Wikimedia Commons
Attending prom means that you’re going to have to dig deep into your wallet. Everything from a prom dress to a manicure can all add up to cost hundreds of dollars. Even for boys, the cost of a tux can be extremely pricey. But this is all going towards one of the most special nights in one’s high school experience.

Let’s start off with the attire for a girl. A decent prom dress usually starts at around a hundred bucks. They range anywhere from 100 to, yes, maybe even 1,000 dollars. Beautiful prom dress designers like Sherri Hill have dresses beginning at 300 dollars. Shoppers can look online at promgirl.com for an array of gorgeous dresses. For a guy, renting or buying a tux is usually a go-to. Those tend to cost about 100 dollars per night, if renting.

“For this year, I’m planning to shop online [for a dress]” Mallory Millard (10) said. “There are a lot of more options online and going to the mall and trying a bunch of dresses on can get really tiring. The biggest concern I have is the price. Good quality prom dresses are really expensive and not a lot of places offer to rent you a dress for the night.”

Since prom dresses are traditionally floor length, they tend to cover feet, and hide one’s shoes. With that being said, many girls do not spend money investing in a pair of new high heels or flats, since it won’t be shown.

Next, for the beauty portion of the evening. To make girls feel extra special on their big night, most usually get a manicure and pedicure to pamper themselves. Manicures usually round out to be about 20 to 30 dollars, and pedicures about 20. So, a full mani-pedi set would be around 40 to 50 bucks.

“Manicures are very important” Lauren Napier (10) said. “Your look is only complete with pretty nails. Pedicures are optional, because no one can see your feet, but if you’re going all in, I recommend it.”

Hair is up next. Getting your hair done is a vital part of getting ready for prom. Going to the salon and getting your hair washed and straightened, curled, or pinned up can be pretty pricey. Salons like the Dry Bar located all around the Bay Area start at 45 dollars, not including tip.

Now for one of the most important elements of prom besides the dress: makeup. A lot of girls schedule appointments at department stores to have their makeup done by a professional. Makeup brands like MAC, Chanel, NARS and more offer to do your makeup. There is no fixed price, but you are required to purchase a couple of products that add up to a minimum of 50 dollars. However, other girls opt to do their makeup at home, which is free of course.

And let’s not forget about the price of a prom ticket. Those are sold online or in Manzanita for 120 dollars throughout the week.

All in all, a low-end priced night would probably total up to be around 300 to 400 dollars. On the high-end side of things, it’s possible to exceed the 1000 dollar boundary.