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Party down with your hair up

Remember when you were a little girl and your Mom combed your hair up and fixed it into a bun at the back of your head?  You thought you looked just like a ballerina and you pirouetted out of the bathroom as though you were wearing the most precious pink tutu.  Prom updos have a similar effect.  Once you look in the mirror and see that beautiful young lady smiling back, with her hair stunningly styled and looking very grown-up, you will feel like a dozen butterflies have been released in your stomach.  There’s something about prom updos that makes you feel instantly special, like the night ahead will create wonderful memories you’ll cherish forever.

When you think of prom updos, there are so many variations beyond the simple bun that it’ll take you weeks to experiment with them all.  Just because a style looks fabulous on your best friend, doesn’t mean it will suit you entirely.  You have to consider the shape of your head, the thickness and length of your hair, the flow of your hairline around your face and even how your ears look without hair around them!

Some prom updos are very basic and others are extremely elaborate.  Think of tennis glamour girl Anna Kournikova and how gorgeous her knotted ponytail looks.  Her blonde tresses are combed back smoothly and she wears the ponytail in the centre of the back of her head and uses strands of hair to create a knot-like look where the band would be.  So simple, yet so elegant and pretty.

Have you ever noticed that Nicole Richie wears a lovely nape hair twist?  Sometimes it’s casually messy which wouldn’t make such a good prom updo, but at other times, she looks impeccably styled, with a more formal, combed and slicked back version and a perfect twist of the hair at the nape.  It’s very sexy and excellent for young ladies who have swan like necks.

As a prom updo, a chignon may seem a little older than what you might choose, but think of who wears one.  Reese Witherspoon may be in her 30’s but she looks far more youthful, even with an elegant chignon tying back her golden locks.  You’ll need hair that has grown at least to your shoulders but even better if it’s slightly longer.  Whatever your hair color, livening it up with some highlights and lowlights will really set off this look.

A French twist is a popular prom updo.  It lends itself beautifully to hair decorations like crystal beads or fresh flowers and can be perfectly sleek or slightly less formal.  It can be a little difficult to execute so don’t try doing this one yourself, unless you have someone else’s hands to help.  Lindsay Lohan looks gorgeous with a French twist because it really brings out her eyes and shows off her heart shaped hairline.

If your hair is shorter, you can still have it styled into a prom updo.  If you can at least get it piled into a ponytail then it can be upstyled with some creativity, plenty of product and maybe a decoration.  Still, if it’s too short then there are some wonderful temporary hair extensions out there that are perfect for the occasion.  Paris Hilton wears temporary extensions and Jessica Simpson even has her own range.

So it doesn’t matter what style or length of hair you have, there are plenty of prom updo options to choose from.  Take cues from celebrities, get help from people who are good with hair and be sure to practice so your hair will look gorgeous all night.