The Prom Hair and Makeup Our Editors Wore Back Then … and How It Would Look Today

Prom season is here, and we can’t help but get nostalgic seeing photos of high schoolers all glammed up for one of their most memorable nights.

Given that it’s one of the first formal events many teens attend, it makes total sense that parents are willing to spend a lot of money to really make prom special. For most of the Yahoo Beauty editors, we spent our precious time at home in front of the bathroom mirror doing our own prom hair and makeup. But if we were to do it all over again, we’d probably seek the help of a professional.

Curious to see what our prom hair and makeup would look like today with the help of a glam squad, we tapped makeup artist Tedrick Lamar of the Butterfly Studio Salon and Broome & Beauty owner-hairstylist Liam Carey to make this dream a reality. Scroll on to take a jaunt down memory lane, and get styling tips and tricks ahead of your prom.

Photos by Priscilla De Castro. Production by Nadeen Nakib and Casey Hollister.

Fabiana Buontempo, Assistant Video Producer

Frosty white eyeshadow and pink lips were popular when Fabiana attended prom. However, Lamar’s twist on these trends incorporates micro-shimmer with purple winged liner and a raspberry lip.

Lamar applied Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Space Cowboy (a rose gold glitter with flecks of silver) onto bare skin to mimic the effect of a glossy lid. Purple liquid liner smudged into a wing shape helps to soften the look, and a few coats of black mascara brightens up the eye. To finish, he swiped on Elo Dahlia Lip Balm for a sheer wash of color.

Carey’s goal for styling Fabiana’s long, brunette locks was to take it from a messy updo and to create texture with a half-up, half-down hairstyle that incorporated a thick braid.

He used a half-inch curling iron to achieve curls that would last all night long. Carey recommends playing around with the front to determine how much hair you want to leave out. Make a deep side part and start the braid left of the temple, loosely feeding the hair into a plait. Braid until you reach the nape of the neck and secure with an elastic before fluffing ends into side-swept curls.

Jacqueline Laurean Yates, Beauty Editor

Jacqueline took her lime green prom theme to heart, rocking the color all over her lids and even on her nails. Lamar opted for colored eyeliner with a hint of gold for a fashion-forward finish.

After smoothing out her complexion with Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup, Lamar drew on Urban Decay 24/7 Razor Sharp Liquid Eyeliner in Kush (a bright green) and added Gold Rush in the inner corner to get a nice transition. “It goes with the metallic trend, but it’s not as intense,” he says. Skipping the contouring and highlighting, the beauty pro warmed up Jacqueline’s skin with medium-red blush and used Elo Sangria Lip Balm to re-create a shiny lip without sticky lip gloss.

Back then, Jacqueline looked prom-perfect wearing sleek swoop bangs and a chignon. Carey’s objective was to come up with something that was modern and easy to achieve. “Styles are now more soft and flowy, rather than gelled and tight,” he explains.

Dry shampoo was used to prep hair and give a good texture to hold the side French braid. Pro tip: Pick up a foam hair sponge from Target, Ricky’s, or your local hair supply store to instantly “fill” a ballerina bun. To set hairstyle, apply pomade around hairline (this also gives strands a matte finish) and spritz entire head with R+Co Outer Space Flexible Hairspray.

Nadeen Nakib, Photo Editor

Nadeen’s prom hair and makeup was truly classic, from her tiara-adorned curly updo to her smoky eye makeup and brick red lips. Lamar decided to “ditch the red lip” and painted on fuchsia with metallic lavender in the center. Try Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Liner in Speedball, or you can use a color-changing nude lip pencil.

Lamar updated Nadeen’s wing liner look by outlining the outside corners of her eyes with Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Eye Definer in Kobicha (a rich brown), then drew a black felt tip liner on top for drama.

Carey recaptured the “texture, drama, and fashion” of Nadeen’s throwback prom hairdo with this French braid topknot hairstyle. Starting with a smoothing serum to tame flyaways and add sheen, he then separated a section for the braids. The hair pro created two small French braids and swooped everything up into a high pony topknot.

Beth Greenfield, Senior Lifestyle Writer

Beth’s prom makeup and hair was and still is everything goth dreams are made of. Statement eyeliner was a must-have, so Lamar created a “C” shape around the eyes using a creamy, demi-matte brown pencil. This shade is less harsh than black, and it makes Beth’s red hair and blue eye color really pop.

For a nice, natural finish to the skin, Lamar spot-treated blemishes and minimized redness with concealer. Matte purple lipstick added the finishing touch.

According to Carey, this chic take on crimped hair is ideal for any girl who has a bob or lob haircut. “It’s a good way to stand out that’s different from beachy waves,” he adds. “This is for the fashion girl!”

Instead of going in with a traditional crimping iron, Carey prepped Beth’s hair with a thickening spray and rolled the hair between the barrel and lip of a half-inch curling iron. “Pressing creases into hair for a modern crimp, where it’s not necessarily wavy, but you get bends in the hair and the ends remain straight, which we love,” he says. Spritz on a dry shampoo paste to break up the wave to your liking.

Read more from Yahoo Style & Beauty:

• Half-Up, Half-Down Prom Hairstyles That Are Easy and Elegant
• 15 Prom Makeup and Hair Ideas for Your Big Night
• 7 Stunning Prom Makeup Ideas

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