Aww I wish I could lend you guys a hand, but I haven't be particularly successful at it myself but it continue to improve. I lack some quality in me that make me a lot harder than it has to be to look friendly. There is sadly however no medicine to cure shyness, and only you can change it. Normally the only medicine I can think off is alcohol but you don't want to look drunk other beside going to a bar/club etc... so that doesn't help. I find it best to have someone go with you but like the OP said he a loner, so that a no go. No worry, I myself am a loner, though I shouldn't be if it wasn't for my previous social anxiety crap.
Well take it from me with a grain of salt, but if anyone knew me in real life before this past year, I was the shyest person in my school. Sigh but I was voted most gayest guy in my senior yearbook, not because I was gay but because I could never talk to a girl, so everyone assume I was gay. I mean comon do I look gay? It just recently that I stop caring what other think of me, and I decided to approach the prettiest girl I know, and I actually help a long and interesting conversation. It really help commenting and I turn her frown upside down
, and she start inviting me to meet her friend and etc... now there a sad ending but I won't get into it, as it just one of those many mistake in my life so far.
I never got to see her after (mistake) but I started to feel really confidence, started to dress nice, and before I know it, sometime girl approach me because off my fashion sense and after a few positive event that transpire, I am more confidence then I have ever been. Granted, I never got any girl phone number, but from what I been through and to what I am now is quite a accomplishment. And the most shocking surprise of this whole event is that once I start to talk to these girls, I never wanted it to end, and I love cracking jokes left and right, and it was simply amazing. I never even talk to a girl before or even know how to socialize but word just came out of head and through my heart, and it was genuine and that what really count.
Approaching a girl is the hardest part, but once you overcome that barrier talking is one of the most fun and fulfilling things in life.
Sorry if you guys are mentioning making friends rather than getting a gf
Chris