How to Choose a Prom Hairstyle

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Categories: Beauty & Style | How Tos | Hair

  • Choosing a prom hairstyle can help complement your dress and complete your look for the evening. You can learn how to choose a prom hairstyle to look your best on prom night in this page.

  • Introduction

    • Your hairstyle on prom night will be a major part of your look, and it should complement your dress, personal style, and hair type. With practice and a few trial runs, you'll find the hairstyle that suits you best, whether it's a boho braid a la Mary-Kate Olsen you've been wanting to try, or a classic style you'll look back on for years without regret. No matter what you choose, just leave yourself enough time before your date comes knocking to arrange all those bobbypins and get every hair in place. Keep reading to learn all the tips to a great hairstyle on prom night.

  • Step 1: Find Inspiration

    • While you may have an image of the "perfect prom hair" in your mind, it's best to start out with a specific photograph you can then try to recreate.
    1. Sites like TeenVogue have beauty sections where you may find inspiration. Style.com also has roundups from recent fashion shows that highlight hair.
    2. For more prom-specific ideas, head to Red Carpet Victim's page on perfect prom hair, where you'll find inspiring styles from the likes of Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Garner, and America Ferrera.
    3. Though prom is certainly a ways away from that other big day, there are plenty of great hair ideas to be had through sources such as The Knot's wedding hairstyles.

  • Step 2: Important Considerations

    • Before settling on the style for you, you'll need to consider your dress, the shape of your face, as well as a couple of other important details.

  • Your Dress

    • Your hair should complement your dress, not overpower it.
    1. Try to match your hair to your dress's "mood", choosing formal styles for formal dresses and more relaxed styles for a more bohemian look.
    2. If your dress is classic and elegant, you might go for a traditional look, which happens to be popular this year. Think Katherine Heigl's glamorous look at the Oscars.
    3. If your dress is more contemporary, you might try an edgier look, like Amy Winehouse's 'do.
    4. If your dress has an intricate neckline, you might want to wear hair up to show it off. Same goes for your body—if your shoulders are a favorite body part, don't wear hair loose.

  • Face Shape

    • Different hairstyles will flatter different face shapes.
    1. For round faces, experts recommend updos, as they can lengthen the appearance of your face.
    2. Tendrils that fall naturally from an updo to frame the face are also flattering to round face shapes.
    3. For longer faces, a half updo or simply wearing hair loose is recommended.

  • How Long is Your Hair?

    • It's going to be awfully hard to create that French twist if you recently gave yourself a buzzcut a la G.I. Jane.
    1. Unless you plan on getting extensions, focus on styles that will work with your hair length.
    2. Also be sure to consider your hair's texture. Even in an updo, hair will need to start out curly (requiring a curling iron or rollers) or straight (requiring a blowout or flat iron).
    3. Also think about how "slippery" your hair is. Very fine, straight hair may do better worn loose so it doesn't fall out of a complicated style.

  • Budget

    • If you have your heart set on a look you know you can't create yourself or with the help of a friend, you'll need to consider your budget.
    1. An updo at the salon can cost upwards of $80, though prices will vary widely according to where you live and the reputation of the salon. Be sure to shop around before settling on a particular salon.
    2. Talk to parents about what they think is reasonable to spend on hair before committing to a stylist, unless you will be paying for your hair yourself.
    3. You might be able to save money if you arrive at the salon with your hair already washed and dried. Be sure to call ahead about any ways to save.
    4. You can also try going to a beauty school to get your locks done for less.
    5. And remember that sometimes simple, natural hair is best, especially if you have a fashion-forward gown. And simple will save you money!

  • Step 3: Consult a Stylist

    • You may be able to get a professional opinion before the big night.
    1. Many salons offer free consultations, so try calling a local salon for an appointment. A pro can give you helpful advice about your hair type and what will look good, and you may be able to recreate the style you decide on at home.
    2. Whatever style you choose, be sure to keep it in for several hours after leaving the salon to make sure hair stays put and doesn't require constant maintenance.
    3. If you decide that getting your hair done professionally is what you want, and it's in the budget, be sure to make an appointment well in advance. Lots of gals will be hoping for that special updo, too, so you should call for an appointment as soon as you've made up your mind.
    4. Also be prepared to head to the salon as early as ten in the morning on prom night. Stylists book up quickly, so you'll want to take that 4-mile run early in the am so as not to spoil your hair.
    5. Wear a button-down shirt to the salon so you can take it off without pulling it over your head before stepping into your gown.
    6. You might also talk to your stylist about how to accessorize your hair with flowers or a special hair comb.

  • Step 4: Do It Yourself

    • A professional updo isn't in the budget? Don't worry. There are tons of DIY options that will suit your style and might even look better than what your local stylist might throw together with a couple cans of Aqua Net.
    1. Step by step instructions for a couple of classic styles can be found online at About.com:
    2. If you have curly hair and want to change it up by going stick straight for prom, see Mahalo's guide to How to Straighten Hair, as well as How to Flat Iron Hair.
    3. Most DIY hairstyles will require a hair dryer, flat iron or curling iron, ponytail holders, bobbypins, and some kind of stay-put product like hairspray or gel.
    4. Long before prom night, treat yourself to a trim and an at-home deep conditioning treatment so your hair will be in great shape for the event.
    5. If you don't feel confident with your hairstyling skills, enlist a friend or older sister to help you. Just be sure to do a test run before actual prom night. Practice makes perfect!
    6. Don't make any major changes to your hair in the brief period leading up to prom. Sure, it might seem fun to get all crazy with the Manic Panic one weekend, but just make sure that you feel confident that your blue hair will go with your gown before a major dye job. And leave yourself enough time to change your color if you end up hating it.
    7. And if you're DIY-ing this prom season, avoid using too much product on prom night. While you might think that gobs of gel and serum will tame your style, it will only serve to weigh it down and gunk it up, making hair greasy and not as natural-looking.

  • Conclusion

    • If you've made it this far, you probably have a pretty good idea of how your hair should look on prom night. Don't forget to practice your hairstyle long before the big night and make sure it suits your dress and your hair type. Start getting ready early in the day so you have plenty of time to re-do your hair if necessary, and then remember to pack along a few extra bobbypins and a travel-sized bottle of hairspray or shine spray to keep the look going all night!

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