How To Be Emo?

Music

Emo is first and foremost a music genre so you need to be involved in the music scene to avoid being called a poser. Learn to play an instrument! Or at least buy one! If you can't play you can always claim to, and you will gain instant credibility by merely owning it. Just take lots of picture of yourself holding it at creative angles to post on the internet. Can't afford a guitar? Write lyrics! Emo poetry can cover a wide range of emotions but focus on the bad ones. Sunshine and lollypops isn't very emo, so be sure to only write when angry or sad. Use poetry as a way of venting your problems. Don't have any problems? Make them up! Complain about how your comfortable suburban life is making you feel disconnected from the real world and disillusioned with life. Keep a bleak outlook on life and soon you will be writing tonnes of emo poetry! The type of bands you listen to strongly reflect on you as an emo. Bands like My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy are a good bet, but it's more credibly to listen to obscure unsigned bands with names like Reservoir Death. If the music is loud and the lyrics are miserable; its emo.

Hair Colour

Natural hair colour isn't very emo. In order to be a real emo you will need to dye your hair. Jet black and bleach blonde are very good bases, you can then add in strikes of different neon colour to really showcase your originality. Emo is all about standing out so don't be afraid to try more than one colour...but don't go too mad! Or else you'll be more Nu Rave than emo!

Hair Style

Usually around chin length in a reverse mullet (i.e. longer at the front) but can be long with lots of choppy layers. The trademark of an emo haircut is the bangs/fringe which covers ? of the face at an angle. You must cover at least one eye, this shows that you do not want to see the world or have it see you. Experiment with your hair, spike it up and give it lots of volume; You can even back comb or tease it. Finish it off by wearing lots of cute bows and Alice bands...this looks extra emo if you're a guy!

Dress Emo

You need to dress to reflect your mood. Emo style is a combination of punk and goth so much like your hair your clothes should be black with the occasional neon stripes or polka dots. Band logos are very emo and converse are practically mandatory. Nothing should fit you properly: tee-shirts a size too small, hoodies a couple of sizes too big, and most importantly jeans in a size your eight-year-sister would have trouble getting into. For accessories studded belts, fingerless gloves, band pins or badges and enough bracelets and bangles to cover your wrist; to give the illusion that you self harm.

Make up

EYELINER! It doesn't really matter what else you do to your face as long as you have lots of eyeliner on its emo. Put plenty all over the eyelids, under too. If you look like you've been punched; you're there. Apart from that just go as pale as your natural skin colour will allow and wear black nail polish.

Attitude

Attitude is everything. Typically you will be expected to be depressed and insecure. But it's more important to be sensitive and quiet. Avoid confrontation; you have to be introverted and too wrapped up in your own emotions to care about the opinions of others. But you can defend your opinions viva the internet provided you get very emotional about doing so.