2009 Prom Hair Accessories Karen Marie Shelton - Copyright - All Rights Reserved

Revised Date:  01/01/09 - Original Publication Date: 12/15/2003

Introduction

Prom hairstyles generally tend to follow the design trends from the major seasonal catwalks with celebrity hairstyle trends thrown into the mix.

(Updo style shown to the side compliments of Inspire Publications - Pearl Earrings shown from the exclusive HairBoutique.com collection - all rights reserved - 2003).

Romantic hairstyles as well as a wide array of buns are big news for 2009. 

Styles covering the full gamut from long luscious sultry curls and wavy locks will be in full bloom. Edgy hairstyles that include multi-colored tips and super chunky textures will also make their debut in Prom ballrooms around the country. 

Stick straight locks are also still very hot and will be worn down as well as up in an assortment of braids, ponytails and messy twists. 

Hair accessories are more popular than ever for completing the perfect Prom ensemble.  Like the importance of selecting the perfect shoes and purse to match your gorgeous gown, it is important to select the best hair accessories that compliment your total look.

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Prom Hair Accessory Looks:

Look for the following prom hair accessories to dominate  for 2009:

1.  Simple But Elegant Crystal Hairpins

Carrie from Sex And The City brought back the simple but elegant hairpin with a vengeance.  The beautiful blonde Carrie played by Sarah Jessica Parker was featured wearing everything from everyday bobby pins in a contrasting color to her buttery locks to wearing bobbies encrusted with Austrian crystals and other jeweled end pieces.  (Starburst Crystal Hairpins in light Amethyst  above from the HairBoutique.com Hair Jewels Collection).

Hairpins are perfect for securing big bangs to one side or to adding a well planned sparkle to a messy twist or updo.  Longer hairpins can be used as a faux headband (as shown on the model to the side).

(Image compliments of Inspire Publications - Austrian Crystal hairpins shown from the exclusive HairBoutique.com collection - all rights reserved - 2003).

Crystal encrusted hairpins are one of the most flexible of hair accessories.  

Not only can they do double duty as a functional hair tool but they can add a simple but elegant shimmer to any length or style of hair.  Even better, they are very easy to use, unlike some other types of accessories that may require practice to utilize properly.

Although some jeweled hairpins have real gemstones like diamonds and rubies that may break your Prom budget, there are many different types of pins available in a range from $5 to $15 for a pair.  Check out gold or silver hued bobbies to match your earrings or other jewelry accessories.  Look for real or glass pearl or crystal tipped hairpins to dress up any Prom gown.

2.  Elegant Crystal Barrettes

When Jessica Simpson married Nick Lachey in the Fall of 2002 she wore her hair in a soft pulled back style that was accented with rare antique brooches that had been converted into jeweled barrettes worth many hundreds of thousands of dollars. (Austrian Crystal encrusted art deco barrette from the HairBoutique.com HairJewels collection - all rights reserved - 2003).

Barrettes, like hairpins, can be used as a functional hair tool to hold back a sweep of bangs or a few strands of hair at the back of the crown.  Barrettes can also be purely decorative adding instant glamour and glitz to a simple but elegant style like Jessica's bridal style crafted especially for her by celebrity stylist Ken Paves.

Barrettes comes in a range of sizes from very small to very large.  You can find them in just about any color or shape and encrusted with a range of crystals, glass pearls and rhinestones.  Select a barrette to match your other jewelry accessories.

3.  Jeweled Condor, Dolphin or Shark Clips

Nothing does double duty so well as a crystal or jewel  encrusted condor or similar hair clip that will not only anchor a soft messy ballerina bun to the back of your head but it will add instant glitter.  (Ballernia bun style shown to the side - all rights HairBoutique.com - 2003 - Condor clip from the HairBoutique.com Hair Jewels collection).

A gorgeous condor style clip can instantly dress up the most simple bun or twisted style by adding an instant high glimmer effect.  

Simply twist your hair into a looped bun or a ballerina style bun, open the clip and use it to anchor the bun or twist. Then carefully pull some loose strands around the perimeter of your style or at the back (as shown to the side) to create a messy look.  

Many celebrities favor similar clips for spur of the moment dress-up. (Image to the side courtesy of Inspire Publications - Condor Clip from the HairBoutique.com collection).

4. 
Textured and shaped hair like the style worn by Heidi Klum (shown to the side) at the AMA awards provides sophisticated control while providing a sleekly clean and smooth look pulled up and off the face. 

Heidi's look is perfect for creating a faux updo look without the fuss.  Wearing the hair up and back also shows off a gorgeous neckline of necklace.

This hairstyle would work perfectly with one or a series of pony elastics to dress up the look.  This style is created with a series of two ponytails that are layered above each other.  If you wanted to add shimmer to the look, add a crystal encrusted pony elastic to the very top of the outside pony.  Or layer several along the length of the pony in the back.  Select colors that compliment your prom gown. (Austrian Crystal Star Pony shown in Smoke from HairBoutique.com Hair Jewels collection - all rights reserved).

This style would also work with one very large pony elastic nestled near the intersection of the two ponytails at the back of the crown.  If you want to simply and go with one elegant ponytail, you can attach a jeweled pony wrap about the band holding the pony in place.

5.

If you prefer an ultra romantic updo style but want just a touch of shimmer and bling bling, the so called floating hair accessories may be your best selection.  

Choose from tiny crystal encrusted hair magnets, hair snaps or small jeweled French pins (shown to the side from The HairBoutique.com Hair Jewels collection - all rights reserved) to lightly accent your hair twist or updo.  

These tiny crystal and jeweled accessories also work great for shorter Prom styles (as shown above) by adding a sprinkling of hair jewels without a heavy hand.

6. 

Although crystal encrusted bobby and French hair pins, barrettes, pony elastics and floating jewels are most popular for Prom styles, if you decide to go with an edgier style you can look at the option to use a more avante garde set of unusually shaped or brightly colored hairsticks, combs, jaws or headbands.  Although hair sticks may be more challenging to use as a hair anchor, you can cheat and add them as decoration to an already existing hair twist or updo.  

Hair combs and headbands can be used as functional tools to hold tresses in place or as pure decoration.  

To punk up your Prom look you may want to experiment by adding clip-on braids, hair extensions or ponies in different textures and colors to give you a radical new look.  Consider clipping in jeweled beads or strands.  Or decorate with tiny jeweled alligator clips in a range of sizes and colors.

Summary

Whether you opt to go with a simple easy Prom hairstyle or something more sophisticated, there is an endless array of beautiful hair accessories to fit your budget and your Prom look. 

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