One of my favorite shows to watch is Guy’s Grocery Games. If you have not seen it before, let me give you a brief overview of the show. Guy Fieri hosts a show where four chefs compete in various competitions. They are given a type of dish they must prepare, and then they have 30 minutes to shop, prepare and plate their best dish. 

Along the way, Guy comes up with crazy rules, such as they can only shop for items in the odd number aisles, or they can get only groceries they can carry by hand, or they can get whatever ingredients they want, but then he throws in a “Red Light Special” that includes a mandatory ingredient, which is usually something crazy like marshmallow fluff! It really is a lot of fun, and I amazed at what they can create with the time and game limitations.

As I was watching the other day, they were playing a game that made me think that this could be adapted to a fun practical classroom game.  

So, let’s play Beauty Bash Bonanza!

Here are some games to play:

• Braiding. Take a dartboard and attach sticky notes with various types of braids. Have students toss a dart. Whichever braid they hit (or are closest to) is the braid they must perform.

• Hairstyling. Create a set of cards that contains styling aids. Make a different card for at least five styling aids. For example, one card says hair spray, one card says gel, one card says mousse, etc. Create a second set of cards that contain a thermal styling tool. For example, one says flat iron, one says curling iron, one says blow-dryer, etc. The third set of cards contain a type of hairstyle. One card for _______________, ____________, etc. 

Keep each stack separate and mix up the cards in their stack. Draw one card from each stack of cards. You will end up with one styling product, one thermal styling tool and one hairstyle. Then the student must create that hairstyle using only the styling aid and styling tool selected. 

• Men’s Haircutting. Create a set of cards with the different haircutting tools listed. One card for each of the following: razor, shears, clippers with no guards, clippers with guards and trimmers. 

Have each student pick one card (if you have more than five students, create additional cards for each tool). Whatever tool they draw is the only tool the student can use to create their men’s haircut.

• Long Hairstyling. Tell students they are to create a long hair design of their choosing. Allow them to start the game and let them proceed. After they have been working on their style for a few minutes, announce a “Red Light Special.” The “Red Light Special” will be an item of your choosing that the student MUST incorporate into their design. It should be a random item such as an empty water bottle, tint brush, hair pick, nail polish bottle, etc. Give each student the item you selected and have them continue with their design.

• Makeup Application. Take a quarter and identify heads as daytime makeup and tails as evening makeup. Flip the coin to see which type of makeup application they must complete. Once the type of makeup application has been selected, tell the students they have 30 minutes to get everything they need for the makeup application and to perform the application. The catch is, they must get all the tools, makeup, applicators, etc. that they will need to perform the makeup application and they may grab only the items they can carry in their hands. They can’t stuff things into pockets or bags; the items must fit in their arms/hands. And they can make only one trip. Once they grab their items and return to their station to begin the makeup application, they can’t go get anything else.

• Nail Art. Write down the letters of the alphabet on pieces of paper and place in a jar. Pull out one letter. This game is called the ABC Game. Whichever letter of the alphabet you pull out of the jar, that is the letter students must use, meaning their design and colors used in the design must start with the letter you pulled. Don’t make it too difficult on students—you might want to forget to put in really challenging letters like W, X, Y, etc. 

Once you inform the students of the game, explain that they have 30 minutes to gather the needed supplies, set up their station and finish the assigned task. Once you have given them all the directions, you say, “Three, two, one, go.” The timer starts, and they have 30 minutes to finish. 

Have a panel of judges vote on which student’s work is the best. You could post pictures to your social media as well and have your fans vote on the best.

I know there are a million other games that can be played with Beauty Bash Bonanza. Go and watch an episode or two of Guy’s Grocery Games, and see if you can create any other games to add to your Beauty Bash Bonanza!