How to be more feminine: 24 tips to act more ladylike

Being feminine can mean different things to different people because each culture has its own notion of what it means to be female.

In the west, the concept of femininity is tied heavily to gender norms.

Traditionally, being feminine or girly means being gentle, nurturing, sensitive, sweet, passive, empathetic, or devoted — to name a few traits.

As people continue to realize that gender norms are a little outdated, we now think that being feminine is more of a style choice (although positive feminine traits are still good to emulate).

So how do you become more feminine?

Achieving a girly “look”, adopting ladylike mannerisms, and getting in touch with the female mindset can help you take on a more feminine image.

In this article, you’ll learn how to embody the grace, politeness, and competence which define the female attitude.

Appearing More Feminine

Achieving a girly look takes so much more than wearing pink. Let’s break down what it takes to appear more feminine:

1) Take care of your hygiene

The first step to becoming more feminine is proper hygiene. After all, you’re more likely to associate slobbish behaviors like unkempt hair and muddy clothes with younger boys.

Ladies are expected to look clean and smell nice. And whether you’re male or female, good hygiene is essential to keeping yourself healthy and attractive.

Your hygiene habits don’t have to be excessive; you simply have to make an effort to take care of yourself.

Here are a few feminine hygiene tips to take note of:

Set aside time for grooming: You don’t really need to take three hours in the shower but setting aside 15 – 20 minutes per day to shower is important to keeping up a ladylike appearance.

You’ll look, smell, and feel much fresher after using soap, shampoo, and toothpaste. Don’t forget to comb your hair before leaving home as well.

Keep your body hairless: One traditional sign of femininity is hairlessness.

Even though it can be impractical to pay attention to the hair on your eyebrows, upper lip, underarms, and legs, most women do everything they can to keep their body hair invisible.

You can employ various techniques like tweezing, waxing, threading, or shaving but don’t force yourself if you don’t want to.

Spritz on perfume: Smelling great is a feminine characteristic. Spray on light, flowery, or fruity fragrances before you leave home for an extra girly feel.

2) Dress in a girly style

Clothes play a big part in how we present ourselves to the world. More importantly, clothing can help us embody who we want to be.

Many stage and screen actors often say they cannot truly be in character until they put on the costume.

If you want to “cast” yourself as a girly person, wearing appropriate clothes can help you become more graceful and ladylike.

Some ways you can style yourself in a feminine way are:

Dress for a feminine silhouette: When you take the time to dress in a feminine way, you’re more likely to carry yourself accordingly.

Dresses and skirts are the most universal signals of femininity so fill your wardrobe with well-fitting and flattering pieces.

Plus, these clothes can also help you move in a ladylike way; you’re less likely to stomp around if you’re wearing a delicate outfit, after all.

Include brighter colors in your wardrobe: Feminine looks often include bright, vibrant colors or cheerful pastels as navy, black, burgundy, or brown are stereotypically associated with masculine fashion.

It’s best to wear more shades of pink, lavender, blue, teal, green, yellow, or red for a girly feel.

Experiment with “girly” patterns and textures: Delicate prints, eye-catching patterns, and soft fabrics are typically considered to be feminine. Lace, florals, silk, velvet, polka dots, frills, and preppy checks are some of the styles you can use to feel more feminine.

Wear appropriate accessories: Girly girls typically have a wide range of fashion accessories available to them, in addition to the clothes they wear.

Heeled shoes, scarves, handbags, hair accessories, and jewelry are some key items which can tie your look together, bring out your personality, and boost your overall feminine look.

3) Wear makeup

While popular culture is slowly steering men towards using makeup, it is still largely a female-dominated territory.

Most women never leave home without completing their look with makeup. Aside from adjusting your appearance, makeup is a great way to enhance attractiveness and boost your confidence.

Basic cosmetics like foundation, lip gloss, eyeliner, mascara, and powder can easily take you from barefaced to beauty.

You can also utilize neutral eyeshadows, concealer, nail polish, and red or pink lipstick to take the feminine look to the next level. Makeup is really an art form so you have fun while trying it out.

4) Try “feminine” hairstyles

Although long hair isn’t necessary to being feminine, women have traditionally grown hair past the shoulders. Hairstyles like ponytails, braids, and long, romantic waves are difficult to achieve with shorter hair.

Aside from brushing and conditioning your hair, you can care for your hair by consuming a healthy diet.

Fatty fish, lean meats, seafood, leafy greens, and fruits rich in vitamin C can give your hair strength and a mirror-like shine.

5) Embrace your sexy side

If you’re struggling to feel and act feminine, then it’s time to embrace your sexy side and unleash it onto the world.

Many women get scared off at this stage, worried about being seen as promiscuous. It’s all about finding that balance.

Women can be many things. They can be sexy, smart, funny, cute, charming and so much more.

Don’t let the world define how you see yourself. Instead, show them how you want to be seen.

Being feminine is sexy, so embrace it. Get a little bit flirty with the men in your life. There’s something so feminine and attractive about a woman you can’t have. Have a little fun with it.

Do what feels good and enjoy each step of the way.

Acting More Feminine

Once you’ve mastered presenting yourself in a feminine way, you need to learn how to carry yourself in a ladylike way as well.

Cultivating habits, mannerisms, and behaviors can greatly help you embody girl traits.

6) Practice proper posture

Countless movies that include feminine makeovers often include a scene where a tomboyish character has to practice walking with a book on their head.

While this is an exaggeration and most women don’t actually do this, it shows you how important good posture is to femininity.

You have to keep your spine straight with your shoulders directly above your hips and your chin parallel to the ground.

When sitting, women have to keep their legs crossed to avoid exposing themselves when they’re wearing short skirts or dresses.

Additionally, sitting with your legs wide apart has a masculine feel to it.

To sit like a lady, plant both of your feet on the ground and cross them at the ankles, then bring your knees tight together for a prim, feminine way of sitting.

There is also a way of walking that accentuates the feminine figure and shows off the curves.

The trick is to pull yourself forward using the lower half of the body, rather than having your torso fall forward and letting your feet catch up.

Toss your shoulders back and elevate your chest while swinging your hips slightly at each step. As much as possible, walk slowly and gracefully by taking lighter steps.

If you are in a hurry, aim to look composed as you walk with quick, short steps to reach your destination.

7) Cultivate good manners

Good manners matter. Proper etiquette guides us as we interact with people and navigate society.

More than being mindless pleasantries, good manners and proper etiquette help us show our respect towards others and make them feel appreciated. And treating people well often means being treated well in return.

Ladies are expected to cultivate basic manners and etiquette as a model for others, especially young children.

Practicing the basic rules of etiquette you learned as a child is a simple way of being more feminine and elegant.

Try to incorporate simple manners in your daily habits such as:

  • Smiling genuinely at people
  • Eating with your elbows off the table
  • Saying “Excuse me” when you burp in public
  • Using “Please” or “May I”
  • Sneezing into a tissue rather than your hands
  • Finding a kinder way to give negative feedback
  • Greeting people kindly even if you’re in a bad mood
  • Chewing your food properly, with your mouth closed
  • Knocking on doors and waiting for a response before entering a room
  • Not interrupting people or rolling your eyes when they are speaking
  • Asking people to pass dishes to you during a meal rather than reaching for it yourself (and invading their space)
  • Keeping negative opinions to yourself but sharing positive comments and compliments to others

8) Speak like a lady

You don’t really have to change the way you think or ordinarily talk to be perceived as feminine as a big part of femininity relies on confidence.

Swear words and crude language, however, are generally frowned upon in society.

Men and women alike need to think twice when cussing in front of others, especially in a formal environment like the workplace.

The difference is that men get a bit more leeway for cuss words and vulgar jokes because being provocative is seen as a masculine trait.

On the other hand, women are expected to speak politely most of the time so femininity is closely associated with polished language.

At best, being feminine means finding the balance between polite speech and asserting yourself.

You can still raise your voice (sometimes) and curse (very quietly) but overall, you need to speak politely.

Speaking like a lady means speaking clearly, knowing what you want to say, and being considerate towards others.

A ladylike person isn’t rude, hostile, or mean to the people around them, even if they’re with someone they dislike.

If you’re dealing with a rude person, it’s best to smile and limit your contact with them.

To be a feminine speaker also means reducing the number of vulgar or inappropriate conversation topics you bring up.

9) Avoid masculine behaviors

Being “one of the boys” can take a toll on the feminine image you’re trying hard to construct.

Some behaviors like booing, shouting, giving high fives, chugging beer, showing off, or chomping on food can undermine your femininity.

Unlike the subtle, coy, and graceful behaviors expected in femininity, male behaviors are very “in your face”.

Having a girly image doesn’t mean you can’t drink beer or enjoy sports; you’re just encouraged to do all these things with more style and grace.

Moving in a more feminine way means being smoother and more in control.

Of course, this all depends on the context.

Feel free to act tough or aggressive while playing sports or participating in other activities. Having fun and being carefree is all part of the feminine charm.

10) Spend more time with women

Having male friends is great but in order to learn what it takes to be feminine, it helps if you are surrounded by women — especially if you are in a male-dominated environment.

Being around other women allows you to learn what people consider as “feminine” and what is not.

You’ll also be able to appreciate femininity more as you find women to uplift you and show you ladylike values, such as compassion, sensitivity, and strength.

It’s important to note that hanging out with women requires you to act ladylike, whether online or offline.

When it comes to drama and gossip, you should stand up for yourself if something is wrong — but never try to tear someone else down.

11) Read women’s magazines

Media plays a large role in shaping what is feminine and what is not.

Women’s magazines, talk shows, and social media content can all give you a clue on what typical women are supposed to look like and how they should act.

For example, the media is always trying to uplift empowered women who are polished and successful in their own ways. This is the current brand of femininity they want to explore.

Tuning into style, fashion, and relationship trends provides you an idea of how women are expected to behave in today’s society.

Do be cautious and take everything with a grain of salt; most of the content you see is designed to advertise rather than to give advice.

Embracing A Feminine Mindset

You may look, smell, walk, and talk like a lady but it can only go so far if you don’t have the right mindset.

Attitude and confidence have a large impact on what people recognize as feminine; feeling at home in your own skin, extending love to yourself and others, and enjoying life will allow you to express femininity and help others see it in you too.

12) Own your confidence and unique charm

No one has a monopoly on what it means to be feminine. You can absolutely define what femininity is for you.

Of course, you need to own your definition of femininity and not be afraid to show it to the world.

Rather than conforming to traditional roles of femininity, you should focus on how to make yourself happy first.

Building confidence in your body is about being comfortable in your own skin, regardless of your shape and size.

It’s easy to be more confident when you take care of yourself so don’t be afraid to eat healthily, sleep a lot, and exercise when you can.

Growing your own brand of charm requires you to accept and take pride in your unique personality.

In order to charm someone, you have to showcase your incredible sense of self. You’re not bragging about who you are or what you’ve done; you’re simply staying attuned to who you are.

13) Empathize with others

Historically, femininity has been rooted in empathy and compassion. Female figures are often perceived as wise and nurturing rather than combative and competent.

Sometimes, empathy can be misconstrued as a weakness because typical female behavior isn’t aggressive at all.

Women try to solve problems by fostering community and togetherness. A great lady would always recognize other peoples’ feelings and make an offer to help them feel better.

What does feminine compassion mean today?

Some compassionate behaviors include:

  • Avoiding unnecessary conflicts with others
  • Being respectful and polite even if you are road
  • Considering how the other person feels before getting upset
  • Thinking of how a problem affects others and not just yourself
  • Using your power to speak up for those who are unable to speak for themselves
  • Comforting others in their time of need with kindness
  • Withholding judgment until you hear the whole story
  • Recognizing that when someone does something bad, there are usually other factors at play

14) Be more expressive

Compared to men, women tend to be more expressive with how they act, talk, and dress. After all, it’s more acceptable for women to display emotions.

When you feel like there isn’t much to be said, utilize your body language and show people how you feel through your eyes or your smile.

In some cases, body language doesn’t work and you will need to use your words to avoid miscommunication.

Femininity is also about being open, vulnerable, and available to others.

You aren’t building walls around yourself to block people out nor are you pretending to be something you’re not.

Feminine expression is the ability to express your own thoughts while listening and respecting what other people have to say too.

15) Be more carefree.

Men like to be in charge. They want to have command over their lives but the truth is, no one ever has complete control over their life.

Mistakes happen, opportunities arise, and even emotions can change. The feminine perspective is a bit more passive and carefree.

There is nothing you can do about a circumstance when it happens so you only have a say on how you react.

The carefree, feminine mindset encourages you to be more receptive to changes and accept support from other people.

Admitting that you have no control over something isn’t the same as giving up. Rather, you’re trying to focus on what you can do with more dignity, grace, and humility.

16) Learn how to compliment people

The willingness to be kind and supportive is a crucial feminine trait. Sincere compliments are a way to show people that you care about them.

Most women tend to begin friendships through compliments because telling someone they have a cute outfit or are talented in a particular hobby can often open up conversations.

A compliment praising someone for doing something well will also make them feel special and important because it shows you were paying attention to them.

There is no need to go overboard with compliments; simply point out something positive when you see it. And if you receive a compliment yourself, take it graciously.

It should go without saying that insincere compliments can come across as cattiness.

No one really has the time and the energy for any pettiness or drama so if you have nothing nice to say, it’s best not to say anything at all.

17) Receive compliments graciously

Complimenting people is one thing. Learning how to accept a compliment is something else entirely.

In order to be more feminine, you need to be more receptive. Receive gifts, compliments, and help graciously.

This one can be hard to master, as you won’t believe half the nice things thrown at you. It might be second nature to see the worst in yourself and to shut these compliments down.

Next time your husband tells you that you look cute — bed hair and all — you simply say, “Thank you” and nothing else.

Bottle all those comments you want to unleash about not feeling cute and thinking you look like a mess. Your husband is looking at you. He sees all these things and he thinks you look cute. All you have to do is accept that and say thank you.

It goes beyond this as well.

If your coworker asks if you’d like help doing stocktake, say yes!

Forget that it’s your job and accept the offer of help graciously.

If your boyfriend wants to do something nice for you, let him. Whether it takes you out to a fancy restaurant, or to fix a leaking tap.

You might be tempted to tell him he doesn’t have to.

But in saying this, you miss the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from something nice, and he misses the opportunity to do something for you which makes him feel good.

It’s not just about you.

Women are built to receive. Men are attracted to femininity. By being receptive, you’re unleashing your femininity and only good can come from this.

18) Compliment yourself

Stand in front of the mirror and start showering the compliments on yourself.

This type of self-love will help you feel good about yourself, which will then show outwardly to those you come into contact with that day.

We are always our toughest critics. The first to find faults in ourselves and to talk ourselves down. This isn’t feminine at all.

If you’re going to start convincing others of your feminine side, then you have to start by making an effort to convince yourself.

Stand in front of that mirror each morning before you leave the house for the day. Find three things to compliment yourself on. Try and mix it up each morning so you aren’t reusing the same compliments.

Here are some perfect examples:

  • You look fab in that dress!
  • Your hair looks amazing today.
  • I love that color on you.
  • You look happy.
  • Your eyes shine when you smile.
  • You paired your dress well with your handbag.

The options are endless. You just have to be brave enough to see the best in yourself. This should also flow into the way you talk about yourself in front of others.

No one is going to see you as feminine if you’re constantly criticizing the way you look and act.

When you talk about the negative things in your life, you’re going to be seen as much less attractive.

When you talk about the positive things, your face automatically shines with a spark and you become much more attractive to those around you.

Self-confidence is a powerful tool, so don’t underestimate it. Both when you’re alone and when you’re around others.

19) Work on your social skills

Having good social and communication skills is essential for any person to have, even if they are shy or introverted.

Basic social graces let you nourish relationships with the people whom you interact with every day, like greeting your fellow joggers “Good morning!” or thanking the barista for your daily coffee.

Even though it might not feel natural at first, you should learn to make a habit of it gradually.

On a larger scale, feminine social skills revolve around being a good caretaker. It’s admirable when a person can spring into action if someone needs to be nurtured.

If someone is injured, you assist them. If someone is feeling sad, you let yourself become a shoulder to cry on.

And if you appreciate someone, you tell them or give them a small gift in return.

This doesn’t mean you should focus all your energy on caring for others.

It simply sets a standard for all people that you being greedy or selfish is not acceptable.

The best, most genuine way to connect with someone on a social level is to be there for them when they need you.

20) Learn how to empower men

A strong and confident feminine woman wants to be with an equally strong and confident man. And she knows exactly how to empower him to be one.

There’s a fascinating new concept in relationship psychology which is generating a lot of buzz at the moment. It goes to the heart of what women can do to bring out the best in their man.

People are calling it the hero instinct.

The simple truth is that men have a biological urge to provide for and protect women. It’s hardwired into them.

By making him feel like an everyday hero, it unleashes his protective instincts and the most noble aspect of his masculinity. Most importantly, it will unleash his deepest feelings of attraction.

And the kicker?

A man won’t fall for a woman when this thirst isn’t satisfied.

I know it sounds kind of silly. A strong woman doesn’t need someone to rescue them. They don’t need a ‘hero’ in their lives.

But here’s the ironic truth. Men do still need to be a hero. Because it’s built into their DNA to seek out relationships that allow them to feel like a protector.

And the few women who actually realize that can gain a lot of strength and power in the way they approach their relationships.

To learn exactly how to trigger the hero instinct in your man, check out this free online video by James Bauer. He’s an experienced relationship psychologist who first introduced the concept.

Some ideas really are life-changing. And for relationships, I think this is one of them.

Here’s a link to the video again.

22) Be Happy to have a partner, but also not afraid to be alone

When it comes to being a strong feminine female, a strong woman knows that unhealthy attachments are full of danger.

You don’t need to rely on someone else to make you happy. You need to be happy with yourself first.

This is why an alpha female isn’t afraid of being alone. She’ll be happy anyway.

But if you can add to her happiness, then go ahead and come on in. But if you’re bringing in toxic energy, then you need to get out of this woman’s way.

This is most men struggle to deal with her. They want to get something from her so she’s onto them quicker than you can imagine.

23) Walk the walk

In order to come across as feminine, you have to actually see yourself in this light.

The way you walk and hold yourself says a lot about how you feel about yourself. If you consider yourself feminine, then others are going to follow suit.

Here are some tips to help you get out there and walk the walk: always keep your head up and avoiding slouching over as you go. Walk with intent and purpose – this goes hand in hand with your confidence and knowing exactly what you want and where you’re going.

The idea: to show everyone who’s boss. Don’t be afraid to stand out and make an entrance – letting everyone know you’ve arrived.

24) Fake it till you Make it

f this is a huge lifestyle change for you then it might take a little time for you to get there.

In the meantime, simply fake it till you make it.

As you go along trying to convince others of your femininity, you’ll be surprised to notice that you start to believe in it as well.

So, don’t hold back.

Don’t make a couple of changes and then back out thinking this isn’t for you.

It’s not something that’s going to happen overnight. You need to give it plenty of time and dedication.

You’re changing your entire mindset and the way you see yourself.

Start with the bright red lipstick and convince others this is the color for you. Soon enough you’ll start to actually believe it.

As you start to make the changes, you’ll work out what actually works for you in this journey and can pick and choose the parts that you like.

There are so many different ways you can express your femininity and get in touch with that side of your personality.

Once you get started, you’ll find it gets much easier each and every day.

How to hook a man with your femininity

You’ve mastered the art of femininity.

You have followed all the tips above and upped your feminine level and feel like you’re acing it in many ways.

Yet, you’re still having trouble finding a man.

And even more so, you’re having trouble holding onto a man.

It’s not you, it’s him.

And I mean that!

His hero instinct simply hasn’t been triggered, which means he is unable to commit to you in a long-term relationship.

This is a concept I touched on previously in the article.

A strong and confident feminine woman wants to be with an equally strong and confident man. If you’re unsure of how to find one, it comes down to this one simple concept.

As mentioned above, a man wants to feel appreciated. He wants to care for you.

It’s a biological drive he has – whether he’s aware of it or not.

If you trigger this instinct in him, he will commit to you and won’t pull away.

Just a solid, committed relationship that has its best shot at success.

Click here to watch his excellent free video about the hero instinct. James Bauer, the relationship expert who first coined this term, reveals the simple things you can do starting today.

By triggering this very natural male instinct, you’ll be able to not only catch a man, but also pull him in and keep him there.

You can use your newfound femininity to help you put in place some of the simple tips James Bauer offers in his free video.

Here’s a link to his unique video again.

Pearl Nash

Pearl Nash has years of experience writing relationship articles for single females looking for love. After being single for years with no hope of meeting Mr. Right, she finally managed to get married to the love of her life. Now that she’s settled down and happier than she’s ever been in her life, she's passionate about sharing all the wisdom she's learned over the journey. Pearl is also an accredited astrologer and publishes Hack Spirit's daily horoscope.

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