Elegant Hairstyles for Formal Evening

Elegant hairstyles are for those special occasions such as weddings, proms or the red carpet when you really need to look your best. Many elegant hairstyles are updos, but long hair can also be worn down to look sophisticated and elegant if styled properly.

Popular Elegant Hairstyles

Some popular elegant hairstyles include chignons, French braids, French twists, half-updos, long loose waves and sleek, straight hair. Any of these styles can add elegance by themselves or be made even more special with the addition of jeweled ornaments and accessories to the hair.

Chignons

Chignons, also known as buns, are created by gathering your hair at the back of the head in a pony tail or braid and then coiling the tail into roll and pinning it with bobby pins. Messier versions of chignons are very popular at the moment, with either tendrils of hair hanging around the face that are not tucked in to the bun at all, or with ends sticking out of the bun itself. It is also possible to buy a full chignon hairpiece and add it to the back of your head if your own hair is too short to create the style on its own.

French Braids

French braids are created by taking pieces of hair from the sides of the head and adding them to the braid as you go along, rather than dividing the entire head of hair into three sections to begin with. They are one of the most romantic-looking of the elegant hairstyles but they can be difficult to accomplish on your own, so get a friend to help you if possible.

French Twists

French twists are beautiful rolls of hair that create an elegant, sleek appearance and they are especially popular for weddings. French twists involve creating a low ponytail without securing it with a ponytail holder and then twisting it upwards while hiding the ends under the roll you create so that the hair looks perfectly smooth. It is impossible to create a beautiful French twist on your own head without practice, so go to a professional hair stylist for this look.

Half Updos Hairstyles

Half updos are very fashionable at the moment because they look elegant but carefree. Hair updos involve gathering hair on the sides of the head together, with the ends meeting either at the crown of the head or in the back. Hair should be fastened with a glamorous ornament and the hair at the back of the head should remain down. Curling the hair that is left down creates an even more elegant hairstyle.

Let Your Long Hair Down

Long hair that's left down can also be a very elegant option for special occasions. The two best-known versions of this look are long, loose curls and sleek, pin-straight hair. For long loose curls, use hot rollers or a curling iron and create long spiraled waves. Another popular variation of this look for shoulder-length hair is curling just the ends in order to draw attention to your neckline and shoulders for a formal dress.
Alternately, use a ceramic straightening iron and styling product to make your hair stick straight. Hair with this style can be parted on the side for a sophisticated look or in the middle for a retro look.