Prom is one of the most important and biggest nights of a young girl’s life. Many spend months preparing for it. The most exciting thing is finding the perfect dress. However, there are other things a girl has to decide on for this night, too. How will she wear her hair and do her makeup?

Although getting ready for prom is half the fun of the whole event, putting together the perfect hair and makeup look can get stressful. Up, down, half-up, braided—there are endless choices to make, and the style she picks will depend greatly on the dress that she’s wearing that night. Here are some tips to consider when choosing your hairstyle for prom:

1.Always pick your dress first.  That way, you can plan a ‘do that works with your dress instead of competing with it. The neckline, material, color, shape and vibe of your dress can all factor into what you do with your hair.

2.Play up your hair’s natural texture. Prom is a fun and social affair—and about the last occasion at which you’d want to be fussing with your look. Length is a primary factor in choosing a hairstyle, but texture is an equally important consideration. For instance, if you have super thin hair it may be a challenge to braid it or even possibly curl it because it would not stay, and might just fall out throughout the night. On the flip side, super thick hair means you can create voluminous braids, buns, curly hair etc.

3.Find a muse. The number one thing you should remember about prom is that it should be fun and one of the most memory-filled nights of your life! It’s a big night for high school students and you’ll take a lot of photos that will live on forever. All that means is that you want to be comfortable, and be yourself. A good way to get inspired is to look at inspiring people or celebrities you admire and that may help you get a good idea of what you’re looking for. Then share those photos with your stylist.

4.Last but not least, plan ahead. You should have an idea of what you want to do in advance. Make sure you give yourself enough time to get your hair done and that you or your stylist has the proper equipment needed to keep it in place for the majority of the night.

Not only are hairstyles one of the big things you have to choose for prom night, but also makeup looks. Here are a few no-fail prom makeup tips to look gorgeous on your big night.

1. Perfect Your Skin Tone. Make sure you have a foundation that correctly matches your skin tone and doesn’t make you look like a ghost or a really bad spray tan. Only apply foundation on the areas of skin that are discolored or have blemishes.
2. Play it neutral. Less is always more! Instead of going for crazy colors on the eyes that match your dress, play it neutral. Ten years from now you’ll want to be able to look back at your pictures and think that you look timeless and chic.
3. Choose a lip color that compliments you the most and is unique to you! Your lips are the area that you have some room to play with if you want a pop of color. Because you kept the rest of your face neutral, you are free to explore.

When asked to weigh in on her plans for prom night, Lafayette High School junior, Carly Orlowski says, “I plan on curling my hair and leaving it down, my hair is thick so curls stay in well. I am not sure how I am getting my makeup done yet. I am getting both done professionally.”

Senior Lauren Walker has slightly different plans. “I want to put my hair half up half down and curled,” she revealed.  “I want my makeup to look natural but with a bright lip color. I am getting both done professionally.”

Casey Cole, also a senior, shared her unique hairstyle secrets as well. “I am going to be braiding my hair and leaving it straight. I want my makeup to look natural and simple. I plan on doing this all on my own.”

Prom might only be a one-night affair, but the amount of beauty decisions that go into the evening are aplenty.