Nope, holiday hair doesn't have to be fussy—or even hard to do. These ten looks are simple and chic. Try one tonight!
Holiday Hairstyle Idea for an Office Party: Pull It All Up
- The grade school-style curled ponytail has been sleekified. Something about the easy-going-ness of this look at Anna Sui feels like a fun night guaranteed.
- To get the look yourself, work in a texturizer like Brocato Volumizing Tonic Spray on damp hair, then blow-dry. Gather into a high pony (leave ends tucked in elastic if your hair is longer than bust level), then wrap a one-inch section around the base to hide elastic. Use a curling iron to mold hair into the round shape, then gently tease. Tame with a spray like Got2B 2Sexy Voluptuous Hairspray.
Holiday Hairstyle Idea for a Holiday Dinner: Try Braids
- Braids used to scream weekend hair: cute but super casual. No longer. A crop of styling bars and doable at-home tips is making the look evening-ready.
- For those braiding at home, John Barrett stylist Kayley Pak recommends twisting dry hair around a one-inch curling iron beforehand—this boosts body and helps braids stay put. And always braid your hair supertight, even if you want a loose look. Once you're done, soften it up with your fingers. [ read: Fun Braided Hairstyles to Try … ]
Holiday Hairstyle Idea for a Cocktail Party: Do Big Curls
- A little forties, a little seventies—and ridiculously easy to re-create: That's our take on the soft, retro hair Guido Palau did at the fall Bottega Veneta show, here.
- To get the look yourself, start by spraying in a thickener like Redken Guts 10 before blowing hair dry and making a deep side part. Next, coil sections of hair around a half-inch curling iron, then pin down. (Begin the curls at ear height, keeping the hair on top of your head flat.) Once they're set, unwind the spirals and separate with your fingers. Run a boar-bristle brush through for extra body. To maintain the bouncy style, finish with a blast of hairspray. ( Try Herbal Essences Set Me Up Hairspray ) Finally, tuck a bobby pin on the side opposite your part for instant glamour.
Holiday Hairstyle Idea for a Back-Tie Affair: Leave It Loose
- Yes, that's right—super-dressy clothes can look great with undone hair. "Who wants to look like they spent 10 hours in a chair getting their hair done?" says Sally Hershberger stylist Teddi Cranford, cofounder of the new Whiterose Collective, which offers personalized "event hair" from seasoned backstage and celeb stylists. "Evening hair has a tendency to look stuffy," explains Cranford, who honed her soft, tousled hairstyling skills on backstage teams for Alexander Wang and Marc Jacobs.
- Cranford likes extensions to add body—"glued in for security"—but you can also use a styler ( like Suave Volumizing Root Boost Spray ) to create lift. Include a few braids, as Cranford did for Girls star Jemima Kirke at the CFDA awards. Leave ends loose for a softer finish. (Cranford recalls the actress's styling direction: "I want to look like I've been running through the forest.") And it's all about balance. "Pair a bigger headpiece with rich, full hair; tight updos call for smaller accents," says Cranford. And embrace imperfection: "I've learned that symmetry isn't necessarily beautiful. It's nice when things are a bit off."
Holiday Hairstyle Idea for a Big Night Out: Slick it Back
- Elegant hair doesn't mean complicated hair. The polished, gorgeous style Cara Delevingne rocked at the Jason Wu show is dramatic but easy.
- To get the look yourself, begin by working in a smoothing serum like Kérastase Elixir Ultime for sheen, then part hair with a comb. Next, pull hair toward the nape, and tie in a low ponytail. Twist into a chignon, and secure the free ends to your head with a simple metal clip (we like Goody Classics Jenna Barrettes ). Add bobby pins for extra hold if needed.