Fail at Reality Checks?

So I haven't had a real lucid (besides that two-second accidental WILD) and I haven't been performing reality checks in my dreams (i know.. shame on me)

but i found out just now of a reality check technique where you check yourself in the mirror and see if your hair or clothes look strange.

yet, in a most recent false awakening dream, i REMEMBER looking at myself in the mirror and commenting how my hair is so long, but in REAL LIFE i cut my long hair over two weeks ago! i should have known that it was a dream just then!

did i do something wrong, or should i just keep doing reality checks in real life?

Those kinds of dream signs aren't usually enough to trigger consciousness especially to someone new to LDing (although with time they can). Plus, they are variable in each dream so you won't be able to consistently use them. I personally do the RCs every 2-3 hours. I just made a similar post in another topic, so I would just recommend you read this and make sure you combine more than 1 of these at a time.

Edit: Didn't notice you say that you tried it and it failed. This is why I always emphasize doing more than one at a time because then in a dream if it fails you will remind yourself to do another one. I would personally recommend trying poking your hand and holding your breath since the breathing one is really obvious (you'll have to test around what works best for you).

http://www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.c...ty-checks.html

When you practice your reality checks, be sure you are really increasing your awareness. Really ask yourself if it is a dream, expecting it to be one. Pay special attention to your surroundings and your memories of the past few minutes. How did you get here? Why are you here? Does this feel like a dream?

The goal is, by the time you think to do the reality check, you already know it is a dream. The reality check just proves it and gives you a minute to focus on it.

Hmm, just another thing to support combining reality checks. On my 3rd dream last night I walked into my washroom and decided to do a jump reality check. When I jumped up instead of just hopping up I floated until my head was touching the roof which is a reality check yet I still didn't become lucid at this point. Performed another one and this did it.

thanks everyone, i'll take all this into account