The right hair finishes a festive outfit the way jewellery finishes a dress, and christmas hairstyles are some of the most searched and saved beauty pins of the season. This year’s favourites balance elegance with reality: updos that survive a whole party, braids dressed up with ribbons and bows, glossy curls made for photographs, and genuinely quick styles for the dinners you get ready for in twenty minutes. Whatever your hair length, here are 20 ideas worth screenshotting before your next event.
One tip before you start: most of these styles hold better on hair washed the day before, with a little dry shampoo at the roots for grip.
Elegant Updos for Christmas Parties
An updo is the classic party choice — it shows off earrings and necklines, stays put through dancing and dinner, and always looks intentional in photos.
1. Classic Low Chignon
The low chignon is the most elegant of all christmas hairstyles, and it never dates. Gather hair into a low ponytail, twist it into a neat bun at the nape and pin it smoothly in place. A centre part keeps it modern, while a side part feels more romantic. It suits velvet dresses and high necklines beautifully, keeps hair off your face through a long evening, and looks just as polished at a formal dinner as it does in family photographs.
2. Sleek High Bun with a Sparkly Pin
A high, sleek bun lengthens the whole silhouette and gives a clean backdrop for statement earrings. Smooth the hair up with a brush and a touch of gel or serum, twist it into a tight bun on the crown, and slide in one sparkly pin or small crystal clip at the base. The single jewelled detail is what makes it festive rather than everyday. This elegant updo pairs perfectly with sequin dresses and bold lipstick.
3. French Twist with Pearl Pins
The French twist is quietly returning to party boards, updated with pearl pins scattered through the roll. Sweep the hair to one side, twist it upward and tuck the ends in, then pin pearls along the seam at uneven intervals. It reads expensive and a little vintage, which is exactly right for candlelit dinners and winter weddings. Medium and long hair hold it best, and a light mist of hairspray keeps the finish soft rather than stiff.
4. Soft Messy Bun with Face-Framing Pieces
For a relaxed take on the updo, gather hair into a loose bun at the back or nape and deliberately pull out two soft strands to frame the face. Curl those strands and a few pieces around the bun itself so the whole style looks airy instead of unfinished. This is the most forgiving of all holiday hairstyles — it hides a rushed getting-ready session and suits everything from Christmas jumpers to satin dresses.
5. Braided Crown Updo
A braid worked around the head and pinned into a low bun gives an updo built-in decoration. Start a Dutch or French braid at one ear, continue it across the back and finish by coiling the end into the bun. The woven detail photographs beautifully from every angle, which is why it fills wedding and party boards alike. Add tiny gold pins or a dusting of shimmer spray, and this braided hairstyle needs no other accessory at all.
Braids, Bows and Festive Details
The quickest way to make any familiar style feel like a Christmas hairstyle is one festive detail — a velvet bow, a ribbon, a row of gold cuffs.
6. Velvet Bow Ponytail
The hair bow hairstyle is the single most pinned festive detail this year. Tie a wide velvet bow — burgundy, emerald or classic black — over a smooth low or mid-height ponytail, and an ordinary style becomes party-ready in ten seconds. Curl the ends of the ponytail for softness, and let the bow’s tails hang long for the full effect. It works on almost every hair length past the chin and pairs with everything from knit dresses to sequins.
7. Ribbon Woven Through a Braid
Threading a slim satin or velvet ribbon through a braid turns a daytime plait into an evening one. Tie the ribbon at the top, treat it as one strand of a three-strand braid, and let a small bow finish the end. Red ribbon in dark hair and gold in fair hair photograph best. This braided hairstyle is ideal for Christmas markets, carol concerts and family lunches where you want festive detail without a full updo or heated styling.
8. Bubble Braid with Gold Hair Cuffs
The bubble braid is modern, playful and surprisingly easy: secure a ponytail with small elastics every few centimetres and gently puff each section into a rounded bubble. Slide a gold hair cuff or tiny ring over each elastic to hide it, and the style looks properly jewelled. It keeps long hair controlled through a whole party, works brilliantly in photos, and is one of the few festive styles that survives dancing, hugging and winter wind intact.
9. Loose Side Braid with Soft Waves
A loose braid swept over one shoulder is the romantic option for long hair. Curl the hair first, gather it to the side and braid loosely, then pull the sections apart gently for fullness. Weave in a few tiny clips or leave a curled strand free at the front. It suits Christmas Day at home, cosy dinners and any outfit with an interesting neckline on the opposite shoulder — and it takes under ten minutes once the curls are done.
10. Jewelled Clips and Statement Hair Combs
Sometimes the hairstyle is simple and the accessory does the work. A pair of crystal clips swept above one ear, a pearl comb tucked into a twist, or a gold star slide over a side part can lift straight, curled or pinned hair instantly. Pinterest boards pair one strong piece with an otherwise plain style, so resist adding more. Keep a couple of festive clips in your bag and any after-work dinner becomes a party look in the bathroom mirror.
Curls, Waves and Worn-Down Styles
If you prefer your hair down, this season is generous: glossy waves, bouncy blowouts and polished half-up styles dominate the saved boards.
11. Old Hollywood Waves
Deep, glossy waves brushed into uniform curves are the most glamorous worn-down style of the season. Curl all the hair in one direction, let it cool completely, then brush through gently so the waves merge into smooth, sculpted ridges. A deep side part and one side tucked behind the ear complete the vintage shape. This curly hairstyle was made for velvet dresses, red lipstick and evening photographs — and it holds far better than loose curls.
12. Half-Up, Half-Down with a Bow
The half up half down hairstyle is the most versatile look on this list: the top section keeps hair out of your face while the length still shows. Gather the crown section into a small ponytail or twist, curl the loose hair below, and finish with a velvet bow or jewelled clip at the join. It suits every hair type and almost every event on the December calendar, from office parties to Christmas morning photographs at home.
13. Bouncy Blowout Curls
The big, bouncy blowout is the salon look everyone is recreating at home with rollers and round brushes. The secret is volume at the root and curls that curve away from the face, set with a light spray while they cool. It is less formal than an updo and less vintage than Hollywood waves, which makes it perfect for dinners, dates and parties where the dress code is smart but not black tie. Photographs love the movement.
14. Deep Side Part with Glossy Curls
Simply moving your parting can transform familiar curls. A deep side part creates instant volume and drama, especially when the hair is curled and finished with a shine serum so every wave catches the light. Sweep the heavier side across the forehead and pin the smaller side flat behind the ear — add a crystal clip there if you like. This is the fastest upgrade for naturally curly hair heading to an evening party.
15. Twisted Half-Up Style
For a softer alternative to the standard half-up ponytail, take a section from each temple, twist them loosely and pin them together at the back of the head, letting the ends blend into the hair below. The twists create gentle detail without a single braid, and the style works on straight, wavy and curly textures alike. Finish with a small bow or pearl pin at the join. It is romantic, quick, and kind to hair that dislikes heat styling.
Quick Hairstyles for Dinners and Photos
Not every December event allows an hour of styling. These five looks take between five and fifteen minutes and still read as deliberate in photos.
16. Sleek High Ponytail
A high, sleek ponytail is sharp, modern and done in five minutes. Brush the hair up to the crown, secure it tightly, then wrap a small section of hair around the elastic and pin it underneath for a clean finish. Straighten or curl the tail depending on your outfit — a smooth tail suits sequins and tailoring, while a curled one softens knitwear. It lifts the whole face in photographs and keeps hair completely out of the way all evening.
17. Low Ponytail with a Silk Ribbon
The low ponytail is the quiet luxury option. Part the hair in the centre or low on the side, gather it at the nape with a smooth finish, and tie a silk or satin ribbon over the elastic, letting the ends mix with the hair. A scarf-print ribbon adds pattern to a plain dress, while black or cream silk suits everything. It is the hairstyle editors choose for elegant winter dinners, and it genuinely takes three minutes.
18. Five-Minute Claw Clip Twist
The claw clip twist is the busy host’s secret weapon. Gather the hair as if for a low ponytail, twist it upward against the head and clamp a large clip over the roll, letting the ends fan out at the top. Choose a tortoiseshell, pearl or gold-finish clip and the result looks like an elegant updo rather than a shortcut. It keeps hair off your neck while you cook, serve and celebrate — then releases into soft waves later.
19. Embellished Headband Look
A padded velvet, pearl or jewelled headband is a complete hairstyle in a single accessory. Wear it over loose waves, a low bun or even straight hair worn down, and the look reads styled from every angle. It is the kindest option for short notice, bad hair days and anyone growing out a fringe. Keep earrings small so the headband stays the statement, and choose black velvet for versatility or burgundy and emerald for full festive colour.
20. Retro Pin Curls and Finger Waves
For a truly dressed-up finish, retro pin curls give vintage glamour that suits the season’s velvet and satin perfectly. Set damp or heat-curled sections in flat pin curls, let them cool fully, then brush out into smooth waves with a defined S-shape at the front. It takes the longest of these quick styles, but the result is pure old-movie elegance — the hairstyle that makes a simple black dress look like a costume in the best possible way.
Conclusion
The best christmas hairstyles are the ones that suit your outfit, your hair and the time you actually have. Choose an elegant updo for the big party, a bow or braid for festive detail, glossy curls for photographs, and keep one five-minute style in reserve for everything else. Save your favourites now, and every invitation this season becomes easier to get ready for.