Formal Prom Hairstyles: 30 Gorgeous Looks We Love

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Sarah Hyland

In this gallery of formal prom hairstyles, we share 30 gorgeous updos that we went gaga over. You'll see classic formal styles, side dos, some mussy looks and a few braided updos. All of them are simply gorgeous.

When it comes to choosing your hairstyle, I recommend:

Pick the dress first. This will help you determine if you want your hair up or down and just how formal or understated you want your hairstyle.
You don't want your hair competing with your dress or your jewelry. Keep it simple, unless the dress is simple and you can make your hairstyle front and center.
Consider your hair texture when choosing an updo. The super mussy, wavy hairstyles that are trendy and all over Pinterest are gorgeous, but they aren't going to work on someone with pin-straight hair that's not super long.
It's best to have a consultation and initial run-through before your big day. When I had my hair consultation for my wedding, I ended up with a hairstyle I hated. I was able to communicate with the stylist and on my wedding day, I actually loved my hair. If it wasn't for the consultation, I would have been so upset.

Enjoy this gallery!

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Emily Blunt

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Hayden Panettiere

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Lily James

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Katherine Heigl

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Keira Knightley

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Shay Mitchell

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Anika Noni Rose

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Vanessa Hudgens

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Anne Hathaway

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Olivia Wilde

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Diana Argon

Dianna Agron. Kevin Winter / Getty Images

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Emily Blunt

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Emmy Rossum

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Jessica Chastain

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Claire Danes

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Anna Kendrick

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Nicole Kidman

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Emmy Rossum

How to get this look:

1. Finger comb hair back from forehead (messy is good, so skip the comb). You want hair to go straight back because you don't want a part.

2. Pull hair into a ponytail just above the nape of your neck. Wind hair into a bun and secure with an elastic band. Pin back strays with bobby pins (have someone help you). If you want a really messy look, leave the stray hairs out.

3. Hairspray will keep the 'do in place. You can tug some strands of hair up so it's looser than the rest of hair.

Here are the classic prom hairstyle photo galleries:

Plus, check out these specialty galleries: