Buzz
If you admire the charm of dimples but weren't blessed with them naturally, fret not! You can emulate their allure by crafting fake dimples. While short-term solutions like bottle caps or clever makeup tricks suffice, delve deeper into long-term options for a lasting impression.
Steps
Utilizing a Bottle Cap
Sanitize the bottle cap: Whether metal or plastic, ensure the cap is thoroughly cleansed before use, especially considering its contact with your mouth.
- Metal caps, though shallow, offer a subtler, more natural appearance. Be cautious of ridges, particularly if you have sensitive cheeks.
- Plastic caps vary in depth; opt for a soda cap for pronounced dimples or a shallower water bottle cap for a more discreet effect.
- Prepare a solution with 1 tsp (5 ml) salt per 8 oz (250 ml) water. Soak the cap for 15 minutes, then rinse, dry, and position it in your mouth.
- While soap and water suffice for cleaning, ensure thorough rinsing to remove all traces of soap before use.
- Limit creation to one dimple at a time, as the dramatic effect of bottle caps can overwhelm the face if both dimples are created simultaneously.
Place the bottle cap inside your cheek: Open wide and position the cap between your cheek and teeth, ensuring the cap's opening faces your cheek, not your teeth. It might take some adjustment to find the right spot, so experiment a bit.
- If unsure where to position the cap, remove it and smile in front of a mirror. Look for the outer creases that form on your cheeks when smiling; place the cap just outside the upper corner of these creases on one side of your face.
Form the dimple: Apply pressure from the outside while sucking your cheek inward, allowing it to indent firmly into the cap's opening.
- If done correctly, you may hear a slight suction noise.
- Exercise caution to avoid inhaling the cap, especially if it's small and metal.
Strike a Pose: While this technique may not fool observers in person, it's effective for creating a faux dimple in photographs. Experiment with various angles until you achieve the desired effect.
- A popular pose involves covering your mouth from below, turning your face to showcase the dimpled cheek to the camera. Maintain a slight smile, ensuring the cap remains firmly in place. This pose accentuates the faux dimple while concealing any cap lines or bulges and can create the illusion of a wider smile.
Utilizing Eye Shadow or Eye Liner
Determine the optimal placement: Decide whether you want the dimple near the outer corner of the lip or higher on the cheek. Smile in front of a mirror to identify the ideal location.
- Natural dimples often align with the outer crease of a smile. Position the dimple just outside these creases on either side of your face.
- For dimples adjacent to the lips, smile to reveal the smaller creases just outside the mouth; position the dimple along the inside curve of these creases on each side of your mouth.
- To ensure accuracy, mark the spot with a small dot using your eyeshadow applicator or eyeliner pencil. Keep the dot minimal to avoid interfering with the final result.
Sketch a curved line on your cheeks: Using a matte eye shadow or eyeliner pencil, draw a small comma shape on your desired location. Start lightly, as it's easier to darken the dimple later than to lighten it.
- Opt for a dark brown hue for a natural look; avoid glossy or sparkly cosmetics as they'll appear too pronounced. Stick to a matte finish for authenticity.
- The comma's dot should align with the natural curve of your smile. Imagine an invisible line connecting the corner of your lips to the crease of your smile; the dot should sit at their intersection.
- Draw the comma's tail just below the dot, around 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) long, with a subtle curve akin to the tip of your finger.
Blend in the eye shadow: Use a small makeup brush to blend the cosmetic into your skin for a natural appearance. Apply even, rounded strokes following the mark's curve. Blend further with a larger brush to fade the edges.
- If brushes don't achieve the desired subtlety, use your ring finger to blend further, maintaining pressure along the dimple's curve.
Repeat if necessary: Create dimples on both cheeks for symmetry. Apply additional eye shadow or eyeliner in the same manner if the dimples aren't prominent enough.
- The darkness level depends on your desired look. Subtle dimples suit everyday wear, while darker ones may be preferable for photography, especially in low light.
Flash a Smile: These faux dimples will be visible regardless of your expression, but a charming smile enhances their appeal.
- Immediately smile after application to assess the dimples' appearance in the mirror. If unsatisfied, remove the makeup and try again.
Creating Long-Term Faux Dimples
Opt for Dimple Piercings: While dimple piercings carry risks, they can emulate dimples if done correctly. Choose whether to keep them permanently or remove them later for a lasting dimple-like effect.
- Due to associated risks, some professionals may refuse dimple piercings, especially to minors even with parental consent.
- These piercings typically involve nerve damage, potentially aiding in maintaining dimples even after removal, albeit with risks.
- Proper sterilization of equipment and meticulous aftercare are essential to prevent infections.
- Cleaning with saline solution multiple times a day is necessary to ward off infections.
- After three months, removal is usually possible, leaving behind an indentation if nerve damage occurred.
Explore Cosmetic Surgery: For a more natural and permanent solution, consider cosmetic surgery to create lifelike dimples. Although costly and with associated risks, this method offers a more authentic appearance.
- The surgeon makes an incision inside the mouth and carves out an indentation in the cheek muscles and tissues.
- For deeper dimples, a punch tissue excision may be performed to remove a portion of the cheek muscle.
- The procedure typically lasts an hour or less.
- Expect postoperative pain, swelling, and bruising, along with infection risks requiring meticulous wound care.
- Dimple-like marks will be visible continuously initially, becoming more apparent only during smiles as the muscles heal.
Essentials
Utilizing a Bottle Cap
- Metal or plastic bottle cap
- Salt
- Warm water
Utilizing Eye Shadow or Eye Liner
- Matte eye shadow or eye liner, preferably in dark brown
- Small makeup brush
- Large makeup brush
Creating Long-Term Faux Dimples
- Saline solution
- Antiseptic mouthwash
- Straight barbell piercing jewelry
Helpful Tips
Warnings
- Keep in mind that both dimple piercings and cosmetic dimple surgery pose a significant risk of infection and are not reversible. Before committing to either option, conduct thorough research to fully understand the implications.
