Remedies for Grooming Gaffes

It's happened to even the fussiest, tidiest, most careful among us: An attack of bad breath renders you mute for the afternoon, or your usually clean 'do reeks of cigarette smoke after a night out. But hope is not lost: Here are quick fixes for 14 grooming nightmares.

-- Michelle Hainer

Your shoelace breaks, leaving you with a frayed mess . "Wrap the end in Scotch tape a few times," recommends Daniel Pegnato, manager of Fortuna's Shoe and Luggage Repair in Bethesda. Or, if the laces are made of nylon, sear the end with a lighter, he says. "It'll melt the individual hairs together."

You've got a nasty zit -- which you just made worse by picking at it . "If you don't apply the correct pressure, you can actually squeeze the bacteria further into the skin," says Judith Koritsas, an aesthetician and co-owner of Celadon spa in the District. She recommends applying ice, followed by an antibacterial ointment such as Neosporin. Next time you get the urge to pop a pimple, make sure a whitehead is visible, and "gently press inwards and upwards after a hot shower," she says.

Your new pants need to be hemmed, but you're dying to wear them . In a pinch, use double-sided tape, says April Reardon, owner of Velvet Lounge, a clothing boutique in Frederick. "Just iron the tape to create a crease at the bottom of the pants," she says. Another quick fix: Topstick hairpiece tape ($3.95 at http://www.adiscountbeauty.com/ ).

You applied your makeup in a dimly lit room and now you look like you're auditioning for the circus . "Lightly press a damp washcloth to your face to remove excess powder and foundation," says Laura Mohberg, a global makeup artist for Clinique. To soften severe lipstick, Mohberg recommends blotting a few times and then applying lip balm or gloss.

After dinner, you have food stuck in your front teeth, and there's nary a piece of dental floss in sight . If you can't get it out with your fingernail or a toothpick, Richard Price, a spokesman for the American Dental Association, suggests holding a gulp of water in your mouth while keeping your lips tightly pressed together. Forcing the water forward with your tongue may dislodge the food.

You were at a smoke-filled bar last night, and your hair still smells like an ashtray the next morning . Fabric softener sheets leave your laundry smelling fresh, and they'll do the same for your tresses, according to Norbert Amsellem, owner of Norbert Hair Designers in the District. Simply rub the sheet over your head to remove the offensive odor. If you don't have one handy, a dusting of lavender baby powder will also temporarily mask the smell of smoke, says Lauren Bourland, a hair stylist at Toka Salon in downtown Washington. (Try Johnson's Lavender & Chamomile Baby Powder, about $3 to $5 at drugstores.) To camouflage powder residue, follow up with a spritz of hair spray.

You've got a serious case of staticky hair . That fabric softener sheet will also remove static. If you don't have one handy, rub a dime-sized dab of hand cream between your palms and then smooth your hands over your hair.

The thong on your flip-flop breaks as you're walking . If the shoe is plastic, just pop the strap back into place. For leather sandals, try Shoe Goo or Shoe Goo II (about $6 at most hardware stores), says Pegnato. "When it dries, it won't do any serious damage, and it'll allow the shoe to give while you're walking," he says. "Never use Krazy Glue on leather. It destroys it."

You went a little heavy on the garlic bread at lunch . "Sugarless gum or mints will help mask the odor, because they keep saliva flowing and make the mouth moist," says Price. But unfortunately, until your body fully digests odoriferous foods such as garlic or onions, their smell will linger. In short: "Don't eat the onion -- or hang around with people who ate them too," says Price.

You want to wear a short-sleeve shirt, but your elbows are dry and cracked . "Use a glycolic cream twice a day, which will act as an exfoliant," says Koritsas. One to try: MD Formulations Hand & Body Creme ($35 at http://www.skinstore.com/ ). In addition, try gently rubbing your elbows with a salty body scrub once or twice a week. Try Mor Hot Salt Rub ($25 at http://www.planetbeauty.com/ ).

You've got a hangnail that you're just itching to rip off . "Tearing it can lead to infection and swelling," says Koritsas. Instead, use a cuticle nipper to gently trim the hangnail close to the skin. Try Tweezerman Rockhard Stainless Cuticle Nippers ($25; see http://www.tweezerman.com/ for store locations). Never use scissors, she cautions. "They're too thick and are more likely to tear the hangnail."

Your shoes are so scuffed, they look like you bought them a decade ago . Condition them with spray lotion, then polish them, says Pegnato. "They'll come right back to life." He recommends Meltonian Leather Lotion and Meltonian Shoe Cream (about $4.25 and $2.75 at shoe repair shops). To keep shoes in tiptop shape, it's best to condition and polish them once a month, or at the very least, once a season, he says.

You got a lunchtime lip wax and now have the red marks to prove it . Dab plain yogurt on your skin. Its cold temperature will help reduce redness. Another tip: "Ice is one of the best things to take down inflammation," says Koritsas. Wrap the ice in gauze and apply to the affected area for 10 minutes.

A bad shave has left you red and bumpy . "Use a moisturizer that contains aloe after you shave to help soothe the skin," says Kara Salzillo, communications manager for Gillette. To prevent razor burn, soak your skin in water for two to three minutes before shaving (or just shave in the shower). Use a shave gel rather than soap to hydrate your skin, don't press too hard on your razor to minimize friction, and change your blade at least once a week, she says.