Prom Hairstyles

So you're graduating. Congratulations! As a stylist, I know your prom hairstyles rank right up there with your dress for importance. This article will help you decide how to style your hair for prom. There are a few considerations to ensure that your prom hair styles is flattering and compliments your features and your dress.

Consider the following elements when choosing your prom hair styles:

Face Shape - Just like your day to day hair style, your prom hairstyle should compliment your face shape. Here are a few "rules of thumb." If you have a long face, opt for a style with a sweeping bang and more volume on the sides than on top. If you have a short face, try a swept back style with some height on top. A wide face should have some hair left down at the sides to create length. It's all about proportion.

Dress Style and Neckline - Proportion is key here too. If you're wearing a slender dress, choose a hair style in keeping with that silhouette. If your dress is wide on the bottom, make sure you've got a bit of volume to your hairstyle to balance the entire look.

The neckline of your dress is critical to consider when choosing your prom hair style. If your dress has an open neckline in the front and back, wearing the bulk of your hair down would look great. However, if the back is covered or the front and back are both closed in, consider wearing most or all of your hair up off the neck. An elegant updo would suit that type of dress very well.

Accessories - Use accessories sparingly in your prom hair style. A few rhinestone hair pins, small flowers, a string of pearls, even a tiara can add character to your style and compliment your dress. Overuse of accessories can look a bit garish, so keep it minimal; just enough for impact.

Hair Texture - Curls are a prom hair style staple and can be done in several shapes and sizes. But they're not the only way to texturize your style. Small braids woven throughout the hair add a unique element. Bone straight hair can look great in an updo, so long as there's a bit of height to it and heaps of shine. Finger waves add a glamorous feel and are great for dressing up shorter hair styles.

Updo or Not - Just because it's a prom hair style doesn't mean it has to be an updo. Hair left down and styled in voluptuous waves can be every bit as glamorous as an updo hair style. Especially with a few select accessories; a flower behind the ear or a rhinestone tiara. The larger consideration is if a style suits your dress and your overall theme.

Theme - Your dress will have a certain "feel" to it. Glamorous, funky, classic, etc...Make sure your prom hair style is in keeping with the feel of your dress. You're creating a head to toe look and if an element is off, the look becomes awkward. So put some thought into how you'd describe your look and design a hair style around that theme. Or relate your theme to your stylist if you're having your hair professionally done. (Which I highly recommend)

Consultation and Trial - If you're having your hair done at a salon it's a good idea to visit the stylist beforehand for a consultation and/or a trial. Consultations are generally free; the stylist will sit with you, look at photos, discuss your ideas, and share their thoughts on what would look good and be workable on your hair type and face shape. A trial is an appointment where the stylist actually does your hair to see if your plans are what you actually want. The trial appointment is not free, but well worth it to avoid any potential prom day hair disasters.

A final word of advice; avoid anything too trendy for your prom hair style. Trendy is great for every day wear, but your prom is a memorable event that you'll be looking at photos of forever. If you go too trendy, you could be looking back in 5 years saying "What was I thinking?!" Besides, this is a rare opportunity to explore your glamorous side and feel positively stunning in your ensemble. Have a great prom!