Every company is different when it comes to asking for and receiving a compensation increase. Who do you need to talk to firstyour direct manager or your Human Resources team? How often are your reviewsevery 3 months, every 6 months, or just once a year? When exactly are these reviews?

Once you have this sorted out, the structure will guide in you in how to start the process.

Before you walk into any discussion about your raise, be sure to do your research! Use websites like Payscale and Comparably to gather information on what a typical salary range is for your position in your industry. Keep in mind that salaries vary by industry, company size, and your experience.

It's best to have multiple data sources so that you can get a better picture for yourself, and to build a stronger case.

What value do you add to the position, team, and company? What impact have you already had? What are you doing outside of your given job responsibilities?

These are great questions to answer prior to your discussion, and great topics to bring up. We're sure everyone realizes how much of a rockstar you are, but sometimes you need to be your own cheerleader.

Your raise discussion should be presented in a clear, mature, and organized way. Be honest and precise about your expectations so that your manager or HR team can clearly understand and help meet your expectations.

Don't compare yourself or your salary to others. It's not about how much a specific person is making, it's about how you are contributing to the greater good.

It is ideal to have an in-person conversation, but be sure to send a follow up email with the detailed research you presented during your discussion.

Give a Range Instead of a Specific Number

It's better to give a realistic range between X and Y rather than one number.

Women tend be a bit more conservative in their ask. Set a reasonable range in which the lower value is never less than what you need.

You should be proud of yourself for doing your research, knowing your self-worth, and advocating for yourself! It's not easy, but is something that is so important to practice and own.

Keep climbing, ladies! See you at the top!

Want to take this advice with you or share it with a friend? Download the below!



Click through for tips on how to negotiate the salary you deserve, so together we can bridge the gender pay gap.

We've compiled these tips on how you can negotiate the salary you deserve, so together we can bridge the gender wage gap.

Tools Needed: A brush, a comb, two hair ties, and multiple bobby pins
Works For: All hair types (especially curly hair) with shoulder-length strands or longer
Time to Complete: 10 minutes

Why You'll Love It:
This is the grown-up version to your pigtail braids, says LaFond. Not just sophisticated and stylish but also super easy to do (you've probably been braiding your hair since you were little), this style checks everything off the list.

How to Do It:
1. After brushing your hair and parting it down the center (you can even use a pencil to help with this!), section out two top pieces at the front of your hair, about a half an inch each.
2. Braid each side, securing with a small hair tie.
3. Leaving the braids loose in the front, gather roughly three quarters of the top of your loose hair and clip it up.
4. Take the braids from the front and pin the ends at the nape of your neck between the top and bottom portions of your hair.
5. Release the top section of your hair to hide the pins.

Secret Beauty Weapons:
Use a leave-in cream and curl definer beforehand like Davines LOVE Curl Cream and Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Quinoa Frizz Control Gel to reduce frizz and create definition.

Pro Tip:
"Tease the hair back by the nape of the neck so when you bobby pin the braids back, they have something to hold on to. It's like a foundation," says LaFond.

Tools Needed: A curling iron, a brush, a bobby pin, and two hair ties
Works For: Straight to wavy hair types with longer length and long layers
Time to Complete: 15 minutes

Why You'll Love It:
If you hate having your hair falling in your face while you're looking down at your laptop. It's especially great for warmer months because, "all your hair is up off your neck and it looks cute and classy at the same time," says LaFond.

How to Do It:
1. Begin by adding some texturizing spray and hairspray for hold. Also apply a heat-protectant (we love Bumble and bumble. Hairdresser's Invisible Oil) to prep for the curling iron.
2. Take random sections of your hair and curl them in alternating directions.
4. Brush your hair back into a ponytail, spritzing more hairspray as you go, and secure with a hair tie.
5. Use your fingers to gently push hair at the crown forward for a little bit of volume.
6. Take a short piece from your ponytail and wrap around the hair tie and pin underneath to hide the elastic.
7. Create your fishtail (need a refresher? Check out our handy guide.)
8. Gently tug on pieces of the braid to add texture.
9. Finish with hairspray.

Secret Beauty Weapons:
Try a hairspray like amika Touchable Hairspray for flexible hold without any tacky residue left behind, so you can restyle again and again. Add curls with the 0.25 mm attachment of amika 5P Interchangeable Barrel Curler.

Pro Tip:
Not ready to dive in with a fishtail braid? Achieve a similar style by creating a "standard braid, then secure with a ponytail holder or rubber band and pull it out a little to give it a bit more fluff," says LaFond.

Tools Needed: A flat iron, a brush, a bobby pin, and two hair ties
Works For: Straight to wavy hair types with longer length and no layers
Time to Complete: 5 minutes

Why You'll Love It:
It looks more intricate than it actually is (but we won't tell your coworkers)if you can twist, then you can do this. The best part? "This is a set-it-and-forget-it look," says LaFond. That means no hairs falling out of place.

How to Do It:
1. If your hair is straight, you're already halfway there, but if you have slightly wavy strands, begin by removing any curl using a flat iron (but don't forget to prep with heat protectant!), then add gel for smoothness and shine once you're done.
2. After, brush your hair into a ponytail and secure with a hair tie. Spritz with hairspray for hold.
3. Take a short piece from the ponytail and wrap around the hair tie and pin to hide the elastic.
4. Separate the ponytail into two sections. Twist one over the other while twisting the individual sections themselves simultaneously so the style holds better. Secure with a hair tie.
5. Gently tug on sections throughout the ponytail for a softer finish.
6. Finish with another spritz (or two) of hairspray.

Secret Beauty Weapons:
Apply a styling gel like PARLOR by Jeff Chastain Reworkable Hold Paste to add shine, hold, and control for your sleek style. Smooth any waves or curls beforehand with amika The Confidante Moisture Maintenance Styler.

Pro Tip:
For all the curly girls out there: if you think your coils are too wild for this style, think again. All you have to do is "smooth the edges of your hair with a flat iron first, or at least brush it out so you don't have frizz on the sides," says LaFond.

Tools Needed: A curling iron and multiple bobby pins
Works For: All hair types with shorter length and layers
Time to Complete: 10 minutes

Why You'll Love It:
If you've got shorter hair, it's tricky to gather all those loose, wispy strands into one bun, ponytail, or braid. "But with this style, you get that updo feel without it looking super 'done,'" says LaFond. It's still polished enough for daytime but also has some rough 'n tumble texture for a more after-hours vibe.

How to Do It:
1. Apply heat protectant to hair before using the curling iron, then mist a texturizing spray all over to add more grit.
2. Take random sections of your hair and twist around the barrel (this makes waves look more natural and less done). Mist hairspray all over.
3. Once you're done, backcomb strands at the roots to add more volume.
4. Take roughly three quarters of your hair and twist this section inward. Secure with a few bobby pins at the nape of your neck, leaving any hair below this point loose.
5. Take the remaining small section and wrap it around that loose portion to gather it into a short ponytail. Add bobby pins to hold. Keep shorter front layers out to frame your face.
6. Finish with hairspray.

Secret Beauty Weapons:
Spritz a texturizing spray like amika Un.Done Texture Spray for added volume and effortlessly tousled strands. Create even more height by curling strands with the 0.25 mm attachment of amika 5P Interchangeable Barrel Curler. It's all about that oomph with this style.

Pro Tip:
Save even more time in the a.m. by curling your hair the day before so it looks more lived in. "This [style] is great on hair that has a good amount of product in it for grip so that it doesn't fall flat," says LaFond. "You can skip the first step of curling it if you already did it yesterday." Getting more mileage out of yesterday's 'do? We're all for it.

Tools Needed: A flat iron and bobby pins
Works For: Straight to wavy hair types with shoulder-length strands and longer
Time to Complete: 10 minutes

Why You'll Love It:
It combines three of our favorite stylesbeach-babe waves, the tried-and-true half-up, half-down look, and an effortless topknotinto one. You "still look put-together without having to do too much to your hair," says LaFond.

How to Do It:
1. Start with second-day hair for this look since it has extra grit. Even better, it gives you an excuse to skip washing that morning (score!).
2. Mist texture spray all over and spritz dry shampoo directly on your roots to absorb any visible oil, especially the crown of your head, since this portion will be front and center for this style.
2. Don't forget your heat protectant before using a flat iron to create soft waves. Place the flat iron in your hair, twist in one direction, hold for a few seconds, and then take it out. Go down the hair shaft a few inches and do the same thing, but rotate in the opposite direction.
3. Repeat throughout your entire head. If you have wavy hair already, you can either skip this step or enhance your natural waves.
3. Gather a large section of hair at the crown of your head. Finger-comb and begin to twist hair into a topknot, securing the style with bobby pins all around.
4. Finish with hairspray.

Secret Beauty Weapons:
Remove the moisture from your scalp so your bun looks and feels soft with a dry shampoo like amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo formula. Get mermaid waves by curling with amika The Confidante Moisture Maintenance Styler (yes, you can create kinks and coils with a flatiron too!).

Pro Tip:
"Always make sure you have a bobby pin on hand in case the topknot loosens during the day," says LaFond.

All hairstyles provided by Naeemah LaFond with style assist by Michael Warren.

Styling your hair for work doesn't have to be well, work.

In the morning there are snooze buttons, outfit decisions, and maybe even little ones demanding your time before you head to the office every day, but you don't need a ton of products, tools, or time to have a good hair day.

To get work style inspiration, we journeyed to [amika styleblow](https://www.amikastyleblow.com/), a styling-only destination in Brooklyn, New York, where [Naeemah LaFond](http://www.naeemahlafond.com/), global artistic director for the brand, showed us how to do five easy and sophisticated hairstyles for the office that you can achieve in 15 minutes or less. They're so effortless and chic, you'll probably want to rock 'em even when you're not on the clock.

A Weeks Worth of Easy Hairstyles That Are Perfect for Work (and Beyond!)

One of the most common questions successful women receive is, How do you balance it all? and Can you really have it all?. However, a response that we don't hear often is, I dont do it all. I drop the ball.

That is the proud answer of Tiffany Dufu, author of Drop the Ball, a new book written to inspire and help women achieve more by doing less. Not only is Tiffany an author and public speaker, but she is also the Chief Leadership Officer at [LEVO] (https://www.levo.com/) an organization created to help advance the careers of millennial women. In addition, Tiffany also serves on the board for  [Girls Who Code] (https://girlswhocode.com/), [Girl Scouts USA] (http://www.girlscouts.org/), [Harlem 4 Kids] (http://www.harlem4kids.com/), and [StudentsFirstNY] (http://www.studentsfirstny.org/). Previously, she was the President of The White House Project.  To top it all off, Tiffany is also a wife and mother-of-two. Phew...we're tired after just listing all of those credentials!

We spoke with Tiffany, who gave us a glimpse into her life and shared ways that we can all continue to grow toward achieving our goals. Here are some of Tiffanys tips (or "Tiffanys epiphanies" as she calls them) on

This is really the root of everything that Tiffany believes in. She believes that if you ask anyone, What is Tiffanys life work? They will be able to tell you, Tiffanys life work is advancing women and girls. As you can tell from her long list of achievements, this mission is at the core of everything she does.

As a leader, Tiffany feels that,  sometimes the only thing you have is peoples faith in you. They wont have trust in you if they dont understand who you are and what you come from. Plus, the more you make it known what your purpose is, the more you can align your life and career with it.

Though you may question its worth, Tiffany believes that mentorship and being a mentee is an important relationship to foster.  You might wonder: why would someone be willing to give up her time to help you when you might not be able to give her anything in return? Tiffany believes that you shouldn't think of it that way.  She has a group of mentees who have truly changed her life. Whether its been through encouraging Tiffany to start a vlog or simply giving her fashion advice when she has to go to a big event, shes constantly gaining new insight from her younger mentees.

Her message: dont be afraid to reach out to anyone. Tiffany advises to wait in line after an event to meet the speaker and introduce yourself to everyone on the first day in the office. We may think that people dont have time for us or that they are constantly bombarded for requests for coffee dates, but these are simply missed opportunities.  If there is someone who inspires or interests you, don't hesitate to make it known.

Throughout her day, Tiffany asks herself the "drop the ball question" repeatedly: Is doing x,y, or z my highest and best use in achieving what matters most to me?

She constantly reminds herself that her lifes work is to advance the lives of women and girls, to nurture her relationship with her husband, Kojo, and to raise globally conscious children. By keeping this top of mind, she is more easily able to answer this question whenever it arises.

After speaking with Tiffany, we feel inspired to become clear on what matters most to us, and to let go of anything that doesnt help us work toward those goals and passions.

So, please join us in following Tiffanys lead to #droptheball!

If youd like to learn more about Tiffany Dufu, or her book Drop the Ball, visit her site [tiffanydufu.com] (http://tiffanydufu.com/) .

Birchbox interviewed Tiffany Dufu, author of Drop the Ball and Chief Leadership Officer at LEVO, to understand how women can achieve more by doing less.

This month, and every month, we celebrate powerful and influential women. We remember and reflect on what women all over the world have done in pursuit of equality, and celebrate those who have broken the glass ceiling (or part of it, at least). One of these incredible women is Krishanti Vignarajah, the powerhouse behind initiatives like Michelle Obamas Let Girls Learn, and her firm, Generation Impact. Krishanti Vignarajahs work is fueled by the belief that if given adequate support and opportunities, girls can change the world.

As a young girl, Vignarajah escaped the growing violence in Sri Lanka to came to America with her parents and brother. The daughter of two teachers, her parents instilled the importance of education.For me, like for so many women and girls around the world, education was the springboard - the eye-opening, world-expanding fairy dust that gave me a chance to realize my potential, says Vignarajah.

With the help of amazing teachers and mentors, Vignarajah earned a Masters degree in Political Science and a B.S. in Molecular Biology from Yale College, where she later returned for Law School. As if thats not impressive enough, Vignarajah also became a Marshall Scholar at Oxford University. I've been blessed to learn from inspiring teachers and work with amazing people every day of my life, from public schools in Baltimore to Yale to Oxford, she said.

Throughout her incredible educational journey, Vignarajah began to feel a personal responsibility to help girls around the world fulfill theirs. Enter: Michelle Obama and the Let Girls Learn initiative, which helps girls around the world to receive a quality education that empowers them to reach their full potential. Serving as Policy Director to Michelle Obama, Vignarajah worked alongside the First Lady to lead this influential initiative.

But Vignarajahs work didnt stop when the Obamas left the White House. She started her own firm, Generation Impact, which partners with nonprofits and social enterprises to create strategic partnerships and execute innovative strategies to positively impact on the world. She works to tackle issues like education, entrepreneurship and women and girls empowerment, allowing Vignarajah to continue the work she is so passionate about.

Krishanti has forged a path for so many women who are facing similar challenges that she did early in her life. She is a reminder that while weve made incredible progress, we still have a long way to goand that every effort helps.

We got the opportunity to talk to Michelle Obamas right hand woman,  Krishanti Vignarajah about her journey from Sri Lanka to the White House. 

A Former Policy Director for the White House: Krishanti Vignarajah

Why is it so important that we raise awareness for The Girl Project's mission?

CL: While changing the world feels enormous and undoable, allowing girls to get the education they want and deserve is a simpler goalthat does change the world in a powerful way. Right now, more than 50 million teenage girls are out of school and not getting the quality education they deserve. We think that's a missed opportunity. When girls have access to education, they are less likely to marry early, more likely to have healthy children, and, with each year of schooling will statistically go on to earn 20 percent more money. So when girls are educated, whole communities and economies improve. The world literally gets better! That's why The Girl Project's mission is to create brighter futures for girls by helping them graduate from secondary school. We believe that creating a world where every woman has at least a high school education is a cause people of all political and personal viewpoints can get behind.

What have been some of the most rewarding moments you've experienced since The Girl Project was born in 2013?

CL: In 2013 I gave Malala Yousafzai Glamour's Woman of the Year Award to honor her for her heroism in fighting for her own education, and all girls'. The response from our audience and our own staff was so passionate and powerful, it made us think: What can we do to help keep this cause in the spotlight? That's how the Girl Project was born.

Over the last two years, Glamour has teamed up with former First Lady Michelle Obama and the White House's Let Girls Learn initiative to host global conversations about the importance of girls' education. We've spoken with girls all over the world, and helped bring their stories to our audiences, raising significant amounts in donations. But our proudest achievement so far is that we are now active in over 100 countries around the world, making meaningful strides to keep girls in those communities in school.

In your opinion, what are the biggest issues that threaten girls receiving the education they deserve?

CL: There are so many factors that keep girls out of schoolsocial issues like bullying, gangs and low self-esteem, societal issues like conflict and civil unrest, and girl-specific issues like gender-based violence, early pregnancy and child marriage. In some countries, girls face the kind of life-or-death barriers that Malala faced, staring down violent extremists who believe girls shouldn't be educated at all. In other countries, including our own, the obstacles are subtler but no less real: Girls may be prompted to drop out because of a lack of support or the need to support a family. Those obstacles matter too, and The Girl Project takes aim as well, investing in a whole range of formal and informal programs around the world that help girls graduatethrough scholarships, mentoring, after-school programs, vocational training and even transportation to school.

This month we're celebrating what it means to be Pretty Mighty and the beauty in women's strength. What does being Pretty Mighty mean to you?

CL: The Girl Project students are nothing if not mighty! At first glance, they're cute 15-year-olds who love Beyonc and glitterbut look closer, and you'll see incredibly resilient young women. One of our Girl Project students from India walks 12 miles to school every day! Another student in Florida lived in her car for most of her junior year and still made the honor roll. A young girl in Africa lost both parents to cancer and yet stayed in school, motivated by her goal of becoming a doctor. So yes, when I think of #PrettyMighty, I think of them, no doubt.

How can we get involved in The Girl Project?

CL: You can visit our site to donateany amount can help a girl get the schooling she needs. In some countries it costs under $200 to keep a girl in school for a year! But you don't have to do it yourself: You can start a group fundraiser and gather your friends to do a bake sale, a car washwhatever interests you!to raise funds and awareness about girls' education. Also, check out The Girl Project channel on Glamour.com for regular updates on issues related to girls' education and stories about the students we help.

 Cindi Leive, Editor-in-Chief of Glamour Magazine

Learn more about how you can get involved with The Girl Project, which works to provide girls worldwide with the quality education they deserve, from *Glamour* editor-in-chief Cindi Leive.

Did you know that nearly 1 in 6 girls in the U.S. never finish high school and that 50 million girls worldwideages 12 to 18do not go beyond elementary school? Circumstances like poverty, child marriage, civil unrest, and gender-based violence (to name a few) all contribute to this staggering stat.

As a female-founded company that believes women have the power to change the world (girl power!), we consider it our duty to support initiatives like *Glamour*'s The Girl Project. Founded in 2013 after an overwhelming response to [Malala Yousafzai](http://www.glamour.com/story/happy-birthday-malala-here-are-six-reasons-we-love-you)'s Women of the Year recognition, this amazing organization works to provide girls with the tools and access they need to receive an education they desperately deserve.

To honor their cause and encourage this conversation to continue beyond International Women's Day, Birchbox has committed to donating a year of tuition for 35 first-generation students in developing countries. Learn more about how you can get involved in supporting The Girl Project by reading this interview with *Glamour*'s editor-in-chief, Cindi Leive.

Why We're Investing in Our Future: The Girl Project

Q: You've expressed the importance of women knowing what they are capable of and how talented they arebut also staying humble and grounded. How can you walk that fine line of doing both when asking for a raise or promotion?

Katia: Women are really great at understanding this type of duality because I think we are generally more self-aware. It's challenging, but it really comes down to the details of the approach: the timing of it, the reputation you have and your relationship to whomever you are speaking. It's important for your manager to understand how vested you are in the greater good and that it's what you're thinking about constantly. Of course, you are an important part of the equation and you should state your value in that role clearly. Showing that you are someone consistently thinking about the greater good and the team will go far in building your reputation. It shows leadership and humility.

Q: It's always tricky to find the right time to advocate for yourself. Any suggestions?

Katia: Timing is really important. But don't overthink it, because part of this is just practice. It won't always be perceived in the best way. It's important that you don't fear the perception and understand that it's a part of the process. One tip is to prepare your manager for the conversation. Make sure to give him/her a heads up and clearly state what you would like to get out of it. For example, something as simple as, "In two weeks I put time on your calendar to discuss my career; I'll come prepared to share how I see myself progressing in my objectives. I'd love for you to listen, and we can regroup after to discuss next steps." Stay calm and always respectful and never apologize for advocating for yourself.

Q: What if you're not sure what you're capable of?

Katia: I think that owning things that might not be your strengths is just as important as speaking up about what you can do. Showing that kind of self-awareness and humility is such a sign of maturity and leadership. Being honest and asking for help is so important. It shows a confidence that you're not someone who thinks you need to do everything and own everything to be successful. It takes a real leader to surround herself with people who are better than her and to admit areas where you may need self-development.

Q: And how about when you feel it's time to take on more?

Katia: Doing your research to understand how your job and responsibilities compare to what's out there puts you in the strongest position to ask for a change in level or compensation. You really have to know what you're asking for, because it may seem arbitrary to a manager. If you've done your research, it's a different conversation rather than just saying, "I want a 10% raise."

Q: The workplace can get competitive, especially when women are so underrepresented in high-power positions. How can you be assertive and driven, but still encourage the success of the women around you?

Katia: Birchbox is unique in the sense that the majority of our team and leadership are female. But, no matter what your work experience may be, I think the most important thing is try to think of female peers and colleagues as part of team in which the success of some impacts the potential for all. It's of course easier said than done, but I do think setting an example of giving respect and support with the expectation of receiving that in return is a start and an important step forward.

Q: Balance is such a buzzword and everyone always talks about how important it is. What's your take?

Katia: I learned to prioritize better once I became a mom. I realized that you do a lot of things that you don't have to do. The important stuff starts to rise to the top of your to-do list and not everything is urgent anymore.

Q: When did you feel like you were in the right place in your career to pursue having a family?

Katia: It's never going to be a "good" time. It's not going to feel easy to pursue a family and still be successful in your career. Because ultimately, you haven't yet met this version of yourself and you don't know what it's going to do to you mentally or psychologically. You don't realize how efficient you become because you have new priorities. That's why I always say that working moms are Birchbox's secret weapons!

Q: And what would you tell young women who are starting out in their career who might feel like they have to be working 24/7 in order to get ahead?

Katia: Learning to set boundaries early is great practice. You have to take care of yourself and do things that make you happy, or else you'll be miserable in both areas of your life. If you're not happy, you're not going to do your best work. It is possible to have a successful career and a meaningful personal life.

We tapped our ultimate workplace hero, Birchbox CEO Katia Beauchamp, to share some of the important lessons she's learned about working towards professional and personal goals.

You know that quote, "Do what you love and you'll never work another day in your life"? It sounds so simple. We believe wholeheartedly that a career is so much more fulfilling when you're doing something that is meaningful to you, and most of all, that makes you happy. But at the end of the day, making that happen is not always easy.

So, in honor of Women's History Month this March, we decided to tap our ultimate workplace role model, Birchbox CEO Katia Beauchamp. Here, she shares three of the most important lessons she's learned over the years for creating a career that serves you in the process of working toward your professional (and personal!) goals.

3 Work (Life) Lessons From Birchbox's CEO

In Pursuit Of: A Raise

A Weeks Worth of Easy Hairstyles That Are Perfect for Work (and Beyond!)

Drop the Ball: Tiffany Dufu

A Former Policy Director for the White House: Krishanti Vignarajah

Why We're Investing in Our Future: The Girl Project

3 Work (Life) Lessons From Birchbox's CEO