Pageant Hairstyle Tips

Pageant ready hair

In the world of pageants, sometimes a great hairstyle can be the difference between walking away with the crown or just walking away. Getting that show-stopping look can be a headache, but proper hair care combined with a bit of preparation will help you look your best on the stage. To pull off a first place pageant hairstyle, you just need to know a few tips and guidelines.

Basic Hair Care

Having a healthy head of hair to work with is an essential component when creating an award-winning pageant hairstyle. To help keep your hair strong and shiny, eat a balanced diet with a mixture of proteins, complex carbohydrates and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Nuts and cheese will give your locks the necessary protein; eating cold water fish such as salmon, packed with omega-3 fatty acids, is especially good for your hair.

Use a shampoo with natural cleansers, such as Aveda or Ojon brand shampoos. Natural cleansers are milder and won't strip your hair of essential oils. If you regularly blow dry your hair or use any other kind of heat styling, you should deep condition your hair or use a hair mask once a week to keep it from drying out. Also, don't forget the importance of a good hairbrush. Stylists suggest using brushes with natural boar bristles, because these brushes help evenly distribute your scalp's oils (see References).

Preparation

Every pageant is different, and individual judges have their own personal tastes, so taking a look at the hairstyles of past winners can be a smart strategy. You'll find that some pageants are likely to feature more dramatic hairstyles with lots of curls, crimping and even false hair extensions, while others may feature a conservative, classic look such as a bun or sleek ponytail.

Think about what kind of image you'd like to project with your hairstyle. A head full of bouncy curls can project a bubbly and youthful personality, while a polished up-do will give an air of sophistication. Once you've selected a possible hairstyle, take it for a test run. Style your hair as if it were the day of the pageant and spend an afternoon walking around with it. This will allow you to make sure the hairstyle holds. It's also an opportunity to get a second opinion. Invite friends or family over to check out your look and see what they think.

Further Advice

Remember that in a pageant the focus should be on you, not your hair. A successful hairstyle serves as a frame to showcase your face, and it should accentuate your features without overpowering your look. Don't let your hair steal the show, and don't pick a hairstyle that competes with your outfit. Use an "either or" approach: either your dress is elaborate and your hair is simple, or your dress is simple and your hair is elaborate. If you're wearing a busy dress with lots of beads, ruffles, or sequins, choose a simpler, sleeker hairstyle to balance out your look. If your dress is plain, you can accentuate it with a bigger, bolder hairstyle. Most of all, it's important to choose a pageant hairstyle that makes you feel comfortable and confident, so you can project that to the judges.

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