How many times have you wished your Pinterest boards were accurate reflections of your life? If only that drool-worthy closet, island vacation, and man candy were yours. We covet the fab hairspiration on Pinterest, but even some of the simpler tutorials can be intimidating. We tested out five styles found on Pinterest to see how doable they actually are IRL. Long hair in the summer heat can be miserable, so each of these looks involves putting your hair up so you can keep cool. Check out our series of five-minute tutorials below.

1. Gatsby Bob

A short haircut can be liberating, but it's a big commitment. Test the waters with a faux bob before you make the chop for real.

For this look, you'll need a headband with an elastic, like this jeweled version from Anthropologie ($32). Bobby pins are optional.

Tuck your hair behind your ears and put on the headband. It should sit at your hairline and the elastic should cover your hair.

Hold your hair in a low, loose ponytail and tuck the ends up and over the elastic. If your hair is very long, you may want to twist your pony a few times before tucking it in to keep it from falling apart.

Spread out your hair from ear to ear. Continue rolling your hair up and over the elastic until it forms a neat roll along the nape of your neck. If your hair is particularly thick or long, pin the roll to your scalp with a few bobby pins.

This style doesn't require much more skill than a simple bun, but it looks twice as glam. We love this updo because it looks complicated, but it isn't at all! It should stay in all day, but if your hair is thick or long, you might need to freshen it up with bobby pins (especially if you're running around all day). Our hair model, Gabby, has shoulder-length hair with medium thickness, and her style felt secure.

The faux bob works on any hair texture, but we especially love the subtle waves in the original Pinterest model's photo. Recreate her texture with a one-inch curling iron, or opt for beach waves for a summery look.

2. Sock Bun

Ever wonder how celebrities get those voluminous, perfectly smooth buns you've seen on the red carpet? No, they aren't just born with superior DNA (um, we think); they use hair doughnuts (mesh, doughnut-shaped tools designed to fake the appearance of volume) to create sock buns.

You can purchase a hair doughnut at beauty supply stores or for $4.99 at Ulta. If you're feeling creative, you can also make your own! This look also requires an elastic. Bobby pins are optional.

Make a high ponytail at the crown of your head.

Pull your ponytail through a hair doughnut; about an inch of hair should poke through the top of the doughnut. Your ponytail should be pulled straight up above your head. Fan the ends of your hair out around the doughnut, and begin rolling the doughnut down your ponytail. It's okay if the first few rolls aren't perfectly neat.

As you make the last few rolls towards your scalp, tuck in any loose hairs.

You might need a few tries to get the hang of using the hair doughnut. It won't be easy the first time you do it by yourself, but after a few attempts in front of the mirror, this style becomes simple. Think of it as your ballerina-meets-J-Lo solution to every bad hair day; when your hair isn't cooperating, just put it up and out of your face. Gabby liked that the hair doughnut made her bun thicker, rounder, and more even than it usually is.

Sock buns are fantastic because they're so secure. Unlike a regular bun, which can lose its shape or droop, your hair will stay firmly in place all day. The one caveat? Wind and heavy rain can turn this style into a mess.

3. Bow Bun

If you love all things girly, pink, and sweet, this style is practically made for you. This look requires an elastic, one or two bobby pins, and hairspray.

Make a high ponytail at the crown of your head.

Twist an elastic around your ponytail two or three times, depending on how thick your hair is. On your final twist, pull the ends of your pony forward through the elastic so that three inches of hair sit facing your forehead. The majority of your hair should form a perky bun.

Split your bun vertically in half to form the two sides of the bow. Pull the ends of your ponytail over the center of the bow and pin just behind the bun. Spray your bun with hairspray to keep its shape firm.

Although this style may look like it requires some pretty advanced origami skills, it's fairly simple to create. But watch out – even though it's easy to do, it's not necessarily easy to do well. The first time you try this look, focus on sculpting each individual loop of the bow evenly and keep them in place with hairspray. This keeps the bun chic, not silly. If your hair is particularly thin, however, your bow might start to droop.

Gabby's ‘do is pretty, but it’s not 100 percent even; one loop of the bow is slightly bigger than the other. This look is a bit fragile, so it might require touch-ups if you're planning on rocking it on the dance floor.

4. Side-Braided Bun

Once you've mastered the sock bun, try this pretty, laidback twist! This look requires an elastic, a hair doughnut, and a few bobby pins.

Separate the front two inches of your hair on each side and hang them over your shoulders. Pull the rest of your hair into a ponytail an inch or two above the nape of your neck, or wherever you want your bun to rest.

Pull your ponytail through a hair doughnut. About an inch of hair should poke through the top of the doughnut. Your ponytail should be pulled back behind your head. Fan the ends of your hair out around the doughnut, and begin rolling the doughnut down your ponytail. It's okay if the edges of the bun aren't perfectly neat, because they'll be covered with braids for the final look.

French braid the left front section of your hair until you run out of strands to incorporate, then wrap the braid around your bun. Pin the end of the braid into place, then repeat on the right side.

This style is a bit more complicated than some of the others, but if you can successfully French braid your hair and use a hair doughnut, you should be able to pull it off without much of a problem. This took just under five minutes to complete and felt secure; Gabby didn't need hairspray, and it wasn't likely that the look would come undone or require touch-ups.

We love this style because it's so casually gorgeous. It doesn't look like you're trying too hard, which can be an issue for some of the other hair DIYs we found on Pinterest.

5. Hot Cross Bun

Not into perfectly done ‘dos? This bun is just messy enough to give you a laidback vibe.

This look requires two elastics and a few bobby pins. Hairspray is optional.

Make two ponytails about an inch apart on the back of your head. It's up to you how high you want to go; we think this style looks best with low or medium ponies. Separate each ponytail into two sections and twist them around each other.

Wrap the left twisted ponytail around the base of the other and secure the ends with bobby pins. Repeat on the right side.

The hardest part of this look is keeping each ponytail twisted while you wrap it into the bun, especially if your hair is thin. If you're struggling, spray each twist with hairspray before you pin it up.

This style is great because it doesn't need to be perfect. The original model on Pinterest has a very neat, precise version, but we liked it a little undone! If you don't have the most agile fingers, this is an easy style to add to your arsenal.

Need more hair inspiration? Try these five styles made for the beach.

Model: Gabby Massimino

Whether it's a pair of sky-high stilettos or a badass leather jacket, we all have those staple pieces in our wardrobe that define our personal style and pull an outfit together flawlessly. A collegiette's closet is a sacred place, and the Catwalk to Campus writers at Her Campus have gone through ours to find some of our all-time favorite pieces that we just couldn't live without. 

1. Dark Wash Skinny Jeans

Jeans are the centerpiece of most of my outfits and the go-to for collegiettes everywhere, so it's a good idea to invest in a few good pairs. I love brands like Paige Denim (great colored denim), Joe's Jeans, J Brand and Citizens of Humanity, and though they're pricier, they fit much better, keep their shape and color and last years and years. I usually go for a skinny cut (easier to tuck into boots), a dark wash (more flattering) and a mid or high rise to work with my body shape. These J Brand 811 Mid-Rise Skinny Leg Jeans in Ink ($158 at J Brand) fit the bill and would be a great addition to any collegiette's wardrobe. 

2. A Neutral Leather Bag

When I decided to treat myself to a statement bag I realized I wanted something that would be big enough to carry everything I need but not so big that I couldn't wear it at night. I also knew I wanted a bag that I could use in both Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter and that would go with most outfits. When I found this Rebecca Minkoff 'Amorous' Satchel in Rose Gold ($345 at Nordstrom) at the Rebecca Minkoff online sample sale for a fraction of the retail price, I had to have it. I love the rose gold cross-hatched leather and the zipper detailing on the sides makes it a great metallic accessory to any outfit. 

3. Basic Pocket Tee

Every collegiette knows the critical importance of an expansive tee shirt collection, especially when you wake up late for class but still want to look pulled together. I stock up on comfortable and flattering tee shirts in a variety of shapes and colors to go with everything from sweats to a pencil skirt. I've been wearing this Cynthia Rowley Linen Pocket Tee (no longer available) to death and I've recently started coveting Splendid tops, which are another great option for a timeless tee. 

4. Maxi Skirt 

I love that maxi skirts are so popular right now; they're so chic and comfortable, and can be worn all year long. I love wearing this patterned maxi skirt with a black crop top (shown above) in the summer and throwing on a cropped knit sweater and boots in the cooler months. This Lyke Mynded Pleat Maxi Skirt (no longer available) is a perfect color and pattern to pair with neutrals and the cut is flowy and flattering without being too much fabric.

5. Statement Necklace

I'm not a huge jewelry person; all I wear on a daily basis is a ring and earrings I never take off, but I like jazz it up with statement necklaces every now and then. Adding a necklace with a bold color, pattern or texture is a fun way to add instant glamour to any outfit without needing to pile on rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces. I picked this particular necklace up at Island Outfitters in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard and I've worn it with everything from fancy dresses to a tee and jeans. I love that it's a "statement" more because of the textures and edgy gems than a bright color, and it's neutral enough to go with most outfits.

What are your style must-haves, collegiettes? Let us know in the comments!

Photo Credit: Abigail Dodd

Are there any shows more entertaining and addictive than The Bachelor and its offshoot, The Bachelorette? Season after season, we curl up with our significant others (read: Ben and Jerry) to watch gorgeous 20- and 30-somethings hunt for theirs.

While the entertainment game is consistently strong, the style game is not. We’ve now had more than 250 episodes, and between all those hot tub scenes and helicopter dates, there have been some outfit disasters. For your viewing pleasure, here are the worst Bachelor and Bachelorette ensembles of all time!

1. Season 1, Episode 3 of The Bachelorette

This top, seen on Season 1’s Trista Rehn, is having an identity crisis. Does it want to be tight? Does it want to be billowing? We just want it to disappear.

2. Season 15, Episode 1 of The Bachelor

On the very first night, Michelle Money introduced herself to Brad Womack and America in what was essentially a quilt of animal prints. Maybe she was trying to broadcast the fact that she was the predator and Brad was the prey. Maybe she just really, really adores animal prints. The world will never know...

3. Season 8, Episode 4 of The Bachelorette

Emily Maynard wore this sequin-encrusted, butterfly dress to Bermuda. We like that she went with a tropical theme, but it’s as if some creepy insect collector took one of his winged specimens and pinned it to her torso.

4. Season 17, Episode 2 of The Bachelor

Pick an outfit, any outfit --and burn it promptly. From the leather chaps to the spiky, garbage bag cape, our retinas will never be the same.

5. Season 18, Episode 1 of The Bachelor

Amy Jokinen’s dress was millimeters away from becoming inappropriate for national television. We think someone needs to tell her Victoria’s secret.

6. Season 10, Episode 3 of The Bachelorette

We understand that Andi Dorfman was trying to see if she could spend “forever” with contestant JJ, but wasn’t there any easier way of doing? Did they have to dress up as an eighty-year-olds? Only real grandmas deserve the privilege of orthopedic shoes.

7. Season 18, Episode 4 of The Bachelor

Athletic clothes can be fashionable, but these looks zoomed way, way past sporty-chic and ended up in aggressively ugly. The profusion of patterns, the totally mismatched colors and the random accessories all add up to outfits we're pretty sure we wore in pre-school when we first got to dress ourselves.

8. Season 8, Episode 1 of The Bachelorette

It’s unclear whether Desiree Hartsock is wearing a dress or a shattered piece of glass. Mirror, mirror, on the wall, we think we’re going to need a hot glue gun for this one…

9. Season 16, Episode 6 of The Bachelor

Going on a three-person date is awkward enough, but Rachel Truehart and Blakeley Shea amped up the weirdness by choosing outfits reminiscent of our eighth-grade formal. If we listen closely, we can hear the faint notes of Rihanna's SOS blaring in our middle-school multi-purpose room...

#Sorrynotsorry we’re so judge-y. What can we say, our prime spot on the couch, pint of Phish Food and required outfit of sweats and a hoodie clearly gives us fashion superiority.

After a long night out with friends or during a mid-afternoon study break, there’s no better feeling than indulging in greasy, delicious food at your favorite campus eatery. We had college students across the country weigh in on the best spots to chow down on campuses all the way from Los Angeles to Boston. Just a warning; these drool-worthy eats might make you consider transferring schools. Bon appétit!

1. Eggs Francisco from Kerbey Lane Café (Austin, Texas)

College and late-night food are practically synonymous, which explains the appeal of a 24/7 restaurant. Kerbey Lane Café is just that, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner all day and all night at their location at UT Austin.

UT Austin students flock to Kerbey for its famous queso, gingerbread pancakes and $2 mimosas. One of the most popular dishes is the Eggs Francisco, which includes an English muffin layered with scrambled eggs, bacon, tomato, avocado and queso.

One Yelp reviewer says, “If I were on death row (especially if it were in Texas) and had my choice of a final breakfast, my last breakfast on this green Earth would be served by one of the tattooed and generously pierced servers and chefs at Kerbey Lane Café.” That’s some dedication.

2. South of the Border Fiesta Nachos from Sunset Cantina (Boston, Mass.)

There are nachos, and then there are no-holds-barred loaded nachos, like those from Sunset Cantina in Boston. “Everyone's obsessed with nachos from Sunset Cantina, and rightly so,” says recent BU grad Irene Berman-Vaporis. “These are, without a doubt, the largest portions of nachos I've ever seen, and they are loaded with toppings.”

Piled high with chili, jalapenos, scallions, tomatoes, black olives, cheese, lettuce, guacamole and sour cream, it’s easy to see why this cheesy pile of goodness is so popular.

“It's pretty much a campus staple to come here with a large group and dive into an order of XXL South of the Border Fiesta Nachos,” Irene says. “I swear, you haven't had amazing nachos until you've been here.”

Anyone else contemplating a road trip to Beantown?

3. Matcha Tiramisu from Urth Caffé (Los Angeles, Calif.)

California is known for its variety of fresh, healthy eats, so it makes sense that students like Iris Goldsztajn, a junior at UCLA, love anything organic! One restaurant that stands out from the crowd is Urth Caffé, which Iris describes as an “organic/vegan/health-conscious/environment-friendly eatery” perfect for going to for lunch or brunch with friends. This famous café is also a favorite spot for health-conscious celebrities like Jessica Alba and Ashley Benson.

“It's the type of place that has all-natural ingredients, usually a bit of fusion-style snack food, beautiful salads, green juice and smoothies, organic coffee, etc.” Iris says.

Be sure to try the organic Moroccan mint tea latte, the grilled chicken salad with pesto or the matcha tiramisu. All we can say is, “Yum!”

4. Binny’s Brooklyn Reuben from Zingerman’s Delicatessen (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

If there’s one thing that Zingerman’s Deli knows, other than how to make an amazing sandwich, it’s that comfort food sells.

The Ann Arbor staple serves delicious made-to-order sandwiches, soups and more to everyone from hungry college students to President Obama.

Their most popular sandwich (and President Obama’s pick), the Reuben, features pastrami, real Switzerland Swiss cheese, Brinery sauerkraut and Russian dressing on grilled pumpernickel bread.

5. Chicken & Pesto Calzone from The Dough Co. (Eugene, Ore.)

Whether your dough craving is of the pizza or cookie variety, The Dough Co. has you covered. This local establishment boasts 31 different kinds of calzones, from cheeseburger to breakfast and everything in between.

If you’re not sufficiently stuffed, you can also order a batch of warm, oven-baked cookies and a cold pint of milk. Plus, Dough Co. delivers until 3 a.m. every night. If that’s not beautiful, we don’t know what is.

6. The Fat Bitch Sandwich from PJ’s (Columbus, Ohio)

If you’re an Ohio State student and you haven’t been to PJ’s, you may need to reevaluate your life decisions.

“Imagine all the greasy, fried foods you crave at 2 a.m. after a long night out, and then put them all on one sandwich. That’s PJ’s,” says OSU junior Brenna Welzbacher.

PJ’s offers 49 specialty sandwiches with ridiculous names like the “Skinny Hippie” and “Fat Barnyard.” One of the most popular sandwiches, the Fat Bitch, includes buffalo chicken fingers, beer fries, mac and cheese wedges, a mozzarella stick and ranch dressing. It’s totally disgusting, and yet totally genius. How have we not thought of this before?!

7. The Orchard Grilled Cheese from American Meltdown (Durham, N.C.)

Two words: food truck. If you’re dying for a perfectly cheesy grilled cheese, look no further than American Meltdown, a Duke University student favorite. This famous food truck serves up every kind of grilled cheese sandwich imaginable, from The Orchard, which has cheddar, sliced apples, rosemary and ham, to French Monster, which is essentially French onion soup on a sandwich. Is your mouth watering yet? Because ours are!

Check out the online calendar to find out where and when the food truck will be setting up shop each week.

8. Unicorns & Rainbows Cakecup from Baked & Wired (Washington, D.C.)

What better way to satisfy your sweet tooth than with a cupcake (or two, or three)? Eliza Lavine, a sophomore at George Washington University, says that GWU students are obsessed with Baked & Wired, a coffee shop and bakery in Washington, D.C.

She recommends the Unicorns & Rainbows cakecup (vanilla cake with heart confetti mixed into the batter topped with cream cheese icing), the Smurfette (a lemon cupcake with fresh blueberries topped with lemon buttercream frosting) and the Chocolate Cupcake of Doom, which is exactly what it sounds like.

9. Death by Chocolate Ice Cream from Berkey Creamery (State College, Pa.)

Berkey Creamery, a famous ice cream shop on the Pennsylvania State University campus, is known for having the “most delicious, decadent ice cream ever,” according to Penn State senior Sarah Desiderio.

“The ice cream is made from cream from local cows,” Sarah says. “Seriously bomb ice cream. I used to stock up with my extra meal points at the end of the semester and bring it home.”

However, Sarah says that “they have two rules, though, that have always been in place out of school pride and respect for how good the ice cream is: The only topping you can get is blue and white sprinkles, and you can't mix flavors. President Clinton was the only person to ever get away with it, and no one has since.”

Rules aside, this Penn State staple (which is the largest university creamery in the nation!) is definitely worth a visit. Not in the area? No worries! Berkey Creamery ships half-gallon or quart-size portions of their creamy treats all over the country.

From the West Coast to the East Coast, no college campus would be complete without a go-to spot for late-night munchies. What’s the best food in your college town? Let us know in the comments below! 

Name: Lily Brynes
Age: 23
Job Title and Description: Founder & CEO of SPOTS
College/Major: The George Washington University School of Business/Sport, Event and Hospitality Management
Website: www.spotsnyc.com 
Twitter Handle: @spotsnyc 

What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?

Lily Brynes: There is definitely no such thing as a typical day! My current job entails a little bit everything: client relations, sales, business development, marketing and managing. There are constant obstacles that arise when starting a new business, and a large portion of my job is trying to eliminate those obstacles or planning for them in advance. There is definitely never a dull moment!

What is the best part of your job?

LB: The best part of my job is being able to deliver people a memorable experience through food. When people order SPOTS, they are expecting a certain product (how it should look, how it should taste, the works); if we can deliver SPOTS that surpass their expectations, that's when we are the most satisfied.
 
What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?

LB: My first entry-level job was for Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group as an assistant venue operations manager. I had interned for USHG for three summers and following my last summer as an intern, they offered me a full-time job upon graduating. Getting the job, however, was not easy. I did whatever it took to return back to the company (I even sat on the floor for an entire summer because they didn't have desk space).

What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now?

LB: What is one thing I knew about my industry when I first started out that I wish I [had known then]? That is a nearly impossible question! I learn new things every day that I wish I knew when I first started. I must say, however, that making mistakes is the best learning tool for me!

Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?

LB: The person who changed my professional life for the better is my older sister, Elana. Elana graduated from Boston University in 2009 and shortly after started her own company, Kings of Cole. I watched Elana take the plunge into the entrepreneurial world and immediately wanted to follow in her footsteps. Elana's ambition and bravery inspired me to start SPOTS. I wouldn't have been able to do it without having her as a constant source of support and advice.

What words of wisdom (well-known quotes, an anecdote from your boss) do you find most valuable?

LB: "People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou

What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?

LB: Like most startup food companies, I started SPOTS out of my Manhattan apartment's kitchen. However, we were growing every day, and I quickly learned that that business model would not suffice. I spoke with and interviewed many bakers but finally fell in love with the group I work with now.

However, like any new recipe, there was definitely a learning curve...I received my first batch from the kitchen and sent them out for deliveries. Once they were out the door I decided to sit down at my desk in my office and indulge in one for myself. As soon as I tasted it, I knew something was wrong. By accident, my bakers had mixed up salt and sugar! It was terrible.

Nonetheless, it was a great lesson learned for two major reasons: first, I learned that nothing goes out the door without me tasting it first  (tough job, right?), and second, I learned how to turn a mistake into an opportunity with a few unhappy customers!

What has been the most surreal moment of your career thus far?

LB: The most surreal moment of my career, thus far, was when I turned on FOX 5 News one evening and coincidentally saw Dari Alexander speaking about and holding up SPOTS (she was gifted an order from a PR company). She loved her custom batch of SPOTS so much that she wanted to share them with her viewers. It was amazing exposure and made me so proud.
 
What do you look for when considering hiring someone?

LB: When I am looking to hire someone I'm looking for someone who isn't afraid to hustle. I am the type of person who is willing to get my hands dirty in every situation and I expect that from anyone who comes to work for me. I don't believe in not being able to do something; where there is a will, there is a way.
 
What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?

LB: The advice I would give to someone with similar aspirations is don't be afraid to take the plunge. If you believe in yourself and your idea then you should go for it. Also, talk to anyone who is willing to listen - you never know what can come out of a conversation.

Newsflash, ladies: Everything you think you know about losing your virginity is wrong.

Or maybe nothing so dramatic, but real talk: for all it’s discussed, gossiped about, and portrayed in the media, there are a lot of misconceptions floating around about virginity. How often have you heard books, movies, TV shows, or even your own friends tell you when you should lose it, how you should lose it, who you should lose it to, and what it should feel like?

The real answers to these questions? Losing your virginity is different for everyone, and we’re here to debunk all of those pesky myths.

Myth #1: It will hurt, it will bleed, and there’s no way it will feel good.

Busted: One of the most commonly accepted “facts” about losing your virginity is that it will hurt—and that it’s supposed to. But, good news: while there’s definitely no guarantee that there won’t be some discomfort, losing your virginity shouldn’t be synonymous with crippling pain.

Pain during a girl’s first time having penetrative sex can usually be boiled down to two culprits: nerves and inadequate preparation. According to Amber Madison, sexpert and author of Hooking Up: A Girl’s All-Out Guide to Sex and Sexuality, when girls are nervous, their vaginas tense and tighten, making penetration more difficult and painful, and it can sometimes cause bleeding. Therefore, a girl can minimize the chance of pain and bleeding the first time and prepare her body for penetration by making sure she is comfortable and relaxed.

Being aroused is also very important, says Rachel Maulding, former Director of Education for romance company Cloud 9 Parties who has a master’s in human sexuality. “Men are taught that as soon as they’re hard, it’s time for penetration,” Maulding says. “Women don’t work that way, but because we’re so new to it when losing our virginities, we don’t know what our bodies should feel like and how to make it feel good.”

Inexperienced girls shouldn’t be shy about extending foreplay until they feel totally ready, both mentally and physically. Make sure you’re properly lubricated (being naturally lubricated is a good sign of arousal, but don’t be afraid to whip out some lube, either) and don’t move forward until you’re dying to feel what comes next.

Maulding’s other advice for maximizing pleasure your first time? “Masturbate. Learn how to orgasm by yourself first and don’t expect it to always be present during sex,” she says.

Myth #2: It will be a monumental event that changes everything.

Busted: What do movies like American Pie, The 40 Year-Old Virgin, and The First Time have in common? They’re all one of many films about the quest to lose your virginity. And why is swiping your V-card such popular story fodder? Because we’re constantly made to believe that losing our virginities is a rite of passage, after which we will be changed women or suddenly feel all grown up.

But guess what? You might wake up the morning after doing the deed and feel a big, whopping… nothing at all. And that’s okay.

That’s not to say that losing your virginity won’t be a big event in your life. If your definition of special involves candlelight and romantic music, by all means whip out the candles and the Marvin Gaye. What’s important is to be aware of your expectations and evaluate why you have them. Building up your loss of virginity as a BFD (no pun intended) can only lead to getting let down.

“If you’re looking for losing your virginity to change you or your life in a big way, you should go back to the drawing board,” says Maulding. “That’s not what sex is about.”

Myth #3: It has to be with someone you love.

Busted: Debunking this myth is easy. Any sentence that starts with, “Your first time should be with someone that…” is likely an instruction you don’t need to listen to.

Sure, there are tons of ways to end that sentence that could be correct, but only you can fill in the blank. Many people desire to be in love with the person they lose their virginity to—and many people don’t. Spoiler alert: it’s okay both ways, as long as you’re comfortable. According to Madison, love shouldn’t necessarily be what’s important when choosing to have sex for the first time.

“Maybe it will be with someone you love, or maybe it will be with a guy [you don’t love who] you’ve been hooking up with for awhile and you decide you’re comfortable enough to lose your virginity to,” she says. “What matters is that you’re comfortable.”

Myth #4: There is a set definition of virginity, and you can only “lose it” once.

Busted: The phrase “losing your virginity” is often tossed around without much thought. When a girl loses her virginity, that means she has penetrative sex for the first time and she breaks her hymen, right?

Not necessarily. Allow us to do some rapid-fire myth-busting: defining virginity as having an intact hymen is limiting, excluding those who were born without a hymen or who tore it before ever having sex, whether by falling off a bike, masturbating, or inserting a tampon.

Taking the hymen out of the equation, the next definition might be to say a virgin is someone who has never had sex with another person. But that might not be so clean-cut, either. Miri, a Freethought blogger and sexual health and assault peer educator, challenges us to question our definitions of sex. We may consider being penetrated with a penis the only qualification, but what about hands and dildos? What about lesbians? What about someone who feels oral sex is more meaningful and intimate than penetrative sex?

That’s the cool thing: it’s possible to think about having a variety of virginities that you can lose. Yes, for heterosexual females, there will be only one “first time” of dictionary-defined penetrative sex that we typically think of when we talk about losing virginities, what fun is it to think like that?

“Personally, I lost my ‘virginity’ as we commonly define it when I was 18, with my best friend who I'd been hooking up with,” says Miri. “It definitely felt like a big step, but I've had many as-big or bigger steps since then: the first time I went down on someone, the first time I hooked up with someone ‘casually,’ the first time I hooked up with a woman… and so on. Why is it that only one of these ‘steps’ qualified as ‘losing my virginity’? Rather, I sort of lost many different virginities, and I have many yet to lose.”

Disregarding the myth that you only have one V-card to lose is positive on multiple levels. First, it allows us to appreciate and decide the significance of various sexual activities for ourselves—and, like Miri describes, it makes virginity feel far less finite, because there are always new things to look forward to.

More than that, though, it can help girls experience their emotions as valid, no matter what the sexual activity.

“We place too much emphasis on virginity,” says Madison. “What girls feel emotionally after having sex can be very intense, but the way they feel after just hooking up is supposed to feel less intense. So if she’s hurt if a guy doesn’t call after sex, it’s okay, but if she tells her friends she’s hurt after he doesn’t call after a hook-up, they brush it off.”

You might brush it off as semantics, but Miri says that changing the way we think about virginity, hooking up, and sex in general can also allow you to reframe your sexual experiences (or lack thereof) in healthier ways.

She says: “Your sex life stops being about whether you have or have not lost your virginity, and more about what different types of stuff you've tried, still want to try, [or] would rather save for someone special.”

Myth #5: You have to lose your virginity before you start college.

Busted: Whether you’ve been on the receiving end of disbelieving looks and questions when admitting you’re a college virgin or knew girls who were racing to the finish line before freshman orientation, you’re likely familiar with the attitude that virginity is something you’re supposed to shed before freshman year. This probably comes from the other popular notion that college is the epicenter for rampant sexual activity, hook-ups, and sexual discovery. And while this might be true for some people, it isn’t for all—but that certainly doesn’t put an end to the pressure. Bridgette, a collegiette at the University of Mary Washington, received plenty of it before she lost her virginity to her boyfriend at the end of freshman year.

“They made it sound like one of those emails [like], ‘If you don't pass this on to 12 of your friends then you will die,’ except it was, ‘If you don't lose your virginity before college then you're going to be alone forever,’” she says.

While the pressure might not be so intense everywhere, there’s no denying that at some point or another, young women will come across messages trying to tell her when it’s appropriate to lose her virginity. And just with the other myths, no one can tell you when is right except for you. So long as you make the decision yourself, losing your virginity before, during, or after college can all be the right answer.

Still worried about being a virgin in college? Most likely, the pressure is much ado about nothing.

“No one cares,” Bridgette says. “Seriously, no one cares if you have lost your virginity or not. No guy cares. No girl cares. Your roommates won't care. Your teachers won't care… I didn't lose my virginity before college and I wasn't alone. I'm happy I saved my virginity to the right time, and I know I won't regret it.”

Myth #6: You will fall head-over-heels in love with the person who you have sex with for the first time.

Busted: Anyone remember that episode of Girls when Shoshanna tried to lose her virginity to her old camp beau, only to be stopped short when he found out she hadn’t done the deed before?

“No offense, okay?” he says after explaining that virgins aren’t his thing. “I’ll totally have sex with you once you’ve already had sex. I just, you know, it’s like, virgins get attached. Or they bleed. You get attached when you bleed.”

Once you stop laughing, though, you have to remember that this attitude is common—the belief that all girls are hardwired to fall madly in love with the person they sleep with the first time. They’ll demand a relationship, call endlessly, become attached, clingy, desperate… yikes.

Good thing that’s not always true.

“Sex can bring people together, but it also can drive them apart,” says Miri. “Or it can—yes, it really can—change absolutely nothing.”

However, it is important to remember that despite the ridiculousness of the notion that losing your virginity will turn you into a clingy, obsessed mess, there is some scientific backing to the idea thanks to oxytocin, a hormone released by men and women during orgasm.

“Clingy is psychological,” says Maulding. “But it’s not just girls; it’s guys, too.”

Supposedly, this hormone deepens the feelings of attachment and makes couples feel close, so make sure to think critically about the feelings you experience after sex. There’s a chance that any closeness that you may feel might just be great sex, not love.

Myth #7: These are hard and fast rules.

Busted: Last but not least, despite all myth-busting and debunking, it’s important to know that people have varied experiences and that any of the above myths can still be truths for you personally. You can decide that it has to be with someone you love, that it’s going to be a monumental event, and that you only have one virginity to lose. You can even decide that it’s not going to feel good, though we don’t advise it. The important thing is—cheesy as it may sound—that it’s up to you. Why wouldn’t it be? It’s your virginity.

Long before #flawless started trending on Twitter and Yoncé became a household name, there was a fabulous trio of girls who taught us how to color-coordinate and embrace our curves while showing us the importance of girlfriends and being independent. In honor of Queen Bey's ongoing On the Run Tour with hubby Jay Z, we were inspired to take a walk down memory lane and remember the fabulous girl group in which Beyoncé got her start. For many collegiettes, the very first album we bought was by Destiny's Child, and we ate our Fruit Loops to the sounds of Beyoncé, Michelle and Kelly belting out the The Proud Family theme song before school.

We've rounded up 11 times that Destiny's Child was #flawless for your viewing pleasure.

1. When they rocked these coordinating yellow outfits and Beyoncé wore a fedora with a giant feather.

2. When the girls executed a perfectly synchronized hair flip in the middle of the desert.

3. When they acted just like every other group of girlfriends.

4. When they collaborated with Charlie's Angels and made us want to be self-sufficient, independent women.

5. When they strutted their stuff like the straight-up divas that they are.

6. When "Bootylicious" came out and all of a sudden having curves was cool (thank you, ladies).

7. When the girls had an impromptu jam session backstage (and looked fabulous while doing so).

8. When the trio struck this sassy pose with enormous dogs.

9. When "Survivor" came out and provided the soundtrack to all of life's struggles.

10. When they made the holidays even better.

11. And finally, when Destiny's Child reunited at the 2013 Super Bowl halftime show looking as #flawless as ever and fulfilling the dreams of collegiettes everywhere.

As much as we love Beyonce's new album and fawning over Blue Ivy, old-school jams like "Survivor,""Say My Name" and "Lose My Breath" will always hold a certain nostalgic appeal for us and transport us back to a simpler time. While Bey may be a solo queen these days, we'll never forget where she, Michelle and Kelly got their start!

We get it, your dorm room is small--but what if your entire post-graduation apartment was about the size of a parking spot? As a response to the growing challenge of fitting an increasing amount of people into urban spaces, design students at the Savannah College of Art and Design released a design for a house that could fit inside a parking space. Seriously.

But just because these apartments are small doesn't mean they're ugly--take a tour of the North America-inspired SCADpad here. According to the SCADpad website, the project arose from one question: How can design change the world? The creators of the SCADpad see their creation as an example of a way to live more sustainably--each SCADpad, according to the website, "has a unique theme and visual identity, reflecting SCAD’s global footprint."

According to CNN, South Africa and England have already begun to build small houses with a different design, and New York City is working on changing some of its municipal laws and building codes to accommodate the small houses city officials feel it needs. 

"[Millenials] don't mind living in smaller spaces because they really see their home as just a part of their lifestyle," Christian Sottile, dean of SCAD's School of Building Arts, said to CNN. "The city is where they live."

Collegiettes, could you see yourself living in one of these compartmentalized spaces? Would all of your shoes even fit? Next time you find yourself complaining about the closet space or the size of your dorm room, imagine living in one of these bite-sized apartments!

What do you think, collegiettes? Are parking space-sized apartments the wave of the future for apartment-savvy millenials? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Whether you're busy being a superstar intern, cranking out essays for your summer classes or putting in a hard day's work at your mimimum-wage summer job, you definitely deserve a break. Those long hours of work can take a major toll on your mental health, so invest some time in some R&R for your own happiness's sake!

We at Her Campus know what hard work is like--we've just put on a super successful National Intercollegiette Conference (thanks to a lot of help from collegiettes like you!), and we're all about treating ourselves for a job well done. Check out how Her Campus treated their employees to the best relaxation time ever, and how you can treat yourself the same after all your hard work!

1. Say yes to some sweets

Okay, so cupcakes aren't exactly one of the foods that will keep you super healthy all summer long (but we dare to dream). Still, a cupcake a day keeps the stress at bay--or at least, a cupcake every now and then does! Indulging in something sweet as a reward for hard work is a great way to provide yourself with positive reinforcement. Plus, satisfying your sweet tooth cravings can help you unwind. We were so excited to choose from all the pretty cupcakes from Treat Cupcake Bar in Chestnut Hill; it may not have had quite the same thrill of, say, shoe-shopping, but it came close. We can't think of any better way to treat yourself than with, well, a treat!

2. Pamper yourself

When you're stressed and struggling to stay on top of your work during a hectic time, the last thing on your mind is primping and pampering yourself. All the more reason to give yourself that gift once you have a second to step back and relax! Our lovely Her Campus founders decided that it was time for all of us to give ourselves some TLC, so they called in Manicube, which offers quick (15 minutes!), high-quality manicures to busy women at their places of work. In addition to your typical brands like Essie and OPI, Manicube also offers polish from the Deborah Lippmann and CND Vinylux brands. Nothing beats taking a break from crafting emails to score a cute new nail color and a much-needed hand massage!

Even if you aren't able to get free manicures at the office (understandably), you should still take time to pamper yourself. Set aside a night this week to give yourself the spa treatment; call some friends (or fly solo), choose a chick flick (may we recommend Legally Blonde, the ultimate manicurist appreciation movie?) and give yourself a DIY mani/pedi. During that time, turn off your email notifications and try to think about anything but work--unless of course you're reliving your accomplishments! That personal spa treatment may not wash away all of your work worries, but it will definitely help you clear your head and take a step back from the stress so that you can approach it with fresh eyes (and to-die-for nails!).

3. Get dolled up

While pampering yourself with a mani/pedi is a great way to unwind after a hard week, it's only the first step towards looking and feeling your best! While you're in the makeover mood, give yourself a chance to get dolled up. For us at Her Campus, this meant wearing some of our fave wardrobe choices (time at last to break out that trendy blue leather skirt!) and heading to Be Styled, a blow-dry bar that took us from drab to fab (seriously) in no time flat. We left with old Hollywood waves, beachy curls, and lift and bounce to rival Brigitte Bardot!

Most of us don't bother to treat ourselves or get dolled up like this on the reg--generally, we save stylings like this for bi-annual haircuts, some sorority formals, and, well, prom (So, clearly not often enough!). Don't save these special treats just for big events; making yourself feel special on an ordinary day is an even better gift to yourself, and one that's sure to wash the stress away! For one, you'll score yourself an amazing head massage (can this last forever, please?), and you'll walk away feeling like you're red-carpet ready. Whether you rock your fabulous locks on a hot date, a dinner trip with friends, or just the next day at your internship, you'll be feeling like a confident collegiette, all thanks to your hard work that past week.

4. Fuel up

As much as we'd like to believe that cupcakes make for the perfect stress-reducing diet plan, we know deep down that sugar and spice (and everything nice) aren't quite enough for keeping our bodies running smoothly during crunch time. When you're feeling the heat at work or in school and need a breather, make sure you're turning to healthy options so that you feel energized and awake when you need it most. To fuel up, the Her Campus ladies hit up sweetgreen, which sources local and organic ingredients from farmers they know and trust to create delicious salads, yummy gazpacho, seriously awesome blueberry lemonade and more.

At the end of the day, if you aren't fueling your body right, you won't be ready to tackle your hard work with your usual go-getter attitude, so giving yourself a balanced, healthy meal is one of the best ways to shake off the stress (and prevent yourself from facing even more in the future!). Strapped for time? Take the stress out of healthy eating with these five healthy meals you can make with a microwave.

5. Get some fresh air

With all of your work piling up, it may be hard to remember (or at least take advantage of) one majorly important fact: it's summertime! Don't miss out on the sun, sand and surf when you have the chance to be outdoors, especially if your summer job or internship is keeping you inside an office during the work week. You don't want the season to go by without you thinking the 11 thoughts every girl has at the beach--talk about FOMO!

To treat ourselves after all of our hard work for the conference, we at HC took a day off from office work to hit up the beach as a team. Our founders know that R&R almost always includes getting some fresh air, so the beach trip was an obvious choice! Soaking up some Vitamin-D, wherever you are in the great outdoors, is one of the best ways to let your worries go. Whether you take a hike, go on a summer adventure with friends or just read a book while sitting at an outdoor café, make sure that you're giving yourself enough time to enjoy that fresh air (Sunscreen is obviously a must, but that's pretty much the only thing that you're allowed to worry about during those blissful moments of uninterrupted, no-emails-allowed "you" time).

As collegiettes, we work hard and always get things done, but we can't forget to take well-deserved breaks in the process (You know you've always wanted an excuse for a spa day, anyway...)! Treat yourself after a tough exam, after a long week or whenever you're feeling particularly proud of how amazing you are at what you do. Don't make it stressful; set aside time that actually works in your schedule, and then commit to taking that time to unwind, no matter what. That way, you won't feel like "you" time is just another meeting you have to pencil in. So take it easy, and take a cue from HC--treat yourself to some TLC!

When going through a dry spell, recovering from a recent breakup or successfully maintaining your perpetually single lifestyle, it can seem like the entire world suddenly cares about your love life. Everyone from long-lost friends from high school to old neighbors and family friends whom you haven’t seen in a while all seem to ask the same dreaded question: “Are you seeing anyone?”

They don’t mean any harm; they’re just trying to ask you about your life. But when you’re so used to hearing this question and so annoyed of saying, “no,” sometimes it’s fun to switch up your responses. Here are 21 different way to respond to those curious minds.

1. “Yes, I’m actually seeing three different people right now… on different continents. I’m really good at multitasking and communicating.”

2. Walk away.

3. Burst into tears and babble hysterically until he or she apologizes: “I thought you knew… he was in the gross anatomy lab… my friend called me asking for my favorite pizza topping… he was with cadavers all day… she never knew I hated pepperoni… and then there was the snake tattoo on his arm…”

4. “I’m going to Rome for a year and I don’t want to be tied down when I’m surrounded by all those Italian men who are just dying to bring me home to their mothers and feed me homemade pasta.”

5. “I’m definitely in a relationship with Barefoot Moscato. Does that count?”

6. “I’m joining a convent. I’m really looking forward to taking that vow of chastity.”

7. “I’m on a boycott. You know, a boy-cott.”

8. “No… but someone proposed to me at a bar last week. Does that count?”

9. “Have you heard of this ‘hook-up culture?’ I think I’m a lifetime member.”

10. “I’m in love with myself. Isn’t that enough?”

11. “Not exactly… I just joined a cult where we don’t believe in any sort of lasting, committed relationships. We just use one another to keep the population populated.”

12. “I see people all the time. I’m seeing you right now!”

13. “Actually, I’ve found paper folding and basket weaving to be a better use of my time. Those are two of my new favorite hobbies, you know, since I’m single.”

14. “Well, I’ve started training my dog for the circus, so that takes up a considerable amount of time.”

15. Pull him or her aside and whisper, “Did my mother tell you to ask me that?!”

16. “Ughhh, I only ever match with weird guys on Tinder!”

17. “I’ll be honest. I am ‘on the prowl,’ but guys just don’t seem to be picking up what I’m putting down.”

18. “Yes, and he’s already got two kids of his own, so you’ll get those grandchildren you’ve been waiting for!”

19. “My dog fulfills my need for companionship. So do my cats… and my guinea pig.”

20. “Have you seen the majority of the male population lately?!”

21. Point to a random guy and say, “Him. We just don’t like to interact in public settings.”

For most pre-collegiettes, choosing the perfect college is no walk in the park. There are tons of factors that go into the decision process, including the school’s location, size, and ever-daunting cost of attendance. But one important aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked is the cultural makeup of the institution. Historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, are a source of deep pride for the black community. An HBCU might be the ideal choice for a prospective collegiette, but how do you know if it’s the right place for you?

By definition, an HBCU is “any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans.” There are 105 HBCUs that can be found from the Midwest to the East Coast, in 19 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They are open to students of all ethnicities, offer a variety of majors, are full of school spirit, and are rich with culture.

Diversity

One of the biggest worries that you might have about attending a HBCU is the diversity of the student body… or lack thereof. However, Kiara Bass from Hampton University says that diversity is a much bigger aspect of an HBCU than many people think. “Although the school may have a majority of black students, each student is different in their own way,” she says. Mariah Moses, a collegiette at Virginia State University, sees a lot of cultural difference among the students at her school. “My roommate is from Ghana and she told me lots of stories from her growing up over there,” Mariah says.

HBCUs are composed of students from all corners of the nation and the world. “You have students from all across [the] U.S., but also from the Caribbean and even Africa who come to an HBCU,” Kiara says. “Everyone as a person varies, and that is something I love.”

A student population with a majority of black students is exactly what some perspective collegiettes are looking for. Kiara says that many students who attend an HBCU had been the only person of color in their high schools. “[At an HBCU], you don't have to worry about being the sore thumb out,” she says. “Automatically you get a feeling of belonging.”

And although the majority of students at HBCUs are black, there are other races represented. Kiara says that a lot of the students at Hampton University who are not black come from other countries. She says that while everyone might have a different reason as to why they chose to attend Hampton University, they all benefit from the university’s culture.

Sports, School Spirit, and More

If you want to attend a school that has huge football tailgates every weekend, there are plenty of HBCUs with large sports cultures that would fit the bill. HBCUs like Grambling State University or Florida A&M University may be perfect for you sports-loving ladies. If college athletics aren’t your number one priority, but you still want to go somewhere with a strong sense of school spirit, then an HBCU could still be a great match for you. “[Howard University] wasn't the best in sports, so our school spirit was [built] more around leadership, organizations, and competition between other HBCUs,” says Laurin Compton, a recent graduate of Howard University.

At Hampton University, Kiara says there is always something going on at school, whether it’s a panel, a forum, or a series of fun events during homecoming week. She says that her school has had many accomplished people come to the university to give talks and presentations, like employees at Google and Bloomberg and editors from Glamour and Teen Vogue.

“They typically talk about education, their separate fields and the need of diversity in those fields, and their personal journeys on how they've gotten to where they are now,” Kiara says. “[At Hampton University], we have big dreams and we take advantage of any advice given or potential contacts to help get us closer to our dreams and goals.”

Social Life

The social vibe of any college or university is unique depending on where you go, but Laurin says that whether the school is an HBCU or not, college is all about making friends. She says she has been to parties at predominately white universities and she has enjoyed them just as much as parties at HBCUs. But the best way to get a feel for what a specific HBCU culture is like is to visit the campus. Many schools offer the chance to spend the weekend with a current student who can really take the time to help you get a feel for the social life on campus.

Kiara adds that HBCUs are known for having fun. “At Hampton University, every Friday during the hours of 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. there is an event in our student center called ‘12-2,’” she says. “Everyone can come together and listen to an array of music, from dancehall to jersey club music to go-go music, even to old-school ‘90's R&B.”

However, the flipside of having fun is when rules come into play. Kiara says that some rules at HBCUs can seem a bit dated. “Some HBCUs have times when visitors can be allowed to visit in your dorm room daily, and typically the opposite sex isn't allowed to visit until weekends,” she says.

Kiara says that her freshman year, all of the freshmen had a weekday curfew of 10 p.m. and a weekend curfew of 1 a.m. “This rule was first frowned upon, but we realized the benefits of it,” she says. “You developed good study and organizational habits, you got to know everyone in your dorm on a personal level, and you got an ample amount of sleep.”

Academics and Careers

Although some people might say that college is all about having fun, academics can make or break a college career. When deciding between schools, it’s important to consider what classes are offered, how classes are taught, and what opportunities lie beyond the classroom.

Laurin found that a major advantage of attending a HBCU was that she could easily relate to her professors, and they could relate to her. With a similar background, it can be easier to bridge the gap between students and professors, allowing for a better learning experience and easier communication. Kiara says that many of her professors are her "voice of reasoning" when she needs an adult perspective on something. “HBCUs operate as a family, and you need that, especially when you're away from home,” she says.

And despite what some might think, professors at HBCUs come from all different backgrounds. Hampton University does have a large portion of professors who are black, but they also have professors who are white, Asian, and Arab. “Being at an HBCU doesn't isolate us from professors of different ethnic backgrounds than our own,” Kiara says.

In terms of classes, there is emphasis placed on black history, but it doesn’t have to overwhelm your course list. Mariah says that at VSU, there are classes focused on black history, but no one is required to take them. Instead, the courses are offered as electives. You can find out the different classes that a school offers in their course catalog, which most schools provide online.

Many students have found that another benefit of attending an HBCU is a strong post-grad network that can lead to job connections in the future. Itopia Mills, a recent grad of Florida A&M University, has found that network thanks to her classes and the people she has met at school.  Through connections made through her school, she has been able to benefit from internships in both the fall and spring semesters.

“If you would've told me my freshman year that I would be where I am now, I would've never believed it,” she says. “All of the classes that I've taken, events I've attended, clubs and organizations I've joined and been the head of, and friends I've met have allowed me to grow in more ways than one, and I'm so proud of who I've become.”

When it comes down to that final college decision, it’s all about what you want out of your college experience and the environment you want to be in for the next few years. “HBCUs will overload you on history and past experiences, which I believe is needed,” Laurin says. “Some people don't. It's all about the experience you want and what you would like to gain from it.” Take some time to research all your options so you can find your best fit for college. You can find a full list of all the HBCUs here and read up on the current news for the HBCU network!

It’s the set of rules to avoid girl drama, the answer to all those tough friendship situations and the guidelines to promote respect among all women. It’s more than an MTV show and even though it’s supposed to be unspoken, we’re speaking up about it. That’s right—we’re talking about girl code.

So, why is girl code so important in the first place? According to Jessica Rozler, co-author of Friend or Frenemy?, girl code is the female twist to the Golden Rule, aka treating others as you’d want to be treated. “I think EVERYONE should treat each other with respect,” Rozler says.  “It can’t hurt to have some rules to remind us of this fact. And yes—all of us need reminders from time to time.”

With this guide, collegiettes can get on the same page so we can all avoid the tears and drama we tend to cause one another. We’ve surveyed more than 40 collegiettes about boys, friends and how we treat other women overall. Get ready for the real girl code!

Rule #1: Avoid dating your friend’s ex—but if you can’t, talk to her about it.  

So you’ve found yourself falling for you bestie’s ex-boyfriend. Needless to say, you’re truly between a rock and a hard place. While you can’t deny your feelings, you can’t shake the fact that you’ve shared a pint of Ben & Jerry’s with her while she cried her eyes out over him. What to do?

A whopping 75 percent of the surveyed collegiettes say that dating a best friend’s ex is completely off-limits. It’s particularly a big no-no if they dated for a long time, it ended badly or your bestie is clearly not over it.

“Personally, I wouldn’t date a friend’s serious ex,” Rolzer says. “I also wouldn’t date a guy my friend had even casually dated if it made her feel uncomfortable.”

However, the other 25 percent of surveyed collegiettes it’s okay if the guy was a casual ex-hookup. A hook-up buddy or a casual fling implies that your friend wasn’t extremely emotionally invested in the guy, so it’s more acceptable for you to go for him.  

“If your friend wasn't super into the the guy and she told you that she’s completely okay with it, then I think it would be alright,” says Kathy*, a senior from Gettysburg College. “But if she still has feelings for him, I would say no.”

Regardless of their answers, 60 percent of the surveyed collegiettes emphasized talking with your friend before starting any sort of relationship with her ex.  

“If it happens you like your friends' ex, don't wait to talk about it,” says Sandra*, a senior at Furman University. “In fact, your friend should be the first to know that you may even have the smallest feelings towards him. Putting it off could ruin the friendship.”

Bottom line: tread lightly with dating ex-boyfriends. The best scenario is to eliminate that possibility completely, but if you really feel strongly about him, talk to your friend first. You never want to make your bestie feel uncomfortable or hurt by your decision.

Rule #2: If it’s your ex your friend is crushing on, be honest to your friend about your feelings for him.

What if the roles are reversed and your bestie has fallen for your ex? You really can’t picture your ex with anyone else (you were a pretty awesome girlfriend, after all), and it might be really weird to think that his “someone new” might be your best friend. Do you prohibit your friend from dating him or give her your blessing?

“Feelings are feelings,” says Lauren*, a junior at the University of Virginia. “Don't go banning your ex from people, because it'll just make you look and feel immature.”

That being said, be honest with your friend (and yourself) about your feelings toward your ex. Regardless if you’re over him or not, be honest about how you would feel if she dated him. Don’t give your bestie the go-ahead if you know it’s going to hurt your feelings or jeopardize your friendship.

“Just be honest about how you feel and don't do anything rash that could ruin a really good friendship,” Lauren says. “Over him or not, it still might be weird for your friend to date your ex, and that's expected. But don't act like it's all going to be okay unless you are actually okay with it.”

Give your friend props for talking to you first and have an honest conversation with her. At the end of day, you both just want each other to be happy. With an open conversation, you can reach a solution that you’re both comfortable with.

Rule #3: It’s sisters before misters; don’t let a guy get between you and a friend.  

It’s the classic tale of two girls liking the same guy. He’s cute, smart and athletic… how could either of you resist? Even though it might be hard to get over his amazing blue eyes or adorable smile, 59 percent of surveyed collegiettes say it’s best for both of you to back off.

“If both [of] you like the same guy, he should be off-limits to both of you,” says Amanda*, a recent grad from Villanova University. “It will end badly, and no friendship is worth ruining over a boy.”

Things could become a little more complicated if the guy is clearly into one of you over the other, in which case, you should be honest with each other about it. “If you and your friend respect each other enough and care about the friendship enough, you would have an honest conversation about it,” Kathy says. “Either way, you shouldn't let it get in the way of your friendship.”

Ultimately, no guy is worth ruining a friendship over (100 percent of the surveyed collegiettes agreed on that!). You’re better off choosing friendship instead of a guy, because, at the end of the day, there are other fish in the sea, and you’re going to want your bestie there to help you catch one.

Rule #4: Always tell your friend if her boyfriend is a cheater.

So you saw your bestie’s SO locking lips with another girl last night. Even though it will probably break her heart, 89 percent of surveyed collegiettes say that you should tell her immediately—no exceptions.

“I would tell her ASAP,” says Michelle, a sophomore from Rutgers University. “If her boyfriend finds out I ratted him out, I wouldn’t care because she deserves better.”

Your bestie’s boyfriend is clearly disrespecting her by being unfaithful. It’s your duty as a friend to keep her best interests in mind and then support her through the aftermath. “I would tell my friend immediately and support her decision,” says Kelsey, a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “Then just be there to listen and take her mind off it when she’s ready.”

If you’re friends with the boyfriend, this situation could get a lot more awkward. That’s when 11 percent of surveyed collegiettes say you should approach him and give him a chance to explain himself to your friend before you say anything to her.

“Give him a chance to tell her,” Sandra says. “By doing this, you stay out of a messy situation. But if he doesn't follow through, tell her. You would want to know if you were in her shoes.”

It’s a tough situation, but your friend would feel extremely betrayed if she found out you knew her SO cheated and you didn’t speak up. However she decides to handle the situation is her choice, but she will appreciate the fact that you have her back!

Rule #5: Little white lies are okay, but honesty is the best policy.

Your friend just got her hair cut in a bob (it’s not her best look), and you smile and tell her that it’s different and chic. Or when she asks you if you thought the exam you just took was super unfair (it wasn’t, she just didn’t study as much as she should have), you immediately agree and comfort her about her C. Even though our mothers told us that we should never tell a lie, we find ourselves harmlessly fibbing to our friends from time to time. “I would be lying if I said that we should never, ever lie!” Rolzer says. “I think we all tell little lies to spare the feelings of people we really care about.”

While these little white lies are okay when you’re keeping your friend’s best interests in mind, 67 percent of surveyed collegiettes say that honesty is the best policy. “There’s really no reason to lie,” says Cassidy, a junior at Tulane University. “Things are always better when people are honest.” 

Forty-seven percent also specifically say you should never lie to a friend about important stuff. Be real about how you feel if she likes your ex (see rule #2), if that $150 dress she’s about to buy is actually flattering (be gentle) or when you’re angry or upset with her (don’t say you aren’t when you actually are).

You trust your friends to be honest with you about the things that matter most. While you might fib that her homemade lasagna is to diiiiie for (you’re not the biggest fan), keep it real when it comes to the important things.

Rule #6: Help a girl out and tell her she has spinach in her teeth.  

Most of the time, we walk around like we’re ***Flawless (#bowdown). But even if we woke up like this, sometimes our appearances are less than perfect. We’re talking smudged makeup, spinach in our teeth and toilet paper on our shoes; those annoying things that we realize once we look in the mirror after hours of being in public. Don’t you wish someone had just told you?

Part of girl code is helping other women out, which means saving them some embarrassment. While it might be awkward to tell a complete stranger that her lipstick is smudged, 77 percent of surveyed collegiettes say they would want to know. “Of course I would tell her!” says Kacey*, a sophomore from Saint Joseph’s University. “Nicely and discretely, of course. I’d want someone else to do that for me.”

It doesn’t matter if it’s the girl you occasionally see in calc class or if it’s your best friend; just let her know. If you’re at dinner, discretely motion wiping off your mouth if there’s something on her face, or quietly tell a stranger in the bathroom that there’s a run in her tights. It might be embarrassing for her in the moment, but just think how you would feel if you didn’t know you had a rip in your skirt or raccoon eyes all day!

Rule #7: Don’t be catty; no one likes a trash-talker.

Girls get the rep of being catty and fake behind their friends’ backs. While we don’t like to admit it, we’re all a little guilty of gossiping. However, there’s a difference between venting and malicious trash-talking.

When you’re in college, you see your friends all. The. Time. While most of the time it’s great, their dirty dishes in the sink and their consistent tardiness can occasionally get on your nerves.

“Everyone needs to vent,” says Rachel*, a senior at New York University. “I love my friends to death, but there are times they get on my nerves and I just need to rant a little.”

However, venting turns into trash-talking when you insult your friend’s behavior or personality, accuse her of things that may not be true or act nice to her in person and secretly diss her behind her back. “It's NOT okay to completely insult your friends behind their back,” Rachel says. “If you realize you’re saying hurtful things to the point you shouldn’t be considered friends, that’s not cool.”  

Most girls like to talk through their problems and get advice from others. If you’re expressing your feelings about one of your friends, try not to vent to someone she’s also friends with, because that just causes more problems. Instead, talk to your mom or maybe a sibling; pick a neutral source so you don’t cause any more conflict.

Hear someone else trash-talking your bestie? Most collegiettes say to either try to change the subject or defend your friend in a calm way. “If I don’t agree with someone, I say why I disagree nicely,” Michelle says. “You don’t want it to blow up into an argument that could lead to more trash-talking.”

Of course our friends get on our nerves, but it’s better to avoid talking behind their backs. If there’s something really bothering you, it’s better to just confront your friend directly about it without getting others involved.

Rule #8: It’s really not cool to call her a slut.

“Slut-shaming” is making derogatory remarks about a woman’s sexual behavior. Have you ever thought, “Oh, wow—what is she wearing?” when you see a girl scantily dressed at a party? Or quietly whispered about a collegiette doing “the walk of shame” across campus? You may not realize it, but what you’re doing is slut-shaming.  

“Slut-shaming, in my opinion, is our least attractive quality as women,” says Sarah, a senior at Pennsylvania State University. “For every time we’ve looked at a girl and judged her with no means to back it up, just think of all the times someone else has probably done that to us.”

Labeling another female a “slut” or a “whore” is simply disrespectful. We all want to be respected no matter what, and that respect should start woman-to-woman. “Keep your judgments to yourself,” Rolzer says. “It's bad enough when men do this, but it's especially terrible when women do it. It perpetuates this stereotype that women are catty and can't get along.”

Instead of mentally chastising a girl in a tight miniskirt, give her props for having the confidence to rock it. If you hear a rumor about what so-and-so did with a guy the other night, avoid the negative labels, because it doesn’t really affect you at all. It’s every woman’s choice to act or dress however she’d like; it’s not really your business or your place to judge them. 

As females, we owe it to one another to support and respect one another’s decisions. “Women should be building each other up, not putting them down,” Sarah says. “In the end, slut-shaming makes us look ugly and mean, and that’s never a good look for anyone.”

Rule #9: Look out for one another, especially when alcohol is involved.

More often than not, you can see a handful of girls who are just a little too drunk at a party. While everyone has the right to their cocktails and tequila shots, every high-school health class taught us that too much alcohol doesn’t lead to smart decisions.

“NEVER abandon a friend that you go to a party with,” says Heather*, a junior at Yale University. “I don’t think it’s even okay to leave a party and go to a different one without the girl you came with. If you go out together, you stay together!”

While most of us have our friends’ backs (and will take care of them if they drink too much), keep an eye out for other girls at a party, even if you don’t know them. “We should look out for other girls, whether they’re friends or strangers,” says Kaela, a junior at Clemson University. “Being drunk can make you more vulnerable. If we take it upon ourselves to look out for each other when we’re out, there might be one less drunk girl taken advantage of.”

Ask your friend if she wants some water if she can’t keep her balance, approach a girl who’s leaving with a guy to ask if she’s okay or pull your friend down from the bar when she starts dancing a little too crazily. You can prevent a girl from making a decision she might regret or save her some embarrassment. Everyone wants to have a good time, and looking out for others can ensure that the night doesn’t end badly for anyone.

Whether it’s figuring out a boy dilemma or avoiding a fight with your besties, knowing the basic guidelines of girl code can help you navigate any situation. The basic idea of girl code is to treat others like you would want to be treated. Keep this in mind so you can avoid the drama and strengthen your friendships with other women!

*Names have been changed.

Let’s think back to our high-school health class, where our cheeks not-so-innocently flushed at the mere mention of the word “vagina” and we rolled our eyes the millionth time we learned how to use a condom. We learned all about the reproductive system, how to prevent pregnancy, how to protect ourselves from STIs and everything else Coach Carr tried to warn us about in Mean Girls. Because learning how to not get pregnant or not catch an STI from a guy is really all we needed to know, right?

Um, not quite.

While queer girls don’t have to worry about the whole pregnancy deal when having sex with cis girls, we’re definitely not in the clear from STIs. However, our sex ed teacher typically forgot to mention that sex doesn’t necessarily have to happen with a penis and a vagina, so we weren’t taught how to protect ourselves accordingly.

While we’re talking about the Great and All-Powerful V, let’s not forget that not all women have a vagina and not all vaginas belong to women. Trans* women do not always have female genitalia, but that by no means makes them any less of women.

Now that we’ve gotten the logistics out of the way, let’s talk about how we can have some happy, healthy girl-on-girl sex!

Get tested

Lisa Torres, a registered nurse at Harlem Hospital Center, says getting tested is equally important for girls who participate in girl-on-girl sex as girls who have sex with men.

“Females who engage in sex with other females are at risk for a variety of STDs, especially bacterial vaginosis,” Torres says. According to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, bacterial vaginosis occurs when too much of a certain bacteria in the vagina messes up the typical bacteria balance. While no one knows the exact causes of BV, the CDC says that having a new partner or multiple partners can unsettle the balance of bacteria in the vagina, which increases the risk of getting infected.

“BV can sometimes be particularly hard to catch due to the fact that it sometimes has no symptoms at all,” Torres says.

Allison Moon, author of Girl Sex 101, says to consider all the possible risks of STIs.  

“Queer women may have penises or be having sex with people with penises, too, and that adds certain kinds of risks,” she says. “So really, queer women are at the same risk as anyone for all sorts of STIs. That said, people with vulvas should be most aware of STIs that are spread via skin-to-skin contact, which means herpes and [human papillomavirus].”

Genital herpes can cause breakouts of blisters to form on the genitals, anus, thighs and buttocks. While the breakouts do have periods of dormancy, the carrier of the disease is still contagious.

“Herpes isn't a huge deal, but it can be painful or embarrassing for some folks,” Moon says. “Most doctors will only test for it if you've had an outbreak.”

As the most common STI, nearly all sexually active people have had human papillomavirus, or HPV, at some point in their lives. In most cases, HPV goes away on its own, but in severe cases, it can cause genital warts and even cervical cancer.

“Both of these can be contracted by touching your genitals together, sharing toys or using your hands or mouths on each other,” Moon says.

Another STI that is likely to be transmitted through female-to-female sex is pubic lice. Public lice, or “crabs,” are parasitic insects that can be found in a person’s genital area. It is caused by sexual contact with someone who has pubic lice or personal contact with clothing, bed linens or towels of an infected person.

However, the good news about these infections is that all of them are very easily treated when caught in the earlier stages. Besides the usual STI tests, Torres recommends that you get regular pap smears every two years starting in your 20s or when you start having sex. 

Get vaccinated

HPV, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B are currently the only STIs that have vaccines approved by the FDA.

We’ve all seen the commercials for the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, advocating for us to be “one less.” The vaccine, which consists of three shots over a six-month time period, is recommended for women ages 9 to 26 in order to attain long-lasting protection from four types of HPV.

However, it’s important to note that many women have experienced severe side effects, such as fainting and allergic reactions, from Gardasil. On their own website, Gardasil notes that anyone who is severely allergic to yeast should NOT receive the vaccine. But fortunately, according to Torres, for those who are not allergic to the ingredients of the vaccine, the benefits continue to outweigh the side effects.

Clean your toys

Now, let’s not beat around the bush—some of us love to play around with sex toys in the bedroom, and that is far from uncommon, especially for queer girls. Bringing in vibrators, strap-ons and whatever else tickles your fancy is just another amazing way to bring pleasure to you and your girl—something that neither of you should ever feel ashamed of!

However, it’s crucial to keep these toys properly sanitized, as the fluids they come in contact with can be harmful to your health.

“If you don’t clean your sex toys, you and your partner become at risk for some pretty nasty bacterial infections and STIs,” Torres says. “If you’re using your sex toys with a new partner, I’d also suggest using a condom.”

Depending on the material of your toy, there are different ways in which you can clean it. Fortunately, most toys can be cleaned with a simple antibacterial soap and water.

“It's important to use nonporous toys if you'll be sharing them with a partner,” Moon says. “Silicone, stainless steel and Pyrex are all good for this.”

Additionally, you should never use any toys that have rips, tears or cracks in the material. Bacteria can get trapped in the crevices and cannot be cleaned out properly. Moon suggests avoiding jelly rubbers or other cheap materials, which can harbor icky bacteria and don't come clean easily.

“Silicone and steel are great because you can boil them or throw them in the dishwasher to clean them,” she says. “If you'll be using the same toy in one session with a partner, the best thing to do is use condoms and switch them out between partners.”

STIs are not the only health problems that can arise from unsanitary sex toys. The bacteria that can build up on a toy that hasn’t been washed well can also cause urinary tract infections, or UTIs, which can be very uncomfortable and painful. Make sure to clean your toys accordingly in order to make sure you both have a fun, safe time.

Use dental dams

While these are probably the more underrated of the safer sex techniques, they are still important to mention. Dental dams are rubber barriers, similar to condoms, which can be put over the vulva or anus in order to engage in safe oral sex.

Fortunately, they’re extremely easy to use: just hold them in place over your partner’s vulva or anus, and you’re good to go! However, it’s important to make sure there are no holes or tears in the dental dam when you open the package.

Dental dams are often treated like the black sheep of the safer sex world due to the fact that people consider them awkward to use and they can inhibit sensation for both the giver and the receiver. Regardless, Moon says dental dams can be a lot of fun.

“They add a neat texture to sex and can help take some of the anxiety out of cunnilingus/analingus. A lot of them come in fun flavors,” Moon says. “I recently used a dental dam with a partner and explored the kinds of sensations I could create by tugging, blowing or snapping the dam against their vulva. It was awesome!”

It’s also extremely easy to make your own DIY dental dam out of condoms and rubber gloves. For a condom, just unroll it, cut the tip off, cut one side of the tube and voila! Similarly, for a rubber glove, you can cut the top four fingers off and cut it down the side opposite from the thumb, and you can insert your tongue into the thumb piece and into your partner while still being safe.

Safe sex for trans* women

So for all of our trans* women collegiettes, we didn’t want to leave you all out, because, as mentioned above, not all women are born with female parts. While recognizing that this topic definitely deserves its own handbook, we just wanted to leave you non-op girls with some quick tips.

First of all, know that disclosing your trans* status should always happen at your own discretion. There’s often fear about coming out, but we know you’ll use your best judgment to make the safest decision for you. Secondly, remember to use a condom in order to prevent yourself from HIV and STIs, as well as birth control.

“Non-op trans women should know that androgen inhibitors are NOT birth control,” Moon says. “Any P-in-V sex will still need a birth control method to prevent pregnancy. If a trans* woman is going to use her penis (or girl dick, outie, etc.) to penetrate a partner, condoms are a must to ensure safer sex.”

Moon also advises that for scissoring or other forms of genital/genital outercourse, using a barrier is a good idea to prevent skin-to-skin STI transmission.

Find a doctor you can trust

One of the concerns many people in the LGBTQ+ community have is finding a doctor with whom who they can be open and honest with in order to receive proper health care. Your health deserves to be taken just as seriously as any other person, so your specific needs should be addressed with your doctor. Fortunately, the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) provides listings for LGBTQ+-friendly health care professionals in your area with the help of their provider directory. Planned Parenthood also offers their services to the LGBTQ+ community, so make sure to check them out as well.

Before you visit a clinic, you can call and ask questions. What are the doctors’ experiences with LGBTQ+ health care? Have they had any LGBTQ+-specific training? Once you arrive at the clinic, you can also look around the waiting room for clues. Be sure to keep an eye out for LGBTQ+-friendly publications, safe zone posters, etc. when you’re in the office.

While this article shouldn’t take the place of professional, one-on-one medical advice, we hope that it will help inspire you to be proactive in making sure you’re taking care of your sexual health needs.

Moon stresses the importance of not only taking care of yourself, but being a role model for healthy sexuality for your peers.

“Too often people silence themselves in the bedroom because of fear or anxiety,” she says. “If you're aware of your status and can communicate clearly and directly to your sexual partners, you have the power to affect positive change in your community.”

You and your partner will certainly be grateful in the long run as you both engage in fun, stress-free sex. Here’s to a happy, healthy sex life to all the queer women out there!

Much to my father's chagrin (I believe his exact words were "Why do you want a hole in the middle of your face?"), I decided to get my nose pierced last week. Again. This was actually the third time I've pierced my nose, and I thought it would be fun to bring HC's amazing collegiettes along to debunk any myths about nose piercings (or any piercings, for that matter) being scary or painful. The truth is, if you know what to expect, it really can be a fun and enjoyable experience.

I've broken down the process so you can get a feel for what it's like to get your nose pierced, and I've included pictures from the actual piercing to help ease any fears you may have (Spoiler alert: you will not look like Carrie, covered in blood!).

Find a reputable and professional piercing studio and piercer

It's so important to find a good, clean piercing studio for your piercing. If the piercer is inexperienced or the studio seems dirty or outdated, you may have a higher risk of contracting an infection or of your body rejecting the jewelry. After scouring the annals of Yelp, I finally settled on Ancient Arts Body Piercing and Adornment, which happens to be right down the street from the Her Campus offices.

Keep in mind that many piercing studios double as tattoo parlors, so don't let that deter you from choosing an otherwise excellent piercing studio. I got my first nose piercing when I was 17 at a tattoo parlor in Rhode Island; I think my dad almost had a heart attack when he saw all of the tattoo artwork hanging on the walls, but he relaxed when he realized how professional my piercer was. By the way, like any other piercing, in almost every state you have to be 18 years old or have a parent present in order to get a piercing.

The main reason I was drawn to Ancient Arts is because the senior piercer, Matt Ronin, had received such amazing reviews. A licensed paramedic with over 25 years of body piercing experience, Matt seemed like the perfect choice.

Fill out paperwork

Any good piercing studio will scan your identification and have you fill out paperwork prior to your piercing. This paperwork will outline any risks associated with your piercing and acknowledge your consent (and your guardian's, if you're a minor). The form I filled out at Ancient Arts also asked what medications, if any, I take on a regular basis. Matt explained to me that certain medications lower your immune system and he would customize my aftercare instructions based on any medications I might be taking. No one had ever asked me that at my previous piercing experiences, and I was definitely impressed. If your piercer doesn't ask you this, offer up that information and explain why it may be important!

Pick out your jewelry

Once the paperwork is out of the way, you get to pick out your jewelry. Ancient Arts had all sorts of handmade jewelry for every part of the body, and it was fun to be able to pick what I wanted. I ended up going with a plain titanium halfdome, but Matt explained that there are tons of different options for nose piercing jewelry: "It's all titanium, so you can choose gems or a titanium halfdome or opals and all kinds of other stuff."

Prepare the piercing site

Once you've filled out paperwork and picked out your jewelry, your piercer will take you into the piercing room and get you set up. You will most likely be sitting in a reclining chair (the kind they have at the dentist) while your piercer goes in and disinfects the area to be pierced and makes sure everything is clean and sterile. Before coming anywhere near your nose, your piercer should obviously be putting on new gloves; don't be afraid to speak up if he or she doesn't!

In this photo, Matt is disinfecting my nose and feeling for any scar tissue buildup from my previous piercings. Once everything is clean, your piercer will take a surgical marker and make a dot where he or she wants the piercing to go. In my case, Matt placed the dot right over the scar from my last piercing. Your piercer should show you the placement and check that you're happy with it before proceeding. 

Expect a little pain

Now let's get into the good stuff: the actual piercing. Your piercing will most likely be done with a sterilized needle with the jewelry attached to the end so that once the needle has gone through the side of your nose and out the bottom, the jewelry will slide right into place. Matt asked me if I was ready and then told me to close my eyes while he counted down. I'm not going to lie: it hurts. I have four piercings on my earlobes and four on my cartilage, and those were nothing compared to a nose piercing: I would give it a 3.5 or 4 out of 5 on a piercing pain scale. My eyes immediately started watering (I was NOT crying...), and it definitely stings for a second, especially when your piercer twists the actual jewelry into place. 

Once the jewelry was in place, Matt cleaned up some blood around the site of the piercing and asked me how I felt (some people get woozy!). I then sat up and Matt handed me a mirror to check out my new piercing and the placement. I loved it! It's totally normal for the area around your nose to be a bit red and tender for the first few days after a piercing while your body adjusts to the jewelry, so don't worry if that happens to you.

Discuss aftercare, infection and changing your piercing

Matt sat down with me after the piercing to talk aftercare; he was very thorough and knowledgeable in his guidance. He asked me which facial cleanser I used (Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Cleanser, $6.79 at Ulta) and said that was okay; he then told me to gently clean around the piercing when washing my face with warm water. Past piercers have recommended Bactine Original First Aid Liquid ($5.99 at Walgreens), a first aid liquid or spray, to keep the piercing sterile and prevent infection. I spray a little Bactine on a Q-tip and go inside my nose and around the piercing to keep it clean about two to three times a day for the first two weeks, and then switch to once a day. As Matt points out, "It's easy to take care of because it's on the center of your face and you're not going to let it fail." Another tip to keep in mind is to try to avoid covering your piercing in foundation or concealer while it's healing. Otherwise, it may become infected!

If you do notice some excessive irritation or redness around your nose ring, don't immediately assume you have an infection. "A lot of people think that just because there's a reaction going on, there's an infection going on," says Matt. "Infections are hard to come by... [irritation] is often just part and parcel of the person's own body reacting to what's going on."

Matt recommended leaving my nose jewelry in for at least six weeks before changing it to make sure the piercing is fully healed. The jewelry Matt put in my nose is a J-shaped hook, so it won't come out unless I deliberately choose to remove it (the word "hook" sounds painful, but I honestly can't even feel the piercing in my nose!). I've tried to replace my nose ring myself in the past and it was a huge mistake - that's the reason my first piercing closed up. If you do want to change your piercing, definitely go to a professional. Try to go back to the piercer who pierced your nose originally, and he or she will usually switch it out for free. 

Admire the finished product

This photograph was taken about two hours after my piercing and, as you can see, the redness was almost entirely gone and it was no longer painful. The entire process only took about 30 minutes and cost $52 for the piercing and the actual jewelry, plus an additional $10 for a tip. I love the placement of the ring and I'm happy I went for the titanium halfdome rather than a gem because I think it makes the piercing a bit more subtle.

I am so happy with my nose piercing and with my experience at Ancient Arts. I felt comfortable and informed during the entire process and my piercing has healed beautifully - I feel like I've had it for ages! If you're considering getting a piercing, whether on your nose or elsewhere, keep in mind what Matt told my friend Marissa after she remarked that she didn't have any interesting piercings: "You're not boring; it's just about making whatever part of your body you choose more lively."

If you're in the Boston area and you're looking for a piercing, check out Ancient Arts Body Piercing and Adornment's website or Facebook to give them a call and find out where to stop in for a consultation or walk-in piercing. Wherever you are, and wherever you go for your piercing, keep these questions in mind to make it the best (and healthiest) experience possible!

We at HC know there are few things more daunting than packing up your life to move into your (really tiny) dorm or apartment at college, especially if you’re a freshman. What do you need to bring with you? What sounds like a great idea to pack now, but will just end up unused and taking up precious closet space? What if you forget something important (hello, health insurance card) and you can’t get it until Thanksgiving?

Lucky for you, we know exactly what you need to bring to college. Just use this all-inclusive checklist that covers everything from bedding to food to medicine, and you’re guaranteed to not have any of those awful “oh-no-I-forgot-X-important-thing” moments on move-in day.

Click here to download a printable version of this list!

Bedding

• Bedbug-protecting mattress cover
• Duvet and duvet cover or comforter set
• Foam topper
• Mattress pad
• Pillowcases
• Pillows
• Sleeping bag or air mattress
• Throw blanket
• Throw pillows
• Twin XL bed skirt
• Twin XL sheet set (and an extra set)

Room

• Additional seating (beanbag chair, folding chair, comfy chair, etc.)
• Adhesive hooks and strips (that come off cleanly)
• Alarm clock
• Area rug
• Bed risers
• Bedside table
• Bulletin board and/or dry erase board
• Closet organizer
• Coffee table
• Curtain rods (if needed)
• Curtains
• Dorm trunk
• Floor lamp
• Full-length mirror
• Futon
• Hangers
• Jewelry organizer
• Jewelry safe
• Over-the-door storage units
• Photos
• Picture frames or photo clips
• Push pins/magnets/whiteboard markers
• Shoe rack
• Skirt hangers
• Space bags
• Stepladder
• Trashcan
• Underbed storage
• Wall art (posters, wall decals, etc.)
• Wonder Hangers

Laundry

• Bleach
• Color catchers
• Drying rack
• Fabric softener
• Garment bag
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Laundry detergent
• Laundry hamper or bag
• Lingerie bag
• Lint brush
• Portable stain remover pen
• Quarters
• Sewing kit
• Stain remover

Food

• Bottled water
• Bread
• Bulk snacks (candy, granola, dried fruit, etc.)
• Cereal
• Coffee
• Coffee creamer
• Easy Mac
• Granola bars
• Instant hot chocolate
• Instant oatmeal
• Peanut butter and jelly
• Popcorn
• Ramen
• SK Energy Shots
• Soup
• SpaghettiOs
• Sugar

Kitchen Supplies

• Blender
• Bottle opener
• Broom
• Can opener
• Chip clips
• Coffee maker (if your school allows it)
• Dish towels
• Dishes (bowls, plates, cups)
• Dishwashing soap
• Disinfecting wipes
• Duster
• Dustpan
• Glass cleaner
• Hand soap
• Microwave (if your school allows it)
• Mini fridge (if your school allows it)
• Mini vacuum
• Mugs
• Oven mitt
• Paper plates
• Paper towels
• Plastic wrap
• Reusable water bottle
• Sealable plastic bags
• Sponges
• Swiffer
• Tinfoil
• Toaster (if your school allows it)
• Trash bags
• Travel mug
• Tupperware
• Utensils
• Water boiler
• Water filter pitcher

Bathroom

• Air freshener
• Bath pouf
• Bath towels
• Bathrobe
• Bathroom cleaning supplies (if you need them for your dorm: i.e., drain cleaner, glass cleaner, rubber gloves, shower cleaner, sponges, toilet brush, toilet cleaner)
• Bathroom rug
• Hand towels
• Loofah
• Scale
• Shower caddy
• Shower cap
• Shower curtain and rings (if needed)
• Shower mat
• Shower organizer (if your school allows it)
• Shower shoes
• Tumbler/cup
• Upgraded showerhead (if your school allows it)
• Washcloths

Toiletries

Products

• Acne medicine/cream
• Antibacterial gel
• Bar soap
• Body wash
• Conditioner
• Deodorant
• Eye cream
• Face wash
• Hair gel
• Hair mousse
• Hairspray
• Lip balm
• Lotion
• Makeup
• Makeup remover
• Moisturizer
• Mouthwash
• Nail polish
• Nail polish remover
• Shampoo
• Shaving Cream
• Sunscreen
• Toothpaste
• Wax

Supplies

• Blow dryer
• Bobby pins
• Comb
• Contacts, solution, and case
• Cotton balls
• Cotton swabs
• Curling iron
• Diffusers
• Eyeglass cleaner
• Eyeglasses and case
• Floss
• Hair clips
• Hair curlers
• Hair straightener
• Hair ties
• Hairbrush
• Hand mirror
• Headbands
• Nail clippers
• Nail files
• Pumice stone
• Razor
• Round brush
• Sunglasses
• Sweatbands
• Tampons and pads
• Tissues
• Toilet paper
• Toothbrush
• Toothbrush holder
• Tweezers

Clothing

• Athletic sneakers
• Bathing suits
• Belts
• Bras
• Casual dresses
• Casual shoes
• Costume clothing for theme parties/extracurricular events
• Dress tape
• Everyday purse
• Flats
• Flip-flops
• Formal clutch
• Formal dress
• Gloves
• Going-out clothes
• Going-out purse
• Gym bag
• Hats
• Heels
• Jeans
• Jackets
• Jewelry
• Leggings
• Little black dress
• Long-sleeve shirts
• Pajamas
• Pants
• Pea coat
• Professional clothing (dress, dress pants, button-down shirts, skirts, blazers, shoes, purse)
• Rain boots
• Raincoat
• Regular boots
• Scarves
• Semi-formal dresses
• Short-sleeve shirts
• Shorts
• Skirts
• Slippers
• Snow boots
• Socks
• Socks for rain boots
• Spanx
• Sports bras
• Sweaters
• Sweatpants
• Sweatshirts
• T-shirts
• Tank tops
• Tights
• Underwear
• Watch
• Winter coat
• Workout clothes
• Wristlet
• Yoga pants

Tech

• Batteries
• Camera
• Chargers (phone, laptop, camera, etc.)
• DVD player
• DVDs
• E-reader
• Ethernet cable
• Extension cords
• External hard drive
• Flash drives
• HDMI cable
• Headphones and spare headphones
• iPod/MP3 player
• Keyboard
• Lap desk
• Laptop
• Laptop Case
• Microsoft Office
• Portable phone charger
• Printer
• Printer ink
• Printer paper
• Recording device for lectures
• Router
• SD card for camera
• Spare cables
• Speakers
• Surge protectors
• Tablet
• TV
• TV stand
• Video game consoles
• Video games
• Wireless mouse

Documents

• Bank documents
• Car registration and insurance information
• Checks
• Copy of birth certificate
• Copy of Social Security card
• Credit card
• Debit card
• Driver’s license
• Emergency contact list
• Enrollment documents
• Financial aid documents
• Health/dental insurance cards
• Lease (if you have an apartment)
• Passport
• Product warranties
• Renters insurance (if you have an apartment)
• Student ID

Desk/School Supplies

• Address book
• Backpack or tote bag
• Binder clips
• Binders
• Business cards
• Calculator
• Calendar
• Cards/notes to send home
• Clicker (if you need one for class)
• Desk chair
• Desk lamp
• Desk organizer
• Envelopes
• Erasers
• File folder for important documents
• Folders
• Glue
• Highlighters
• Hole punch
• Index cards
• Journal
• Laptop fan/stand
• Leisure books (one or two)
• Letter opener
• Notebook paper
• Notebooks
• Notepads
• Paper clips
• Pencil case
• Pencil sharpener
• Pencils
• Pens/colored pens
• Planner
• Portfolio/portfolio case for interviews
• Post-it notes
• Rubber bands
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Stamps
• Staple remover
• Stapler
• Staples
• Tape
• Textbooks
• Three-hole punch
• Wite-Out

Medical

• Allergy medicine
• Aloe lotion
• Antiseptic wipes
• Bandages
• Birth control
• Blister bandages
• Cold and flu medicine
• Condoms
• Cortisone cream
• Decongestant
• Eye drops
• First aid kit
• Hot and cold packs
• Humidifier
• Insect repellent
• Multivitamins
• Over-the-counter pain medication
• Prescription medicine
• Prescription refill information
• Retainer/mouth guard
• Rubbing alcohol
• Supplements (iron pills, etc.)
• Thermometer
• Thermometer covers
• Throat drops/lozenges
• Throat spray
• Upset stomach medication
• Vaseline

Misc.

• Art supplies
• Beach towel
• Bike
• Bike helmet
• Bike lock
• Board games
• Duct tape
• Earplugs
• Fan
• Flashlight
• Lightbulbs
• Luggage tags
• Musical instruments
• Pepper spray (if legal in your state)
• Playing cards
• Religious materials
• Safety pins
• Safety whistle
• Sleep mask
• Sports equipment
• Suitcase
• Tool kit
• Travel bags/travel organizer for toiletries
• Umbrella
• Vacuum
• Weekend bag
• Yoga mat

"Women Against Feminism," a social media movement for women who have issues with with modern feminism, is stirring up debate online.

The group, which describes itself on its Facebook page as "women's voices against modern feminism and its toxic culture," posts photos on social media of women holding signs stating why they don't need or believe in feminism. As of today, they have over 10,000 Facebook "likes" in addition to thousands of Tumblr followers, and they have also been trending on Twitter. 

However, "Women Against Feminism" has sparked outrage online from students, feminists and others who believe that the group is "woefully misinformed." 

"Call me overly optimistic, but I thought that the outdated image of a feminist as a bra-burning, rage-filled, hairy-legged, smelly, rude, oppressive misandrist had gone out the window years ago,"says Bustle writer Elizabeth Ballou. "Nowhere in the foundations of feminism is there an explicit message of hatred against men, or an indication that women are superior to men."

Students are also voicing their concerns about the potentially negative consequences of this anti-feminist movement. 

"Feminism is about equality,"says Juliana Rose, a senior at the University of Montana. "The majority of moderate feminists want equality, and that is it. These women [against feminism] are not only uniformed, but dangerously so. By decrying feminism they are abandoning women everywhere who still need it." 

Despite the heated backlash the group has received, the controversy has provoked a wider conversation online between feminists and non-feminists alike about feminism itself, what it really means and whether we still need it today. 

Where do you stand? Let us know in the comments below! 

Famous funny man Jonah Hill took on a more serious real-life role this weekend as the officiant in pal Adam Levine’s wedding to Victoria’s Secret model Behati Prinsloo. Do we wish we were there to bear witness? Why yes, yes we do.

According to Us Weekly, Hill, 30, and the Maroon 5 frontman, 35, have been friends since their middle school days. “Our dads met in the principal's office in junior high,” the 22 Jump Street star explained to Howard Stern in a recent interview. “We were in carpool, we lived at each other's houses." 

The ceremony, which took place on July 19 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, was a star- studded event with over 300 guests, including Robert Downey Jr. and Jason Segel, E! Online reports.

Levine and Prinsloo began dating in 2012. After a brief split in May 2013, they reconciled, and, in July of the same year, Levine popped the question (We can only imagine how adorable he looked on one knee!). During their time apart, Levine dated Sports Illustrated model Nina Agdal, whom he reportedly informed of his engagement via text message.  

Apparently, though Levine may be a bit of a serial dater, he keeps his friends (like Jonah Hill) closer than anyone!

We know you're not supposed to imagine the ideal boyfriend, because nobody's perfect. But if we had to take a stab at pinpointing the perfect boyfriend, we'd say there are some pretty great candidates in the country-music scene. Here are 17 reasons we think dating a country artist would be a great idea.

1. First things first … southern accents. 'Nuff said.

Southern accents are so hot, even Harry Styles tried to rock one.

2. Cowboy hats are pretty hot, too.

3. Listening to their songs has a way of making you feel better.

4. They know how to compliment you.

5. They're not afraid to show their weaknesses.

6. They're always there when you need them.

7. They're full of great, heartfelt advice.

8. They're strong and they can always defend you if need be.

9. They’ll take you on awesome road trips in their trucks.

10. They’ll make sacrifices for you.

11. They give you the best hugs.

12. They’ll put you on a pedestal.

13. You’re always on their mind.

14. They know you’re a little crazy...

15. ...and they love it.

16. They’re not afraid of commitment.

17. And, let's face it:

Country singers are gentlemen who put our needs first and love giving us compliments. What more could we ask for? Betcha they would make the best boyfriends – even though Luke Bryan is already taken.

Every girl loves a nice compliment... unless it's so backhanded that we wonder if it was really an innocent compliment gone wrong or if the person is just a complete a**hole.  Some people may be trying to be nice with their compliments, but sometimes it would be best if they just didn't give out compliments at all. Here are 11 backhanded compliments, how they are said and how we really interpret them. 

1. What is said:

“I don’t know how you don’t have a boyfriend/girlfriend yet!”

What we hear:

“There must be a giant 10-foot pole of crazy sticking out of you somewhere we don’t know about, and it must keep every potential dating partner from coming near you.”

2. What is said:

“You have such a unique style.”

What we hear:

“What the hell are you wearing?”

3. What is said:

“You have such a pretty face.”

What we hear:

“Your face is great, but can we get a giant potato sack to cover the rest of your heinous body? Every time I look at it I cringe. ”

4. What is said:

“I can’t believe how good you look lately; I barely recognize you!”

What we hear:

“It used to be easy to pick you out of the crowd because you were stuck in your terrifying awkward stage, but I'm so glad to see you've grown out of it and look like an unrecognizable, good-looking person.”

5. What is said:

"No, no, no - you’re not fat. You’re just (big boned, thick, curvy, etc.)."

What we hear:

“You are a huge human. I can’t tell if you’re fat or if you're so curvy that you look like a human speed bump.”

6. What is said:

“Wow, you're really good at doing your makeup!” 

What we hear:

"Thank God you know what you're doing with that."

7. What is said:

“You're so photogenic.”

What we hear:

“You look so beautiful in pictures, but when we come face-to-face with your human version, you're actually hideous.”

8. What is said:

“I love going out with you because you really don’t care what people think.”

What we hear:

“I love going out with you because you're such a hot mess that I look like the classy, put-together friend.”

9. What is said:

“I love that you're so confident about your body type.”

What we hear:

“It’s great that you rock those curves and huge a**, because if that was my body, I would hide in a cave and eat nothing but celery for 12 years.”

10. What is said:

“I wish I was brave enough to wear that outfit!”

What we hear:

“You have some serious courage to walk out of the house in something that only covers a third of your body.”

11. What is said:

"You don’t take crap from anyone; I love how strong-willed you are."

What we hear:

“I wouldn’t want to cross you in a back alley. You’re a crazy, controlling b*tch who will knock down anyone who’s in her way.”

Ever seen an episode of The Vampire Diaries? How about The Perks of Being a Wallflower? The Roommate? If so, then chances are you're familiar with Nina Dobrev, the 25-year-old, Bulgarian-born, Toronto-raised actress and star of The CW's hit supernatural drama, The Vampire Diaries (of which we are the ultimate fan).

If you've been living under a rock for the last few years, The Vampire Diaries is a show about pair of smoking hot vampire brothers, Damon and Stefan Salvatore, who return to their hometown of Mystic Falls and become captivated with high school human Elena Gilbert (played by Dobrev). In later seasons Nina also plays the character of Katherine Pierce, a vampire with a vengeful streak and a penchant for stilettos. While playing two characters, often in the same episode, would be challenging for most young actresses, Nina effortlessly switches between the two personas by altering her body language and her confidence, making it immediately apparent which character is on screen.

In addition to being a phenomenal actress (and totally gorgeous), Nina has made a name for herself on the red carpet with her consistently spot-on fashion choices, often opting for bold colors and figure-flattering silhouettes. While Nina definitely has an eye for fashion, she gets help putting together event outfits from her celebrity stylist, the amazing Ilaria Urbinati, whose celeb clients include Ian Somerhalder, Bradley Cooper, Ryan Reynolds, Elle Fanning and Ashley Greene.

HC was lucky enough to be able to chat with Nina and Ilaria about their upcoming projects, their opinions on color, their own personal styles and, yes, the final season of The Vampire Diaries. Check out the video on HC's YouTube channel below!

Here at HC, we love our accessories, and we fell head-over-heels for the idea of using colored contacts as a bold, bright and unexpected accessory to any outfit; we admit to trying out different colored contacts virtually on Alcon's website for hours! We also love that Nina emphasized that wearing contacts or makeup isn't about changing yourself; it's about emphasizing the features you're already lucky to have! 

So obviously, we're still swooning over Nina's upcoming projects (Let's Be Cops comes out on August 13 - you know we'll be there!), and Nina's excitement about attending her very first Fashion Week in Paris was adorable, refreshing and totally tied into Ilaria's response about the exotic and daring influence of European style. Ooh là là! Throughout the whole interview, we couldn't help but feel like we were just talking about clothes and fashion with our girlfriends, and we loved every minute of it.

Make sure to catch up on The Vampire Diaries before the sixth and final season premieres on the CW on October 2, and keep an eye out for the sure-to-be impeccably dressed Nina Dobrev on the red carpet at the Young Hollywood Awards on July 28 and the Teen Choice Awards on August 10!