Prom

Consider A Prom Budget

Factor in shoes, hair, nails, transportation, and a stunning dress, and you begin to see why proms can be expensive. Your first step to holding down costs should be to establish a budget. If you have a small budget, you can still have a great time with a little improvisation.

Transportation can be a big expense. If it’s a limousine you’re after, then book it early, and consider sharing the cost with a group of friends. Your parents may also be able to help you with the cost of your ride or allow you to borrow their car for the evening.

Try these tips for more budget saving ideas:

• Shop in your mom, aunts, sister’s closet, etc. for a dress.
• Hold a slumber party, invite all of your closest friends, and direct them to bring all of their fabulous accessories, like shoes, bags and jewelry. Everyone can survey the other’s merchandise, and swap key pieces.
• Consider splitting the cost of everything with your date, or with a group of friends.

Hair

Great hair is sought after on a regular basis, but it’s downright essential on prom night. If you can afford to go to a salon for gorgeous locks, then take lots of photos of the look you want with you. Describe in detail the vision you have for your look. Don’t be shy. You are spending a substantial amount of money for your fairy tale night, and truthfully, most salon stylists would love to help you achieve it. Help them by speaking up, and describing exactly what you would like.

If, however, foregoing the trip to the salon was one the tough choices you had to make in order to meet your budget, don’t despair. The key to having great hair boils down to two essential factors: shininess and depth. Luckily both can be achieved, if your parents allow for it, with a home hair coloring kit.

• Do not attempt to radically alter your hair color at home.
• Do not attempt to go from a blonde to a brunette or vice versa.
• Remember, all you need is the shine and depth factor. Leave the tricky stuff, like eye-catching highlights, for the professionals.

When all else fails, go for the up-do. You may want to do this anyway since up-dos' convey sophistication, and understated elegance with ease. And besides, they also accentuate classic feminine features, like your delicate jaw line, ears, and neck to boot. Whether it’s having all your hair pulled taunt into a high bun, or held elegantly in place by a loose chignon, the choices for an up-do are numerous. You should have no problem finding one to compliment your individual style.

For more information about prom hair styles, visit LoveToKnow Hair, where you'll find articles on prom hair updos, galleries of prom hairstyles, long hair prom styles and more than a dozen other articles to help you get the best prom style.

Make Up

Make is a great way to pull your look together, and it speaks volumes about your personality. Here are some more tips:

• If you are worried that you have to show up on your big night in full-on war paint, don’t be. But keep in mind that even the “natural” look requires prepping. If you have blemishes, use foundation, or concealor to disguise them, and make sure you use a light hand for the application. Gloss or a lightly colored lipstick is fine, but don’t forget to use mascara. A great trick is to use an eyelash curler on lashes, and then follow up with clear mascara. This will ensure that your natural beauty, and not your make up, will shine through.
• Captivating eyes are always a winner, and if going with this look, remember to keep your lipstick simple and understated. Doing otherwise will force your eyes and lips to compete for attention; not an attractive look. And though you can get away with a quick swipe of eyeliner, or eye shadow during the day, consider using a combination of the two for your ultimate evening look.
• Finally, if wearing lipstick alone is what you are most comfortable with, then try spicing up your look with classic red lips. Red might not be a color you are used to wearing on a daily basis, so head to your local department store makeup counter, and ask the experts for their opinion on which shade of red flatters you the most.

The Dress

You’ve got hair, and makeup covered, so it’s time for the piece de resistance: the dress. There are a slew of styles, cuts, and colors to choose from, so follow these guidelines to ensure dress-shopping success:

• Pick a color that flatters your skin tone.
• Consider if the cut of the dress compliments your shape.
• While in the dressing room, mimic the movements you’ll be making on prom night, like sitting, dancing, and crossing and uncrossing your legs. This will ensure that the dress stays in place throughout the night.
• Purchase a dress that suits your personality.

Deciding Who to Attend With

This one is right up there with the dress. If the person of your dreams doesn’t ask you, don’t despair. Instead, consider asking him. If that’s completely out of the question, then consider going with a close friend of the opposite sex, or with a group of good of friends. This way, you’ll ensure that you have a great time.

A Final Word

The prom is a great and memorable rite of passage in a young person’s life, so take the time to enjoy the evening. With any important event in life, there are bound to be some stresses. Try setting that aside, sitting back, and enjoying the company you’re with. There is only one prom night, so make the most of it.