There’s no other holiday that recaps the past year in pop culture quite like Halloween. There are always popular costumes that symbolize significant events in entertainment of the year. Last Halloween had a number of VMA Kanyes snatching microphones from people and many variations on the Lady Gaga sensation. This year the MTV/female singer theme has been updated. Parties this weekend are sure to be saturated with costumes representing the MTV reality TV phenomenon “Jersey Shore” and the “TiK ToK” singer Ke$ha. The Creightonian will share how to perfect these looks for Halloween 2010.

“The Snooki”

Party’s here! The short, orange, Jersey Shore guidette is projected to be the most popular costume for 2010. If you follow these instructions, you’ll be sure to get the attention of Snooki’s most prized affection – all the gorilla juiceheads.

What you’ll need:

A gallon of bronzer

3-5 black hair extensions

A short dress

Rhinestone glasses

Hoop earrings

There are two essential components of a Snooki costume: the bronze complexion and the “poof.”

First, buy some self-tanning bronzer. (Snooki doesn’t use tanning beds anymore in protest of President Obama’s tanning tax.) Apply the tanning lotion or spray generously. You might have some problems in public after Halloween, but for that night you’ll be set.

Next, execute the poof. Apply your black hair extensions and hang your head forward so your hair flows over your face. Then swoop your hair back with one hand, arranging it into an elevated bump on the back of your head. Comb your hair back and use numerous bobby pins to set the poof in place. Hairspray it to hold.

If you can’t get the poof just right, substitute an Ed Hardy-type hat.

Lastly, put on some hoop earrings, a tight dress and some ridiculous rhinestone glasses, and your outfit is complete. Be sure to spend the night dancing on couches and yelling “WAHHH!” Don’t be afraid to throw in a couple cartwheels along with your dance moves. But one warning: If you do dress up as Snooki, don’t get into a fight at a bar. Those tend to end up badly.

“The DJ Pauly D”

Oh yeah! Paul Delvecchio, or better known as Pauly D, has become the poster-child for the popular guido hairstyle, the “blowout.” The firm, stable hairstyle has become a crown of sorts for many guidos and can be yours, too, with these instructions.

What you’ll need:

A hairbrush

A tub of hair gel

Hair spiking spray

Some girl’s hairdryer

First take a shower. Jersey Shore members never go out without taking a shower and for this look, it’s essential. Dry your hair with a blowdryer for 10 minutes minimum. While drying, brush your hair up to resemble well-manicured grass. Next, mix in your hair gel. The best hair gel for this style is water-resistant. (Pauly D uses something called Joico’s Ice Spiker, whatever that is.) Don’t be stingy with the gel; the more the better. Carefully create upward spikes as you rub the gel around the perimeter of your hair. Then spray a toxic amount of spiking spray on your hair. Lastly, get the dryer back out and give your new hairstyle a quick blow.

As Pauly D for the night, you have a responsibility to be the first one ready to go. Then get everyone else ready by yelling, “Wake up!” or singing the Jersey Shore rally cry – “It’s T-shirt time!” Of course, you’ll be wearing your favorite designer T-shirt with various ornaments on the front. Then when the taxis arrive for your departure, run through your apartment shouting “Cabs are here!” Even if you’re not taking cabs, yell it. Then throughout the night, add “Oh yeah!” to everything you say. Example: “Oh yeah Halloween yeah!” You can also bring along a pair of large headphones since Pauly D is a DJ. We think.

“The ‘The Situation'”

When a character has a “The” in his name, you know he has an ego. “The Situation,” or Mike Sorrentino, is nicknamed for his prevalent abs, which he is not shy about revealing. Mike has declared himself head of the Jersey Shore household since day one. He has also started the most drama in the show.

What you’ll need:

Aviators

An attitude adjustment

The look doesn’t really matter for a Situation costume. You can wear a red Juicy Couture tracksuit, a suit vest with no shirt underneath or “the shirt before the shirt” – a black beater.

What’s most important is that you wear aviator sunglasses everywhere. Wear these outdoors, indoors, going to get your car out of the impound, at the gym, in tanning beds, doing your laundry – basically anywhere you would find “The Situation.”

Also, remember to have no regard for anyone but yourself. Pull down the sunglasses to make creepy looks at people whenever something is going on. Label someone as a “grenade” when a female rejects your advances. And always remember to announce “situations.” Whether it’s your friend hooking up with someone in the corner, your date getting mad at you or your mother baking cookies, you must say, “this is going to be a situation.” Also have one hand attached to the bottom of your shirt at all times. Instead of greeting people, pull it up and show off your stomach.

“The Ke$ha”

2009 was a big year for Lady Gaga with her short film music videos and her elaborately planned outfits. Ke$ha can be considered the anti-Gaga of sorts, with her irreverent videos and no sense of style whatsoever. But they do have one thing in common: catchy songs. Watch the “TiK ToK” video and study how to be Ke$ha for a night.

What you’ll need:

Glitter

Mismatched clothes

What you won’t need:

A mirror

A shower

Ke$ha doesn’t care. She sleeps in bathtubs and gets into cars with shady looking characters. As far as clothes go, it doesn’t matter. Wear one cowboy boot. Get some jeans that have the fronts cut off. Tie an American flag bandana to your ankle. Wear torn stockings. Rip a black t-shirt. Or better yet, burn it and put it on. Throw on a dozen bracelets. One of them can be a pair of handcuffs. Also slip on a dozen rings to match. Pile on the mascara. Open a jar of glitter on yourself. Brush your teeth with some type of beverage not meant to be a hygiene product. But whatever you do, don’t shower. Ke$ha is defined by that just-woke-up-where-am-I look.

When talking to people as Ke$ha, use a sing/talky kind of voice. Say made up words such as “po-po” and “crunk.” Use the wrong form of verbs like in the sentence, “Of course we does.” But please, after Halloween, stop talk-talk-talking that blah blah blah.