Good job! I like First Scene and Hair, but I'm especially impressed by the creativity in your category set. If you can't change the cap, change the colors. :D I like them all, but especially #3, the vintage coloring gives it such a melancholy air, and #4, very artistic.
eta: because you explicitly asked for hints to improve: it's no coincidence that I picked the icons from your set that have a lot of contrast. I suggest adding light and contrast to your icons.
If you're working with Photoshop, try adding a Gradient Map Adjustment Layer (with a simple black-white gradient) and set it to screen to lighten the image. Set it to Soft Light to increase contrast. Play with the opacity of the adjustment layer until you like how it looks.
You can get a similar effect with a Levels Adjustment layer, just slide the middle (grey) arrow and/or the right (white) arrow to the left to lighten up the image. If you don't have Photoshop, simply use the Levels tool.
As a rule of thumb, you want to end up with an icon whose focus (i.e. usually the person) is not darker than the rest of it.
If you have any questions because I wasn't clear in my descriptions, feel free to ask, I'm always happy to help. (I'm off for the next week though so it may take a while.)
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eta: because you explicitly asked for hints to improve: it's no coincidence that I picked the icons from your set that have a lot of contrast. I suggest adding light and contrast to your icons.
If you're working with Photoshop, try adding a Gradient Map Adjustment Layer (with a simple black-white gradient) and set it to screen to lighten the image. Set it to Soft Light to increase contrast. Play with the opacity of the adjustment layer until you like how it looks.
You can get a similar effect with a Levels Adjustment layer, just slide the middle (grey) arrow and/or the right (white) arrow to the left to lighten up the image. If you don't have Photoshop, simply use the Levels tool.
As a rule of thumb, you want to end up with an icon whose focus (i.e. usually the person) is not darker than the rest of it.
If you have any questions because I wasn't clear in my descriptions, feel free to ask, I'm always happy to help. (I'm off for the next week though so it may take a while.)