When it comes to making formal hairstyles for long hair, each woman has her own opinion. It’s safe to say that most people understand that a formal hairstyle shouldn’t be messy. The untidy hair with stray locks sticking out can ruin any formal image. A formal dress mixed with a wild hairstyle just doesn’t look good.
Of course, in the contemporary world, many options are possible; women still prefer more or less traditional styles for formal occasions. If you have long hair, you need to put in some extra work to create a proper formal hairstyle. We offer you some ideas to work with.
A long formal hairstyle doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, many businesswomen prefer doing something simple with their hair.
Taking the right approach to your long locks can help you come up with the right hairstyle for any occasion. Formal styles are often sleek and chic. Take advantage of some of them. If you have short hair, try these short formal hair ideas for women.
1. Side Braid with a Swept-Back Front
It is important to look decent at formal events. Twist back the side-parted strands at the front while the remaining long hair is styled in an elegant side braid falling on one shoulder. The caramel highlights contrasting with the dark base shade surely add up to the look.
2. French Roll with a Pearl Headband
Flaunt a French roll hairstyle for a sophisticated appeal. Spare the front bangs and tease the crown area creating a voluminous puff while the remaining long mane is pulled on one side and rolled inwards. The side-parted front strands are also pinned back topping off with a pearl headband.
3. Curly Low Bun with Face-Framing Tendrils
Keep it simple and classy with this hairstyle that can be achieved in a flick. Ladies with natural curls can style them in a low bun sitting on the neck and pull some strands loose at the front to accentuate the face. Finish off with a floral headpiece.
4. Front Puff
This is one of the best formal hairstyles for women with long hair who like to wear their mane loose. The front chunk is styled into a bubbly puff using a comb and hairpins while the remaining hair falls loose on the shoulders giving you an instant office look.
5. Jumbo Bun with Twisted Sides
Turn some heads on a formal occasion with this bold look. The sectioned chunks at the front are twisted back to merge into the twisted updo at the back. Black women can use extensions to create an oversized bun as the key to this look is its jumbo proportion.
6. Retro Victory Rolls
A retro-inspired hairstyle can also be worn formally. Go for a middle parting and wrap the hair around the fingers to roll it inwards on both sides and secure it with pins. The remaining hair at the back is also styled in a rolled updo completing the vintage look.
7. Pull-Through Bubble Ponytail
Love a French braid but find braiding difficult? Achieve a similar look by opting for this simpler option. The top front strands are secured in rubber bands at equal intervals while the remaining sections are pulled through this bubbly ponytail till the end creating an artistic hairstyle.
8. Oversized Side Bun
A simple side bun is easy to achieve and looks effortlessly chic. Side-tousle the hair and use a donut to style it into a bun. Don’t leave any strands loose to keep up with the formal attire.
9. Rolled Updo
Here is another vintage-inspired hairstyle for a formal event. Place a hairband on the head and tuck in the sectioned chunks from one ear to the other creating a roll-like look. Secure with pins and pull the strands loose while finishing off with a pearl hair chain.
10. Fishtail Braid with Looped Side Sections
Creativity knows no limits when it comes to styling long hair. Take a chunk of hair at the front and plait it into a simple fishtail braid. Separate out sections of hair along both sides of it and pull them through the braid recreating this distinctive look exactly.
11. Classic Beehive
A neatly tamed hair makeover is ideal for a formal office party. This beehive hairstyle is reminiscent of the 60’s hair fashion featuring a voluminous updo at the back separated from the middle-parted face-framing bangs at the front with a silk bow headband.
12. Half-Up Side Braids
Braids come in handy when styling long tresses. This look features a side-swept braided front and sides that are pinned back creating the half-up half-down hairstyle that will keep all the strands away from the face while they dangle loosely at the back.
13. Bold Look
Display your wild side with this hairstyle. Go for a side parting with a retro victory roll on one side and braids on the other. The remaining hair is divided into two parts and rolled in an updo with the spiky ends sticking out for a bold finish.
14. Sleek Ballerina Bun
Here is another stunning formal hairstyle for your long hair. Twirl around with this hassle-free look by slicking back the mane and using a hair donut to style it into a simple chic bun. Wrap the remaining strands around it securing them with hairpins. Top off with some hairspray.
15. High Ponytail with a Wrapped Base
A formal ponytail for long hair will look fabulous if you’re aiming for that sleek effect for the top. Give the hairstyle an elegant note with a wrapped strand at the base of the pony. Use bobby pins to secure the lock used for covering the hair elastic.
16. Three-Strand Braid with a Low Bun
Build a formal long blonde hairstyle by creating a three-strand braid that starts from the forehead. Knit the whole mane, roll the nape hair inwards to obtain a small bun and use bobby pins to secure the hairdo.
17. Loose Braided Cascade with Flowers
We know they are very time consuming and require a lot of patience, but intricate braids are really worth the effort, making them probably one of the best formal hairstyles for long hair down. Combine different braids, knot them, and add flowers to decorate the whole hairdo beautifully.
18. Jumbo Double Braids
Every time you want to extend your hair, Jumbo hair is one of the most inexpensive, requested, and gorgeous options. Pull off a formal hairstyle for long thin hair by splitting the mane in two and creating two braids by gradually adding the Jumbo hair.
19. Half-Up Waves with a Claw Clip
This half-up formal hairstyle for long hair can be done within minutes! All you need to do is backcomb the ends to obtain more volume and split the top hair and secure it with a hair clip.
20. Double Braids with Rose Buns
A four-strand braid will certainly place you in the spotlight! Use this knit to obtain two French braids that end up in two low rose flower buns. Get a marvelous long formal brown hairstyle with simple techniques!
21. Long Textured Locs with Cuffs
A long formal hairstyle for black girls will keep those rebel coils in place and beautifully tamed. Use cuffed beads to decorate some of the strands and gain the desired length with hair extensions.
22. Gray Box-Braid Bun with Swept Bangs
Even box braids can look formal and provide a fabulous touch-up. The right approach for a look for the office will be a braided bun on top of the head, with ends that create one-sided tossed bangs.
23. Low Fishtail Braid
A neat braid is the best and the easiest formal hairstyle for any woman with long hair you can come up with. Just make sure you do a good job keeping all the hair inside the braid. Use hair gel to smooth the loose hair.
24. Braided Updo with a Looped Crown
If you master the intricate braiding technique, you can create a stunning formal hairstyle on the hair of any length. If you want to go further, consider dyeing your locks different colors to make every braid look different. Temporary sprays are sufficient for a one-time occasion.
25. Crisscross Half-Updo
If you take a close look at this formal hairstyle for long hair, you can realize that there is absolutely nothing hard about making it. You don’t even need instructions. Just a few bobby pins and some patience.
26. Wide Side Braid with a Low Bun
Any type of thick braiding is great for a formal occasion. No matter which braiding technique you choose, even if it’s cornrows, you are bound to get a very neat style. While it might take some time, the result is priceless.
27. Rosette Crown Updo
Making your hair look like a flower basket is a wonderful idea for a special occasion. Make a barber appointment and take the picture with you. These flowers take some time to make but the result is fantastic.
28. Twisted Bun
While this bun seems fairly easy to make, the main problem is keeping it intact. You’ll need plenty of hair gel and bobby pins to keep it in its place. Consider pushing it to one side so it looks grand on photos.
29. Basket-Weave Braid with a Low Bun
Such smooth hairstyles look easy to make but, in reality, require a lot of effort. Don’t hope for the final result to look just as good as on the picture. But if your hairstylist is a professional, he or she can get very close.
30. High hair
High hair seems to be making a comeback. It has become a frequent guest at formal occasions. So why not give it a chance? Just don’t make it too high. The days when extremely high hair was in style are long gone.
Long Hair Styling Tricks for Formal Dos
When you have a special occasion coming up and you need a formal hairstyle, you can take advantage of these long hair styling tricks. They can make your hairstyle even more stunning.
1. Don’t Keep It Down
If you want to create a formal hairstyle, you can’t allow too many of your locks to stick out. While it might look very nice when you just make it, it’s bound to turn into a disaster once the wind blows or the humidity spikes. The tighter you can arrange your hair, the better.
2. Use Braids
Braids might not look formal when they are hanging down from your head but they can become an imperative tool when used correctly. Arranging braids around your head, in a bun or in various patterns can help you create a great hairstyle while keeping the hair neat all day long.
3. Don’t Save on the Gel
Hair gel helps keep the formal hairstyle looking neat on long hair. Choose a strong hold gel in order not to worry about touch-ups during the day. A formal hairstyle without a gel may fail at any time.
These formal hairstyles for long hair suit special occasions like prom. Browse whenever you have a special occasion or event coming up. Each one of these options is suitable for virtually any occasion. So don’t hesitate to try them!
