Prom night is obviously one of the most important social events in a teen's life. It combines romance, a party atmosphere, and a sense of saying goodbye to high school and carefree days. Everyone wants their prom experience to come off without a hitch and become a memory they'll cherish for the rest of their lives. For many girls, one aspect of the big night often becomes incredibly important: which prom hair style to choose.

There's more to this decision than you might think. Prom hair styles have to withstand a lot of activity for several hours. Imagine trying to keep a hair style looking great while dancing, rushing around to see friends, and then partying at all of the after-prom parties. Whew! Seen in that light, choosing the best hair style takes more careful planning than you thought, huh?

Formal or Functional?

Probably the biggest decision you have to make is whether to go with a seriously formal hair style for prom, or one that is less formal but more functional and able to handle the frenetic activity without falling apart. It's easier for girls with short hair, of course, but they also have fewer styling options. Teens with longer hair have more options on the formal side, but also then have to deal with more potential problems on prom night - especially after they've been dancing and rushing around for a couple of hours!

So, ultimately your choice of prom hair style comes down to your level of willingness to deal with maintaining the style all night. For many girls, it's important enough to deal with. For others, convenience is a higher priority. If you fall into the first group, a formal updo is a popular hair style for prom. It's a classic look that makes for beautiful prom pictures. If, however, you're more about the dancing and less about the elegance, sweeping your hair back into a ponytail is a great solution, and probably the most common choice.

Get Expert Advice

Whichever direction you go, the best advice is to enlist the help of your hair stylist! If your stylist is good and has been doing the job for more than just a year or two, chances are he or she will have tons of great advice about how you should style your hair for prom. The longer you've been going to that stylist, the better, because he or she will know your preferences and personality well enough to make appropriate suggestions. Together, you should be able to come up with a great choice. Make it easier by looking through magazines and web sites and cutting or printing out pictures of the prom hair styles you like the most. Keep them in a folder and take them with you when you visit your stylist for a consult.

A common mistake many girls make is not planning far enough in advance. You never know what a hair style will look like until you're sporting it. Don't get stuck with one you hate on prom night because you ran out of time! You can easily avoid that disaster by getting with your stylist at least a month before your prom and having him or her try several styles. Have your mom or a friend take pictures from several angles in each style so you can review them later and make a good decision without feeling rushed. When prom night finally arrives, you'll enjoy it a lot more knowing that the hair style you're wearing is the best one for you. No surprises!

John Schwartz http://www.1-hair-styles.com (All rights reserved)