30 Elegant Prom Hairstyles for Medium Length Hair: Shine on Your Big Night
Hey there! Prom night is a super big deal, right? You want everything to be just perfect, and your hair is a huge part of that amazing look.
Now, if you’ve got medium-length hair, you’re actually in the perfect spot! It’s not too short, not too long, which means we can do all sorts of stunning, elegant styles. Think updos that wow, or beautiful waves that flow.
We’ve got 30 fantastic Elegant Prom Hairstyles for Medium Length Hair here. They’re all about helping you Shine on Your Big Night!
It’s truly exciting to pick out your special look.
So, go ahead and peek at these gorgeous ideas. You’re absolutely going to want to save your favorites as pins for inspiration!
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1. Elegant Twisted Low Bun
An elegant twisted low bun is a timeless choice for prom, exuding sophistication and grace.
It neatly secures your medium-length hair at the nape of your neck, creating a polished and refined silhouette that beautifully complements any gown.
The subtle twists add intricate detail and texture to the bun, elevating it beyond a simple updo.
This style is perfect for showcasing elegant necklines or statement earrings, ensuring you look poised and stunning throughout the evening.
2. Classic Low Chignon with Hair Wrap
A classic low chignon is the epitome of timeless elegance for prom.
This polished bun sits gracefully at the nape of the neck, creating a smooth, sophisticated profile that is both refined and utterly chic.
Adding a sleek hair wrap, often a thin braid or a section of hair, around the base of the chignon elevates its charm and adds a refined detail.
This style beautifully complements intricate dress necklines and showcases elegant earrings, ensuring you look sophisticated and poised for every moment of your special night.
3. Voluminous Side Ponytail
A voluminous side ponytail offers a playful yet incredibly glamorous look for prom, combining high energy with sophisticated elegance.
It sweeps your medium-length hair over one shoulder, showcasing beautiful volume and cascading waves or curls, creating a dynamic and eye-catching silhouette.
The ponytail is strategically positioned high on one side, with the hair teased at the crown for added lift and bounce.
This style is perfect for highlighting your profile and neckline, making a fun, chic statement that feels both youthful and incredibly refined.
4. Double Twisted Half-Up Bun
This unique half-up style combines intricate detailing with flowing elegance, perfect for medium-length hair at prom.
Two twisted sections of hair are gracefully brought back from the temples and secured into a small, neat bun at the crown, leaving the rest of your hair to cascade beautifully down your back.
The double twists add a delicate, refined touch at the crown, creating an almost regal feel.
This hairstyle is ideal for showcasing your hair’s natural length and texture while keeping strands away from your face, offering a look that feels both classic and subtly modern, perfect for a romantic evening.
5. Sleek Side-Swept Low Ponytail
A sleek side-swept low ponytail offers a sophisticated and incredibly polished look for prom, exuding modern elegance.
It keeps your hair flawlessly smooth at the crown and then lets it flow gracefully over one shoulder, creating a refined and alluring profile.
The hair is pulled back into a low ponytail, then artfully swept to one side, drawing attention to your profile and the elegant curve of your neck.
This style is perfect for showcasing your facial features with understated glamour and adds a touch of red-carpet sophistication, ensuring you look effortlessly chic all night long.
6. Fishtail Braid Crown
A fishtail braid crown is a truly enchanting and romantic hairstyle, perfect for prom, adding an intricate, fairy-tale touch to your medium-length hair.
This style involves weaving sections of your hair into a delicate fishtail braid that wraps elegantly around your head, resembling a regal crown.
The unique fishtail braid adds a beautiful, textured detail that’s both intricate and eye-catching, making your hair a true work of art.
The rest of your hair can be left down in soft, flowing waves or curls, creating a harmonious blend of structure and romance, perfect for a dreamy prom night.
7. Vintage-Inspired Hollywood Waves
Channel timeless glamour with Vintage-Inspired Hollywood Waves for your prom night.
This exquisite style features large, polished, symmetrical waves that flow beautifully, exuding classic sophistication and old-school movie star allure.
The waves are deep, uniform, and have a high-shine finish, creating a luxurious and polished look that perfectly complements a glamorous gown.
To style, use a large barrel curling iron or hot rollers on medium-length hair, setting each wave with pins until cool, then brush out gently for a smooth, cohesive flow, finishing with a strong-hold shine spray for lasting brilliance.
8. Dutch Braid Crown with Loose Curls
A Dutch braid crown offers a beautiful, raised braid detail that adds a unique texture and dimension to your prom hairstyle.
This style creates a regal yet romantic look, perfect for medium-length hair, and pairs beautifully with soft, flowing curls.
The Dutch braid is woven on top of the hair, giving it a pronounced, intricate appearance.
To style, create a Dutch braid along the crown, allowing it to stand out, then gently pull apart sections for fullness; leave the rest of your hair in soft, defined curls to cascade beautifully.
9. Sleek High Ponytail with Wrapped Base
A sleek high ponytail is a sophisticated and polished choice for prom, offering a clean, elegant silhouette that beautifully lifts the hair.
Wrapping the base of the ponytail with a section of hair elevates this classic style, adding a refined and seamless finish.
This look is perfect for highlighting your facial features and showcasing an intricate dress neckline.
To style, pull hair back smoothly into a high ponytail, secure it tightly, then wrap a small strand of hair around the elastic, pinning it underneath for a flawless finish.
10. Messy Low Bun with Face-Framing Layers
For a romantic and effortlessly chic prom look, a messy low bun with soft face-framing layers is a beautiful choice.
This style feels relaxed yet elegant, creating a soft, undone appearance that perfectly complements natural beauty.
The bun sits loosely at the nape of the neck, with intentional messy twists and pins, while soft layers are left out to gracefully frame the face and neck.
To style, gather hair loosely into a low ponytail, twist into a messy bun, and pull out a few face-framing layers; secure with pins and a light-hold hairspray.
11. Sleek Braided Low Ponytail
This elegant style combines the polished look of a sleek ponytail with the intricate detail of a braid, creating a sophisticated and refined prom hairstyle.
Your medium-length hair is smoothed back into a low ponytail, and then a section of hair is braided and wrapped around its base, or the ponytail itself is partially braided.
To style, ensure the top is perfectly smooth, then create a three-strand or fishtail braid with a section of hair near the nape, wrapping it around the ponytail’s base for a polished finish. This adds visual interest and a unique touch of elegance.
12. Half-Up Twisted Knot with Cascading Curls
This romantic half-up hairstyle features elegant twisted sections gathered into a decorative knot at the back, allowing gorgeous curls to cascade freely down.
It’s a sophisticated way to keep hair off your face while showcasing beautiful volume and movement.
To style, take two sections of hair from the temples, twist them gently, and tie them into a loose, elegant knot or decorative bun at the back of the head.
Secure with pins, letting the remaining medium-length hair fall in defined, flowing curls. This creates an ethereal, refined look.
13. Tousled Side-Swept Waves
For a glamorous yet effortlessly chic prom look, try tousled side-swept waves.
This style combines soft, undone texture with a sophisticated sweep, creating a romantic and alluring vibe that’s perfect for medium-length hair.
Your hair is styled into loose, natural-looking waves, then swept dramatically over to one side, adding beautiful volume and highlighting your profile.
This is a chic way to show off your hair’s movement and add a touch of old-school Hollywood charm, ensuring a captivating appearance.
14. Sleek Top Knot with Face-Framing Strands
A sleek top knot is a modern and sophisticated updo that creates a clean, polished silhouette, perfect for prom.
It keeps your medium-length hair beautifully secured high on your head, while delicate face-framing strands soften the look and add an elegant touch.
Your hair is gathered into a tight, polished bun on the crown, and a few thin strands are purposefully left out to gently frame your face.
This style is chic, highlights your features, and is perfect for a contemporary prom look that exudes confidence.
15. Polished Side-Parted Low Bun
This hairstyle offers a refined and sleek look, combining the classic elegance of a low bun with a sophisticated, precise side part.
It’s perfect for a formal prom look that emphasizes clean lines and a polished finish.
To style, create a deep, sharp side part, smooth the hair tightly towards the nape of the neck, and twist it into a neat, low bun.
Secure with pins, ensuring no flyaways. This creates a very clean profile that highlights your facial features and an elegant dress neckline, exuding timeless grace.
16. Textured Messy Braid
A textured messy braid offers a relaxed yet elegant prom look perfect for medium-length hair, embracing natural waves and volume for an effortlessly chic and romantic vibe.
The intentional messiness adds depth and a soft, undone feel. To style, create a loose braid and gently pull apart sections, allowing strands to escape for an airy, voluminous effect.
17. Classic Low Ponytail with Ribbon Wrap
Elevate a classic low ponytail for prom by wrapping its base with a beautiful ribbon, adding sophistication and color. The low placement at the nape creates a graceful silhouette. Style your hair into a low ponytail and wrap a velvet or silk ribbon around the base, tied in a neat bow.
18. Side-Swept French Twist
A side-swept French twist is a chic and sophisticated updo for prom, sweeping hair to one side and twisting it neatly at the back.
The side sweep adds glamour. Gather hair to one side, twist upwards, and secure with pins, allowing the front to sweep gracefully.
19. Bohemian Half-Up Half-Down Waves
For a relaxed yet glamorous prom look, choose bohemian half-up half-down waves.
This style combines flowing natural waves with a softly gathered top section. Create soft waves and gently pull back the top section, securing it loosely.
20. Elegant Low Chignon with Side-Swept Bangs
An elegant low chignon with side-swept bangs offers a refined and timeless prom look that frames the face beautifully.
The polished bun sits low at the nape, while soft, sweeping bangs add charm. Gather hair into a smooth low ponytail, twist it into a chignon, and allow a section of front hair to sweep softly across the forehead.
21. Classic French Twist with a Modern Twist
The classic French twist offers timeless elegance for prom, and a modern twist adds a fresh edge.
This sleek updo keeps hair neatly secured. The modern twist can be an undone texture or a unique pin.
Gather hair into a loose ponytail, twist upwards, and secure with pins, leaving some texture.
22. Braided Crown Updo with Delicate Curls
A braided crown updo with delicate curls combines regal elegance with soft romance for a truly enchanting prom hairstyle.
A beautiful braid circles the head, and soft curls frame the face. Create a braid around the crown and gently pin up the remaining curls, allowing a few to frame the face.
23. Half-Up Bouffant with Vintage Pins
Channel timeless glamour with a half-up bouffant, creating volume at the crown with a touch of vintage elegance. Secure with vintage pins.
Gently tease the hair at the crown, smooth the top layer, and secure it back with beautiful vintage-inspired hairpins.
24. Voluminous Curls with Deep Side Part
For dramatic flair at prom, opt for voluminous curls with a deep side part. This style creates incredible body and a sophisticated silhouette.
Style hair into large, bouncy curls with a deep side part, allowing them to sweep over one side.
25. Textured Low Ponytail with Wraparound Braid
A textured low ponytail is chic and effortless, and adding a wraparound braid elevates it for prom.
This combines a relaxed feel with an intricate detail. Style hair into a low ponytail with natural texture. Braid a small section and wrap it around the ponytail base.
26. Classic Updo with Pinned Curls
A classic updo with pinned curls is a timeless and romantic choice for prom, creating a sophisticated and elegant silhouette.
Carefully pin up your curls at the back of the head to form a graceful shape.
27. Bohemian Crown Braid
A bohemian crown braid is a whimsical and charming hairstyle for prom, wrapping around your head like a beautiful crown.
Weave a braid (Dutch or French) around the top of the head, allowing natural waves or curls to soften the look.
28. Bubble Ponytail
A bubble ponytail is a fun, modern, and playful style for prom, creating unique, voluminous “bubbles” down the length.
Secure sections of a ponytail with hair ties at intervals, then gently pull apart each section to create the “bubble” effect.
29. Elegant Twisted Updo with Face-Framing Strands
An elegant twisted updo with face-framing strands offers a refined and soft prom look.
Twist sections of your medium-length hair and pin them up, allowing a few delicate strands to softly frame your face.
30. Textured French Twist with Decorative Comb
A textured French twist brings a modern, softened feel to a classic updo for prom, and a decorative comb adds sparkle.
The twist is slightly undone. Gather and twist hair upwards, securing with pins, and insert a beautiful decorative comb.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the perfect prom hairstyle for medium-length hair is an exciting part of getting ready for your special night. With so many elegant options, from sophisticated updos to romantic waves and playful braids, you’re sure to find a style that makes you feel confident and beautiful. Remember to consider your dress style and personal preferences to select a hairstyle that truly shines and complements your overall prom look. Embrace the elegance and have a wonderful time!
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