Updo help!

[kallarina]

My little sister is going to her first formal dance next weekend, and has asked me to do her hair. I'm elated, but have no good ideas. Her dress is black, strapless, short, and simple. She wants curls for sure, so I'm planning to do headband curls, because I find them to hold the best without product. I'm thinking over the shoulder, with some elaborate braid around one side and the back, then leaving just the curls over her shoulder. I don't know what kind of braid, though. Any advice? Pictures? Threads to point me to?
Any help is much appreciated! :)

[Madora]

How long is her hair? Is it thick, thin, layered?

[kallarina]

Oops, I should have thought to post that!
Her hair is BSL, fine, ii thickness, 1b. No layers, but does have straight across bangs.

[Madora]

Well, if she likes the "look" a two strand lace braid is beautiful, holds well, and very elegant:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPHEzUr5bWQ

You could gently curl her bangs or leave them as is.

[Dovetail]

Something like this might be pretty too:
http://thebeautydepartment.com/2012/07/1-inside-out-french-braid-2-twists/#more-7030
with some rhinestones/gems or pearls tucked into the folds. you could even leave some trendils out in the front to curl and frame her face.

[kallarina]

I love both of those! So beautiful. Would there be any way to modify them a little to leave hair over her shoulder? (more for the second style than the first)

[Tisiloves]

For updos/plaits that work with curls (with a bit of smooshing):

Half ups:
Melisandre (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hz56vHAdVs&feature=plcp), Cersei. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVjomxvH7hU&feature=plcp)

Updos:
Klassy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ctk17SBfeI&feature=plcp), Grecian holiday, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-sjwe5pzTs&feature=plcp)Regency. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toJ62kbXL0w&feature=plcp)

Plaits:
Fairytale/waterfall (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VtZ2ps-yrg&feature=plcp), Grecian princess (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpqLm-8ygG4&feature=plcp), Caryatid. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDG6uAGZDN8&feature=plcp)

[thatcrazychick]

I love both of those! So beautiful. Would there be any way to modify them a little to leave hair over her shoulder? (more for the second style than the first)

Both are very, very pretty.

For that lace braid, you could end it behind the first ear, giving an asymmetrical appearance (braid on left, loose on right). Or, do the lace braid like she did all the way to behind the opposite ear, stop, then do a second lace braid coming the other way. Join them in a ponytail, and curl. Or even, follow the video but adapt it for a half-updo.

I LOVE that second one! Never seen it or done it before, but my suggestion for it would be, on step 1 where the hair is divided, separate the middle section in two pieces. The top you can continue with the directions, and the bottom half leave down, which can provide longer curly hair to come over the shoulder (and maybe pin the side pieces under it to "lift" off the neck?)