Why do some girls put so much effort into their physical appearances, for school?

[Cerena]

One study attempted to demonstrate the relationship between employers and perceived competence of their employees:

 

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0025656

 

When inferring trustworthiness, likeability, or competence from an image, we are influenced significantly not only by the attractiveness of the inherited phenotype but by the effects of the “extended phenotype,” in this case, makeup.

 

In another study, researchers demonstrated that employers actually expect physically attractive workers to perform better at their jobs and be more competent.

http://www.aeaweb.org/articles.php?doi=10.1257/000282806776157515

 

It's not just to "attract guys," it can be done to be perceived as more competent and able to perform various tasks. After all, this behaviour apparently is rewarded (see cited literature). And though this is more geared toward work environments, depending on the program you are in and what activities you are being graded towards, this may be present at school as well.

[FuturePT216]

I don't necesarily do it every day, but for myself anyway, I feel a lot more confident/less self-conscious when I put more effort into how I look on a given day.

[shadow_knight]

I look my best everyday for school except during midterms/exams. I even wake up at 6 am to pamper myself for them 8 am classes!! I do it because I have a serious passion for makeup and fashion. Putting on makeup is a like meditating for me; it's my creative outlet!

 

Plus I feel like **** going to school everyday on 5 hours of sleep. Looking good boosts my mood 10000000X. I feel like I'm walking on a runway rather than a hallway

 

Im feeling a little jealous here. The max. sleep I could get during normal school days was ~ 3-4 hours.

[kiwiester]

Im feeling a little jealous here. The max. sleep I could get during normal school days was ~ 3-4 hours.

 

I actually get 5 during exams...normally I get around 7

 

what can I say...can't function without sleep and coffee doesn't work well with my system