Buzz
A love bite, also known as a hickey, can be seen as a mark of affection from your partner, but it can also be quite inconvenient. While you might enjoy the moment of receiving one, you’ll likely regret it the next day – or even immediately afterward. If you’re looking for ways to hide a love bite so that friends, colleagues, parents, or anyone passing by won’t notice, check out the article below.
Steps
Covering Up a Love Bite
Hide the love bite with clothing. Wearing a shirt or sweater is perhaps the easiest way to conceal a hickey. Whether you’re male or female, here are some options for you:
- Turtleneck sweater.
- Long-sleeve turtleneck.
- Jacket or sweater with a high collar that covers your neck. Make sure these are items you usually wear daily; otherwise, your friends might get curious about your neck and spot the hickey.
- Avoid wearing turtlenecks in the middle of summer. This will only draw more attention to your neck. Girls can opt for tank tops with high necklines as they remain stylish.
- Wear clothing that diverts attention away from your neck. Try a shirt with a funny logo, stripes, or an unusual zipper. The more colorful your outfit, the less people will notice your neck.
Hide the love bite with accessories. Using accessories correctly can help conceal a hickey if a T-shirt doesn’t work. Here are some accessories to try:
- A scarf is the most common accessory for hiding a hickey. Just make sure it’s seasonally appropriate and doesn’t make you look out of place indoors. This might not be ideal if you’ve never worn a scarf before.
- If you love the Preppy school style, you can drape a sweater over your shoulders, but only if it matches your usual fashion sense.
- If all else fails, you can cover the hickey with a bandage and make up a story. Say you were bitten by an insect, or if you’re a girl, blame it on a curling iron, or if you have a cat, claim it was a scratch. Just remember that making up stories might draw more attention to you.
- If you have long hair, whether you’re male or female, it’s a great advantage for hiding a hickey. Just ensure your hair covers the right spot.
- Avoid wearing jewelry that draws attention to your neck. Girls can opt for a cool ring or bracelet instead of a necklace or earrings, while guys should skip the dog tag chain and wear a watch instead.
Conceal the love bite with makeup
Prepare the tools. If you’re a girl with a lot of makeup or a guy who needs to ask a female friend for help or swallow your pride and buy products at a store, choosing the right items is crucial for hiding a hickey. Here are some basics:
- Green color corrector.
- Yellow color corrector.
- Concealer.
- Makeup brush.
- Foundation (optional).
Use yellow color corrector on the center of the hickey. The method involves using opposite colors on the color wheel to neutralize the hickey’s hue. The center of the hickey is usually purple, while the outer area is redder, so you can apply yellow to the center.
- Gently use a thin brush to blend the yellow into the middle of the hickey.
Apply green color corrector to the remaining part of the hickey. Remember to clean the brush before dipping it into the green and blending it onto the red area of the hickey.
Apply concealer over the entire hickey. Find a concealer that matches your skin tone and use a brush to blend it evenly over the hickey. If you’re unsure which shade works best, test it on another part of your neck to see if it blends seamlessly.
- After blending with a brush, you can gently pat it with your finger to help the concealer settle into your skin.
- Carry your makeup with you to touch up if the concealer fades throughout the day.
- To make the makeup last longer, apply a translucent powder on top to set the concealer (if the powder looks too obvious, finish with a setting spray).
Use foundation. If you want an extra layer of coverage for the hickey, you can apply foundation.
- Apply the foundation with a brush and use a sponge to blend it evenly.
Hide the hickey with a toothbrush
Gently brush the hickey and surrounding area with a stiff-bristled toothbrush. Use light pressure and brush in small circular motions around the hickey. If you brush too hard, the hickey may look worse.
- Make sure to use a new toothbrush.
Wait for about 15-20 minutes. The hickey will spread out, but the redness and swelling will also reduce if you’re patient enough to wait.
Apply an ice pack to the hickey. Leave it on for about 15-20 minutes.
Repeat the process if necessary. If the hickey appears to fade slightly, try this method a few more times. If the hickey worsens due to vigorous brushing, apply ice and wait for it to subside.
Reduce hickey with ice
Apply ice to the hickey. Using ice or cold water on the hickey can help reduce swelling. Here are a few items you can use:
- Ice pack.
- Ziplock bag filled with ice.
- Cloth soaked in ice water.
- Chilled spoon. Wet a spoon and place it in the refrigerator for about 5 minutes.
- If needed, grab any chilled item from the fridge and apply it to the hickey.
Apply ice to the hickey for 20 minutes. Keep it in place; if it gets too cold or painful, take a short break and then reapply.
- Never apply ice directly to the hickey. Always wrap the ice in a cloth, paper towel, or ziplock bag.
- If using a spoon, place it in the freezer for about 5 minutes, or chill multiple spoons for quick replacement.
Remove a hickey through massage
Apply heat to the hickey. Place a warm towel or heating pad over the hickey. Leave it until the area feels warm. Be careful to avoid burns. If you heat the pad in a microwave, ensure you follow the instructions and let it cool slightly before use.
- Apply heat until the area is sufficiently warm.
- Do not apply heat to the hickey immediately. Heat should only be applied 48 hours after the bruise forms. For a fresh hickey, use ice and gently massage the area.
Massage the hickey from the inside out. Once the area is warm, use your fingers to massage the hickey in circular motions, moving outward.
- This method helps break up the blood clot and improves circulation in the area.
Apply pressure to the center of the hickey. Use your fingers to gently press and stroke from the center toward the edges of the hickey.
- Be gentle. Applying too much pressure can worsen the hickey.
Repeat the process several times a day. Take breaks and repeat the steps every few hours.
Tips
- Avoid wearing unusual outfits to hide a hickey, as this can draw more attention to it.
- If using makeup, ensure your clothing or jewelry won’t smudge the concealer.
- Applying ice immediately after a hickey forms can reduce swelling.
- Try icing or massaging the area to minimize swelling and make it less noticeable.
- Medications can help reduce hickey swelling, making it easier to conceal. Consider aspirin, vitamin K, or aloe vera for the affected area.
- Tell your mom you were bitten by a spider and use a bandage to cover the hickey.
- If using makeup, finish with a setting spray or powder to keep the concealer in place.
Warnings
- Do not apply heat to the hickey until 48 hours later.
- Avoid placing ice directly on the hickey.
What You’ll Need
Concealment Methods
- Turtlenecks or high-collared shirts.
Makeup Techniques
- Green color corrector
- Yellow color corrector
- Concealer
- Makeup brush
- Foundation (optional)
Brushing Method
- A new toothbrush design
The ice compress method
- Ice cubes, cold packs, and chilled spoons.
The massage technique
- A hot compress pack
