Long Pageant Hairstyles

Use bows, headbands and other accessories to add detail to your hairstyle.

Transform long hair into a judge's vision of perfection by creating the perfect pageant hairdo. According to Paulo Figueiredo of "Pageantry Magazine," your hairstyle is almost as powerful as your dress choice. Judges look for hairstyles that not only accent the outfit or category, but a style that also suits your personality and character. Try out several different hairdos before the big day and do a trial run if you plan on incorporating several hairdos throughout the pageant.

Sleek and Straight

Apply a flat-iron to smooth your hair into a sleek style during the pageant. Create the look by washing your hair and applying a leave-in conditioner. Apply a heat protection serum to your hair and use a hairdryer diffuser to dry hair thoroughly. Heat a ceramic base flat iron on medium-high heat, and work the flat-iron around your head in sections to reach every single strand. To get the hair in the back of your head, use two mirrors to view the back or ask a friend to straighten the back of your hair. When done, apply a shine serum to your hair to protect hair and create a sheen while on stage.

Long and Curly

Girls with naturally curly or wavy hair should apply spiral curls or hot rollers to their hair to create cascading curls. To create the look, wash and conditioner hair with a volumizer and towel dry until damp. Apply a heat-protection serum and volumizing mousse, use a hair dryer with diffuser to fully dry hair before applying hot rollers. Separate hair into sections, and curl with hot rollers in various sizes. Spray hair and rollers with a medium-hold hairspray and leave in for 20 minutes. Remove the curlers and use your fingers to work through the curls and touch up any curls with a curling iron. Spray with a medium-hold hairspray to keep curls in place throughout the pageant.

Chignon

Wrap hair up into an elegant updo that was famous in the '20s. The chignon consists of twisting your hair until it rolls downward into a bun-type shape, and then pin it at the nape or back of your head. To create the chignon wash and dry hair until damp and apply a styling gel. Dry hair with a diffuser and brush hair with a paddle brush to ensure there are no tangles in the hair. Style your hair into a chignon and secure the hair with bobby pins, and a medium-hold hairspray. Wear the chignon in the center of the back of your head, at the nape of your neck or to the side of your neck. Add accents the hair with flowers, or other accessories to add to the detail of your look.

Half and Half

Leave hair long and sleek or curly with the sides pulled back into a half updo. Style hair with a straightening iron or curlers and leave the back of the hair alone. Use your hands to pull the side hairs, in equal amounts, upward to the back of your head, and secure the hair in the center of the back of your head with bobby pins. The side hair can remain straight or you can twist it for a slightly different look. In addition, add a flower, or pin to the center of the back of your hair where the two sides meet.

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