usually recommend that you stick with your natural hair color or something close to it.
Perfume
Wearing a bit of cloying perfume is a great way to add that finishing touch to your cute style. Men can wear cologne or scented body spray for a similar effect. Just remember not to put it on too thickly – a tiny bit on the wrists and neck is plenty for women, and men should use it sparingly, also. Too much perfume or cologne can make it difficult for others to get close to you, as they might come over and feel suffocated by the smell!
Hygiene
In the same vein as wearing too much perfume, if you can’t take proper care of your body and your health, people won’t like to be near you. Bad breath, body odor, unkempt or stained clothing, and greasy hair are all big turn-offs when it comes to hygiene. While no two cleaning routines are the same, it’s essential to keep yourself smelling, looking, and feeling clean if you’re trying to look cute.
On that note, staying clean and hygienic is vital for anyone who’s looking to attract the attention of other people. Even if you’d rather go for an edgy or confident look instead of a cute one, lousy hygiene can be just as off-putting to others.
While there are many different things you can do to maintain good hygiene, the most basic starting points are:
- Brushing and flossing your teeth twice per day
- Showering and washing your hair several times per week
- Wearing clean clothes every day
- Keeping your nails trimmed and groomed
- Wearing deodorant or antiperspirant when necessary
- Keeping body and facial hair neat or shaved
- Washing your face daily
Sleep
While you might not think about rest when you’re thinking about how to look cute, it’s nonetheless an essential addition to the list! If you don’t get enough sleep, not only will you develop dark circles and pale skin, which affects your cute look, but you’ll be grumpy and angry, too. Grumpiness will get in the way of your efforts to be positive and bubbly, so it’s best to get a full night’s sleep whenever possible!
Natural vs. Artificial Cuteness
A crucial thing to note about cuteness is that it’s meant to be a natural, adorable look. Cuteness is a difficult thing to force, and more often than not, trying to push it when you don’t feel cute yourself will result in awkwardness and discomfort. If you don’t feel comfortable with following the tips in this guide, by all means, find a different solution that works for you!
There’s looking cute and there’s acting cute, and you don’t necessarily have to master both aspects to be considered attractive by others. You might have an edgy, all-black clothing and makeup style, but if you’re confident, bubbly, and a bit bashful, people will probably think you’re cute anyway. In the same way, if you’re a master of the sweet, youthful style, but you tend to be a leader rather than a shy follower, there will still be plenty of people who find you charming.
Of course, if you’re looking to fit the traditional ideal of cute, you’ll need to master both the acting and the looking aspect of it. However, you shouldn’t let the desire to line up with traditional ideas limit you. As we said before, if you feel uncomfortable with the cute style, other people will be able to tell anyway, and this will affect your ability to come off as sweet to others.
If you can’t follow the rules set up in this guide, it’s far better just to be yourself and maybe try a tip or trick from time to time. Don’t force any of them on yourself or others. If you be yourself, stay true to what makes you comfortable and happy, and stand up for yourself and your style, there will always be people out there who find you cute!
It’s true that some people tend to come off as naturally cute, or others don’t mind making themselves over to fit a more traditional definition of cuteness. This can be a bit of a sticking point for people. After all, traditionally cute people tend to gain lots of friends and admirers. As such, the tips in this guide are built to help you achieve this ideal cuteness if it’s what you truly want.
However, we urge you not to throw away your true self just to become someone who you think will be more likable. It can be hard to realize this when we feel jealous of the cute people right in front of us, but we promise, you’re a unique person whose style and persona is just as valid as anyone else’s.
If you have a style or personality that’s not traditionally considered cute, we urge you to love yourself anyway. After all, while this guide lays out a very general idea of cuteness, your sense of what’s cute will always be different than your neighbor’s!
