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:
- Curl hair with a 1 to 1.5-inch iron.
- Use a fine tooth comb to tease the crown.
- Part hair and comb into a low pony.
- Gently tease the ponytail for volume.
- Pull out a few face-framing pieces in the front.
Kardashian Pony
Instructions:
- Use a glossing product (like Aveda Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener) and flat iron hair until perfectly straight.
- Part hair and pull back into a slick pony with a bristle brush.
- 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:
- Curl hair with a 1-inch iron.
- Tease the crown.
- Separate a thick section from the front with a clip.
- Pull the remaining hair into a high pony, careful not to pull too tight and flatten the teased section.
- Loosely fishtail the separated section, and pin it underneath the pony.
Thick Dutch Braid
Instructions:
- Curl hair with a 1.25-inch iron.
- Tease the crown with a teasing comb.
- Separate a thick section from the front, and dutch braid it.
- Bobby pin the braid behind your ear and adjust curls to conceal the end of the braid.
- Hairspray lightly all over.
Rockin' French Braid
Instructions:
- Tightly french braid hair straight back until you reach the nape of your neck.
- Pull the remaining hair into a pony.
- Wrap a strand of hair around the hair tie, and tuck within the band to conceal.
Around-the-head Braid
Instructions:
- Split hair into two even sections on the left and right sides.
- 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.
- With one loose braid, fold it and bobby pin it to the back of the head. Repeat with the other braid.
Mohawk Braid
Instructions:
- Separate a rectangular section of hair from the front to the crown, and pull the rest back into a pony.
- Take a smaller section of hair closest to the hairline and begin to Dutch braid (braid under, not over).
- Once you hit the end, clip it.
- Release the rest of the hair from the hair tie, and continue to the braid into the new section.
- 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:
- Create soft waves with a 1.5-inch curling iron (we love Hot Tools Curling Wand!).
- Section hair into three layers: one at the top of the head, a thicker one underneath it, and an even thicker one underneath that.
- Take the top layer and tie with a clear elastic at the top of the head.
- 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.
- Take the bottom layer, and begin fishtailing underneath the braided section, gathering hair from the other two ponies.
- Tie with a clear elastic.
Soft Waves and Crown Braid
Instructions:
- Curl hair with a 1-inch wand.
- Separate two sections on both sides of your part.
- Dutch or French braid those sections, and overlap them at the back of your head.
- Pin the braids and adjust curls to conceal pins.
- Spray with a medium-hold hairspray.
The Ariana
Instructions:
- Curl hair with a 1.5-inch curling iron.
- Section the top half of your hair with the end of a teasing comb.
- Comb back into a high half-pony, secured with a clear elastic.
- Wrap a strand of hair around the elastic to conceal the hair tie.
- Spray with hairspray, but lightly so it doesn't make your hair look greasy.
Loop Braid
Instructions:
- Take a section at the top of your head, and tie it with an elastic.
- Then, separate it into two so there is room to loop the pony through the whole.
- Repeat this step a few inches apart until the ends of your hair.
- Decorate with a baby's breath accessory.
Rose Braid
Instructions:
- Curl hair with a 1-inch curling iron.
- Separate two sections on both sides of the part.
- Braid the sections to meet at the back of the head, and tie with an elastic.
- Start braiding straight down at the elastic. Then, wrap the braid into a bun, and pin the ends.
- Loosen the bun, and manipulate it until it resembles a flower.
Half-Up Tousled Waves
Instructions:
- Curl hair with a 1.25-inch wand.
- Pull the top half of hair into a low pony.
- Create a hole in the hair at the back of the head, and loop the pony through it.
- Loosen the hair to create the "twist" look.
Classic Half-Up
Instructions:
- Curl hair with a 1.25-inch wand.
- Take two strands from both sides, and twist to meet at the back of the head.
- Pin in place.
- Run fingers through hair to loosen curls.
Loose, Face-Framing Braid
Instructions:
- Run soft waves through the hair with a 1.5-inch curler.
- Separate a thick section from the top (for the braid).
- Pull the rest of the hair into a low pony, and form into a messy bun.
- Loosely braid the top section backward to meet the bun.
- Weave bobby pins through the end of the braid.
- Embellish with a decorative hair pin.
Low Messy Bun
Instructions:
- Comb through hair, and pull into a low bun.
- Loosen the bun, and use the end of a teasing comb to pull ends out.
- Add a flower hair piece.
Woven Fishtail Bun
Instructions:
- Separate a section in the front with a clip.
- Tease the crown.
- Pull hair into a low pony, and form into a loose bun.
- Take sectioned-off hair, and fishtail, pinning the ends of the hair to the top of the bun.
- Use the end of a teasing comb to pull out face-framing pieces, and curl with a 1-inch wand.