A Night to Remember: Breton’s Guide to a Stress-Free Homecoming

Let's dive into the magic.

We caught up with Breton, a senior at Ballou High School in Washington, D.C., to get the full scoop on her homecoming night—from the "promposal" that stopped the lunchroom to the dress that stole the show.

So Breton, tell us honestly—how was your night?

It was a night I’ll never forget. Hands down, it was the best dance Ballou High has ever thrown. Everything—from the vibe to the dinner, the DJ, and the photo ops—was set up perfectly. You could tell it was designed to help us just let go and have the time of our lives!

Let's talk beauty. What did you do for hair and makeup?

I kept it simple but elegant. A few days before the dance, I dyed my hair a deep mahogany red because I knew that shade would pop against the gold dress I bought. I did a serious prep routine the night before—double conditioning with Argan and Coconut oil, plus an Argan Oil hair mask to lock in the shine.

By the time I straightened it on dance night, it was gleaming. I was so happy with how healthy it looked.

For makeup, I didn't want to look like someone else. I went for an Alexa Chung vibe: natural, fresh, but with a little spice. My cosmetologist nailed it. She used a light bronzer to warm up my face, curled my lashes, and finished with a deep pink lip. I felt so pretty, but I still felt like me—just fresh, youthful, and fun.

Where did you find that dress?

I found it online at ASOS. To this day, it is my favorite thing I’ve ever worn.

Picture this: It was gold from top to bottom, completely covered in jewels that caught the light every time I moved. It had a high neck and long sleeves, but it balanced that out by being completely backless with side cut-outs. It fit perfectly and made me feel like a million bucks.

Did you have a date?

I did! My date was Owen Simpson. We’d been friends since tenth grade, and honestly, I’d had a crush on him since eleventh. But he’s really smart and shy, so I never really thought I had a chance.

Then, two weeks before the dance, he walked up to my lunch table wearing a bow tie. I burst out laughing because he looked so cute and flustered. I was like, "Nice tie, Owen." Then, out of nowhere, he pulled out a ukulele and started playing "Wonderwall."

The whole cafeteria stopped eating to watch him. I was a little embarrassed, but mostly amazed—it was like a movie scene! When he finished and asked me to go to homecoming with him, I immediately said yes.

What was the absolute highlight?

The best moment was right after dinner, before the party really got crazy. We all ran onto the dance floor, and I just looked around at my friends and thought, "I love my life right now." I was just so happy.

There was some drama later on in the night—you know, people realizing their dresses were too similar or fighting over boys—but that one moment of pure happiness stuck with me.

What’s your advice for girls going to their first dance?

My biggest piece of advice? Don’t stress.

Seriously, homecoming is supposed to be fun. If you try to make it into this massive, high-pressure event, you miss the point. You’re there to look good and hang out with your best friends. You get enough stress from school during the year—don't bring that to the dance floor!

Just relax, laugh it off if things go wrong, and enjoy the moment.

Breton thank you so much for sharing your experience.Girls - we want your stories, if you have been to homecoming in the last year or two please send us your experience, so we can share with the girls that are going to their first dance.