Prom Hairstyles Trending on Instagram

Let's face it, ladies. The prom hype is real, and everyone keeps saying it's one of the most important nights of a girl's life…no pressure, right? Maybe you're the kind who takes a whole 12 hours to prep for the big event or the girl who's still looking for a dress two days before. And maybe you couldn't care less, but regardless — we're just trying to help you avoid looking back at your old high school pictures and cringing at the sight of an overly-teased updo. In this DIY guide, we've pulled together our favorite prom hairstyles from Instagram, so have it.

Voluminous Pony

Instructions:

1. Curl hair with a 1 to 1.5-inch iron.
2. Use a fine tooth comb to tease the crown.
3. Part hair and comb into a low pony.
4. Gently tease the ponytail for volume.
5. Pull out a few face-framing pieces in the front.

Kardashian Pony

Instructions:

1. Use a glossing product (like Aveda Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener) and flat iron hair until perfectly straight.
2. Part hair and pull back into a slick pony with a bristle brush.
3. Take a section from underneath and wrap it around the hair tie until there is about 1.5 inches left. Then, tuck it within the hair tie to conceal.

Fancy Fishtail Pony

Instructions:

1. Curl hair with a 1-inch iron.
2. Tease the crown.
3. Separate a thick section from the front with a clip.
4. Pull the remaining hair into a high pony, careful not to pull too tight and flatten the teased section.
5. Loosely fishtail the separated section, and pin it underneath the pony.

Thick Dutch Braid

Instructions:

1. Curl hair with a 1.25-inch iron.
2. Tease the crown with a teasing comb.
3. Separate a thick section from the front, and dutch braid it.
4. Bobby pin the braid behind your ear and adjust curls to conceal the end of the braid.
5. Hairspray lightly all over.

Rockin' French Braid

Instructions:

1. Tightly french braid hair straight back until you reach the nape of your neck.
2. Pull the remaining hair into a pony.
3. Wrap a strand of hair around the hair tie, and tuck within the band to conceal.

Around-the-head Braid

Instructions:

1. Split hair into two even sections on the left and right sides.
2. French or Dutch braid from the top of the first section, straight down until the ends of the hair. Clip that braid to the side. Repeat on the other side.
3. With one loose braid, fold it and bobby pin it to the back of the head. Repeat with the other braid.

Mohawk Braid

Instructions:

1. Separate a rectangular section of hair from the front to the crown, and pull the rest back into a pony.
2. Take a smaller section of hair closest to the hairline and begin to Dutch braid (braid under, not over).
3. Once you hit the end, clip it.
4. Release the rest of the hair from the hair tie, and continue to the braid into the new section.
5. Tie with a clear elastic.

Troubleshooting tip: If you notice a pesky bump, take a bobby pin and weave it into the hair to flatten it.

Inception Fishtail

Instructions:

1. Create soft waves with a 1.5-inch curling iron (we love Hot Tools Curling Wand!).
2. Section hair into three layers: one at the top of the head, a thicker one underneath it, and an even thicker one underneath that.
3. Take the top layer and tie with a clear elastic at the top of the head.
4. Take the middle layer and create two braids that meet at the back of the head. (This should be on top of the first ponytail.) Then tie with a clear elastic.
5. Take the bottom layer, and begin fishtailing underneath the braided section, gathering hair from the other two ponies.
6. Tie with a clear elastic.

Soft Waves and Crown Braid

Instructions:

1. Curl hair with a 1-inch wand.
2. Separate two sections on both sides of your part.
3. Dutch or French braid those sections, and overlap them at the back of your head.
4. Pin the braids and adjust curls to conceal pins.
5. Spray with a medium-hold hairspray.

The Ariana

Instructions:

1. Curl hair with a 1.5-inch curling iron.
2. Section the top half of your hair with the end of a teasing comb.
3. Comb back into a high half-pony, secured with a clear elastic.
4. Wrap a strand of hair around the elastic to conceal the hair tie.
5. Spray with hairspray, but lightly so it doesn't make your hair look greasy.

Loop Braid

Instructions:

1. Take a section at the top of your head, and tie it with an elastic.
2. Then, separate it into two so there is room to loop the pony through the whole.
3. Repeat this step a few inches apart until the ends of your hair.
4. Decorate with a baby's breath accessory.

Rose Braid

Instructions:

1. Curl hair with a 1-inch curling iron.
2. Separate two sections on both sides of the part.
3. Braid the sections to meet at the back of the head, and tie with an elastic.
4. Start braiding straight down at the elastic. Then, wrap the braid into a bun, and pin the ends.
5. Loosen the bun, and manipulate it until it resembles a flower.

Half-Up Tousled Waves

Instructions:

1. Curl hair with a 1.25-inch wand.
2. Pull the top half of hair into a low pony.
3. Create a hole in the hair at the back of the head, and loop the pony through it.
4. Loosen the hair to create the "twist" look.

Classic Half-Up

Instructions:

1. Curl hair with a 1.25-inch wand.
2. Take two strands from both sides, and twist to meet at the back of the head.
3. Pin in place.
4. Run fingers through hair to loosen curls.

Loose, Face-Framing Braid

Instructions:

1. Run soft waves through the hair with a 1.5-inch curler.
2. Separate a thick section from the top (for the braid).
3. Pull the rest of the hair into a low pony, and form into a messy bun.
4. Loosely braid the top section backward to meet the bun.
5. Weave bobby pins through the end of the braid.
6. Embellish with a decorative hair pin.

Low Messy Bun

Instructions:

1. Comb through hair, and pull into a low bun.
2. Loosen the bun, and use the end of a teasing comb to pull ends out.
3. Add a flower hair piece.

Woven Fishtail Bun

Instructions:

1. Separate a section in the front with a clip.
2. Tease the crown.
3. Pull hair into a low pony, and form into a loose bun.
4. Take sectioned-off hair, and fishtail, pinning the ends of the hair to the top of the bun.
5. Use the end of a teasing comb to pull out face-framing pieces, and curl with a 1-inch wand.