FORMAL IDEAS FOR SHORT HAIR

Dear Jellybean,

The winter formal is coming up. I have short hair a little less then shoulder length. I was wondering if you have any good formal hair ideas? I know that going to a hairsylist is the best idea but my dress was expensive and i have to save money for limo dance pics etc. Any ideas would be appreciated!
Love your site!
-Short haired dancer

Dear Short haired dancer,

I'm all about the DIY! Here are a few great ways to play up short hair for a special occasion.

If you want to give the impression that your hair is much longer, but pulled up for the night, you can tease the top of hair (back-comb it a bit with your brush or comb), then gently brush the top part of it smooth. Pin hair up at the back, pinning it around the middle of the back of your head. You can tuck the ends under and bobby-pin them into place, or let the ends stick out in a messy-chic fashion. Decorate sides (and hold flyaway pieces in place) with little jeweled pins or clips.

Another fun 'n' formal look would be to pull back the hair above your ears on either side, and do skinny braids, pinning them at the sides or back or your head with pretty clips. This is super-easy to do, and can look very cute. It's a half-up, half-down option and works whatever your hair texture.

Other tricks for making short hair look dressier include pushing it back behind a sparkly rhinestone headband, slicking it back and adorning with glitter hairspray, braiding colored feathers into selected strands at the sides of hair (so exotic!), or doing colorful streaks (such as red, blue or hot pink) with temporary dye on the underlayers of hair, then using a curling iron to create some texture, so you get a peekaboo effect with the color.