Halloween is coming up soon! Most Whyvillians will go trick-or-treating but to do that, you need an awesome costume. Well, don't buy a costume just yet! Halloween costumes can be pretty dangerous, though it may seem like they're just regular Halloween costumes.
You're probably saying "What? My costume can't hurt me!" But you're wrong. Halloween Costumes or anything related to them, have safety hazards to watch out for. So before you buy a costume, check out these tips:
First of all, wear a costume that is NOT flammable. Flammable means it can easily set on fire. On Halloween, many people put candles on their porches or in pumpkins. The flame might accidentally touch your costume and damage it, but more importantly it might damage you. Thankfully, this can be avoided! Most costumes or costume pieces will tell you if they're flammable or not. Make sure it says "flame resistant" somewhere on your costume.
Secondly, wear a bright reflective costume. Trick-or-treating happens at nighttime when it's dark, and hard to see. But make sure YOU can be seen through the darkness. Cars roam the streets at night, and some kids run the risk of getting hit by one. So, make sure your costume has bright colors. If your costume is all black you can buy reflective tape from a hardware store, and put it at the front and back of your costume. Another good idea is to buy glow sticks and wear them as necklaces or bracelets. They can be sold at dollar stores. While you're there, buy a small flashlight too.
To give your costumes a little extra scare, some of you will wear masks. Masks are awesome for Halloween, and I prefer them over makeup because they're more life like. If you're wearing a mask, be sure you can SEE and BREATHE. If you can't see or breathe, then don't buy the mask. However, it's really hard to find the perfect mask. Luckily, you can always make adjustments to a bad mask. If the eyeholes are too small, have a parent cut them a little more so your eyes can be seen through clearly. Also if your mask comes with a string and the mask is too tight, have your parent cut the string and replace it with a longer one.
Some parents prefer makeup over masks. Makeup can be just as dangerous as a mask. Be certain you're not allergic to any of the ingredients in the makeup. Once, my friend was a princess and had her face covered with makeup. At the end of the night, she had an allergic reaction to her face and it was covered with hives. Eeks! Not such a pretty princess after all. Get a parent to check the ingredients on the makeup before you buy it. Also, getting Halloween makeup off is pretty hard too. Try using baby oil or cold cream, then wash your face with soap.
Trick-or-treating requires lots of walking! So don't wear a baggy or long costume because you have to be able to walk. Some girls will go as a princess and have a long dress that reaches the ground. Make sure the dress is ABOVE ankle length, so that you can see your shoes. You don't want to trip all night, and it really slows down on the trick-or-treating!
Wear comfortable shoes. This is very important, because you'll end up going to a lot of houses to get candy. Make sure you're wearing shoes that don't make your feet hurt or swell up. If you're wearing heels, make sure the heel less than 2 inches. Also, break into them first, and wear them around your house to get used to them.
Some people buy props to make their costume extra special. These props include weapons, like swords, knives and daggers. Props are also wands, torches, pitchforks, etc. All costume props should be soft and made of flexible material. Remember, these are fake weapons not real ones!
Thinking of going as a fairy? You'll need some wings! Buy comfortable wings made of stretchy material. Tight wings will make your shoulders and arms sore, and you need arm strength to hold your bags of candy.
Don't buy your costume too early! Prices lower around Halloween. But don't wait too long, or all the good costumes will be sold out. Buy one at least a week or two before Halloween.
If you already brought a costume and didn't know these tips, DON'T WORRY! Ask a parent to help you make small adjustments to your costume. But next year, make sure you remember to follow the tips.
Remember, it's better to be safe than sorry! I know that's really cliched, but have a safe and fun Halloween night.
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