Graduation Makeup Ideas

How to do your makeup for graduation

By day, you'll you be surrounded by family (beware the cheek-pinching aunties who can't believe you're all grown up) and friends you adore. By night, you'll need a look that transitions to full on party mode. And you've got to be camera-ready on a moment's notice, since photo ops abound. Everyone will be clamoring to make memories with their FlipCams and pocket cameras. Just a little heads up, and a few hairstyle and makeup ideas for graduation day. Try on graduation makeup and hairstyles in our virtual styling studio.

"Graduation day is an exciting event, whether you realize it yet or not. Your makeup should match your mood: totally ready to party."

Unlike other milestones like prom or homecoming, graduation day is not (we repeat not) a time to experiment with complicated updos, or even basic ponytails. When you throw your tassle to one side and toss your graduation cap in the air, you want to be sure you don't worry about what is going on with your mane. Opt for a loose hairstyle, worn down. If your hair is straight, achieve soft curl with a wide barrel curling iron and keep both sides pushed to the front of your shoulders for photo ops. If it's curly, embrace it or straighten it with a flat iron and make it gleam with a shine enhancing serum.

Be sure to tote your makeup bag with you (sitting in hot weather for prolonged periods is sure to make you melt) and play up your features with colors you know to be flattering for your skin tone. More adventuress gals can experiment with looks that accent their graduation gown. Plum or mauve eyeshadows are great paired with a purple gown; blues and greens look stellar with gold. Think of a black graduation gown the way you would think of a little black dress. Red lips, red nails and lush noir lashes look fierce. Valedictorians, eat your hearts out!

If you really want to stand out from the crowd (if not for your own pleasure, then so your parents know where you're seated in the crowd at all times), play up your graduation gown not only with makeup but accessories. Some girls opt to wear colorful Mardi Gras beads or wildly colorful shoes to play up their vibrant personal style. --Stephanie Simons

TRY ON GRADUATION MAKEUP BY UPLOADING A PHOTO TO TAAZ