Prom Hair for Your Dress Style
Prom season is here, and as you put the final touches on your dress and shoes (and make sure that your date is on top of their own attire), the next detail to tackle is your prom hair.
Your prom hairstyle should be directly related to the cut of your dress, so we took a cue from the stars and sought the strand knowledge of celebrity hairstylists Sarah Potempa of Aussie and Adir Abergel of Frédéric Fekkai for prom queen worthy 'dos that look best with a range of dress styles. From collared to covered up, ruffles to strapless, and asymmetrical to cutouts, we've got the perfect 'do for every prom dress style.
Read on for the hottest prom hairstyles and tips straight from the pros on how to recreate the looks.
COLLARED DRESS
When Diane Kruger hit the 2010 Oscars red carpet in this fashion-forward Chanel Haute Couture gown, she definitely caught our attention. And the German model-actress's simple makeup and updo added the finishing touches.
If you're thinking of dancing your prom night away in a scene-stealing, collared number, Potempa and Abergel suggest taking a cue from Kruger and going for a simple hairstyle like a sleek ponytail or braided updo, a la Jennifer Lopez and Sienna Miller in the photos above.
To recreate Jennifer Lopez's ponytail (pictured above, center), start by flat ironing all of hair to achieve super straight locks, says Potempa. Look at your profile in the mirror and follow your jawline to get the right height. Spray Aussie Sydney Smooth 12 Hour Anti-Humidity Hair Spray onto a boar-nylon brush and looking up brush strands up into the ponytail (to get a clean, tight nape), and secure with a holder.Take a piece of hair and wrap it around to cover holder and use 1 inch hair pins to set in place.
"The polymers in the [Aussie] hairspray create a nice barrier that won't allow humidity to come in and allow the hair to get frizzy," according to Potempa.
When styling the tresses of Hollywood beauties that are styled in collared dresses, one of Abergel's go-to hairstyles is the goddess braid like Sienna Miller (pictured above, right). To copy Miller's chic braided 'do, make a messy middle part with your fingers, take the two sections of hair, and work into a loose braid that wraps around your crown. Secure with bobby pins. If you're hair is on the shorter side, try this look by adding hair extensions or a braided headband.
COVERED UP DRESSES
Starlet Emma Watson consistently serves up hot beauty and fashion looks, including this vintage Ozzi Clark print dress that she topped with a bohemian braided hairstyle at the London premiere of "Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince."
Hit all the right style notes at prom by pairing your covered up dress with an effortless updo.
If you're feeling Alexa Chung's messy braided look (pictured above, center), achieve this hairstyle by playing up your lock's natural texture. Potempa recommends using a volumizing spray at the roots and then blow drying upwards. Loosely create braids and secure with bobby pins. "Add a cool headband that's textured or has shiny metal to bring the eye up and not towards all of the fabric you're wearing," she says.
Abergel suggests putting a modern twist on the classic updo. To mimic Sandra Bullock's voluminous twisted bun (pictured above, right), apply Fekkai Coiff Strong Hold Volume Mousse to the roots of damp hair. Create a small pompadour at the crown, gently gather strands into a ponytail, and twist around into a large loop. Allow a few flyaways to hang for a softer appeal.
CUTOUT DRESSES
If you're brave enough to rock a cutout frock to your prom, similar to the bias-cut lace and silk Kaufmanfranco gown Halle Berry wore to the 2010 Golden Globes, then go for it! But make sure that your hairdo accentuates your figure-hugging dress. To play up the style of a cutout dress, Potempa and Abergel suggests wearing loose waves or a half-up, half-down hairdo.
For boho waves like Vanessa Hudgens (pictured above, center), start by applying a mousse with leave-in conditioner throughout damp hair and blowdrying up for increased volume, says Potempa. With 80% of your strands are dry, use a brush to polish the ends. Section into small pieces, spritz on a flexible hair spray, and wrap hair around a 1 inch curling iron in a spiral motion to get a wave closer to the root. "Run your fingers through to finish," says the hairstylist, "and just let it be!"
To elongate your facial features, Abergel believes a half-up, half-down look like Jennifer Garner (pictured above, right) is the way to go. Smooth on Fekkai Coiff Strong Hold Volume Mousse to the roots of damp hair and blow dry throughout. Section hair in the middle from right to left. Gather front section, mold a high pompadour and secure with bobby pins. Loosely curl the bottom section with a flat iron and finish with Fekkai Coiff Sheer Hold Hairspray.
ONE-SHOULDER DRESS
They don't call her Queen (Latifah, that is) for nothing! The songstress-actress stood out on the 2010 Academy Awards red carpet in this dusty rose, one-shoulder Badgley Mischka Couture gown with smoky eyes and a sophisticated bun. And Potempa and Abergel are on the same page when it comes to styling your tresses for this dress style.
Keeping hair off of an open neckline and away from the face, helps to draw attention to your stunning prom dress.
Abergel likes to add a dynamic shape to an updo like the one Kate Winslet (pictured above, center). To copy Winslet's look, prep damp strands with Fekkai Coiff Strong Hold Volume Mousse and blow dry. Create deep waves that cascade from front to back with a curling iron. Loop the ends underneath and pin onto the nape of the neck. Finish with Fekkai Coiff Sheer Hold Hairspray.
Potempa thinks a soft, low side bun like Marion Cotillard's (pictured above, right) is the ideal glamed up hairstyle to wear with a one-shoulder gown. To perfect Cotillard's 'do, make a side part beginning at the high point of the eyebrow. Keep flyaways at bay by spritzing on a conditioning shine spray before blowdrying. Create two sections of the hair -- front and back -- by strands from left to right. Fashion finger waves in the front by taking a 1 inch curling iron and curling small sections up as if you're putting in a hot roller. Secure with a silver duckbill clip to set and allow the curl to cool. Take the back section of hair, bring it to one side, and secure with a ponytail holder. Remove clips, brush pattern into hair -- creating a "C" shape. Wrap remaining ends and hair around ponytail and secure with bobby pins.
PRINCESS DRESS
For some girls, prom night is all about expressing their inner princess. And what better way to show this than with a breathtaking gown and gorgeous hair and makeup. And when we saw "Up in the Air" actress Anna Kendrick looking youthful on the 2010 Oscars red carpet in a peachy-nude Ellie Saab chiffon gown, we knew this would be a prom-worthy look.
To accentuate the feminine and flirty details of a princess dress, Potempa and Abergel recommend playing up its Victorian theme with soft, yet stunning hairstyles like a braided updo or airy, half-up and half-down tresses.
For Jessica Alba's braided bun (pictured above, center), start by applying a volumizing mousse and blowdry the product in with your fingers or a diffuser. Make a natural, off-centered part and then curl locks with a 1/2 inch curling iron for added texture, advises Potempa. Criss-cross sections of the hair on both sides and braid towards the back. Secure braids with clear elastic bands and gather into a low bun. To finish, curl pieces around the face to give the look a bit of polish, making sure to leave out a few shorter pieces.
Abergel's trick to scoring great hair movement like Jessica Biel's tousled locks (pictured above, right) is adding Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Cream to the ends of wet hair. The product will maintain hair flexibility and shine, he says. Blowdry cream into strands and place top section of hair up, securing with bobby pins. Loosely curl bottom half and set with Fekkai Coiff Sheer Hold Hairspray.
RUFFLED DRESSES
"Big Love" actress Chloe Sevigny is the ultimate fashion risk-taker, pulling out all the stops at the 2010 Golden Globes in this lavender ruffled gown. And what better a night to take risks with fashion and beauty than on your prom night. So, if you're going to pose pretty for the photographer in a frilly dress like Sevigny, Potempa and Abergel suggests a simple bun or asymmetrical bob.
If you choose to limit movement to your prom dress, style your tresses in a chic ballerina bun like Nicole Richie (pictured above, center), says Potempa. To recreate this hairdo, prep tresses with a spray gel and loosely blowdry. Pull hair back off the face into a clean ponytail, twist hair and wrap around ponytail, and secure with 2 inch pins. Set style in place with hair spray.
If you want to mimic the pattern of the ruffled gown, wear your locks in a wavy, asymmetrical bob like Sandra Bullock (pictured above, right). Smooth on Fekkai Coiff Strong Hold Volume Mousse to damp hair and blowdry in to keep strands hydrated. Part hair on the side and set with hot rollers or curl with a curling iron to create loose waves. Release curls, comb hrough locks using your fingers, and pin up in the back. Finish with Fekkai Coiff Sheer Hold Hairspray.
STRAPLESS DRESSES
Own your curves on prom night in a slinky, strapless dress similar to the peach Versace number wore to the 2010 Golden Globes. Body-conscious gowns look best when worn with classic, Hollywood curls, according to Potempa and Abergel.
For Veronica Lake-esque waves like Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried (pictured above, center and right), create a side part, tucking shortest side behind your ear. Curl hair upwards with a curling iron or set with hot rollers, and set with clips as you move around the perimeter of your head. Release hair clips and brush hair down. Add a vintage hairpiece for a touch of glamour.
For 10 simple tips to buying the perfect prom dress, click here!
Your prom hairstyle should be directly related to the cut of your dress, so we took a cue from the stars and sought the strand knowledge of celebrity hairstylists Sarah Potempa of Aussie and Adir Abergel of Frédéric Fekkai for prom queen worthy 'dos that look best with a range of dress styles. From collared to covered up, ruffles to strapless, and asymmetrical to cutouts, we've got the perfect 'do for every prom dress style.
Read on for the hottest prom hairstyles and tips straight from the pros on how to recreate the looks.
Collared dresses work best when worn with a high ponytail or goddess braid updo. Photos: Kevin Mazure/WireImage | Getty Images (2)
When Diane Kruger hit the 2010 Oscars red carpet in this fashion-forward Chanel Haute Couture gown, she definitely caught our attention. And the German model-actress's simple makeup and updo added the finishing touches.
If you're thinking of dancing your prom night away in a scene-stealing, collared number, Potempa and Abergel suggest taking a cue from Kruger and going for a simple hairstyle like a sleek ponytail or braided updo, a la Jennifer Lopez and Sienna Miller in the photos above.
To recreate Jennifer Lopez's ponytail (pictured above, center), start by flat ironing all of hair to achieve super straight locks, says Potempa. Look at your profile in the mirror and follow your jawline to get the right height. Spray Aussie Sydney Smooth 12 Hour Anti-Humidity Hair Spray onto a boar-nylon brush and looking up brush strands up into the ponytail (to get a clean, tight nape), and secure with a holder.Take a piece of hair and wrap it around to cover holder and use 1 inch hair pins to set in place.
"The polymers in the [Aussie] hairspray create a nice barrier that won't allow humidity to come in and allow the hair to get frizzy," according to Potempa.
When styling the tresses of Hollywood beauties that are styled in collared dresses, one of Abergel's go-to hairstyles is the goddess braid like Sienna Miller (pictured above, right). To copy Miller's chic braided 'do, make a messy middle part with your fingers, take the two sections of hair, and work into a loose braid that wraps around your crown. Secure with bobby pins. If you're hair is on the shorter side, try this look by adding hair extensions or a braided headband.
Add an ethereal essence to your covered up prom look with messy braids or a tousled updo. Photo: Jon Furniss/WireImage | Getty Images | Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
Starlet Emma Watson consistently serves up hot beauty and fashion looks, including this vintage Ozzi Clark print dress that she topped with a bohemian braided hairstyle at the London premiere of "Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince."
Hit all the right style notes at prom by pairing your covered up dress with an effortless updo.
If you're feeling Alexa Chung's messy braided look (pictured above, center), achieve this hairstyle by playing up your lock's natural texture. Potempa recommends using a volumizing spray at the roots and then blow drying upwards. Loosely create braids and secure with bobby pins. "Add a cool headband that's textured or has shiny metal to bring the eye up and not towards all of the fabric you're wearing," she says.
Abergel suggests putting a modern twist on the classic updo. To mimic Sandra Bullock's voluminous twisted bun (pictured above, right), apply Fekkai Coiff Strong Hold Volume Mousse to the roots of damp hair. Create a small pompadour at the crown, gently gather strands into a ponytail, and twist around into a large loop. Allow a few flyaways to hang for a softer appeal.
Long, flowing tresses are the best hair look for risqué prom dresses. Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage | Getty Images (2)
If you're brave enough to rock a cutout frock to your prom, similar to the bias-cut lace and silk Kaufmanfranco gown Halle Berry wore to the 2010 Golden Globes, then go for it! But make sure that your hairdo accentuates your figure-hugging dress. To play up the style of a cutout dress, Potempa and Abergel suggests wearing loose waves or a half-up, half-down hairdo.
For boho waves like Vanessa Hudgens (pictured above, center), start by applying a mousse with leave-in conditioner throughout damp hair and blowdrying up for increased volume, says Potempa. With 80% of your strands are dry, use a brush to polish the ends. Section into small pieces, spritz on a flexible hair spray, and wrap hair around a 1 inch curling iron in a spiral motion to get a wave closer to the root. "Run your fingers through to finish," says the hairstylist, "and just let it be!"
To elongate your facial features, Abergel believes a half-up, half-down look like Jennifer Garner (pictured above, right) is the way to go. Smooth on Fekkai Coiff Strong Hold Volume Mousse to the roots of damp hair and blow dry throughout. Section hair in the middle from right to left. Gather front section, mold a high pompadour and secure with bobby pins. Loosely curl the bottom section with a flat iron and finish with Fekkai Coiff Sheer Hold Hairspray.
A chic updo puts the final touches on a one-shoulder prom dress. Photos: AP | AFP/Getty Images (2)
They don't call her Queen (Latifah, that is) for nothing! The songstress-actress stood out on the 2010 Academy Awards red carpet in this dusty rose, one-shoulder Badgley Mischka Couture gown with smoky eyes and a sophisticated bun. And Potempa and Abergel are on the same page when it comes to styling your tresses for this dress style.
Keeping hair off of an open neckline and away from the face, helps to draw attention to your stunning prom dress.
Abergel likes to add a dynamic shape to an updo like the one Kate Winslet (pictured above, center). To copy Winslet's look, prep damp strands with Fekkai Coiff Strong Hold Volume Mousse and blow dry. Create deep waves that cascade from front to back with a curling iron. Loop the ends underneath and pin onto the nape of the neck. Finish with Fekkai Coiff Sheer Hold Hairspray.
Potempa thinks a soft, low side bun like Marion Cotillard's (pictured above, right) is the ideal glamed up hairstyle to wear with a one-shoulder gown. To perfect Cotillard's 'do, make a side part beginning at the high point of the eyebrow. Keep flyaways at bay by spritzing on a conditioning shine spray before blowdrying. Create two sections of the hair -- front and back -- by strands from left to right. Fashion finger waves in the front by taking a 1 inch curling iron and curling small sections up as if you're putting in a hot roller. Secure with a silver duckbill clip to set and allow the curl to cool. Take the back section of hair, bring it to one side, and secure with a ponytail holder. Remove clips, brush pattern into hair -- creating a "C" shape. Wrap remaining ends and hair around ponytail and secure with bobby pins.
Accentuate a princess prom dress with easy, breezy tresses. Photos: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images | Getty Images (2)
For some girls, prom night is all about expressing their inner princess. And what better way to show this than with a breathtaking gown and gorgeous hair and makeup. And when we saw "Up in the Air" actress Anna Kendrick looking youthful on the 2010 Oscars red carpet in a peachy-nude Ellie Saab chiffon gown, we knew this would be a prom-worthy look.
To accentuate the feminine and flirty details of a princess dress, Potempa and Abergel recommend playing up its Victorian theme with soft, yet stunning hairstyles like a braided updo or airy, half-up and half-down tresses.
For Jessica Alba's braided bun (pictured above, center), start by applying a volumizing mousse and blowdry the product in with your fingers or a diffuser. Make a natural, off-centered part and then curl locks with a 1/2 inch curling iron for added texture, advises Potempa. Criss-cross sections of the hair on both sides and braid towards the back. Secure braids with clear elastic bands and gather into a low bun. To finish, curl pieces around the face to give the look a bit of polish, making sure to leave out a few shorter pieces.
Abergel's trick to scoring great hair movement like Jessica Biel's tousled locks (pictured above, right) is adding Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Cream to the ends of wet hair. The product will maintain hair flexibility and shine, he says. Blowdry cream into strands and place top section of hair up, securing with bobby pins. Loosely curl bottom half and set with Fekkai Coiff Sheer Hold Hairspray.
A ballerina bun or wavy, asymmetrical, bob are ideal prom hairstyles to complement a ruffled dress. Photos: Jason Merritt, Getty Images | Jill Johnson/jpistudios.com | Getty Images
"Big Love" actress Chloe Sevigny is the ultimate fashion risk-taker, pulling out all the stops at the 2010 Golden Globes in this lavender ruffled gown. And what better a night to take risks with fashion and beauty than on your prom night. So, if you're going to pose pretty for the photographer in a frilly dress like Sevigny, Potempa and Abergel suggests a simple bun or asymmetrical bob.
If you choose to limit movement to your prom dress, style your tresses in a chic ballerina bun like Nicole Richie (pictured above, center), says Potempa. To recreate this hairdo, prep tresses with a spray gel and loosely blowdry. Pull hair back off the face into a clean ponytail, twist hair and wrap around ponytail, and secure with 2 inch pins. Set style in place with hair spray.
If you want to mimic the pattern of the ruffled gown, wear your locks in a wavy, asymmetrical bob like Sandra Bullock (pictured above, right). Smooth on Fekkai Coiff Strong Hold Volume Mousse to damp hair and blowdry in to keep strands hydrated. Part hair on the side and set with hot rollers or curl with a curling iron to create loose waves. Release curls, comb hrough locks using your fingers, and pin up in the back. Finish with Fekkai Coiff Sheer Hold Hairspray.
Channel your inner Veronica Lake on prom night by pairing a strapless gown with luxe, wavy strands. Photos: Steve Granitz/WireImage | Michael Tran/FilmMagic.com | Getty Images
Own your curves on prom night in a slinky, strapless dress similar to the peach Versace number wore to the 2010 Golden Globes. Body-conscious gowns look best when worn with classic, Hollywood curls, according to Potempa and Abergel.
For Veronica Lake-esque waves like Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried (pictured above, center and right), create a side part, tucking shortest side behind your ear. Curl hair upwards with a curling iron or set with hot rollers, and set with clips as you move around the perimeter of your head. Release hair clips and brush hair down. Add a vintage hairpiece for a touch of glamour.
For 10 simple tips to buying the perfect prom dress, click here!
Filed under: Cuts & Style, Hair, Hair How To
Tags: beachy waves, braids, buns, expert hair tips, half up half down, ponytail, prom, prom hair, prom hairstyles, updos, wavy hairstyles
Tags: beachy waves, braids, buns, expert hair tips, half up half down, ponytail, prom, prom hair, prom hairstyles, updos, wavy hairstyles
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Evey Marrie, 12-29-2010, 12:04PM
Thank you so much. I've been looking for what hair would be like, suitable for my type of dress. My dress is red, really slinky with a high slit, a criss cross halter & a cutout around the chest.
I've been debating to wear my hair up to showoff the cutout or wear it down, but pushed to the back. You really helped me make my decision (hair down to the back) Thank you
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