How to Rock Both Braces and Glasses

Don't think that your braces and glasses make you a nerd. Though in recent times, the terms "nerd" and "geek" have been reclaimed as pretty cool, if people still use these words negatively in your school, then you need to realize that your glasses and braces don't have anything to do with who you are as a person. If you don't want to be labeled a geek, then you have to think that you aren't a geek (unless you are, of course -- and that's cool, too!).

• People may have an image of what it means to wear braces and glasses -- it's up to you to prove them wrong!
• If you act like you're cool, then other people are sure to follow. But if you act weak or scared, then you'll leave an opening for people to call you a nerd or a geek.

Stay true to your personality. Stick to your real personality and be confident. No matter what people say to you, you're still the person you always were underneath. If you don't change who you are, how you feel, or how you act, then people won't think twice about your glasses and braces. Wear what you usually wear and keep being your smiling, happy self. If people notice a change in how you act, then they'll know that your glasses and braces are to blame.

• If you're normally outgoing, don't let your glasses or braces hold you back!

Don't take yourself so seriously. Learn to laugh at yourself. If you want to poke fun at yourself for having four eyes or a face full of metal, go for it. Why not beat other people to the punch? If people know that you're comfortable with your quirks, then they'll back off. If you act like you're constantly worried about what people will say about your braces and your glasses, then they'll be more likely to make fun of you.^[1]

• Be approachable and friendly. If you have a great personality, less and less people are going to notice your mouth of metal. Remember Ugly Betty, who does this successfully.

Remember that glasses are in now. Wearing glasses, whether they are thick black glasses or of the thinner variety, is decidedly in now. Celebrities such as Ryan Gosling, Anne Hathaway, Katy Perry, and Justin Bieber have been seen sporting this trendy accessory. It's cool to wear glasses, and though glasses make some people think of computers and "being nerdy," guess what? Computers, the tech world, and programming are all the rage in this world, so even if that doesn't describe you, wearing glasses will make you more cool, not less cool, by association.^[2]

Know that braces aren't forever. Even in the most extreme situations, you won't be wearing your braces for the entirety of your elementary school, middle school, or high school years. We're talking about a year or two of unpleasantness in exchange for a straight pair of pearly whites. You shouldn't have a countdown until the minute your braces come off, but you should remember that soon, your teeth won't be sporting extra metal swag.^[3]

Tell yourself that everyone is self-conscious about something. No matter what age you are, but especially if you're a preteen or a teenager, you will be spending most of your time around people who are really just little balls of stress and insecurity. Everyone at that age has something they don't like about themselves, from their acne to their height, so you can just be happy that all you have to worry about are braces and glasses, and learn to love these aspects of yourself.^[4]

Know that people will get used to your new look pretty fast. It'll only take a week or so of wearing glasses for you to take them off for a minute and have people say, "Wow, you look so weird without them!" People will quickly adapt to your new look and will forget that you ever looked any other way. And that includes you. Once you get settled in, you won't even wish you didn't have glasses or braces because you'll be used to the new you.

Keep up your confidence. Remember what an amazing person you are -- glasses, braces and all. Don't be afraid to go to parties because you don't like the way you look. Don't fear approaching your crush because you think you can never kiss with braces anyway. Go about your daily life while remembering how amazing you are, and the rest will be as easy as pie.

• Remember that you love who you are, what you do, and all of the people in your life. If you've always had lower self-confidence, work on addressing your flaws and finding something you're passionate about. If you're happy with yourself, then you'll be happy with your appearance.