Hi,

I have dead straight brown hair to the middle of my back, with a fringe and was wondering if anyone has any ideas or simple techniques to make my hair look amazing and drop dead gorgeous for an end of year ball in a week :-/. I have a headband that could be encorporated.  It would be nice to have a few curls.  :). Keep it simple as im not an expert at hairstyling.

can anyone help? :)

Do you have a friend who could maybe French braid your hair for you or do some kind of a simple updo? It's easier to style someone else's hair than your own.

For a minimalist approach, you could wear your hair down, parted on the side and held back with your headband. A simple half up would also work. Or you could do a flipped ponytail (aka: "topsy tail") - don't laugh, I actually wore my hair that way to my prom.  ::)

If you want curls or waves, I recommend using pincurls or sponge rollers as opposed to heated irons.  :o

You could also have your hair professionally styled, but I only recommend that as an absolute last resort. It's an extremely damaging process.

Good luck!

What style dress are you wearing?  Sometimes I get inspiration for my hair from my clothes.  With bare shoulders, you can get away with something asymetrical.  In general, the "busier" your gown is the simpler your hair needs to be and vice versa.  

I once did a beautiful style that was just two pony tails, one under the other.  I arranged the curls of one so it hid the base of the other, and it just looked like a cascade of ringlets down the back of my head.  

Just remember that whatever you do should hold up to three hours of dancing!  I hope you have a wonderful time.

I have a knee high bright pink dress with spaghetti straps  :o . I quite like your idea texan traveller and i like the simplistic idea Angel spun suggested, by the way what are sponge rollers?  :-? OO choices  :D i think i might need to do some experimenting ::)

Thanks!

Sponge rollers (or curlers) have plastic frames and a sponge-like tube that you roll sections of your hair up in. You can leave them on overnight for mass curls the next morning. They're traditionally pink, but also come in other colors. Here's a pic of them: http://www.fotosearch.com/thumb/phd/PHD461/110058.jpg

Also, I'm not sure if you know anyone who ice skates competitively, but the women who do figure skaters' hair before a performance are extremely talented and can create gorgeous styles in a hurry. Just thought I'd throw it out there.