Apart from graduation, getting ready for prom is the most important thing in your life right now. We know exactly how you feel! You need a look that’s universal enough to be adapted to any dress you might wear but personalized enough so that you can make it your own. That’s where the side hairstyle comes in. We have gathered an amazing array of 50 side hairstyles for prom that are guaranteed to turn heads and make you look like a princess!
1. The Rosie Huntington Whitely
When Rosie hit the red carpet for this event, she knew she had to let her dress do all the talking. She’s wearing a fantastic silver mirrored number that could not be overpowered by the makeup or hair, so she opted for a simple side braid.
2. The Jessica Alba
This is how easy side hairstyles for prom can get if you style them correctly. You can wear sleek hair and a small braid on one side in case you go for powerful smoky eyes which will be the main attraction at face level.
3. Supermodel Side Hairstyles for Prom
Vintage curls are another way to go, especially if you have a halter dress. In this way, you can keep to the same old Hollywood screen siren look and match the halter top with the vintage curls. Don’t forget the drooping earrings.
4. The Jennifer Lopez
Take a cue from the queen of Latin music Jennifer Lopez and use hair magnificent mane as inspiration for your side hairstyles for prom. She’s wearing a blonde ombre with loose curls on a lacey white dress.
5. The Genesis Rodriguez
This set of messy yet sexy curls is perfect for showcasing a pair of heavy, sparkly, and precious earrings. They can be diamond, rubies, sapphires or whatever you prefer. The look is perfect in case you have a dress that uncovers your shoulders.
6. The Blake Lively
Leave it to actress Blake Lively to show everyone how to do side hairstyles for prom. She opted for a combination between a braid secured with bobby pins and a set of lovely curls on the other side. Notice how her lipstick matches her dress exactly.
7. The Cara Delavigne
This is a look worthy of a superstar. It’s so simple yet so magnificent. Cara went for a deep part with messy beach waves. The uncovered side of her head has been gelled so that no strands slip out. The main stars of the look, however, are the oxblood lipstick and the Spanish inspired black and white theatrical earrings that offset the red of her lips.
8. The Miranda Kerr
Supermodel Miranda Kerr is another contender for the best look on our list of side hairstyles for prom. She chose a bold lip as well, her color being a creamy dark cherry that was meant to highlight her blue eyes.
9. The Kate Beckinsale
But it’s not all loose hair and beachy waves when we’re talking about side hairstyles for prom. You can also follow Kate Beckinsale’s advice and go for a major braided side bun with a loose strand on the other side. We are absolutely in love with the golden tassel earrings!
10. The Megan Fox
Nothing goes better together than a corset dress with a scalloped edge made of pure lace and a set of simple, vintage curls. We even like the classic combination Megan Fox is showcasing here between dark hair and the white of the dress.
11. The Jessica Alba
Actress Jessica Alba is both a lesson in how to be a Hollywood diva and a vision in gold. She channeled the old screen sirens of the 20s and 30s and came up with this outstanding metallic look in which her glossy tresses match her dress, earrings, and eyeshadow and her lips are the only pop of color.
12. Braid Side Hairstyles for Prom
The main advantage of the braided hairstyle is that it’s comfortable. Think about it. You already have a ball gown and a pair of high heeled shoes to worry about all night long. Give yourself a break and try a comfy hairstyle.
13. The Taylor Swift
Did you know that Taylor Swift has curly hair in real life? She often wears curls, it’s true, but they are always very highly polished and resemble the kind you get with a hair curler. In fact, she has curly, frizzy hair just like the rest of us.
14. The Lucy Hale
If you do decide to go for beach waves as part of your side hairstyles for prom routine, we also advise you to get some highlights. The lighter shade will warm up your skin tones and cast a rosy glow on your cheeks.
15. Ponytail Side Hairstyles for Prom
This is a modern take on those 60s hairstyles we always dream about after seeing in the magazines. It’s a long side ponytail which has been teased up at the back just enough to make it look messy and ready to party.
16. Side Prom Hairstyles for Long Hair
This simple yet effective twisted hairstyle works best if you add a few highlights right at the front plus a pair of dramatic earrings to compliment it. You can also go a bit overboard with your makeup and use blue eyeliner, for example.
17. Messy Side Hairstyles for Prom
Although it looks like a mess of sweet curls, this is in fact a preferred hairstyle for both teenage girls going to prom and brides alike. There’s just something about the allure of a romantic set of waves against the big, diamond studded earrings.
18. The Nicole Scherzinger
If you have side bangs, this is the perfect moment to put them to good use. This is exactly what Nicole did. She went for a side part in which her side bangs turned into a separate layer of her hairstyle that adds more depth and dimension to the haircut.
19. The Amber Heard
You can also use your hair color very creatively when it comes to side hairstyles for prom. Take Amber Heard’s example. Her hair color is a dirty blonde at head level and melts into a golden champagne toward the ends. So, she added a pop of color with some emerald earrings and a scarlet lip.
20. Outstanding Side Hairstyles for Prom
You can never go wrong with a dramatic hair accessory. It’s the easiest way to embellish your hair even if your hairstyle or haircut, for that matter, is a simple one. Apart from that, it’s the perfect choice if you’re wearing a corset dress.
21. The Rita Ora
Singer and actress Rita Ora has never looked better than on the occasion of this red carpet appearance. Her hair is a fantastic beige blonde, and she played off of it very well with smoky gray eyes and red lipstick.
22. The Eva Longoria
Here’s another celebrity who knows how to use accessories the right way. Eva Longoria has dark chestnut brown hair which has been swept to the side for this occasion. Therefore, she colorized everything with a pair of grass green long earrings.
23. The Anna Kendrick
Is there ever a moment when Anna Kendrick doesn’t look flawless? Her dark caramel hair has been curled into simple yet sweet coils that fall carelessly onto her ivory skin. She opted for simple makeup in the same color palette and diamond earrings.
24. Twisted Side Hairstyles for Prom
This hairstyle is incredibly sweet and romantic, mostly due to the ribbon used to tie the ponytail with. The style in itself is a twisted ponytail with a few loose strands of hair that hang in the front and on the shoulders.
25. Fishtail Braid Side Hairstyles for Prom
If you thought that a fishtail braid for long hair can only be straight and vertical, you were completely wrong. Just look how magnificent it is when you braid it diagonally across your head and allow the back detailing of your gown to show.
26. Matching Hair Accessories
Here’s a cute trick you can use for your prom night. Match your hair accessories to your earrings. In other words, you can get a pair of earrings in the small size of your preferred design and then the big size when it comes to your hair.
27. Simple Side Hairstyles for Prom
Flowers have been all the rage in the past few seasons. We’ve seen them everywhere from proms to weddings to red carpet events to music festivals. This is a double twisted braid with three small white roses decorating it.
28. Natural Side Hairstyles for Prom
If flowers are not really your thing but you do love the idea of bringing a bit of nature into your look, you can always use some other parts of the plant such as little branches or the green leaves. Choose some fragrant ones for a boost of energy.
29. Jumbo Braided Side Hairstyles for Prom
When you have long hair, you can wear it hanging down your back or put it into one of those classic low chignons everyone’s been wearing since the 20s. But what if we told you there’s a third option, more modern and contemporary?
30. Formal Pin Up Side Hairstyles for Prom
When they think of pin up, most people imagine colorful pictures from the 40s. But did you know there is also a formal side of pin up which you can use as a source of inspiration for your prom look?
31. The Decorated Fishtail
If you want to make an impression, a braid won’t be enough. This is a loose, jumbo fishtail in an ombre brown with blonde highlights that has been decorated with white baby breath flowers. Evidently, you can choose whatever flowers you fancy the most.
32. The Flower Crown
If baby breaths are too small for you and you really want to make an entrance, then we suggest you wear a flower crown. This one has been made of a single, half blossomed, pink peony, blue thistles, orange berries, and some green leaves.
33. Shaved Side Hairstyles for Prom
Daring girls need a brave and edgy hairstyle and this is just what you’ve been looking for. It’s a half shaved haircut that showcases your personality but still leaves enough of your long hair to match the ball gown you will be wearing.
34. Fishtail Meets Ponytail
You can even combine two types of braids if you want something a little more intricate for your side hairstyles for prom. This is a small fishtail that ends with a side ponytail. It works best with a bohemian style dress.
35. Lovely Side Hairstyles for Prom
Nothing says lovely better than a handful of jasmine flowers braided into your hair for prom night. And just think of the smell that will be wafting through the air when you move and dance. Better than any perfume!
36. Lilac Side Hairstyles for Prom
Since nontraditional hair colors have definitely won top spot as the main trend in the past season, we shall dedicate an entire section of this article to them and the way you can use them when it comes to side hairstyles for prom.
37. Rainbow Side Hairstyles for Prom
If you can’t make up your mind one a single hair color for prom, you can always for the rainbow trend. As the name suggests, you get to use several colors of your choosing, either of the same palette such as different shades of red or purple or the actual colors of the rainbow.
38. The Selena Gomez
Instagram queen Selena Gomez graced this red carpet event with a simple but powerful sleek side hairstyle. If you want to copy it, you will need a liberal amount of hair wax to get the side and the top of the hair not to move.
39. Side Hairstyles for Prom with Bangs
Bangs go amazingly well with braids so why not pair them up on your big night? Talk to your stylist about the best type of bangs for your face and then get an appropriate makeup that will highlight them.
40. The Side Braid Bun
This hairstyle may look complicated, but it’s easier to achieve than one might think. It’s a simple diagonal Dutch braid that ends in a braided bun on one side of the head. When you have secured it in place with bobby pins, decorate it with a large flower of your choosing.
41. Teal Side Hairstyles for Prom
When choosing your nonconventional hair color for prom, make sure take your dress into consideration. For example, teal will clash with pink and orange, no matter how much you may love the colors or the dresses themselves. Choose one or the other.
42. Cotton Candy Side Hairstyles for Prom
The nontraditional hair color trend has gotten so big that hair care lines have even come up with special dyes now which you can safely use at home. They do not stain, they are not so damaging on the hair anymore, and you are guaranteed to get the color you want every time.
43. Cherry Red Side Hairstyles
A black and white dress will play off amazingly well if you choose this hair color. Remember to choose something demure, though because the hair is a lot in itself. If you go for a complicated dress, you risk looking like you’re wearing a costume.
44. Ashy Purple Side Hairstyles
Here is a color that allows you to do a bit of that old matchy-matchy we know and love. This means you can go for a purple or lavender dress without the risk of looking odd. The ashy undertones of the hair color keep it dramatic and cool.
45. Eggplant Side Hairstyles for Prom
This has got to be one of the most beautiful shades of purple and one of the most outstanding hair colors we’ve ever seen. If you choose it, let the hair do all the talking and keep the dress to a simple black, white, champagne gold or even stone gray.
46. Green and Blonde Side Hairstyles
If ‘brave’ is your middle name, then this is the hairstyle for you. It’s a diagonal French braid that ends in a sleek bun. However, the main attraction are the two colors that intertwine. One is a gorgeous metallic green and the other one is a dirty blonde.
47. Mint Green Side Hairstyles for Prom
Let’s continue with some more ideas for green hair. This is mint green ombre. It starts off with dark green and melts away into a frenzy of peppermint that puts us in mind of mint chip ice cream and summer fields on a sweltering day.
48. Orchid Side Hairstyles for Prom
Orchid is a shade of purple not pink as many wrongly believe. Either way, it’s gorgeous and we highly recommend you try it. If you’re not going to go crazy with your hair when you’re a teenager, then when are you going to do it?
49. The Beyonce
No one better than Queen Bey herself to show us how to do side hairstyles for a special occasion. She’s wearing a magnificent tangerine dress with drooping diamond earrings that reach down to her shoulders.
50. Silver and Turquoise Side Hairstyles for Prom
If you’re going for the mermaid look, then silver and turquoise definitely speak of life under the sea. Not to mention that the fishtail braid is a nod in the same direction. Choose a mermaid dress as well and the style is complete.
Conclusion
The hairstyle you wear for prom has to be magnificent and unforgettable so that it can match your dress and the occasion itself, but it also has to serviceable and comfortable so that you can wear it an entire night. Therefore, we believe that side hairstyles for prom do both these tricks in one go. What do you think? Do you have a preferred hairstyle among the 50 we’ve displayed above?
Richard is fascinated by everything that has to do with styling techniques and how technology can play an important part in the industry’s development. He started out his career as a barber, and later found his passion for both men and women’s hairstyles. Richard now works as a writer for fashion magazines, blogs, and is actively taking steps toward launching his own online platform!
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