Hoco Glow Up: A 2-Week Homecoming Glow Up Plan

7 min read · Glowmaxx

A hoco glow up works best when you start two weeks out: lock in a simple skin routine, get your haircut about a week before, shape brows and prep nails a few days ahead, and do a full photo trial so nothing surprises you on the night. The homecoming glow up is not about changing your face. It's about showing up rested, clean, well-lit and confident in pics you'll actually want to post.

Not sure if your skin, hair or angles are what's holding your hoco pics back? Glowmaxx scores one selfie on five things you can change and tells you which one to fix first. Start my glow-up

What hoco is (and why the photos matter)

Quick one if you're new or not from the US: hoco is short for homecoming, a fall school dance (usually September or October) tied to a football game and a week of spirit days. It's a big deal in US high schools, less of a thing in the UK and Canada, where the closest equivalents are a Year 11 or Year 13 formal (UK) or a fall semi-formal (Canada).

What is hoco really about, though? Honestly, the pictures. The dance is two hours of loud music in a gym. The pics are forever: in the group chat, on your story, on your mom's Facebook, and in your camera roll three years from now when you're cringing or glowing.

That's why a hoco glow up is less "become a new person" and more "make sure the camera catches the best version of you on one specific night."

2 weeks out: the hoco prep that actually matters

Two weeks is the sweet spot. It's enough time for your skin to calm down and for any haircut to settle, and not so long that you lose motivation.

Start the skin routine now

Big changes right before an event are how people end up with a breakout or irritation on the day. Keep it boring:

• Morning: gentle cleanser, moisturizer, SPF 30+.
• Night: cleanser, moisturizer. That's it.
• Don't start a new strong acid, retinoid or peel this close to hoco. If you already use one and your skin is fine with it, keep going.

Sleep and water, for real

This is the least exciting hoco glow up tip and the one that shows most. Tired skin looks duller and eyes look puffier. Aim for a consistent bedtime for these two weeks, especially the last three nights.

Figure out what to wear to hoco

Lock the outfit now so you have time to return, tailor or swap. What to wear to hoco depends on your school, but the usual range is:

• Girls: short or midi dresses, a two-piece set, or a sleek jumpsuit. Hoco is less formal than prom, so mini lengths are super common.
• Guys: dress pants and a button-up, a blazer with no tie, or a full suit if your group is going dressy. Match the vibe of who you're going with.
• Shoes: buy them now and wear them around the house. Blisters in pics are a whole mood killer.

Try the fit on and take a full-body mirror photo. If it doesn't sit right in the photo, it won't in the pics on the night either.

1 week out: hair, brows and the photo trial

Haircut timing

Get your cut 5-7 days before hoco. Fresh-fresh cuts can look a little sharp and uneven; a few days lets it relax. Guys with fades can go 2-3 days before if you like it crisp.

Brows and grooming

• Brows: shape them now if you're getting them done, so any redness is long gone by the night. Doing them yourself? Just clean up the strays under the arch. Don't overpluck.
• Guys: decide beard or clean shave. If you shave, do a test shave this week to see if you get bumps or razor burn.
• Nails: book or plan them for 2-3 days before. Guys: clean, short, filed. People notice hands in pics more than you think.

Do a full photo trial

This is the step most people skip, and the one that separates a good hoco glow up from a meh one. Do the full look one evening: hair, makeup if you wear it, outfit. Take pictures in the kind of light you'll actually be in, like golden hour outside and indoor overhead light.

Then look at them honestly. Is your skin shiny? Is the hair flat? Are you hunching? Is the outfit wrinkling weird at the waist?

Judging your own trial pics is hard. You either think everything looks bad or you can't tell what's off. Glowmaxx scores the selfie on skin, hair, grooming, posture and angle, and light and fit, then gives you three moves for today aimed at the weakest one. Same photo, same score, so you can compare your trial runs fairly. Start my glow-up

The night before hoco

Your hoco night before routine should be chill, not a 3-hour "everything shower" marathon that leaves your skin angry.

1. Shower and wash your hair (unless your hair looks best on day two; you know your hair).
2. Exfoliate gently only if you already do it regularly. Not the night to try a new scrub.
3. Moisturize face and body.
4. Lay out everything: outfit, shoes, accessories, phone charger, a small bag with blotting papers, lip balm, bobby pins, mints.
5. Charge your phone and clear storage. You'll be taking a lot of pics.
6. Sleep. Put the phone down. Doomscrolling hoco TikToks at 1am is not the move.

Hoco day routine

Here's a simple hoco day routine you can shift around your schedule:

Guys, the hoco glow up for guys is mostly: fresh cut, clean shave or sharp beard line, moisturized skin, a fitted outfit, and not being shiny. That's genuinely 90% of it.

Girls, the hoco glow up for girls leans on setting everything. Setting spray, a hair spray that doesn't crunch, and blotting papers for the dance.

Photo tips for the dance

Pre-hoco pics usually happen outside at someone's house or a park before dinner. These are your best shots of the night, so use them well.

• Chase the light. Golden hour (the hour before sunset) is your best friend. If it's harsh midday sun, find open shade under a tree or a porch.
• Posture check. Shoulders back and down, weight on your back foot, chin slightly forward and down. Instantly less stiff.
• Get hoco pictures with friends early, while everyone still looks fresh. For group ideas, see our hoco poses with friends guide.
• Going stag or want solo shots? Grab a few before the group arrives. Our hoco poses solo list has 12 that don't look awkward.
• Inside the dance: flash is harsh. Blot first, face the flash straight on, and don't tilt your head down.
• Take way more than you need. Burst mode, then pick later.

For hoco picture ideas beyond poses: a mirror pic in the full outfit, a detail shot of shoes or corsage, a candid of your group laughing, and a 0.5 group shot (our 0.5 selfie poses guide explains how to keep faces from stretching).

Your hoco glow up starts with one selfie

You've got the plan, now you need to know where you're starting. Take one selfie today and Glowmaxx scores your skin, hair, grooming, posture and angle, and light and fit, with a glow score out of 100 and three moves aimed at your weakest lever. Do it daily until hoco and the day-one vs today card shows you how far you came.

Start my glow-up

FAQ

How do I glow up before hoco in 2 weeks?

Start a simple skin routine now, fix your sleep, lock your outfit, get your haircut about a week out, and do a full photo trial so you can fix what looks off. Two weeks is enough for noticeable changes in skin calmness, hair and how you carry yourself in photos.

What is hoco and what does it mean?

Hoco means homecoming, a US high school tradition in the fall with a football game, spirit week and a dance. In the UK and Canada the nearest equivalents are school formals or semi-formals, though some Canadian schools have homecoming too.

What should I wear to hoco?

Hoco is usually semi-formal. Girls often wear short or midi dresses or two-piece sets; guys wear dress pants with a button-up, sometimes a blazer or suit. Check what your group is wearing so your pics look cohesive.

What's a good hoco glow up for guys?

A fresh haircut a few days before, a clean shave or tidy beard line, moisturized non-shiny skin, and an outfit that fits in the shoulders and length. Practice standing tall with your weight on your back foot so you don't look stiff.

How can I take good hoco pictures?

Shoot outside before the dance in golden hour or open shade, keep your posture relaxed, and use burst mode. Take hoco pictures with friends early while everyone still looks fresh, and grab solo shots before the group arrives.