Christmas Hairstyles That Hold Up From the Office Party to Christmas Day

The best festive hairstyles match your hair length and the event: a sleek low bun or soft waves for the work do, a loose braid for Christmas Day and a polished updo or glam waves for New Year's Eve (NYE). Add a cold, damp December to the mix, with hats, scarves and dry heating, and a good style also needs to beat static, rain and hat hair. A festive hairstyle has to survive three coats, a scarf and a cracker hat. If you'd rather not wrestle a curling iron while the sprouts boil over, a local stylist can come to your home for a blow dry or an updo.

The morning of a big event is busy enough, so hair at home means a mobile stylist handles your hair while you finish your outfit.

Festive Hairstyles by Hair Length

Hair length decides what's possible, so it helps to pick a style that suits the hair you have. Christmas hairstyles look different on short, medium and long hair, and each of these Christmas hairstyles has an easy winner, so pick festive hairstyles that suit the hair you have.

Short Hair

Short hair works well with texture, a pretty clip or a tucked-behind-the-ear look. A little texture spray adds body, a slim headband adds a festive touch and a side parting with soft waves looks polished. Short hair is wonderfully quick on a busy Christmas morning.

Shoulder-Length Hair

Shoulder-length hair is the happy middle: you can curl it, pin it half-up or tie it into a low twist. A half-up style with soft curls is a crowd-pleaser, and a small braid across the crown adds a festive detail without much effort.

Christmas Hairstyles for Long Hair

Christmas hairstyles for long hair have the most options, and the best Christmas hairstyles for long hair balance looks and weight, from Hollywood waves to a high sleek ponytail to a braided crown. Long hair also has the most weight, so a good hold matters, and an updo takes the strain off your neck. Long hair can look like a film scene, but it also gets caught in zips, scarves and a cousin's elbow, so pick festive hairstyles for long hair that you can sit in comfortably.

Curly and Textured Hair

Curly and textured hair looks best when you work with the curl, not against it. A defined curl set, a high puff, twists or a pineapple updo all look festive, and a silk scarf keeps frizz down. Moisturise the day before, and let your natural texture be the star.

What Works for Fine, Thin or Thick Hair?

Fine hair often needs volume and a light hold, so a texture spray and a few pins do wonders. Thick hair can take heavier styles like big braids, and a good hold keeps them from slipping. Whatever your hair is doing, a stylist can pick a style that suits it.

Easy Christmas Hairstyles for Busy Days

Easy Christmas hairstyles take ten minutes or less, and they're perfect for mornings with a long to-do list. These easy Christmas hairstyles suit almost any length, and the easiest festive hairstyles are the ones you can do half-asleep.

The Low Bun

A low bun is quick, neat and easy to dress up with a pearl clip or a velvet scrunchie. Pull the hair back, twist it into a bun and pin it, and add a few loose strands at the front for softness.

The Half-Up Style

A half-up style takes a minute, and it's the easiest of all easy Christmas hairstyles: gather the top half, secure it with a clip or a bow and leave the rest loose. It works on every length and looks festive with a bit of curl.

The Side Braid

A side braid is a classic among easy Christmas hairstyles, and it holds well through a busy day. Keep it loose and a bit messy, and it looks relaxed and pretty. It's one of the easiest festive hairstyles for a long lunch, and festive hairstyles don't need to be fussy.

The Pinned-Back Look

If you just want hair off your face, two grips or a slim headband will do. Add a small glittery clip for a hint of sparkle, and you're ready in a minute.

Bows, Ribbons and Velvet

A velvet bow or a ribbon turns any simple style into a festive one. Tie one around a ponytail, a bun or the end of a braid, and keep it in red, green or champagne, and finish the look with simple and classy Christmas nails.

Christmas Party Hairstyles That Last the Night

Christmas party hairstyles need to stand up to dancing, hugs and the midnight countdown, and a few reliable Christmas party hairstyles do the job.

The Sleek High Ponytail

A sleek high ponytail looks sharp and lifts the whole face. Smooth the hair with a bit of serum, wrap the base with a strand and add a dash of hairspray. It suits the office and NYE, and it's one of the best Christmas party hairstyles for holding all night.

Hollywood Waves

Hollywood waves are smooth, glossy and old-school glam. Brush the curls out gently, pin one side behind the ear and add a hint of shine spray. They look expensive, and they photograph well, and NYE hair and makeup at home plans the hours before the countdown.

The Polished Updo

A polished updo, like a chignon or a twisted bun, is the sturdiest of all Christmas party hairstyles and a classic among festive hairstyles and festive hairstyles. It keeps hair secure through a night of dancing, and a good stylist can add a hint of volume at the crown, and hair services at home make an updo much less stressful on the day.

Hairstyles for Different Necklines

Your neckline helps pick the style, whether you're choosing Christmas hairstyles for long hair or short. A strapless or off-the-shoulder dress shows off an updo or a high ponytail, a high neckline suits hair worn down in soft waves and a V-neck looks lovely with a half-up style or a loose side braid. If you're unsure, try the hairstyle with the outfit before the big day.

Accessories That Make It Festive

Pearls, glittery grips, velvet bows, jewelled clips and a thin gold headband add sparkle without much fuss. Pick one statement piece and keep the rest of the style simple, so the accessory stands out.

Festive Hairstyles for Hats, Scarves and Cold Weather

Cold weather adds a few challenges, like hats, scarves, static and dry indoor air, and a bit of planning keeps your Christmas hairstyles looking good. Festive hairstyles that last in winter start with kind handling.

How Do You Style Hair Under a Hat?

Hat hair is the hat's way of leaving a review. A loose braid or a low bun sits better under a hat than a stiff, high style, and a satin-lined beanie cuts down on frizz. Take the hat off gently, and fluff the roots with your fingers.

Cracker Hats and Party Crowns

A paper crown is a short-term guest on festive hairstyles. A low bun, a braid or a loose half-up copes best with a cracker hat, and a few grips keep the style from flattening. Wear the crown with pride, and fix your hair afterwards.

Scarves, Coats and Static

Static makes your hair stand up as if it has seen the January bills. A tiny dab of leave-in conditioner or anti-static spray calms flyaways, and a wooden or boar bristle brush helps. Wear a loose scarf over styled hair, and don't yank it off.

Rain, Wind and the Walk to the Party

Drizzle and wind are the enemies of a good blow dry. A hood or an umbrella helps, a smooth, tied-back style copes better than loose waves and a light hold spray keeps flyaways down. Carry a small brush and a few grips in your bag.

Dry Air and Frizz

Central heating and cold weather leave hair frizzy and dull. A bit of hair oil on the ends, a hydrating mask the day before and a gentle heat protectant all help festive hairstyles stay smooth. The only thing that should be frizzy at Christmas is the tinsel.

Festive Hairstyles by Event

Different events call for different hair, and one style rarely fits all of them. The table sorts festive hairstyles by event and shows roughly how long each one holds, which depends on your hair type, the weather and your products.

The Work Do: Neat and Easy to Wear

The work do look should say I made an effort, not I booked an hour of hairspray. A sleek low bun, a smooth ponytail or soft waves look polished and stay put through chatting, dancing and a long evening. Festive hairstyles at work are best when they look neat and still let you move.

Christmas Day: Loose, Easy and Photo-Ready

Christmas Day hair needs to survive the roast, the cracker hats and about a hundred photos. A loose braid, a messy half-up or a pinned-back style keeps hair off your face and out of the gravy. Messy buns are the one style that improves as the day gets worse, and they pair well with the soft, glowing face in Christmas makeup looks for every party.

NYE: Glam That Lasts Till Midnight

NYE is the night to go big, with a polished updo, a high sleek ponytail or Hollywood waves. These styles need good prep and a strong hold, since the night is long and the midnight photos don't forgive a drooping curl.

Boxing Day and Other Gatherings

For a country walk, a pub lunch or drinks with friends, a low ponytail, a soft twist or loose curls look relaxed and pretty. They hold for the afternoon, and a velvet bow or a glittery clip makes them feel festive.

How Long Do Christmas Hairstyles Hold?

How long a hairstyle holds depends on your hair type, the weather and your products, and a few habits stretch it out. Christmas hairstyles that last start with the right prep, and the best festive hairstyles use a little hold, not a lot.

Prep: Start With the Right Hair

Day-old hair often holds styles better than freshly washed hair, which can be too slippery. If you wash it, use a texture spray or dry shampoo at the roots to give it grip. Dry fully before you style, since damp hair droops.

Products That Help a Style Last

A heat protectant protects your hair, a light mousse or texture spray adds hold and a flexible hairspray finishes the job. Avoid heavy product, which can look stiff and sticky. Hairspray is the only thing near the tree that you're meant to spray.

Can You Sleep on a Christmas Hairstyle?

If you want your hair to last into the next day, wrap it in a silk scarf or use a satin pillowcase. Loosely braided or pinned hair holds its shape overnight, and a quick spritz of water and a finger fluff can revive curls.

Touch-Up Kit

Keep a small pouch with hair grips, a mini hairspray, a fine-tooth comb and a spare hair tie. It takes up almost no room, and it saves you in the loo mirror before the group photo.

Hair Care Before the Festive Season

Healthy hair holds a style better, and a little planning in the weeks before Christmas pays off. A trim keeps ends tidy, a deep conditioning mask adds shine and softness and a gentle shampoo avoids stripping your hair. If you're getting colour, aim for a week or so before your biggest event, so it has time to settle. Festive hairstyles always look better on happy hair, and lash and brow services a few days ahead frame the whole look.

Matching Your Hair to Your Makeup and Nails

A finished look includes your face and your hands. A polished style with the right lip colour looks like a complete outfit, and a matching manicure finishes it, so think of hair, makeup and nails as one outfit. For the face, a makeup artist at home can plan the look around your hair.

Getting a Stylist at Home for a Blow Dry or Updo With Blys

The hours before a party are busy, and a stylist who comes to you lets someone else hold the hairdryer.

Why At-Home Beats Rushing to a Salon

Heading to a salon before a party means a cold trip, a tight slot and a half-ready outfit at home. With a mobile stylist, the appointment comes to you, so you can finish your outfit, your wrapping or your tea around it, with the heating on. Blys lists hair and makeup services at your home, and a hair and makeup visit gets both done in one sitting, with bookings from 6 am to midnight, seven days a week.

How It Works

Arrange your appointment through Blys, pick the service and time, and a local provider comes to your door. You're not charged until a provider confirms your booking, and same-day times depend on availability. December fills up fast, so arrange early and check availability for the day of your event.

What to Set Up Before Your Stylist Arrives

Clear a spot by a window with good light, set out a chair and a mirror, and make sure there's a socket nearby for a hairdryer. Have your outfit picked, wear a button-up top so you don't need to pull anything over your hair and keep inspiration photos handy.

What to Put in Your Booking Notes

Put the event, your hair length and type, the style you want, the time you need to be ready and any allergies or sensitivities. Add whether you'd like makeup done too, and your outfit neckline. Your stylist arrives knowing what the day calls for.

Same Stylist for the Whole Season

If you have several festive events, you can set visits to repeat and ask for the same provider each time. The stylist arriving then already knows your hair, your style and what holds on you.

Once the diary fills up, hair at home is one task you can cross off without leaving the house, and the heating is already on.

Party Tonight? Arrange a Blow Dry or Updo at Home →

Christmas Hair Questions, Pulled Like a Cracker

These are the questions people type into search once party season starts.

How do I stop static in winter?

A tiny dab of leave-in conditioner or anti-static spray calms flyaways, and a wooden or boar bristle brush helps. Keep hair moisturised, and avoid rubbing it with a rough scarf or hat.

What's the best festive hairstyle for a party?

A polished updo, a sleek ponytail or soft Hollywood waves are the classics, and the best one is the style that suits your hair length and your outfit. If you'll be dancing, pick something with a secure hold.

How do I make curls last all night?

Curl hair that's fully dry, let each curl cool before you touch it and finish with a flexible hairspray. Day-old hair holds curls better, and pinning the curls up while they cool helps them set.

Which hairstyle works with a cracker hat?

A low bun, a braid or a loose half-up copes best, since they have less to lose when a paper crown lands on top. A few grips keep everything in place, and you can fluff the style afterwards.

How early should I get my hair done?

A few hours before the event is usually best, so the style has time to settle and still looks fresh. For a big night like NYE, allow a buffer for photos and travel.

Can a stylist come to my home before a party?

A mobile stylist can come to your home, but availability varies, and December mornings and evenings fill up fast. Arrange early, check availability for the time you need and put your deadline in your booking notes.

What Is Blys?

Blys is a mobile wellness and beauty marketplace that connects you with local providers who come to your home, office or hotel. You can arrange massage, nails, hair, makeup, lashes and brows, waxing, spray tans and more, with bookings from 6 am to midnight, seven days a week. You pick the service and time, and you're not charged until a provider confirms your booking. See everything on offer across Blys services near you.