Here we are, at the tail end of the year: Harmattan has arrived with its signature dryness, bringing cracked lips and a stubborn refusal to let you glow in peace.&nbsp; Maybe this is the moment to prioritise self-care, not just to improve your wellbeing and looks, but also to help your love life out and get yourself a bae before 2025 ends.

Below are some mundane tips to help you preserve your brilliance all the days of harmattan and also get you ready to hopefully meet “the one”.

They can also potentially protect your heart from the constant ache of not being attractive enough for the right one.

Depending on your skin type—whether combination, dry, or oily—religiously stick to skincare that soothes and deeply moisturises, especially on your face. This is not the season for lightweight moisturisers that’ll disgrace you. Before you’re halfway through the day, they’ve already evaporated and left you looking like a snowman in Nigeria. Best believe your crush isn’t walking up to you when you’re ashy, except maybe to offer you some lotion.

Thick, hydrating creams containing shea butter, hyaluronic acid, or glycerin that lock in moisture are your best bet. Also, you have no business stepping in the sun without liberally applying a sunscreen with an SPF of 60 and above. Sunburnt isn’t cute.&nbsp;

When you're properly hydrated, it shows. And when you're not, your secret admirer can easily tell from your dull-looking skin. Not to mention, you may be experiencing poor gut health, reduced brain activity, and overall lethargy.&nbsp;

Make water your best friend. Carry a bottle of water around every day; not for show, but actually drink as much as possible.&nbsp;

This is the perfect time to put your aesthetically pleasing Stanley cups to good use.&nbsp; Whether or not you like carrying bags, just ensure you have water within your reach throughout the day. Even when you're out.

&nbsp;Adequate water intake will prevent the stale odour when you finally summon the courage and open your mouth to say hello to that hottie you have been eyeing. Apart from drinking enough water, you can also chew gum or use a mouthwash to freshen your breath…just in case the pleasantries segue into a steamy kiss.

Keep lip balm in your pocket, bag, car, and on your office desk. Choose balms with beeswax or petroleum jelly. If you can go the extra mile and use sugar scrubs on those same lips, it won’t be too much.&nbsp;

You can also apply lip oils, but never substitute balm with gloss. Balm makes your lips soft and succulent; gloss only makes them—chapped as they may be—shine. Rest assured that healthy lips boost self-confidence and, even more than the perfect lip combo, scream, “Ready for a kiss when you are.”

The harmattan wind usually comes with all the dust and dryness from the Sahara Desert. So, you definitely want to wear styles that you can frequently wash and oil to encourage healthy hair growth. But at the same time, you don’t want to look unattractive. So, instead of going for regular cornrows that only turn heads when there’s a bone-straight wig on top, go for bouncy microtwists with your natural hair.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Use aesthetic accessories like durags, satin bonnets, scrunchies, and vintage silk scarves that add colour and swag to your regular style. Also, if you’re on a low cut, you could always add some tint to look distinct.&nbsp;

You’re really not depressed; you just need to get your hair in order, and everything else, including your stubborn love life, will start to align.&nbsp;

Harmattan mornings and evenings can be cold, but the afternoons remain hot as ever. Thus, you must master the art of light layering.

&nbsp;A hoodie, cardigan, or denim jacket over whatever little tee you’re wearing underneath keeps you warm without making you look bulky or scruffy. Highly recommended because you can easily slip off the outer layer at noon when the sun gets aggressive without having to undress.

These pieces also blend into any environment, whether you're headed to work, school, or a casual hangout. With just these wardrobe essentials, you can dress up or down and still serve a sexy and attractive look.

“Involve me,” but you’re eating all the wrong things, lying in bed with the flu when you should be out and about mingling this season.&nbsp;

Just like hydration, your skin and overall performance will always reveal whether you’re eating right or not. Even with the festivities around the corner, this is not the season to rely on junk food. Keep your meals balanced and counter any indulgences with plenty of fruits and green vegetables. It's very important you eat enough protein as well as dairy products to keep your body strong and energised.

Unless you want to miss all the owambes this December, start paying more attention to what you eat, and your entire body will thank you!

Lastly, even if it’s just a daily walk, make sure you’re moving. Get up from that couch and step outside. Put yourself in spaces where you can be seen. Especially if you’ve been committed to the other six tips, you deserve to be noticed and approached.

You don’t need a gym membership to begin your fitness journey. Even a 20-minute brisk walk can significantly improve your fitness and agility. Or if you like, enrol in a dance school and perfect all the Afrobeat moves of the year before the biggest end-of-year parties in your city.

That said, if you’re already a gym buddy or can afford to hit the gym, it’s absolutely recommended.&nbsp;

Moreover, a little bird says the hottest bodies are in the gym.

You’ve probably tried most of these tips at some point, only to get discouraged when your spec kept looking everywhere but in your direction. But this time? No cherry-picking. No half-effort. Commit fully. Do all of them at once and watch these last few weeks of the year unfold into your finest season yet.

And when your glow finally becomes undeniable, when you’ve effortlessly become your spec’s spec, don’t hit pause. Keep going. Make sure to sustain the glow!

Missed out on love this year? Before 2025 wraps up, use this guide to get a glow-up that can go against the harsh harmattan and possibly spark a steamy December romance 👀.

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