Trying out online dating for the first time or frustrated by the experience? Or heard the hype about January 3 – Dating Sunday/Singles’ Sunday?

Below are five online dating tips I gathered in my 20+ years of experience as a matchmaker.

Enlist Help

With over 104 million singles in America and 30 million dating online, your profile needs to stand out. A dating expert can help you craft a profile you’re proud of – and one that isn’t full of clichés like “long walks on the beach.”

You hire professionals to help you work out, clean your house, and cut your hair, so why not hire a dating pro to help reflect your individuality? Of course, you are the one who knows you best, but if you aren’t a dating expert, you’ll have a hard time expressing your strengths.

Refresh Your Photos

Time to cull from the thousands of photos saved on your phone for five to ten terrific shots. If your photos are more than a year old or low-resolution, consider scheduling a photoshoot with a friend or even a professional.

Pose in natural light, ideally outdoors, and show off your smile. Avoid selfies and sunglasses and include at least one full body shot that conveys your interests, whether it’s hiking, doing a tree pose, or walking along the shore

Lastly, most photos should be solo. Including pets is warm and welcoming, but only a shot or two should include friends or family.

Be Proactive

Start with only one or two dating platforms. You can add more later, but you don’t want to be overwhelmed by all the “likes” you’ll receive!

Once live, don’t wait for replies to bombard you. Set these aside and use the platform’s filters so you see the type of people you’re looking for – there’s no need to be shy about knowing what you want.

After coaching thousands of people and playing a part in 4,200 marriages, I’ve found that those with the highest level of dating success proactively work the system in person and online.

Arrange Video Chats

Set up short video chats/FaceTime calls to determine whether you’re willing to meet in real life. Keep conversations to 10 minutes – this is enough time to get a feel for personality, looks, mannerisms and more. Ask important questions early on to ensure your values align, and remember, chemistry only comes in person!

Have Fun

Now it’s time for the good stuff! Arrange drinks, coffee, or brunch al fresco – these are less pressure, more relaxed and don’t drag on. If you’re ready to leave, you can always say you have errands to run or evening plans.

A coach can help with this part, too. At 33 Thousand Dates offers expert advice on how to communicate and follow up on dates. Keep in mind, you’re seeing if you like the person enough to go on a second date, not marry him! And if it doesn’t go well, those millions of other singles are waiting to meet you!

Don’t continue to tread water. Take proactive steps now to date online with confidence.

To learn more about enlisting the help of dating pros, visit 33000dates.com.

Have you worked with a dating expert? What did you learn from them? Where was their advice lacking? Please share your comments below.

Usually, we look to Black Friday for a brand’s biggest sale of the year but Lush does things differently. On Black Friday, the retailer rolls out new products as part of the Green Friday campaign. The UK-based company’s big sale is on Boxing Day instead, which starts the day after Christmas. Lush’s Boxing Day sale for 2020 is its only big sale of the year and trust us—it’s worth the wait. 

Get 50 percent off on selected items (look for the items with the ’50 percent off’ tag online or in-store). As products fly off the shelves—and virtual shelves—Lush will continue to restock so you’ll want to check back. Holiday products and gift sets are included in the half-off sale, of course, as well as non-seasonal items like soap, shower goodies, fragrance, skincare and haircare.

Need some last-minute gifts? Here’s your chance to grab them at a discount. But don’t forget to pick up some self-care items for yourself, too. The holidays might look a little different this year but that doesn’t mean you can’t have your own celebration.

The Lush Boxing Day sale starts on December 26. Check out a few must-haves, below.

Lush.

Show Showers Gift Set

Be set with shower gel for the year, with yummy Sleepy, Yog Nog and Roasting Chestnuts on an Open Fire scents.

Lush.

Veganese Conditioner

This lightweight vegan conditioner is perfect for anyone with fine hair, including curls.

Lush.

Clean & Calm Hand Care Kit

Get your dry hands in check with hydrating 13 Soap Unlucky For Dirt and Sleepy soap, Dream Cream lotion, Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter and Tiny Hands Hands Serum.

Lush.

Jingle Bells Bath Bomb

This festive bath bomb has a gentle orange-patchouli scent.

Lush.

Once Upon a Time Body Lotion

Hydrate your body with murumuru butter and jojoba oil.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned in trying hundreds (yes, hundreds) of hair products, it’s that great hair does not have to cost half a paycheck. Some of the best drugstore conditioners of 2021 max out at $15 and some cost as little as $4.99. And there’s something for everyone of all hair types. Got fine curly hair? We’ve got you. Thick, heat-damaged strands? You’re all set.

You don’t have to sacrifice the health of your hair if you’re on a budget. And hey, even if you usually splurge on shampoo and conditioner, you’ll be seriously impressed by these affordable offerings. 2021 is shaping up to be good in the hair department (we need something good right?) so this is when you find the perfect conditioner for your hair type that will hydrate without the weight, help reduce flyaways or frizz and even strengthen and fortify from within.

Shop some of the best conditioners of 2021 below.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Pantene.

Pantene Miracle Rescue Deep Conditioning Treatment

If you’re already a fan of the Intense Rescue Shot, you’re going to love this new collection inspired by the best seller. This ultra-hydrating conditioner contains pro-vitamin B5, strengthening lipids and protective antioxidants.

Buy: Deep Conditioning Treatment, Twin Pack $14.99

TRESemme.

TRESemmé Fiber Full Volume Conditioner

The brand’s collagen and peptide complex helps give lift and body, as well as lightweight hydration.

OGX.

OGX Lightweight + Coconut Fine Curls Conditioner

If your fine wavy or curly hair feels easily weighed down, try lightweight this conditioner with coconut water, flaxseed and citrus oil. Available January.

Pantene.

Pantene Silicone-Free & Fragrance-Free Pure Clean & Clarify Conditioner

The new Clean & Clarify lines remove excess oil, dirt and product build-up without the added dyes and fragrance. This lightweight conditioner hydrates thanks to restoring lipids. Available January.

Aveeno.

Aveeno Hair Sunflower Oil Blend Conditioner

Aveeno is taking its popular scalp-soothing shampoo and conditioner and adding a hydrating and softening sunflower oil blend. The yummy scent evokes red currant, sugared peony and vanilla. Available January.

Buy: Sunflower Oil Blend Conditioner $13.84

Head & Shoulders.

Head & Shoulders Soothe & Strengthen Conditioner

Hydrate a dry, itchy scalp while also fortifying hair with rose essence and the brand’s “supreme blend.”

Buy: Soothe & Strengthen Conditioner, Twin Pack $17.94

Herbel Essences.

Herbal Essences Honey & Vitamin B Conditioner

Herbal Essences Bio:Renew Honey & Vitamin E got some revamped packaging and an updated formula in the new year. It’s still PETA-certified cruelty-free and meet the clean beauty standards of the Environmental Working Group (EWG). This conditioner is for quenching the thirstiest hair. Available January.

John Frieda.

John Frieda Hair Care Blue Crush Conditioner

John Frieda’s Violet Crush shampoo and conditioner is already a favorite for blondes and now brunettes can get in on the brass-busting action with Blue Crush Shampoo and Conditioner at CVS. Available January.

Usually, we look to Black Friday for a brand’s biggest sale of the year but Lush does things differently. On Black Friday, the retailer rolls out new products as part of the Green Friday campaign. The UK-based company’s big sale is on Boxing Day instead, which starts the day after Christmas. Lush’s Boxing Day sale for 2020 is its only big sale of the year and trust us—it’s worth the wait. 

Get 50 percent off on selected items (look for the items with the ’50 percent off’ tag online or in-store). As products fly off the shelves—and virtual shelves—Lush will continue to restock so you’ll want to check back. Holiday products and gift sets are included in the half-off sale, of course, as well as non-seasonal items like soap, shower goodies, fragrance, skincare and haircare.

Need some last-minute gifts? Here’s your chance to grab them at a discount. But don’t forget to pick up some self-care items for yourself, too. The holidays might look a little different this year but that doesn’t mean you can’t have your own celebration.

The Lush Boxing Day sale starts on December 26. Check out a few must-haves, below.

Lush.

Show Showers Gift Set

Be set with shower gel for the year, with yummy Sleepy, Yog Nog and Roasting Chestnuts on an Open Fire scents.

Lush.

Veganese Conditioner

This lightweight vegan conditioner is perfect for anyone with fine hair, including curls.

Lush.

Clean & Calm Hand Care Kit

Get your dry hands in check with hydrating 13 Soap Unlucky For Dirt and Sleepy soap, Dream Cream lotion, Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter and Tiny Hands Hands Serum.

Lush.

Jingle Bells Bath Bomb

This festive bath bomb has a gentle orange-patchouli scent.

Lush.

Once Upon a Time Body Lotion

Hydrate your body with murumuru butter and jojoba oil.

Expressing our creativity becomes more common in midlife as we begin to exchange more stuff for deeper experiences. We finally have the time to pursue a creative project.

Creative expression can be a path of
self-discovery that provides a safe place to experiment and explore
possibilities. It can deepen a spiritual connection beyond ourselves.

It took courage and a leap of faith
for Hilary Farmer to leave a job in the city for life as an artist in a small,
rural community. It was a big risk to give up the safety net of a full-time job
and trade it for life as a full-time artist.

Hilary works primarily in water colour,
ink and oil paints. Her oil paintings have been described as modern
impressionist. Her supportive husband, Tom, often writes a poem in response to
her painted images, which you can easily explore on her
website.

The Winding Path

It’s not unusual to take a circuitous
route before embracing creativity in midlife. Synchronicity can also weave its
magic. Hilary’s connection with Canada’s West Coast first came through visits
with relatives. She has always been drawn to its extraordinary beauty.

After her Tai Chi teacher relocated to
the Coast, Hilary came out to attend one of his workshops. That visit led to a
reconnection with an old friend who became her new husband. After a holiday
with Tom in Dominica, Hilary quit her job and moved to Vancouver, where they
lived for two years.

Hilary had spent the previous 10 years
working for a big architecture firm that required a lot of commuting between
Montreal and Ottawa where she worked on renovating the parliament buildings.

This only allowed her to paint on
weekends. Although her work was interesting, she felt it wasn’t fulfilling her
unique potential as a creative person.

While living in Vancouver, Hilary and
Tom sailed around the Gulf Islands. When they arrived on Gabriola Island, they
immediately knew this was where they wanted to live. It would allow them to be
closer to nature and a community of supportive artists.

She intuitively knew she was “home”
when she moved into her new habitat on her birthday. It had everything she
wanted, including a light-filled room to paint in.

Why She Paints

Hilary has a memory of a first
Christmas present being a sketchbook given to her at about age three. Her
parents recognized and nurtured her talent. She has had a lifelong interest in
sketching and painting.

She paints because, “it’s a way of
saying things without words. I want to create beauty and celebrate beauty and
love. I express my love of what I’m painting – be it a kitten, a bowl of apples
or an ocean view. I express the soul of what I paint and how it makes me feel.”

She does this through her use of
colour and light. She tries to capture the beauty of the natural world and her
feelings toward it.

What Has Influenced Her Work

Hilary says she is known to make
impulsive decisions. In 2001, she packed up her suitcase and harp and moved to
Taiwan for two years. She says, “Travel takes you out of your home location and
opens your eyes to see things in a new way.”

Hilary believes we need to do our best
with the time and talent we have. She made a conscious decision to not play it
safe with her art and to keep moving forward with her creative urges.

The beauty of the Island she lives on inspires
her work. She’ll often walk to the ocean to sit by the water and soak up the
view or take a walk through the Elder Cedar forest. She loves the constantly
changing light.

She lives with a favorite quote from
Rumi:

“Let the beauty you love be what you
do. There are a hundred ways to kneel and kiss the ground.”

Creativity as a Spiritual Practice

Hilary sees creativity as a spiritual
practice. She remembers reading that,“it’s how we touch the Divine.
Bringing something from nothing is mystical. If you hold back what is inside
you, it will destroy you.”

She created a series of mandalas as an
internal meditative exploration of her feelings and “to seek the mysteries
within.”They have helped her process major life transitions including
moving, starting a new relationship and the death of family members.

“My art has made me grow in so many
ways. It made me open to the beauty of the world. The more you look, the more
and deeper you see. Although self-doubt is ongoing, showing my work to others
paradoxically gives me the courage to keep doing it.”

Advice for Others

If you want – but are afraid – to use
your creativity, give yourself permission to just begin. A lot of people dream
about it. Many go through life without trying it. Fear and resistance may be
signs of truly needing to delve into your creativity.

Make space for creativity in your
home. Dedicate a physical area to your work and a specific time and day for it.
No matter how small your home or how busy your life, it is important and
possible to do this for yourself.

Keep a journal of your creative ideas
so you are ready when you have time to create.

Work small at first. It will take the
pressure off you, as it’s less of a commitment of both time and materials, and
you’ll feel free to experiment.

Try a daily painting challenge – maybe
for 30 days. It will give you the satisfaction of completion and there’s
nothing like painting on a daily basis to help you improve. This can evolve
your skills quickly.

Take an art class online or in person.

Hilary took an online art class that
inspired and encouraged her to move forward with her work. It connected her
with other artists all over the world, including a supportive painter from her
new community.

Connect with established or aspiring
artists.

Take your own leap of faith to see
where your creativity leads you.

How have you used your own creativity
to reinvent your life? What creative path has been most tempting in your life? Please
share how you have used your creativity.