Great prom hair and makeup should work with your dress, not against it. Once your dress is chosen, the rest of your look becomes much easier to plan. Here’s how to match both to your specific style.
Start With Your Dress, Not Trends
Your dress style should set the direction for everything else. A flowing, romantic gown calls for a completely different look than a sleek, modern one. So, decide on your dress first, then build your hair and makeup around it.
Hairstyles for Fitted and Mermaid Dresses
A fitted or mermaid silhouette suits sleek, dramatic hair. Try a sleek ponytail, cascading waves, or a polished low bun. These styles echo the fitted lines of the dress instead of competing with them.
Hairstyles for A-Line and Flowy Dresses
Flowy A-line dresses pair beautifully with romantic updos. A braided crown, a soft half-up style, or loose curls all suit this softer silhouette. If your hair accessory needs a finishing touch, our guide to elegant hair accessories for girls has plenty of ideas.
Hairstyles for Strapless and Off-the-Shoulder Dresses
Strapless and off-the-shoulder necklines look best when hair doesn’t hide the neckline. Loose curls, side braids, or an updo all keep the shoulders and neckline visible. For more general hairstyling techniques, our guide to creating a variety of hairstyles covers useful styling basics.
Makeup for Bold, Jewel-Toned Dresses
A bold jewel-toned dress can handle equally bold makeup. Try a defined smoky eye, bronzed skin, and a deep berry or red lip. Balance is still important, though, so choose one dramatic feature rather than three at once.
Makeup for Soft, Pastel Dresses
Soft pastel dresses look best with softer, dewy makeup. A natural glow, subtle shimmer on the eyes, and a nude or soft pink lip all complement the gentler colour palette. For guidance on the eyeshadow techniques behind this look, see our guide to applying eyeshadow correctly.
Matching Makeup Tone to Dress Undertone
Warm-toned dresses generally suit warm makeup shades, like golds, corals, and warm browns. Cool-toned dresses pair better with cool shades, such as silvers, plums, and rose tones. This small detail keeps your whole look cohesive rather than clashing.
Practice the Full Look Before the Big Night
Always test your complete hair and makeup look before prom night itself. Photograph it in both daylight and low light, since venue lighting changes how colours and shimmer appear. This also gives you time to adjust anything that doesn’t photograph the way you expected.