How to Hide in Plain Sight

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PARTS
1Looking Inconspicuous
2Avoiding Attention in Public
3Crafting an Effective Disguise
OTHER SECTIONS
Questions & Answers
Tips and Warnings
Related Articles
References
Article Summary
Co-authored by wikiHow Staff
Last Updated: July 12, 2021 References

Most of the time, people want to stand out in a crowd. However, there are cases
where it helps to go unnoticed. The trick to hiding in plain sight isn't to try to
be completely invisible, but inconspicuous. If you can pass yourself off as
completely average in a crowd, it will help you blend in as well as any camouflage.
Hiding in plain sight involves looking boring and acting casual. Even if you're
usually the sort of person that gets heads turning, there are lots of ways you can
escape being noticed.

Part
1
Looking Inconspicuous
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 1
1
Hide your distinctive qualities. Everyone has at least one physical apart that sets
them apart from the rest of the crowd. A particularly distinctive facial feature,
tattoo, birthmark or scar will all attract attention for the fact that they make
you unique. Recognize these traits in yourself, and find ways of covering them up
from view.
For instance, if you have a striking set of eyes, donning sunglasses will remove
this feature from view.
If you have tattoos on your arms, wearing a long sleeved shirt will cover them up.
If you have a distinctive facial structure, you can even out your features by
growing facial hair.
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 2
2
Dress yourself down. If you want to be inconspicuous, it practically goes without
saying that you're not going to want to dress particularly fancy, unless you're
trying to hide at a formal event. For most casual situations, it's a good idea to
dress as you think a completely average person would. Avoid clothing that has
distinctive logos or graphic designs on it.[1]
Your dress should ultimately be dictated by the setting. If you are at a formal
event, for example, dressing yourself down will only bring negative attention your
way.
It helps to know what other people will interpret as being "normal".
Although bargain bin clothing is often a good choice for hiding in plain sight,
there's sometimes the risk of those old clothes becoming fashionable again.[2]
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 3
3
Apply camouflage. If you're in a natural setting, wearing camouflage gear will
allow you to blend in with your environment. While the use of camouflage is only
helpful when you're trying to hide from a distance, it's the best-known way of
truly hiding in plain sight.[3]
Wearing camouflage gear in a public setting will attract a lot of unwanted
attention to you. Special camouflage clothes are only recommended in instances
where you have a chance at being completely hidden, and not just inconspicuous.
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 4
4
Leave the accessories at home. Accessories, like watches, pins, jewellery and
patches, exist for the sake of making a person's appearance more distinctive. If
you want to avoid attention, it's a good idea to avoid these little add-ons
completely. If you're in close proximity with people, wearing a watch or necklace
will make you more interesting to look at.[4]
If you must wear a watch, choose a discrete, non-metal watch. Avoid anything large,
chunky, blingy, or shiny.
The reason you want to avoid accessories, especially shiny ones, is because the
sparkle will catch the eye and thus earn you attention.
The one exception to wearing accessories is when you are in an environment where
everyone wears an accessory for religious purposes, such as a hijab.
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 5
5
Groom yourself without style. While being unkempt will attract its own sort of
attention your way, a distinct hairstyle will draw eyes to you. If you want to hide
in plain sight, keep your hairstyle plain and vague. Avoid anything aesthetic like
hair gels or dye. Just make sure your hair is relatively clean.[5]
If you usually gel your hair, go without it when you don't want to attract notice.
If your hair is completely natural, there won't be as much that stands out.
If you have distinctive hair and don't want to lose it for the sake of hiding,
wearing a hood or hat will cover it up for you.
An uncommon hair color(usually light-colored) or texture(i.e. big hair) relative to
the crowd can be a dead giveaway, so if you have either, cover it up under a hat or
something

Part
2
Avoiding Attention in Public
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 6
1
Obey the rules. Nothing attracts attention like breaking fee of the norm. This is
especially true if you are breaking laws. On top of risking criminal charges,
you'll draw all sorts of eyes in your direction. While this applies to obvious
felonies such as assault, it also encompasses things you may do innocently, such as
jaywalking, or treading upon park grass.[6]
Try to keep in mind what the lawful, orderly thing to do would be in every
situation you're trying to hide in.
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 7
2
Train your situational awareness. A good part of hiding from someone is knowing
where your seekers are looking. Even if you're trying to be inconspicuous to
everyone, it helps a lot to know where people are looking, and what they're
occupied with.[7]
By keeping a healthy sense of situational awareness about you, you'll be able to
avoid areas where people are more aware.
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 8
3
Follow the behaviour of people around you. Losing yourself in a crowd means
adhering to all of the crowd's norms. If there's ever a point where you're not sure
about what to do, look at the people around you for an example. Is there a common
mood around? Are the people around you walking fast or slow? All of these details
can be used to help you blend in.[8]
Stick to near the center of the crowd, but avoid the very center or the fringes.
The most inconspicuous place to be is halfway between the center and the fringe.
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 9
4
Remain silent. Although silence isn't always possible in some situations, it is a
major part of keeping a low profile. For however long you're trying to hide, avoid
unnecessary conversations and interactions with others. Make as little sound as you
can, even if you're in a relatively busy environment. Even something as innocuous
as a cough or sneeze can draw attention to you if left unchecked.
When you have to use your voice, make an effort to be only half as loud as normal.
This quietness should still make it capable to communicate when you need to, but
you won't attract attention of anyone you don't need to.[9]
If you're travelling abroad, it helps to speak in the dialect or accent of the
region. A foreign accent will immediately set you apart from the crowd.[10]
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 10
5
Act agreeable in conversation. In some cases, you won't be able to avoid
conversation with other people. If this happens to you, you should make an effort
to be pleasant and agreeable, without necessarily trying to advance the
conversation anywhere. Smile, nod, and agree with what's being said.[11]
If you're asked questions about yourself, keep your answers short and to the point.
Don't ignore the person, as this will only bring unwanted attention your way.
The word "Yes" will be your best friend if you're trying to go unnoticed in a
conversation. It can be applied as a response to questions and answers alike.[12]
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 11
6
Regulate your movements. If you're in a stressful situation and feel anxious as a
result, try to keep your movements casual. Be conscious of the pace and style
you're moving in. Keep your movements fluid, without coming across as hurried or
nervous.[13]
Someone who is walking faster than usual will give off anxious signals to anyone
watching. This can attract curiosity and attention.
If you have time to prepare in advance, it often helps to practice in front of a
mirror. That way, you'll have a better idea of the ways in which others will
perceive you.
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 12
7
Avoid eye contact. Eye contact is an important way for two individuals to
acknowledge each other. Avert your gaze from others around you. A good trick is to
keep your eyes fixed on the ground ten metres ahead of you. Although you should
keep your head down, you don't want to make it look obvious that you're
intentionally avoiding eye contact.[14]
Keep in mind that there is a difference between casually avoiding eye contact, and
looking like you're deliberately averting someone's gaze.[15] You'll inadvertently
attract more attention to yourself if someone gets the impression that you're
trying to go undetected.
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 13
8
Aim to be in the middle of a crowd. If you're hiding in a populated environment,
don't be afraid to use other people as a tool. Placing yourself in the middle of a
crowd will make it more difficult to spot you. Avoid going to the front, side or
back of a crowd, as these are usually the places people check first when they're
looking for someone.
Avoid walking in less crowded places. People to tend to notice each other more when
there aren't many people to look at.
Part
3
Crafting an Effective Disguise
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 14
1
Dye your hair a discreet color. Changing the colour of your hair is one of the
easiest ways you can recreate your appearance. If you want to disguise yourself and
blend in, it's a good idea to choose a hair colour that seems natural and common.
Shades of black and brown are good choices in this regard.[16]
Pay attention to the region. If blonde or ginger are more common in the area that
you are in, dye your hair blonde or ginger.
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 15
2
Obscure your appearance with accessories. Accessories like hats and sunglasses work
well to obscure someone's regular appearance. Sunglasses and a hat by themselves
are a great casual disguise. Other accessories like jewellery and bowties won't
necessarily obscure your appearance, but they'll add a different tone to your look
that others may not be used to seeing from you.
If you are known to dress conservatively, putting on a bunch of jewellery or flashy
colours will disguise your typical identity, even if the get-up draws attention to
you otherwise.
Keep the accessories simple and discreet. If they are too eccentric or blingy, they
will attract attention, causing people to take a closer look. They may end up
recognizing you!
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 16
3
Age your look. You can add years to your appearance by using makeup. Squint and
bit, and lightly pencil in the creases caused by your squint. It's important to
keep these cosmetic changes subtle. Otherwise, it will be easy to pick up on the
fact that it's a disguise.
If you are elderly, smooth out your facial creases with skin foundation. Dying your
hair to mask the grey or white will also help disguise your identity.
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 17
4
Change up your manner of walking. Walk for a bit in your typical manner, and
identify your walking personality. Next, change up the way you walk to suit your
intended disguise. You can tell a fair amount about a person's character and mood
by their gait, so this may keep others from recognizing you. For example:
If you're trying to look older, walk slower than you normally would. Consider
shuffling or dragging your feet.
If you're typically a fast walker, disguise your identity by walking slowly.
Likewise, you should speed up your gait if you're a more leisurely walker.
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 18
5
Bloat your face. If you are in an area with video surveillance, you may want to
take measures to change the appearance of your facial structure. Puff out your
cheeks and stuff your nostrils with toilet paper to change the shape of your face.
[17]
This technique can help you escape any facial recognition technology that may be
used to track you down.
Avoid doing this for long periods of time as the actions (like puffing out your
cheeks) may end up drawing more attention.
Image titled Hide in Plain Sight Step 19
6
Use fake facial hair. Using a fake moustache is arguably the most common and famous
type of disguise around. You can buy some facial hair from a costume store. Apply
some spirit gum (a substance used to affix fake facial hair to actors, not SPENT
gum, like chewing gum) to the area you want to have bearded, then set the disguise
on your face and allow it some time to settle.
If you need to disguise yourself quickly and are known for your facial hair,
quickly shaving it off will transform your appearance.
This can possibly work even if you're a female. You will need to use contouring to
make the rest of your face look more masculine, however.
Community Q&A
Question
What do I do if I have long dark hair? It gets tangled easily, so is it okay if I
tie it up in a high ponytail?
Community Answer
Community Answer
It depends on how you normally wear your hair. If your hair is normally worn down,
tie it up in a ponytail, braided ponytail, french braids, a single braid, or a bun.
If you normally wear your hair up, keep it down. Consider using a temporary hair
dye, extensions, or weave to give it some color to be even more unrecognizable.
Not Helpful 2Helpful 32
Question
Why would I want to hide?
Community Answer
Community Answer
There are many reasons you may want to hide in a given situation. Broadly speaking,
most people want to hide in fear of the negative repercussions of being found.
Not Helpful 8Helpful 67
Question
Why is this article saying to wear accessories and makeup when it also says to
avoid those things?
Community Answer
Community Answer
Because what to wear, how to look, and how to act will all depend up the time,
event/occasion. For example, you wouldn't want to wear pearls and a dress while at
a skating rink. They would be more suitable for a formal part, etc.
Not Helpful 3Helpful 33
Question
Where are good places to hide?
Community Answer
Community Answer
Anywhere that is dense and busy is perfect for hiding. Wide-open spaces are poor
hiding areas, as it's much easier to spot someone out.
Not Helpful 8Helpful 42
Question
How do I hide from someone I know in a crowd?
Community Answer
Community Answer
It should be pretty easy. Duck behind people and try to blend in with the
environment. For example, if you are at a dance party, don't run, that will make
you obvious and way too easy to spot. Just dance into the crowd. Participate in
group activities, especially ones that don't include the person. Try other things,
like changing your clothes/appearance as well.
Not Helpful 5Helpful 23
Question
How could I do it if I'm an 8-year-old?
Community Answer
Community Answer
Wear your normal clothes. Don�t try to act like a teenager or adult. Maybe pretend
you have different interests then you normally would. There are hair dyes that wash
out after a day and still look real, too. Do not try to do this alone in a city.
This will draw attention because you are young and others will think you are lost.
Ask an older friend or sibling (one that could look responsible for your well-
being) to help with your disguise.
Not Helpful 6Helpful 27
Question
Why do people hide from the police when they do something wrong?
Community Answer
Community Answer
People hide from the police most often because they do not want to face the
consequences of whatever they have done.
Not Helpful 21Helpful 53
Question
How can I escape the police on foot?
Community Answer
Community Answer
Don't. If you try to run and they catch you, you will face potential charges of
resisting arrest, which will be even worse for you. If you do somehow get away at
first, when you get caught, you will face greater consequences for what you've
done.
Not Helpful 25Helpful 50
Question
What's a good way to hide in plain sight if I'm tall?
Community Answer
Community Answer
If you're hiding in a more casual enviorment, having a more slouched posture might
help you seem a bit shorter, and if you don't normally slouch, it will help you
look different.
Not Helpful 6Helpful 15
Question
How do I stay hidden in a home or backyard with only one or two people around?
Community Answer
Community Answer
Camouflage should work. You could also hide in or behind bushes, trees, or tall
grass.
Not Helpful 3Helpful 14
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