Prom Tips

Prom 101: Beauty Basics

The perfect prom dress is hanging in your closet complete with glam accessories -- you're almost ready for your big night! Now it's time to get down to the beauty basics for your complexion, hair and nails.

A Radiant Complexion

Forget what the girl at the beauty counter told you because she works on commission. Don't make the common mistake of focusing on color cosmetics and foundation to make your skin glow. Make-up cannot create a radiant complexion. Wash your face before you go to bed each night, and once again after you wake up in the morning. Use a gentle soap and don't scrub or over wash your skin. Moisturize after washing with a lotion containing SPF to protect your skin from harmful rays. Use a moisturizer appropriate to your skin type (normal, oily, dry or combination). A healthy diet and eight glasses of water each day does more for you skin than all of the magical lotions and potions combined.

Shampoo Review

The secret to great lather is more water, not more shampoo. Too much shampoo strips your hair of shine and decreases volume. Also, don't pour more conditioner than the size of a coin into your palm, and apply the conditioner to the ends of your hair, not your whole head. Just like your complexion, the best treatment you can give to your hair is a healthy diet, including protein and vitamin B. So substitute a green leafy salad for a couple of orders of fries this week, and you'll be on your way to a great hair day for prom!

Healthy Nails

Beautiful nails also rely on good nutrition. Fragile nails indicate a lack of calcium, vitamin A and protein. Vitamin C and folic acid will help reduce hang nails, and vitamin B will strengthen fragile nails. External factors can affect your nails as well. Always use a non-acetone remover to take off your polish. When you file your nails, move the emery board at a 45 degree angle from one side of the nail to the middle instead of sawing back and forth. This will avoid cracking and peeling your nails. After you wash your hands, apply hand lotion starting at your fingertips and massaging toward your wrist.

Practice these basics in the weeks before prom, and you will not only see a huge difference in your complexion, hair and nails, you will also be way ahead of the crowd on prom glamour!

Prom 2006: Must Have Accessories

Let's face it. There's more to prom fashion then the dress, even though it took you months and dozens of fashion magazines to find it. Accessories can make or break a gorgeous prom gown and are must-haves for finishing off your red carpet look. But no worries . . . this year's accessories offer simple yet defining options.

A small beaded bag or an Asian print clutch will both compliment your prom gown and give you a stylish option for carrying essentials like lip gloss, bobby pins, spray, breath mints and extra cash. Purses should be simple so you are not drawing attention away from your dress.

Jewelry should also compliment the dress, not distract from it. Simple pearls worn close to the neck (choker style) work well for girls with athletic builds and those with hourglass or curvy figures. Shorter strands (a bit longer than choker style) compliment pear shaped figures and longer strands that drop down into the bust look great on fuller figures.

Bracelets work for any body type. Just avoid clangy metal, cheap plastic or wood designs and stick with gemstones or small beads. If you choose gloves, wear your bracelets over them, but not your rings (and always remove your gloves during dinner).

Choose medium to long earrings (especially if your hair is up) with geometric designs, delicate stone clusters or sparkling rhinestones. Avoid clunky earrings and save the heavy hoops to wear with your jeans and after prom t-shirt. Brooches are also a hot item this season. A jeweled brooch pinned to your waist or dress strap will help you make your glam entrance.

As you saunter toward your limo in your high heeled sandals, wear a light shawl draped around your uppers arms for a flirty look. And don't forget your most valuable prom night accessory . . . your gorgeous smile!

Show Off Your Best Features with Today's Prom Fashions

When it comes to prom dresses, one style does not fit all. A prom dress should highlight your best features and downplay your worst. It pays to evaluate your body type before settling upon one style.

For long and lean types, a sheath dress(straight line, fitted from shoulders to ankles) or a mermaid dress gives the “wow” factor. An empire cut dress with its high waistline and seam just under the bust is also a fabulous option if you are thin and small busted.

Classic pear shapes can't go wrong in an A-line dress. This dress is forgiving around the hips because the skirt flares out and accentuates your shapely waist. And go strapless . . . a strapless gown will draw attention to your delicate upper torso features.

For fuller figures, a ball gown will accentuate your beautiful arms and shoulders. If you are big busted, a v-shaped top will give you extra support and make you look well proportioned, as will a strapless dress with a corseted top. Resist the urge to cover up! You will look thinner if your dress fits well and you are showing a little skin.

With this information, you are well-armed to walk confidently into any boutique and let the sales assistant know what style works with your best features!

The Perfect Fit for Prom Night

On prom night, you want a dress that not only dazzles but also feels comfortable and moves with you. You don't want to be wondering how to breathe when you sit down to dinner or tugging at fabric that won't keep you covered on the dance floor. Prom night is a time to feel relaxed, confident and focused on nothing else but having fun.

So getting the perfect fit is serious business and takes a bit of planning. Before you leave home to try on dresses, put on the right undergarments, including a strapless bra. Take sandals in the heel height you plan to wear to prom. If you have a glam pair of earrings or necklace, wear it to your dress fittings to find the perfect match.

View the dress from every angle in a full length, three-way mirror and pay special attention to:

• How the dress falls, noting any puckering, bulging or bunching;
• How the material looks and feels around the fitted areas (i.e. your waist and chest); and
• The quality of the stitching, beading and embroidery.

If the dress needs adjustments, use the seamstress associated with the boutique or formalwear shop because that seamstress will be familiar with the fabrics and styles sold there. If you are buying a dress off the rack of a store that doesn't have a seamstress, make sure the adjustments are minor enough that they will be simple for any seamstress to handle. If the dress needs major adjustments, keep looking for one that works better with your body type.

And don't forget to bring a trusted friend along for a second opinion. Remember, your prom dress isn't perfect until it feels as amazing as it looks.

Shimmer, Not Glitter!

Getting ready for prom? With all those gorgous dresses and pretty faces to contend with, you'll want to be the one who stands out! Find a body dusting powder or a bronzer with shimmer in it and dust lightly over shoulder and neck area. Even it out by putting some on your arms and on the back of your neck if your hair is up. Shimmer powders will look more natural under prom lights than body gels with glitter. Glitter makes you look young, shimmer will keep you shining bright!