Prom Hairstyle Tips: Your Prom Dress Silhouette

You have chosen your perfect prom dress ensemble, and now you must select a prom hairstyle! Whether you have long or short hair, curly hair or straight, thin or thick hair, finding the perfect hairstyle for prom is key for completing your look. Here is some advice for choosing the best prom hairstyle to complement your perfect prom dress, as well as some general styling tips for prom hair.

How Can I Match My Prom Hairstyle to My Prom Dress?

Look at your prom dress for clues when choosing your prom hairstyle. If you have a high-neck dress, one-shoulder dress, open-back dress, or a dress with unique details on the shoulders or back that you want to showcase, you might want to wear your hair up with a smooth twist, a low or high bun, an elaborate cluster of curls, or even a side-sweeping style with cascading curls. If your dress is simple, adding a bit of bling to your hairstyle with hair accessories for prom is a fun option. Try jeweled clips or embellished headbands to complement your prom dress. An embellished prom gown might call for less or no hair jewelry. Wearing a ball gown is the perfect opportunity to wear a tiara, which goes with any hairstyle. If your prom dress has a bohemian vibe or if you have chosen a strapless dress, wearing your hair in long loose curls or beach waves might be nice with flowers or rhinestones woven through the hair.

How Should I Get My Hair Done for Prom?

Whether you're going to a salon or doing your prom hair yourself at home, it's always a good idea to have a plan. Check out magazines, Pinterest, and other social media sites for hairstyle ideas. If you're going to a salon to have your hair done for prom, make your appointment early (they'll be swamped around prom time). Schedule a "practice" session. Explain your ideas or show pictures, so that the stylist knows exactly what you want from your hairstyle. If adding hair accessories, make sure you have them in both your practice session (if you choose to have one) and the day of your prom.

When doing your hair at home, the same rule applies. Once you know what you want, be sure to practice well in advance. The more you work with your hair, the easier it will be the day of the prom. Check out your local drug stores and the hair care aisle in grocery stores for styling aids. There you will find gels, sprays, waxes, pomades, and dry shampoos at reasonable prices that smell great and help support your perfect prom hairstyle.

How Do I Style Straight Hair for Prom?

There are numerous ways to style straight hair for prom. Wear your hair sleek and straight, or pull it into a high ponytail that hangs down your back or off to the side. Style your prom hair in a high or low bun. Curl or wave your straight hair with curling irons, hot rollers, foam rollers or flat irons. Then wear it free and flowing, or manipulate it into the prom hairstyle of your choice. For more advice on styling techniques, check out the section below on popular ways to style your hair for prom.

Tip #1 For extra volume, use your fingers to gently rub a spritz or two of dry shampoo into your roots. This is a great way to lift hair by banishing oil that can make your strands heavy even if your hair is clean.

Tip #2 For an even fuller look, use a coarse or boar's hair 1-inch brush to tease your roots lightly. Do so until your hair is "standing up." Then gently smooth down with a boar's hair paddle brush.

Tip #3 Girls with finer hair textures can blow dry their hair upside down to help create volume. They can also spray their roots right after teasing with a light finishing spray. This process helps strengthen the hair before brushing it down.

Tip #4 For thicker hair, blow dry hair in small sections in long fluid movements to create a smooth sleek look. Finishing with a flat iron in the same way will achieve an even shinier, straight style.

Tip #5 For defined curls that will surely stay, use a 1-inch curling iron. After each curl, coil it up to your head and pin. When you're all done, use hairspray all over and wait a few minutes before unpinning. For stubborn hair, spraying the hair before and after curling will help add strength to the hair curl to keep it the way you want.

How Do I Style Curly Hair or Wavy Hair for Prom?

Styling curly hair or wavy hair for prom can be a snap. You can use a small to medium curling iron to transform waves into curls or a medium to large barrel iron to take tight curls to a softer, larger curl or wave. Flat irons and hot rollers work well for both curly and wavy hair. You can always go old school by wrapping your hair in foam rollers and air drying for a curly prom hairstyle. If you have short curly hair, try adding gel or mousse, combing, then wrapping hair in a do-rag to let it dry flat. Curly hair looks amazing natural and can be put in a messy bun or a half-twist with curls splayed out over the top. For how-to styling methods for prom hair, check out the tips below and have fun coming up with the perfect style for you.

Tip #1 For curly, frizzy or wavy hair, you can enhance your curls or tame them by adding sheen, texture, and structure with leave-in conditioners, pomades, or glossing and defrizzing products. Allowing curly hair to dry naturally can also help avoid extra frizz.

Tip #2 To go natural, apply leave-in conditioner, then form your curls while wet and let them dry for Goldilocks curls. Restructure your tight curly locks into loose curls or waves with a large barrel curling iron or flat iron.

Tip #3 If straightening your curls, you can try a combination of conditioners and glossers to control strong hair. Then by using of a blow dryer and/or flat iron you can work wonders.

Tip #4 For defined curls, use a 1-inch curling iron. After each curl, coil it up to your head and pin it in place. When you’re all done, use hairspray and wait a few minutes before unpinning. Spraying the hair before and after curling will help keep the curl for stubborn hair.

What Are Some Popular Ways to Style My Hair For Prom?

Styling your hair for prom can be as easy as enhancing your usual look or a daring adventure as you explore new fashions and accessories. Our hair adorns us, so choose a prom hairstyle that best suits you. Whether you have short and sassy hair, a contemporary cut with an edge, long and flowing hair, or curly, bouncy or wavy hair, there's a way to style it to suit your prom look. If you like your style the way it is, then that is your perfect prom hair. If you want a different look, then have fun and experiment. You can add length to your hair instantly with the use of add-ons, falls, or extensions. A hairpiece is just like an accessory, so try complementing your perfect prom dress with one for a dramatic change to your usual hairstyle. Whether you enhance your favorite style or boldly try something new, once you have mastered the perfect looking "do," try finishing it off with spray-on shine or shimmer dust. A little glitter will make any hairstyle look ready for a ball. For even more inspiration, check out the prom hairstyles below.

Curly Locks: Romantic and lovely, prom hairstyles are so alluring with soft natural curls. If your natural "do" won't curl, there is always the curling iron, or your ever faithful hot rollers.

Side Swept: Prom hair that is beautifully draped to the side is both charming and whimsical. Use hot rollers on all of your hair to start. Tease the top for lift, and then pull it to the side in a low ponytail. Finish with a gloss or glitter spray. Rhinestone barrettes can add a dash of sparkle.

Bouncy Waves: Channel youthful vibes when you style your prom hair with soft wave-like curls. Hot roll your hair in medium-sized rollers or curl with a large barrel curling iron. Pull it all back in a beautiful headband that complements your prom dress to let the waves cascade behind you.

Edgy Ponytail Style: For a fun and unique prom hairstyle, use a rhinestone tiara to secure the front, and then section the back to make small ponytails all over. Wrap a small section of hair around the base of the ponytails to cover the hair bands, and then tousle curls for a wild look.

Braids: It's hard to go wrong with braids for prom hairstyles! There are so many types to experiment with: basic braids, single variation, double variation, crown, multiple strands, and many more! You can also ask your favorite beauty salon if they know of any fashionable twists on braiding. They're even more beautiful with flowers, ribbons, or strings of rhinestones or beads woven in.

Sweet Ringlets: If you like the innocent look for prom hair, think about bouncy, natural ringlets! Use your fingers to comb through your hair and lightly apply a finishing spray or hairspray. If your hair needs a little help curling, try loose pin curls until it dries. Add tiny clips and a sweet smile!

Sophisticated Chic Style: Want your prom hairstyle to look exotic and mysterious? For short to medium length hair, try slicking your hair back. For a longer look, slick hair into a tight ponytail or add a faux bun or hairpiece. This is a no-fuss "do" that looks super sophisticated and won't have you primping all night.

Sleek & Stylish: Try the "Sophisticated Chic Style" with a flair! Part your hair on the side and add a light pomade or anti-frizz solution for the sleek look. Zig-zag your part for extra pizazz.

No need to stress when you ask yourself, “What do I do with my hair for prom?” Curly hair can be straightened, straight hair can be curled. Braid your hair, wear it straight, change your side part, slick your hair back, or pump it up. Accessorize or not; the choice is yours! Changing your hairstyle for a special event like prom gives you an opportunity to step outside of your everyday fashion box. Even the smallest change can make a big difference, and the hairstyles for prom are endless. Why not jump all in and have fun styling your hair for prom? Don’t forget to snap some selfies along the way!