Formal Updos

One of the best parts about special events is the opportunity to dress up. For women, they get to wear a dress or outfit they don’t normally get to wear and they get to try to emulate their favorite glamorous looks. From hair to shoes, formal events are a chance to do something unexpected and opulent.

Formal hairstyles go a long to completing an entire look. Whether it is for a prom, homecoming dance, wedding or benefit dinner, a stylish hairstyle can help you feel sexy, sophisticated and beautiful. There are a lot of different styles perfect for these types of events.

Formal Updos

Updos are the most popular formal hairstyle. By sweeping hair to the top or back of the head, it helps elongate the neck and shows off feminine shoulders. Updos also allow you to showcase special occasion earrings and necklaces. Elegant updos are so popular because they can be done using nearly every length of hair and type. Women with curly hair can create a fabulous bohemian updo that showcases the waves of the hair. Those with long-hair can create height and dimension with their layers of locks. Updos also look good no matter what color of hair you have.

The following are popular variations on the classic updo:

• Formal updo with bangs: Some women prefer to have some hair along their face even when wearing their hair up. By adding bangs to an updo you can hide a larger forehead and even blemishes (yikes!). Simply take a portion of your bangs and let them hang slanted across the forehead to one side. These bangs generally look best slightly smoothed.
• Updos with curled strands: This design is created by pulling strands out from a formal updo and then curling the hair. This look helps give an updo some character and compliments a rounder face.
• Half updos: For those that would like to have some length, even at a formal event, a half updo is a great compromise. With a half-updo, the hair at the top or closest to the face is pulled back in a unique twist or elegantly pinned. The rest of the hair is allowed to fall down to the shoulders maintaining a certain femininity. Typically, the hair is curled using a large iron to create deep curls before being pulled up. This gives the style volume.

Short Hair Updos

If you have short hair, you still have options for creating a unique and elegant look. Short hair (hair that hits between your ears and chin) can be put into some updo styles. Short hair can be straightened and pinned up to create a similar affect to a traditional updo. If you have very short hair like a pixie cut or bob that is shorter than this, an updo will obviously not be possible. However, the same pins, combs and accessories used in an updo can be used to create elegance in short hair. Use a sparkly pin to sweep your bangs to one side. Or use a styling wax to spike the hair slightly for a more edgy look. When it comes to a formal occasion it is all about making a statement.