Your outfit is planned, your nails are booked, and then the hair question hits an hour before the party.
These Christmas hairstyles take the guesswork out of it, from velvet bows and pearl pins to Old Hollywood waves, cozy braids and sparkly tinsel. Here are 17 looks for every holiday plan, including short hair.
This website may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the links, at no extra cost to you.
How to Pick a Christmas Hairstyle That Lasts All Night
Holiday parties are long, warm and full of hugs, so the best Christmas hairstyles are the ones that still look good at midnight. Start with your neckline: high collars and turtlenecks look best with updos, while open necklines and off-shoulder dresses show off waves and half-up styles.
Then think about texture and timing:
- Second-day hair: holds curls and updos far better than freshly washed hair.
- Fine hair: needs texture spray before braids or buns so they look full.
- Thick hair: works best with bubble ponytails, chignons and low buns that spread the weight.
- Short hair: shines with sleek side parts, finger waves and one statement clip.
Accessories do most of the festive work. A velvet bow, pearl pins or a sparkly clip turns an easy style into a holiday look, which is why easy Christmas hairstyles often beat complicated ones.
Match the mood of your outfit, too. Sparkly or sequined looks pair best with sleek, simple hair, while plain knits and velvet can handle bigger waves, braids and bolder accessories without feeling like too much.
For Christmas party hairstyles, finish with a flexible hairspray and keep a few bobby pins in your bag for quick fixes.
Elegant Christmas Party Hairstyles
1. Low Bun With a Velvet Bow
Nothing looks more festive than a black velvet bow pinned just above a smooth low bun. Brush everything back with a little shine serum, twist the bun at the nape and clip the bow over the pins, so it hides them completely. It suits any party dress!
2. Sleek High Ponytail With a Gold Cuff
Want something sharp for the office party? Pull your hair into a glossy high ponytail, then slide a gold hair cuff over the elastic.
Wrapping a thin strand around the base first keeps it neat, and a light hairspray tames flyaways all night.
3. Old Hollywood Waves
Big glamorous waves always feel right in December.
Set your hair in sections with a 1-inch curling iron, all curled in the same direction, then brush them out into soft Old Hollywood waves and pin one side behind your ear.
Finish with a shine spray.
4. Chignon With Pearl Pins
Elegant updos don’t have to be complicated. A loose chignon twisted at the nape gets an instant holiday upgrade with a few pearl hair pins tucked around it, and the pearls catch the candlelight beautifully at Christmas dinner. Leave two soft face-framing pieces out.
5. Twisted Half-Up With a Sparkly Clip
Half-up styles show off your length while keeping hair off your face.
Twist a small section from each side, meet them at the back and secure with a rhinestone clip, so the sparkle sits right where photos catch it. Curl the ends for extra polish.
Cozy Christmas Day Hairstyles
6. Bouncy Blowout With Hot Rollers
Christmas morning calls for hair that looks done with almost no effort. Set dry hair in velcro hot rollers while you open presents, then shake out the curls for a bouncy blowout with tons of volume. It lasts all day, even under a beanie!
Also read: 21 Curtain Bangs Ideas for Every Face Shape and Hair Type
7. Loose Braid With a Red Ribbon
A ribbon woven through a braid looks sweet for family photos:
- Braid: a loose side braid, pulled apart
- Ribbon: a thin red satin ribbon woven through each section
- End: tie the ribbon into a small bow
- Finish: a few soft face-framing pieces
Pretty, simple and very Christmas.
8. French Twist With a Claw Clip
Busy holiday days need a style that takes one minute. Twist all your hair up the back of your head into a French twist, then hold it with a large tortoiseshell claw clip.
It feels relaxed yet still polished, which works for cookie baking and last-minute shopping.
Also read: 21 Claw Clip Hairstyles That Look Effortlessly Chic
9. Messy Bun With Face-Framing Pieces
Cozy sweater days pair perfectly with a soft messy bun.
Gather your hair high, loop it loosely and pin it, then pull out a few face-framing pieces and curl them lightly. The undone shape looks intentional and polished instead of rushed!
10. Low Pigtail Braids With Red Bows
Playful and festive, two low pigtail braids tied with small red bows are perfect for Christmas markets and tree farm visits. Keep the parting clean, braid loosely and tug the edges to make them fuller, so the look feels fashionable rather than childish.
Also read: 21 Cute Beanie Hairstyles to Wear for This Winter
Christmas Hairstyles With Sparkle
11. Hair Tinsel Through Loose Waves
Hair tinsel adds subtle shimmer that moves with every turn:
- Strands: 6 to 10 silver or gold tinsel strands
- Placement: tied near the root, under the top layer
- Style: soft loose waves to let them peek through
- Wear time: lasts for weeks
Perfect for the whole party season.
12. Glossy Blowout With a Velvet Headband
A padded velvet headband in deep red or emerald dresses up even a simple glossy blowout. Push it back about an inch from your hairline for balance, since sitting too far forward can flatten the crown. Instant holiday style in seconds!
13. Crown Braid With Gold Star Pins
Crown braids look magical with a little celestial sparkle.
Braid along your hairline from one ear to the other, pin the end underneath, then dot tiny gold star pins through the braid. They hold the style in place, which makes it last through a long party.
14. Bubble Ponytail With Gold Ties
Bubble ponytails look fancy yet take only five minutes:
- Base: a smooth mid-height ponytail
- Sections: clear elastics every two inches
- Bubbles: gently pull each section wider
- Detail: wrap gold elastic ties over the clear ones
Great for dancing because nothing falls out.
Christmas Hairstyles for Short Hair
15. Side-Part Bob With a Pearl Barrette
Short hair can still feel dressy. Flip a bob into a deep side part, smooth it with a flat brush and slide a pearl barrette above the ear on the lighter side. The clip doubles as jewelry, so you need very little else.
Also read: 21 Bob Haircut Ideas Worth Showing Your Stylist
16. Finger Waves on a Short Bob
Vintage glamour suits short hair beautifully.
Sculpted finger waves on a chin-length bob create that 1920s party look, and setting gel plus duckbill clips holds the S-shaped ridges until they dry. Pair the style with a red lip for full drama!
17. Slicked Pixie With a Jeweled Pin
Pixie cuts get festive with one small detail. Smooth the hair back with a little pomade for a sleek, polished shape, then add a single jeweled hair pin above one ear. The contrast between sleek and sparkly feels modern, chic and perfect for a holiday night out.
Your Holiday Hair, Sorted
The best Christmas hairstyles match the moment: sleek ponytails and chignons for parties, bouncy blowouts and ribbon braids for cozy days, and one sparkly accessory whenever you want instant festive energy.
Save your favorites now, and pick one for every invite on your calendar.
Christmas Hairstyles FAQ
A low bun with a velvet bow or a sleek high ponytail with a gold cuff takes about ten minutes and looks polished all night.
Both work with almost any outfit, from sequins to knitwear.
Curl second-day hair, let each curl cool completely before touching it and finish with a flexible hairspray.
Hot rollers also hold longer than a curling iron for fine hair.
A deep side part with a pearl barrette, sculpted finger waves or a sleek pixie with a jeweled pin all look festive.
One sparkly accessory is enough to make short hair feel dressy.
Tied-in tinsel is knotted around a single strand near the root, so it does not need glue or heat.
Remove it gently by sliding the knot down instead of pulling it out.
Velvet bows, pearl pins, rhinestone clips and gold star pins all feel holiday-ready without looking like a costume.
Red, gold and deep green are the easiest colors to match with party outfits.
