We give a complete combinatorial characterization of all possible polarizations of powers of the maximal ideal (x1,x2,…,xn) in a polynomial ring of n variables. We also give a combinatorial description of the Alexander duals of such polarizations. In the three variable case we show that every polarization defines a (shellable) simplicial ball. We conjecture that any polarization of an Artinian monomial ideal defines a simplicial ball. This is joint work with Gunnar Fløystad.