23 Holiday Party Hairstyles for a Glamorous, Festive Look
Holiday party hairstyles are where glamour meets celebration: polished updos, glossy curls and a little sparkle, styled to last from the first toast to the last dance. Whether your party is a black tie dinner or a cozy family gathering, the right hair finishes the whole outfit.
The secret to holiday party hairstyles that last all night is preparation: good hold, a few pins in your bag, and healthy hair that shines on its own. The hair care tips from WebMD are a smart read before party season. Here are 23 glamorous, festive looks to choose from.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our guides to hairstyles for women, browse these chic hairstyles, or find fresh haircut ideas for your next salon visit.
Classic Holiday Updo
The classic holiday updo gathers the hair smoothly at the back, with soft volume at the crown and a few gentle strands left free at the front. It is elegant without being stiff, and it shows off statement earrings and a festive neckline beautifully in person and in photos.
Build it on day old hair for grip, tease the crown lightly, and pin in sections rather than all at once. A final mist of flexible hold spray keeps it in place through dinner, dancing and every photo in between all night long easily.
Holiday Party Curls
- Curl in one direction for a polished finish
- Brush through gently for soft waves
- Pin one side back for shape
- Finish with a shine spray
Big, glossy curls are the holiday party classic for a reason: they look expensive, photograph beautifully and suit every dress code going. Worn loose and brushed into soft waves, they bring instant glamour to long and medium hair alike this whole festive season long indeed.
Holiday Party Ponytail
Quick Tip:
Wrap a small strand of hair around the ponytail base and pin it underneath. That one detail turns a gym ponytail into a party ponytail.
A party ponytail is sleek at the base, full through the lengths and finished with a wave or curl at the ends. It keeps hair off your shoulders for dancing while still looking dressed up from every single angle.
Holiday Party Braids
BEFORE: Hair worn loose and plain for a special night.
AFTER: A soft braid added, the look now detailed and festive.
Braids bring texture and detail to party hair: a loose side braid, a braided headband or small braids woven into an updo all read festive and considered. Loosen the plaits gently so the style looks romantic, not severe.
Holiday Party Bun
- Smooth the hair back with a brush
- Set the bun at your best height
- Pin in sections for security
- Soften two strands at the front
A party bun is neat, glossy and endlessly elegant: high for drama, low for romance, or softly messy for a modern feel. It keeps your hair secure all evening and lets your makeup and earrings take the spotlight.
Holiday Party Half Up Style
| Feature | Half Up | Fully Down |
|---|---|---|
| Face framing | Lifted and open | Soft but loose |
| Stays put | Pinned, secure | Moves all night |
| Best for | Long evenings | Short events |
The half up style gives you both worlds: the top is pinned up for polish and lift, while the lengths fall in curls or waves below. It is the most requested party style in salons because it flatters everyone.
Holiday Party Waves
DO:
- Set waves with clips while they cool
- Brush out gently for a smooth finish
- Add a deep side part for glamour
DON’T:
- Touch them constantly all night
- Use heavy oils that drop the wave
- Skip heat protectant
Smooth, sculpted waves are pure old Hollywood: glossy, even and full of movement. They take a little patience to set, then reward you with the most glamorous photographs of the whole party season.
Holiday Party Chignon
Best For: Formal dinners | Time: 20 minutes | Skill Level: Medium | Holds: All evening
The chignon is the most refined party updo: hair coiled low at the nape, smooth and secure, with a soft sheen. It pairs with high necklines, bare shoulders and bold lipstick equally well, and it never goes out of style.
Holiday Party Twists
Twists bring soft structure to party hair: sections rolled and pinned along the sides or into a low arrangement create detail that looks intricate but takes minutes. The finish is romantic and slightly undone, which suits candlelit evenings perfectly at any venue.
Work with two or three twists per side and cross your pins underneath so nothing shows. Leave the very front soft and loose. This is the style friends will ask you to teach them before the next party comes around this season or the next one after that too.
Holiday Party Side Swept Hair
- Create a deep side part
- Sweep all the hair to one side
- Curl the ends in one direction
- Pin behind the ear to hold
Side swept hair is instant red carpet: a deep part, everything gathered over one shoulder in glossy curls, and the other side smooth. It shows off one shoulder, one earring and your best side in every single photo taken that whole long festive night out.
Holiday Party Sleek Hair
Quick Tip:
Run a tiny amount of shine serum over sleek hair right before you leave. Party lighting rewards gloss more than any other finish.
Sleek, straight and glassy is the modern party choice: center parted, tucked behind the ears, and shining under the lights. It balances a dramatic dress or bold makeup and looks sharp in every photograph.
Holiday Party Bob Style
BEFORE: An everyday bob, neat but plain.
AFTER: Deep part, glossy waves, the bob now party ready.
A bob dresses up beautifully for the holidays: add a deep side part, bend the ends into soft waves and finish with gloss. Short hair needs no updo to look festive; shape and shine do all the work.
Holiday Party Pixie Style
- Add volume at the front
- Sweep the top to one side
- Smooth the sides close
- Add one sparkle pin
A pixie goes to the party with texture and one great accessory: sweep the top with volume, keep the sides sleek, and add a jewelled pin or clip. Short hair plus sparkle is a complete holiday look in five minutes.
Holiday Party Hair With Bow
| Feature | Velvet Bow | Satin Bow |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Rich and wintry | Smooth and classic |
| Best with | Ponytails, half up | Buns, braids |
| Colors | Black, deep red, green | Black, cream, gold |
A bow is the sweetest holiday finishing touch: tie a velvet ribbon at a ponytail, a half up style or the base of a bun and plain hair becomes festive hair. Black velvet suits everything in your wardrobe.
Holiday Party Hair With Sparkle Pins
DO:
- Cluster pins on one side
- Mix two or three sizes
- Match metals to your jewellery
DON’T:
- Scatter them everywhere
- Use pins that slip on fine hair
- Outshine your whole outfit
Sparkle pins are the fastest party upgrade in existence: three jewelled pins clustered above one ear turn any style, down, up or braided, into holiday hair. They also rescue second day hair beautifully.
Holiday Party Vintage Waves
Best For: Themed and formal parties | Time: 30 minutes | Skill Level: Medium | Holds: All evening
Vintage waves bring 1940s glamour to the holidays: deep, even ridges, a strong side part and a mirror shine. They ask for setting time and a gentle brush out, and they deliver the most elegant look of the season.
Holiday Party High Ponytail
A high ponytail is the playful glamorous choice: set it at the crown, smooth the base completely, and let the lengths fall in one long wave. It lifts the whole face and bounces when you dance, which is exactly the energy a party wants.
Secure it with two elastics for strength, wrap the base with a strand of hair, and curl the tail in large sections. Add a velvet ribbon if you like. This style survives the longest night on the calendar without a single touch up at all ever.
Holiday Party Low Bun
- Part in the center or deep on one side
- Gather low at the nape
- Twist and pin into a soft knot
- Leave the front smooth and glossy
The low bun is understated luxury: smooth, glossy and sitting right at the nape, it lets a dramatic neckline or back detail shine fully. It is the style editors and bridesmaids return to every single season without fail, year after year, party after party always.
Holiday Party French Twist
Quick Tip:
Tease the lengths lightly before twisting. The hidden texture is what keeps a French twist pinned and elegant all evening.
The French twist is timeless formal hair: the lengths rolled upward into a smooth vertical fold and pinned invisibly. It lengthens the neck, flatters every face and pairs with the most elegant outfits you own.
Holiday Party Curly Updo
BEFORE: Curls worn loose, beautiful but everyday.
AFTER: Curls pinned up softly, the look now festive and formal.
Curly hair makes the prettiest updos because the texture does the decorating: pin curls up loosely, let a few spirals fall at the front and sides, and the arrangement looks soft, full and romantic with almost no effort.
Holiday Party Long Hair Down
- Blow out smooth with volume
- Add large soft curls at the ends
- Tuck one side behind the ear
- Finish with shine spray
Long hair worn down can absolutely be the party look: the secret is polish, meaning a smooth blowout, curled ends and serious shine. Add one pinned side or a sparkle clip so it reads styled, not just loose.
Holiday Party Short Hair Glam
| Feature | Glam Short Hair | Everyday Short Hair |
|---|---|---|
| Finish | Glossy or sculpted | Natural matte |
| Extras | Sparkle pin or bold lip | None |
| Styling time | 10 minutes | 2 minutes |
Short hair goes glamorous with finish and one bold detail: sleek it smooth with gloss, sculpt soft finger waves, or add a jewelled clip above the ear. Paired with party makeup, short hair looks sharp and modern.
Holiday Party Braided Crown
DO:
- Braid around the head evenly
- Pancake the braid for fullness
- Pin the ends invisibly
DON’T:
- Braid so tight it pulls
- Leave the join visible
- Skip the final hold spray
A braided crown is the storybook holiday style: a full braid circling the head like a halo, soft and romantic with a dress in any color. Add tiny sparkle pins along the braid and it becomes pure celebration.
Styling Tips for These Holiday Party Hairstyles
Prep is everything for party hair: style on day old hair for grip, set curls and let them cool fully before brushing, and carry two spare pins plus a mini spray in your bag. Do a full practice run before the big night so the real evening feels easy.
Conclusion
Glamorous, festive and ready to celebrate, these holiday party hairstyles cover every dress code and every hair length. Choose an updo for elegance, curls for classic glamour, or sparkle pins for the fastest change of all. Enjoy every party this season fully. Save this guide while you plan your outfits, practice your chosen style once before the big night, and walk in knowing your hair will last as long as you do, from the first photograph to the final song of the evening and well beyond it into the night.
