Buzz
Scene kids are often recognized by their bold colors, outrageous haircuts, and snug neon jeans. But being truly scene is more than just your appearance—it's about curating an identity online that screams 'scene.' A scene kid’s vibe is just as much about how they present themselves on social media as it is about how they dress and act. This Mytour guide will help you dive into the scene kid culture and transform yourself in no time.
Steps
Creating the Scene Look: Girls
Get that hair just right. Scene hair can range from short to long, but it's usually full of volume. Your hair should never be boring—it’s a focal point of your style.
- Color it up. Go for a bold black or blonde, or even a mix of both: think streaks of blonde in a sea of black. Or get creative with colors like pink or purple to add some flair.
- Tease and straighten it. Teasing your hair, especially at the back, creates volume and height. If you have curly or wavy hair, straightening it is essential to achieve that ultra-sleek look.
- Extensions are optional but often seen as a must-have by some scene enthusiasts.
- Finish the look with a fun accessory, like a hairband, beret, or a brightly-colored flower for that extra pop.
Master the makeup. Scene makeup is all about bold, eye-catching colors paired with the signature black or dark-blue eyeliner. You might go for a touch of glittery eyeshadow or darken your eyebrows for that perfect contrast. Whatever you do, never skip the eyeliner!
- Your makeup is your chance to really 'feminize' your appearance. Since your scene outfit might blend in with guys, don’t hesitate to go all out with dramatic, bold makeup to stand out.
Opt for bright, eye-popping outfits. Stripes are a big trend, as is plaid (but don’t settle for the boring stuff). You don’t have to raid thrift stores, but don’t avoid secondhand clothing either. Here are some style ideas you might want to try on:
- A striped black and pink top; a snug pink skirt with a blue bandana at your waist; ripped electric blue leggings; and pink ballet flats.
- A purple leopard print top; white overall shorts with the straps undone; black tights; and worn-in white Vans slip-ons.
- A handmade silk-screened band tee; super-tight purple or black skinny jeans; pyramid studded belt (though it’s getting a little mainstream); and oversized sunglasses.
Finish the look with accessories. Accessories are what pull the scene style together, so don't overlook them. Go big or go home. Popular accessories include:
- Big sunglasses. Choose large or massive frames—the bigger, the better. Aviator styles are a solid choice.
- Jewelry. Think chunky bracelets, quirky necklaces, body jewelry, and piercings. Go for pieces that have an edgy, ironic, or playful vibe.
- Hats. Hats can make a scene girl’s outfit pop (not so much for scene guys). Go for oversized hats that don’t necessarily match your entire outfit. Bonus points if you find one that’s unique and hard to come by.
Shop at stores with vibrant colors and bold styles. Try spots like Rue 21, Banana Republic, and Aeropostale for your scene wardrobe. Hot Topic isn’t your best bet unless you’re after band merchandise or colorful pieces. Scene kids love bright colors and preppy vibes, not dark outfits or those with chains hanging out of pockets.
Scene Style: Guys
Own your style. Scene guys dedicate a lot of effort to perfecting their look. They aren’t just dressing—they’re making a statement. They don’t want to blend in with the average crowd on the street. The way they dress is a reflection of their unique mentality and personal style.
Go for straight hair. Your hair should be pin-straight, and maybe a little teased for extra volume. If you’re lucky enough to have straight hair, that’s a win! If not, blow-dry it after showering and brush it through to avoid curls. Straighteners are optional—many guys skip them, so no pressure.
- Don’t skip the bangs. Shaggy, layered bangs are a key element of the scene look for guys. They're essential—look for some inspiration if needed.
- Start with a natural base color for your hair, and then add highlights around it. Dark brown, blonde, or even black are common base colors. You can experiment with platinum, blonde, or purple highlights for some added flair.
Wear the clothes with confidence. Since you’re dressing differently from most guys, pulling it off with confidence is key. Here are some essential pieces for your wardrobe:
- Skinny or slim-fit jeans. Jeans are a must, but they need to be form-fitting. If skinny jeans don’t work for you, tights are a great alternative. Just don’t force yourself into something too tight.
- Bright, bold shirts and striped tops. These will dominate your wardrobe—bright colors and stripes are your best friends. Plaid isn’t a bad choice now and then either.
- Skater shoes, like Vans or Chuck Taylors. Bright colors are a great option. Vans are a good choice if you want something fresher than the overdone Chucks.
Throw on some sunglasses. A classic touch—guys usually opt for oversized party shades, much like the ones worn by Brokencyde.
Get a piercing or tattoo. Adding visible piercings or tattoos is a great way to show that you’re edgy or a deep, thoughtful individual. Note: Many scene kids go for henna tattoos or even create their own temporary designs with permanent markers. Remember, tattoos are permanent, so if you’re unsure, it’s better to think it through before committing.
Try out some ear plugs.
Shop at stores with bright and bold styles. Check out places like Rue 21, Banana Republic, Aeropostale, and other similar spots for your scene wardrobe. Avoid Hot Topic unless you’re hunting for band merchandise or vibrant clothes. Scene kids love bright colors and preppy clothing. They steer clear of dark outfits and pocket chains.
Acting Scene
Type like you don’t care. Lengthen words unnecessarily. Typing like a scene kid ignores grammar and spelling rules. Overuse emoticons and <3’s. For example, you might use: D= :3 ^_^ or c:
- Examples of how to type:
- "ZOMG dats HxC." = "Oh my god, that’s hardcore."
- "Srsly, i don't caaaare if he liks me. hes got to shutup." = "Seriously, I don’t care if he likes me. He has to shut up."
Craft the ultimate xX"SceneName"Xx. The goal of your name is to show that you are both scene and creative. Scene names have their own rules—they don’t follow standard grammar or spelling. However, they do have their own guidelines and themes:
- Get playful with a phrase. Take something like Alice in Wonderland and make it your own to sound clever, like AllisonWonderland.
- Use alliteration. Pick an adjective like brutal, homicidal, or catastrophic, and add it to your name. If you can't make it an alliteration, change the spelling to make it one, like KatastrophicKatie.
- Incorporate some X’s. It’s a fun way to look more scene. Just make sure you have an equal number of X’s on both sides of your name.
- Forget grammar rules. Throw in random punctuation!, forget spacingwordsproperly, and mix uppercase and lowercase letters as you like.
Make friends with everyone—and then some. On social media, the number of "friends" you have is the real measure of your popularity. So, if you’ve met someone for a split second, add them. If you went to middle school with them, add them. If you share a mutual friend, add them. If you both like the same band, add them. If you’re from the same town, add them. And so on.
- Flirt with all your new friends. When someone adds you, thank them, compliment their looks, and let them know you're interested, whether in a picture comment, a wall post, or a private message.
Choose a profile pic of "yourself". The photo doesn’t have to be a full-on shot of you—it’s about capturing a piece of who you are. Here are some tricks for the perfect scene profile pic:
- Crop yourself out. You don’t have to show your whole face or body. Just your eyes, your hair, or even just your mouth is enough.
- Use a mirror. Bonus points for using your iPhone to snap the pic. This shows that: 1) You took it yourself, and 2) You’ve got a pricey camera or smartphone.
- Angle the shot. Keep it interesting. Don’t just go for a boring straight-on photo. Turn the camera, angle it, or even hide your face in your hair for a more intriguing shot.
- Set the camera on a table and get creative with your position. Take a pic while you’re slouched at your computer, making this a totally ironic, creative choice!
- Don’t look at the camera! Look away—down, up, left, or right. Just avoid staring into the lens.
- Hide behind your hair. Make your eyes and hair the focal point, not your face. Scene kids care most about these two features.
- Use filters. Transform your picture with black-and-white, vintage, blurred, or tinted settings to achieve that iconic scene vibe.
- Write on your hand. Scribble a quote, your name, or a heart on your hand, and hold it up for the camera. It’s cute, and everyone loves it.
- Get creative with your face. Make a funny expression, stick out your tongue, or look deep in thought. Avoid a boring smile—everyone does that!
Add as many bands as possible to your "music" section. If you've heard a single song from a band, add them. This is all about showing how vast your musical taste and knowledge are. The more bands you list, the more "scene" you'll appear.
- Opt for obscure, lesser-known bands. Like hipsters, scene kids love discovering bands before they blow up. Being ahead of the curve is key. If that means reviving a once-popular band that’s now forgotten, go for it!
Hit up a ton of "shows." Concerts are at the heart of scene culture. Attend as many as possible—if there’s a show within 60 miles, try to make it. Keep your status updated to show your devotion to music. Don’t forget to post pictures as proof! These photos should feature the stage and crowd, not necessarily you being in them.
Update your status constantly. Keep your friends in the loop by updating your status all the time. Share when you're bored, what’s bothering you, or what you're about to do—like head off to a show. Your friends friended you for these constant updates on your life.
Adopt the right mindset. The scene attitude is essential for blending in and standing out as a true scenester. With your bold fashion choices, expect to get some flack from others, especially older people. Don’t let it get to you. A scene kid isn’t out to please random critics, nor are they too rebellious—just confident in their own skin. To get the attitude down:
- Be carefree. Own who you are, and wear your look with pride. You're comfortable in your skin, and that confidence shows in everything you do.
- Don’t be rude. Scene kids aren’t like some hipsters with a chip on their shoulder. Whether it’s with parents or friends, you stay chill, pleasant, and don’t let teasing get under your skin.
Music
Listen to "scene" music. The key scene bands include Dot Dot Curve, Brokencyde, Owl City, Blood on the Dance Floor, Millionaires, Scene Kidz, Breathe Carolina, 3!OH3, Family Force 5, I Set My Friends on Fire, and Jeffree Star.
- If you’re into the electronic side, check out electronicore. This genre blends electro-pop with melodic metalcore and more. Bands like Attack! Attack, I See Stars, Memphis May Fire, Enter Shikari, Woe Is Me, Capture the Crown, Make Me Famous, and Abandon All Ships are worth a listen. You can also try Pierce the Veil if you're looking for something with more edge. Don’t forget electropop and dance-pop too—artists like Katy Perry, Carly Rae Jepsen, Nicki Minaj, Skrillex, Knife Party, and deadmau5 are scene-friendly.
- However, some bands are often mistakenly labeled as scene. Deathcore, for example, isn’t scene. Deathcore mixes death metal (Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation) with metalcore (Hatebreed, Converge), and while it’s brutal, it’s not part of the scene world. Many think of bands like Rose Funeral, Oceano, The Red Chord, or Despised Icon as scene, but they’re more deathcore. Other misfits include:
- Hollywood Undead - Rap rock
- Asking Alexandria - Metalcore/synthcore
- iwrestledabearonce - Experimental mathcore
- Falling in Reverse - Glam metal/easycore
- The Devil Wears Prada - Melodic metalcore
- Suicide Silence - Deathcore
- Black Veil Brides - Glam rock
- Of Mice & Men - Metalcore
- All Time Low - Pop rock
- Paramore - Emo pop
- Understand that some people will hate you.
- Take extra care of your hair. Always apply a thermal protection spray before styling. Avoid washing it too often, and deep condition regularly to keep it in shape. Hairspray is also a good idea to keep things in place.
- Don't ditch all your preppy clothes! You can use long-sleeved shirts, basic tees, and shirt-dresses as layering pieces to complement your scene look.
Warnings
- Be honest about your likes and dislikes. If you’ve never really listened to a certain band (or you don’t like them), don’t pretend you do just because it’s seen as the "scene" thing to do. Nobody appreciates a faker. If you claim a band is your favorite, be ready to name at least three songs by them without thinking twice.
- Get ready for some haters. Some people dislike "scene kids" and will criticize, insult, or even mock you simply because of your appearance. It depends on where you live, but don’t take it personally. It's mostly just dirty looks or snarky comments, and it’s best not to engage—protect yourself if necessary, but don't let it bother you too much.
- Don’t act superior, conceited, or rude. No matter who you're around, whether they’re into the scene or not, always remain humble. Confidence is important, but arrogance isn’t. If you come off as overly cocky, people will just find you obnoxious and won’t see the real you.
- Don’t overdo the hair. Constant dyeing and teasing can wreck your hair. If you’re not careful, it’ll get dry and brittle. Keep your hair healthy with regular deep conditioning, and use heat protection if you’re styling with heat.
- Don’t take the "scene" lifestyle too seriously.
- Always stay true to yourself. Labeling yourself strictly as "scene" can box you in. Embrace your individuality and don’t try to act like someone else. The beauty of being in the scene is celebrating your uniqueness, not following a rigid template.
- Don’t force yourself to fit in. Being "scene" is a vibe, not a costume. If it doesn’t naturally click with you, then don’t fake it. True scene kids don’t try to be scene—they just are. If the fashion or music doesn’t appeal to you, don’t pretend it does. Trying too hard makes you a poser, and no one likes a poser.
- Skip Hot Topic. Their selection leans toward dark, edgy clothes. Scene kids prefer bright, bold colors, mixing influences from preppy, emo, and socialite styles.
- Never call yourself a "scene kid". It's a major mistake that’ll label you a poser forever. If someone calls you that to annoy you, just brush it off. Reacting defensively will only fuel the fire.
- Don’t confuse "scene" with "scenester". A scenester tries too hard to fit the scene mold, often coming off as inauthentic, whereas true scene kids are about creativity and individuality.
- Don’t copy others. Copying others is not only lame, but it’ll get you labeled as a fake. Being scene is all about creativity—if you're not willing to express yourself, then why even bother?
- Understand the difference between emo and scene. Emo comes from hardcore punk and features bands like The Promise Ring, Silverstein, and Sunny Day Real Estate, with a fashion style that includes sweaters and band tees. Scene is brighter, with more colorful hair, neon jeans, and accessories like bows and glasses. Despite similarities, the two cultures have distinct histories and styles.
- Know when to use incorrect spelling. While intentional misspelling can be fun in certain contexts, it’s not appropriate for formal situations like school papers or legal documents.
