Editor’s note (updated October 2026): we have expanded this holiday favorite with step-by-step instructions for all five styles and how to make them last.
The holiday party calendar punishes the same hair every weekend. Here are five styles to rotate through, none of which needs a hairdresser.
1. The deep side part with old-Hollywood waves
Start with smooth, blow-dried hair and a deep side part. Using a flat iron or a 1-inch curling iron, curl medium sections away from your face, all in the same direction, and pin each curl while it cools. Once they are cool, unpin and brush through with a paddle or boar-bristle brush until the curls merge into soft waves. Finish with a light hairspray. Time: about 20 minutes.
2. The slick low ponytail
Part your hair in the center or on the side, work a gel or styling cream through dry hair, and brush it back smoothly to the nape. Secure it with an elastic, wrap a small section of hair around the band to hide it, and pin it underneath. Tie a satin or velvet ribbon over the top for the holidays. Time: about 10 minutes.
3. The half-up twist
Take a section from each side above the ears, twist each one back loosely, and pin them together at the back of the head with a decorative clip or pin. Pull gently at the twists to soften them. It works on straight, wavy and curly hair, and on second-day hair. Time: about 5 minutes.
4. The textured chignon
Add grip with a texturizing spray or dry shampoo, gather your hair low at the nape, twist it and coil it into a loose bun, and secure it with bobby pins. Leave a few face-framing pieces out on purpose. Messy is the point, so do not over-smooth it. Time: about 10 minutes.
5. The blowout, done right
Apply a heat protectant and a volumizing product at the roots, rough-dry to about 80 percent, then section and dry with a round brush, pointing the airflow down the hair shaft to smooth it. Finish each section with a blast of cool air to set it. When in doubt, this is the classic answer. Time: about 20 to 30 minutes.
Make any style last all night
- Start with hair that is not freshly washed; second-day hair holds a style better.
- Use a heat protectant before any hot tool.
- Let curls cool completely before you touch them.
- Carry a few bobby pins and a mini hairspray.
Dress it up
A velvet bow, a pearl clip or a jeweled headband turns any of these into a party style in seconds. Match the metal to your jewelry, and keep accessories to one statement piece so the hair still looks effortless.
Three of these can be done in about 10 minutes. The other two are worth the 20.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest holiday hairstyle?
The half-up twist: two side sections twisted back and pinned with a decorative clip. It takes about five minutes and works on most hair types.
How do you make curls last through a party?
Use a heat protectant, curl in small sections, let each curl cool completely (pinned, if you can) before you brush or touch it, and finish with a light hairspray.
How do you do old-Hollywood waves at home?
Curl medium sections away from your face, all in the same direction, pin each curl while it cools, then brush them out with a paddle or boar-bristle brush until they merge into waves.
Is second-day hair better for updos?
Usually, yes. Hair that is a day past washing has more grip and texture, so buns and twists hold better. Dry shampoo or a texturizing spray gives clean hair the same grip.