Because it's Friday, I thought I'd end our prom-week in a light-hearted fashion!  Let's have a look at all those crazy-cool celebrities and what they wore for the prom....

Celebrities really are just like us -- they go to prom wearing goofy dresses and take photos with that sunset backdrop too. Don't believe me? Then check out these 25 celebrity prom photos.

I've got everyone from Jennifer Aniston, to Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Natalie Portman, Dakota Fanning, Fergie, Demi Lovato, Christina Aguilera, Brad Pitt, Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Michelle Obama, Sarah Palin and tons more. All of these celebrities have fun prom dresses and (in my opinion) kind of wacky prom hairstyles. I guess that's what happens when you don't have a professional put together your prom styles, huh?

It's so much fun looking at celebrity prom pictures from before they were famous, but I love looking at their prom dates even more. Do you think the girl standing next to Brad Pitt had any idea he'd be the mega-star that he is? Or Lady Gaga's prom date -- think he knew she'd take the world by storm with "Poker Face"? Or Michelle Obama's date -- think he knew he was with the future First Lady? Makes you wonder about your prom date -- maybe he'll be a celebrity some day? Better not lose those prom pictures just in case.

So if you're looking from some prom dress or hair inspiration, or you just want to laugh at how celebrities looked before they were famous, check out these celebrity prom pictures -- and get ready to laugh.

Taylor Swift's Prom Photo

OK, so this wasn't that long ago, but doesn't Taylor Swift look adorable with her prom date?

Lady Gaga's Prom Photo

I can't see much of Lady Gaga's prom dress unfortunately but I love the sunglasses, so cool.

Miley Cyrus' Prom Photo

Not sure why this photo looks so old but I love the bold color choice for Miley Cyrus' prom dress.

Britney Spears' Prom Photo

Awww, this prom photos is a nice reminder of when Britney Spears was all sweet and innocent.

Natalie Portman's Prom Photo

Before she was a gorgeous Oscar nominee, Natalie Portman was just a normal girl heading to prom with her friends (and a giant corsage, but that's OK).

Jennifer Aniston's Prom Photo

Jennifer Aniston got to re-live her prom days in a couple "Friends" episodes, but I think she was cuter in real life.

Dakota Fanning's Prom Photo

Dakota Fanning opted for a short prom dress, she's probably over all the long dresses she already wears on the red carpet.

Fergie's Prom Photo

Love the gloves Fergie is rocking with her prom style. The blonde hair is pretty sweet too.

Demi Lovato's Prom Photo

Demi Lovato has a very impressive limo for prom (that would be a Rolls Royce for you non-car aficionados), her prom dress is pretty too.

Christina Aguilera's Prom Photo

So apparently before Christina Aguilera was famous, she wasn't even cool enough to have her own prom date, she had to share? Surprising. Her dramatic prom dress and makeup -- not as surprising.

Brad Pitt's Prom Photo

Behold, the luckiest high schooler ever -- Brad Pitt's prom date. And her very bridal-looking prom dress.

Kristin Cavallari's Prom Photo

Kristin Cavallari's prom hairstyle is pretty casual, I'm sure it matched her SoCal prom style.

Halle Berry's Prom Photo

The flowers, the crown, looks like Halle Berry was prom queen. Shocking (er, not so much).

Sandra Bullock's Prom Photo

How cute was Sandra Bullock and the baby's breath in her prom hairstyle? Adorable.

Michelle Obama's Prom Photo

Michelle Obama is rocking a pretty racy prom dress -- do you see the leg slit? Side note: her date looks old enough to be her dad, but that might just be the mustache.

Claire Danes' Prom Photo

Another casual bob for a prom hairstyle, but Claire Danes is totally cute enough to pull it off.

Sarah Palin's Prom Photo

Former governor Sarah Palin is sporting a pretty sexy red prom dress, was she vying for a spot on "Dancing with the Stars" all the way back then?

Will Ferrell's Prom Photo

In case you were wondering if Will Ferrell was funny in high school, the crown on his head in this prom photo seems like a clear "yes, he was." Anyone else thing he was also kind of cute back in the day?

Courteney Cox's Prom Photo

This seems like an ultra-conservative prom dress for Courteney Cox, but we love the belt action and her cute smile.

Kellie Pickler's Prom Photo

Remember belly-baring prom dresses? Kellie Pickler sure was trendy with her prom style.

Heather Locklear's Prom Photo

It's really not fair that a high schooler can look as sexy as Heather Locklear does in her prom photo. Are we at all surprised she's got the prom queen tiara on? Nope.

Meg Ryan's Prom Photo

Meg Ryan seems a little more interested in her prom date (crooked bow tie and all) than he seems in her. Wonder if he's regretting that now?

Ashley Judd's Prom Photo

Ashley Judd's prom dress looks a little "Golden Girls" with all the beading, but she can pull it off.

Robin Wright's Prom Photo

Robin Wright's prom dress is pretty classic, she could probably still wear it today if she was going to prom.

Verne Troyer's Prom Photo

Verne Troyer (you probably know his as Mini-Me from "Austin Powers") was prom king in high school, pretty cool.













Hope you've enjoyed this little treat of looking at 'old' prom pictures. 

Have a wonderful weekend filled with lots of fun!

Prom Nails: The best nail art around!

You already know how much I love nail art. (I talk about it waaaay too much.) But I need to discuss it one more time since you have a very special occasion coming up: PROM.

Besides the dress, shoes, and jewelry, you need to do something amazing with your nails. Not convinced? Here are the top 10 reasons you need to wear nail art this year to prom:

10. Nail art pumps new life into a reused dress or jewelry look on the cheap.
9. You won't get fungus from gross acrylics at the salon.
8. It's another part of your total look that you can show off to your friends.
7. If you do the polish yourself, you've got additional bragging rights all night long.
6. Your hands will look extra nice in all the prom pics -- and when you're showing off your wrist corsage.
5. If you go with a traditional dress, you can use your nails to add some funk to your look.
4. Go with glitter and your nails will sparkle on the dance floor.
3. Try the new caviar nail method, and you'll be the envy of everyone, including the prom queen.
2. If someone does show up with the same dress as you, at least they won't have the same nail polish design.
1. Why not?

And now that I've convinced you (mwhaha), here are my top 10 nail art ideas and how-tos.

Disco Ball

Light up the room with these sparkly nails. Feminine and delicate, this look is easy to copy, and will steal the spotlight from the ... well, spotlight.

1. Start with a base coat.
2. Apply two coats of white nail polish.
3. When dry, apply a thin coat of silver glitter polish. The glitter pieces should be small and the coat should not fully cover the nail. (Try OPI Crown Me Already, £9.99.)
4. Next, apply a thin coat of silver glitter polish, but this time from a polish with chunkier glitter pieces, like Revlon Chunky Nail Polish Top Coat, £3.75. These pieces should also not fully cover the nail, and appear randomly placed.
5. Finish by applying a top coat.

Lovely Lace

Consider this a multi-media nail art design. You'll need a scrap piece of lace, along with your usual nail polish necessities. Here's how to get the look:

1. Before you begin, take a scrap of lace and cut out pieces that match the size and shape of each of your nails. (This is the most time-consuming part, I promise!)
2. Apply a base coat to your nails.
3. Next, paint on two coats of a pink nail polish, or whatever color matches your prom outfit.
4. Once dry, apply a clear top coat. Before the top coat has a chance to dry, place a piece of pre-cut lace on top of the nail. Trim off any extra lace that doesn't fit the nail.
5. Swipe on another layer of top coat to firmly fix the lace in place. Continue this process with the rest of your nails.

Metallic Touch

Want to try out the latest metallic trend, but aren't into having your nails rival the glare of the sun? Check out this black and gold combo:

1. Start with a base coat.
2. Apply a two coats of a matte blue or black polish, like OPI Matte Lincoln Park After Dark, £10.50.
3. Once dry, press on half of a binder paper ring sticker toward the base of your nail, but not exactly at the base. (The curve of the sticker should mimic the curve of your cuticle.) When applied, there should be a tiny piece of exposed nail between the sticker and the cuticle.
4. Swipe metallic gold nail polish on the part of exposed nail, between the cuticle and the sticker.
5. Wait for the gold polish to completely dry, then remove the sticker. Since you want to maintain the matte look of black polish, do not apply a top coat.

Geometric Glitter

Glitter is fun, but if you want to give it a "serious" boost, try using the polish in an unusual pattern. For example, the geometric style of this design plays down the whimsical nature of the glitter, and gives the look a more grown-up feel.

1. Start with a base coat.
2. Apply two coats of an ivory white polish to your nails, except for your ring finger nail. On your ring finger nail, apply two or three coats of a pink glitter polish, like Butter London Rosie Lee, £12.
3. Once dry, take nail art tape (like the stickers used for French manicures), and outline a triangle shape with the tape, beginning at the base of the nail.
4. Paint the inside of the triangle with several coats of the pink glitter polish.
5. After it has dried, remove the tape and apply a top coat to the nail.

Star Power

Show off your star power with this fun nail design. (Plus, turquoise nails couldn't be hotter right now.) Here's how to steal this style:

1. Begin by cutting a half star shape out of painter's tape. The half star shape should fit on all your nails, or you can create multiple half stars in different sizes.
2. Apply a base coat to your nails.
3. Next, swipe on two coats of a turquoise nail polish to your nails, and add a top coat
4. After the top coat is completely dry, stick on the painter's tape with the cut out of the half star. Make sure the edges of the tape are firmly attached to the nails. (For this look, the manicurist placed the star coming off the tip of the nails.)
5. Apply two coats of gold nail polish in the cut out portion of the star.
6. Once the gold polish is completely dry, carefully remove the painter's tape. Apply a top coat to the nails.

Tropical Sun Rise

This look combines a lot of elements: a lace pattern, the ombre effect, and gold micro beads. You can try one of these ideas or combine all of them for this tropical nail art look. Here's how to get the look:

1. Start with a clear base coat.
2. Use a nail art stamp (like Konad Nail Art Design Plate M57) and white polish to create the lace pattern on your nails.
3. Once the lace pattern has dried, it's time to apply the ombre effect on your nails. Begin in the middle of your nail with one color, swiping the color toward the tip of the nail. Before you reach the tip of the nails, switch polish colors, so the two colors overlap in the middle. To get the colors to smoothly blend, go over the wet polish with a top coat.
4. After the ombre effect has been added to each nail, coat the entire nail with more top coat. Before the top coat has time to dry, randomly place gold micro beads on the nail. (You can find micro beads at most craft stores.) The top coat will secure the beads to the nail.

Touch of Gold

This nail design is a lot like the first look, except here we concentrate all the sparkles at the base of the nail. Here's how to steal this style:

1. Start with a base coat.
2. Apply two coats of a light pink polish to your nails, like Essie 162 Ballet Slippers, £8.99.
3. Once dry, apply a few coats of (small) gold glitter polish around the base of your nail. Then, apply a layer of the (big) gold glitter polish on top. (Never take the gold past the halfway point of your nail.)
4. To finish, seal with a top coat.

Saved by the Bell

This design reminds me of my favorite childhood TV show. And since it did take place in a school, it's totally appropriate to wear to the prom. Here's how to get the look:

1. Start with a base coat.
2. Apply two coats of a pepto pink nail polish to your nails.
3. Once dry, use nail art tape (or French manicure tape) to create a straight line. Paint all the exposed nail on one side of the tape bright purple. Once that is completely dry, remove the tape, and reapply the tape elsewhere to create the final black sliver.
4. After each nail has the three colors on it, apply a top coat to seal the design.

Rose Garden

You don't need a super steady hand or tons of patience to get these roses to grow on your nails. It's about finding the right nail stamp. Here's how to steal this style:

1. Start with a base coat.
2. Apply two coats of nail polish to each nail. I suggest picking three colors (like white, black, and coral), and rotating them as the base color.
3. Once the base coats are dry, use a nail art stamp (like Konad Nail Art Design Plate M76) of a rose to place the pattern on your nails. Like the base coat, rotate the nail polish colors of the stamp to get that contrast and variation on your nails.
4. Finish by sealing the design with a top coat.

Caviar Nails

This type of design is only called caviar nails, so no worries about smelly fish eggs. Instead, this look involves polish and tiny micro beads or you can buy a kit from Ciaté with all the pieces. Here's how to get the look, without the kit:

1. Work on one nail at a time. First, apply two coats of polish on your nails. The polish color should match the micro beads you'll apply on top of the polish.
2. Holding your finger over a tiny tray or cup, sprinkle micro beads onto your nail while the polish is still wet. Make sure to coat the entire nail.
3. Gently press and compact the beads into your nail.
4. Let your nails dry for at least 20 minutes. After they dry, apply a layer of top coat.




And there you have it, easy nail art looks that will make you sparkle and shine.  I just love all of the amazing looks that you can achieve.

Enjoy doing your own nail art designs!

Do Your Own Prom Hair and Makeup

If there's anything I can say about prom, it's that prom night should be absolutely perfect. Everything you dreamed it would be.

With that said, you've probably got things pretty under control, no doubt it'll be the best night of your life. You found your date in record time and you're working on finding the perfect dress. And with that fabulous style of yours, I'm not even the slightest bit worried about how great you'll look on prom night.

So obviously the question is why you would pay someone else to do your prom hair and makeup when you can totally do it yourself? I mean, as long as you have the right tools and some gorgeous celebrity hairstyles and celebrity makeup looks to copy, it'll be easy peasy for a pro like you.

So pulled together a gallery of super easy prom hairstyles and prom makeup looks (and by easy, I mean you won't believe how simple some of these looks are) for you to try on before your prom.

Your end result will look so professional that no one will know that you did it yourself -- they'll totally think you spent the time and money to get it done at a salon. And then you can spend that cash you saved on a killer pair of shoes, a limo for you and your group, appetizer and dessert at dinner, whatever ...

Decide on a vibe

Whether it's being the rock girl, vintage inspired or boho-chic, your hair and makeup need to come together and give off a similar vibe. So flip through those magazines and look for your favorite celebrities rocking the red carpet. That way, you can find the perfect style to fit your personality.

Do a practice run

This is so, so important.  Definitely -- pick your look a couple months before, and learn how to do it. And on the day of, give yourself at least an hour and a half. Allotting enough time will make sure you don't get stressed out. Make sure you have everything out and ready, and have a clear focus on what your next steps are.

Also, be sure to have a backup plan. If you put on the dress, and your hair or makeup just doesn't fit the vibe you thought you were going for, it will help to have a backup look in case you decide to change your mind at the last minute.

Prep in advance

For your hair: Start by doing a weekly conditioning treatment -- a month before prom night. I love Aussie Three Minute Miracle, £4.99. The key is to do it continuously. Also, a clear at-home gloss is really easy to apply yourself, and it will give your hair that same shine (try L'Oreal Paris Secrets Shine Gloss ).

For your makeup: Make sure you exfoliate and moisturise your skin well in the days leading up to prom night. And get your brows waxed a few weeks before prom night. You never want to do these things so close to the event in case you have a reaction. And please -- avoid the sun. There's nothing worse than being that scorched, uncomfortable girl who decided to lay out the day before prom.

The essential products you'll need (for your hairstyle)

To accomplish a basic prom hairstyle at home, you'll need three important things.

1. A foundation product. This will get your hair to have a little bit of hold. This can be a volumizing mousse, flexible gel or a setting spray (I like Shockwaves Ultra Strong Heat Defence Volumising Mousse, £2.85). Applying it to damp hair will give it some structure before you begin styling.

2. A styling product. This includes anything you use during the styling process, like heat protectant sprays or a flexible hairspray (I like Aussie Opposites Attract Hairspray, £3.89). Just mist each section of hair before curling it, and it'll lock in the style while still letting you run your fingers through it.

3. A finishing cream. I suggest something that is more opaque, as opposed to a silicone serum, which could get a little too greasy if you're applying it at home. I like Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Finishing Cream, £4.79, which will help take away any frizz and complete your look.

The essential products you'll need (for your makeup)

To accomplish a basic prom makeup look at home, you'll need five essential things. 1. A primer. It will minimize large pores and help skin appear smoother (our favorite is Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, £19.12).
2. A tinted moisturiser. This will provide protection and help to even out your skin tone (try Nivea Visage Tinted Moisturiser Cream, £7.60).
3. A light bronzer or powder blush will add some color to your cheeks (try Urban Decay Baked Bronzer, £20).
4. A great gloss or lipstick that is comfortable and doesn't need a ton of maintenance (try Mac Pro Longwear LipColour, £17.50).
5. A mascara to enhance your lashes and frame your eyes (I love L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Waterproof Mascara, £5.99).

Do-it-yourself prom hairstyle #1: The down-do

Creating a soft, polished wave is so easy to do at home, because it's all about having a pattern. You just learn to do one section of hair and then you can do the whole thing. Here's how to get the look :

1. To make it look more polished and "expensive," make sure you create a clean, defined part for definition before you begin styling.
2. Next, apply a styling mousse to damp roots and loosely blow dry it straight using a paddle brush. This will set the part.
3. Section out a 1-inch piece of hair and clip the rest of your hair away. Lightly spritz the section with hairspray, and wrap it around a 1-inch or 1 1/2-inch curling iron.
4. My secret to perfect waves? On the left side of the face, wrap it away from the face to the left. On the right side, wrap it away from the face to the right. Something as simple as that changes the entire way it looks.
5. Also, the key is to hold the iron upside down That way it will just slide off the bottom once the curl is in place. Then repeat this with the rest of your hair in 1-inch sections, with the left, back and right sides of your head.

If you want to add some bling to the look, I suggest going for a vintage hair accessory. See if your grandmother has an old brooch. Then you can just buy a hairpin and hot glue the brooch onto it for a unique touch.

Do-it-yourself prom hairstyle #2: The half updo

Half updos tend to look really young, but there are things you can do to make them look more grown up and super trendy. For example, you can try incorporating a two or three strand braid, which will add texture and let you get away with the boho-chic trend. Here's how to get the look :
1. Start with a side part. Mist your hair with a setting spray to add some texture before you start.
2. Now you'll want to add some extra lift to the top of your hair. Instead of teasing it (which can look like you have a rat's nest in your hair), to try this simple trick: Lift your hair up in sections, spray each section with hairspray from underneath, and then hit it with a blow dryer to get that sexy volume.
3. Next, do a two or three strand braid down one or both sides of your hair. Secure the braid(s) by criss-crossing two bobby pins to add edge to the style.
4. Finish by misting your hairstyle with strong-hold hairspray to keep it in place all night long.

If you would rather incorporate a mini bun or twist into your half-updo, you'll love how easy you can create the style using the Goody Bun Spiral and Mini Spin Pin, £5.49.

Do-it-yourself prom hairstyle #3: The updo

If you're going for the classic prom updo, there are tricks you can do to make it super easy to pull off at home. You don't want to end up with a "tiny little nub," so these tips will help create more drama and sophistication in your updo. Here's how to get the look :

1. To start, section your hair in half and pull both sections into two ponytails right next to each other. Secure it with an elastic.
2. Now curl your ponytail and backcomb each one. Spray a bit of hairspray. Start twisting each pony, and you'll see they will begin to wrap towards each other into a bun as you twist. Secure the bun using a few bobby pins.
3. Since you're using all of the width of your hair, it will look very cool because all of the little pieces are coming out. Spray with strong-hold hairspray to finish.

And headbands are perfect for a prom updo, since they add a trendy vibe to your look. Just slip it on and push it back from the forehead to lift volume back to the crown.

Do-it-yourself prom makeup look #1: Smoky eyes

The smoky eye is an easy and totally sexy way to do your makeup for prom. Here's how to get the "always classic" look:

1. Start by lining your eye with black liner (you can sweep it across the water line, as well as the outer rim of your upper and lower lash lines).
2. Then take a firm brush and smudge the pencil up onto the eyelid. Make sure you blend well.
3. Use a dark shadow to fill in your crease. Then sweep a medium-toned shadow over your lid, blending upward.

Curl your lashes, and coat them with a volumizing mascara to give yourself an eye-opening effect.

Do-it-yourself prom makeup look #2: Glam eyes

This is another gorgeous look for prom, which takes practice but creates a very sophisticated appeal. See how to get the look:

1. Start by sweeping on a jewel-toned shadow along your lids. Smudge it into your lower lash line as well for extra drama.
2. You'll want to curl your lashes and apply your mascara before you apply your liner. Make sure you get the mascara wand as close to the root as possible.
3. Use a liquid or gel liner to line your eyes. "Let the wand from the liner rest on your lashes and drag it along from the inside out" to create a winged tip, Stapleton says.

Finish by dabbing a bit of shimmery white shadow into the inner corner of your eyes to open them up.

Do-it-yourself prom makeup look #3: Bold lips

If you want to go with more natural eyes, you can also try bold lips to make a different kind of statement. See how to get the look:

1. Start by sketching around the perimeter of the lip with a neutral pencil (this will prevent your color from bleeding halfway through the night).
2. Dab some transparent powder over your lips to absorb any oil and prevent feathering.
3. Apply a bright lipstick in the color of your choice, and top with a dab of clear gloss for the finishing touch.

Pack an emergency clutch

You might be having way too much fun on the dance floor to care, but there will most likely be a few opportunities where you can touch up your look. So just in case that happens, you'll want to pack a few of these products, all highly recommended:

• Mini bobby pins. These are great for a small clutch or purse, and it's so quick and easy to put them in.
• A favorite anti-frizz cream. Put a little bit of it in a little container you can find at the craft store, and you can just instantly smooth out any flyaways throughout the night.
• A mini bottle of hairspray.
• A mini compact to check your lips and powder your nose.
• A black eye liner in case yours starts to run (or if you accidentally wipe it off like me).
• A lipstick and lipgloss for easy touch-ups.


Enjoy getting ready!