The Sadie Hawkins Dance comes around, and when Cory is asked by a school nerd, Ingrid, he and Shawn attempt to give her a total makeover.

When Shawn's mother runs away - with his and his father's trailer home, Shawn must stay at Cory's while his father hunts her down. This happens on career day, on which Cory is feeling embarrassed because he feels his Dad's job is too boring.

As Cory is feeling insecure about his hair, Topanga shows him that appearance is meaningless, and she proves so by cutting off some of her own locks, a decision she quickly regrets.