Fail to Fab: Beating the Heat on a Hot Date

By: Jess Downey, Copy Cutie

Fail: I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a cold weather gal — I’d much rather trudge for miles through snow and ice than walk a block in 90 degrees of hostile humidity. Of course, this can put an, um, damper on my dating life during the summer.

One night a few years ago I had plans to meet a guy for first meeting drinks, and since the bar was close to my place it seemed logical to walk there. I put on a cute sundress, some strappy sandals and headed off, thinking I’d be cool in my dress. At first I was fine, but by the fourth block I started feeling the heat. By the time I arrived at my destination I felt like a drippy mess. I wanted to duck inside the bathroom for a quick glance in the mirror … but my date was sitting at a table near the door, saw me immediately and said hello. But instead of introducing myself I said, “Sorry, I sweat when I’m nervous.” My date just sat back down with a horrified look on his face.

Though this could have been far worse, I spent most of the night feeling like a fool. And on most dates that take place during the summer, I find that even if I don’t make ridiculous comments I spend far too much time worrying about being hot, meaning I’m not my true self or as present in the date as I should be. And that is a total fail.

Fab: It’s easy to feel less than your best self when your hair is flat and frizzy and you feel like you’re drowning in sweat. But keep in mind that when it’s 100 degrees out long after the sun goes down, everyone is hot — not just you. Avoid letting the temps be the focus of your date and just rock your fab self.

If it’s possible, get to the location a few minutes early. That way you can make a quick bathroom trip to pat some water on your face or check your hair. You can also grab a table or a seat at the bar and have a glass of water while you wait.

Lastly, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. Don’t be afraid to plan the date a little bit later than you normally would if you need to. Rushing around when it’s hot out can make you feel like you’ve done intense circuit training at the gym and can also amp up your nerves. Plus, the later the date, the better chance you have of the weather cooling off — an added bonus.

Remember: Summer lovin’ can be a blast. Just don’t let the heat make you lose your cool.