Braids are the holiday season’s most forgiving hairstyle: they hold through dinner, dancing, and the inevitable gift-unwrapping chaos. This year, the trend leans into lived-in color and glossy natural texture, with soft face-framing layers and curtain bangs woven into the braid work.
This collection of 15 Christmas Braids spans from quick DIY ribbon accents to salon-built crowns, so you can pick by time, skill, and occasion. If fine hair tends to fall flat by evening, the volume-boosting styles here have you covered. If a visible grow-out line is your December problem, the accessory-heavy braids hide it without a root touch-up.
Braided Crown With Pearls and Beads
It works best on wavy hair with medium density, thin hair tends to let the crown braid slip, and dense curls can make it bulky. Ask your stylist for a braided crown with pearls and beads, collarbone-length waves. Secure the braid with bobby pins at the temples and nape, then set with a light-hold hairspray.
Side Braid With Red Velvet Ribbons
How do you get a ribbon to stay in a braid without looking like a last-minute tie? The trick is weaving it into the sections as you cross them, not wrapping it around the finished braid. This version uses a side parting and pulls dark blonde, thick, wavy hair into one side braid that reaches mid-back, with red velvet ribbons and small golden bells threaded through every few inches.
Loose tendrils around the face keep it from reading as too precious. Ask your stylist for a side braid with velvet ribbons and bells, loose face-framing tendrils. A smoothing serum on the finished braid controls frizz without flattening the ribbon.
Two Braids With Dark Red Velvet Bow
A single braid is neat and streamlined. Two braids meeting at the back with a large velvet bow is more of a statement, the kind that shows up in photos before you do. This version starts two braids from the front hairline and gathers them at the nape, securing them with a dark red velvet bow, while the mid-back length stays in loose waves.
It needs medium-density hair with some wave to blend the braids into the loose sections. Ask your stylist for two front braids meeting in the back with a large velvet bow. Teasing the crown lightly before braiding gives the front a bit of lift.
Dutch Braid With Burgundy Ribbon
A Dutch braid sits raised above the hair, which makes it a good choice for thick, wavy hair that can handle the volume. This one runs down the center of the back with a burgundy ribbon woven through each section and tied into a bow at the end, and wispy bangs soften the forehead. The braid holds well for a full day because the ribbon adds friction to the strands.
Ask your stylist for a thick Dutch braid with wispy bangs and a burgundy ribbon. A texturizing spray before braiding gives the hair enough grip to keep the ribbon from sliding. A trim every six to eight weeks keeps the baseline neat.
Pigtail Braids With Green Ribbon
How do you ask for pigtails without sounding like you are raiding a dress up trunk? The details matter: two even braids on medium density wavy hair, each laced with a vibrant green ribbon, ending at collarbone length. The green ribbon runs through each braid section, so the color shows evenly rather than just at the tie.
A small blue bow at the base of each braid adds a second accent without competing. Ask your stylist for pigtail braids with green ribbon lacing, collarbone length. This works best for a holiday party where you want the braids visible from the front and back.
Thick Braid With Sparkly Ornaments
A long, thick braid that reaches mid-back is a lot of real estate, and this one uses every inch of it with sparkly bow and snowflake ornaments plus a large bow at the crown. Thick, straight hair is the ideal base because it gives the braid weight and keeps the ornaments from sliding out of loose sections. Ask your stylist for a thick braid with sparkly bow and snowflake ornaments. Getting every strand smooth and even takes a salon visit, and the ornaments are best added after braiding so they sit on top rather than getting tangled in the weave.
If you have finer or thinner hair, a single braid this dense will look sparse and the ornaments will have less to grip. For those with thick hair, a strong-hold hairspray keeps the braid smooth and the ornaments stay put for a full evening. This is not a style you can throw together in ten minutes, so book the appointment and let someone else wrestle with the bows.
Half-Up Braids With Christmas Ornaments
Why does this half-up, half-down style feel so right for December? Because it does the work of a full updo without committing you to one. The ash blonde hair with highlights is thick and wavy, reaching mid-back, and the braids pull the top sections back while the rest falls in loose waves. Christmas ornaments clipped into the braids add the festive touch without needing a single bobby pin to hold a whole style together. Ask your stylist for half-up half-down with braids, waves, and christmas ornaments. The wispy bangs keep the front soft, so it suits round and oval faces equally well.
For a holiday party, this is the rare style that is festive but lets you actually move your head. Thick, wavy hair holds the braids and the ornaments best, since fine hair might let the clips slip. The loose waves get body from a texturizing spray so they do not flatten before the last toast.
Collarbone Braid With White Ribbon
A single side braid tied with a white ribbon bow is the quietest way to make collarbone-length hair feel festive. The blonde balayage with loose waves gives the style movement, and the braid pulls one side back while the rest stays down. Fine to medium wavy hair is the sweet spot here, because the braid adds the volume that fine textures often lack. Ask your stylist for a single side braid with white ribbon, collarbone length loose waves. The face-framing layers soften a square jaw, and the middle parting keeps it balanced. A light pomade smooths the braid so stray strands don’t steal the bow’s thunder. Keep the layers trimmed every six to eight weeks so the collarbone length stays sharp.
Braided Rose Bun With Loose Waves
The braided rose bun is a clever bit of engineering: a flat braid is coiled into a spiral and pinned at the side, near the ear, while the rest of the collarbone-length blonde hair falls in loose waves. The side-swept bangs and side parting break up the roundness of a face, making this a good fit for round or heart shapes. Ask your stylist for: a braided rose bun, loose waves, side swept bangs. The bun sits low enough that it does not pull the hair tight, so the waves keep their movement. Medium-density wavy hair holds the coil best, and the waves benefit from a product that adds grip. A strong-hold spray on the bun keeps it intact through a long evening. Trim the layers every six to eight weeks to keep the ends from looking ragged.
The technique is the draw here: the rose is built from one continuous braid, so it looks intricate but is actually just a spiral. The side placement keeps it from competing with the waves.
Fishtail Braid With Braided Headband
A braided headband is the easier cousin of a full crown braid, and pairing it with a side-swept fishtail braid gives you two textures in one style. The auburn hair is thick and wavy, reaching mid-back, which gives both braids enough weight to hold their shape. Ask your stylist for a braided headband with a side-swept fishtail braid. The headband pulls the front back while the fishtail falls over one shoulder, so it works for most face shapes. Doing this at home is possible if you can braid behind your head, but the fishtail needs patience to keep the sections even. A salon visit is the safer bet for a big event. Pull gently on the fishtail sections to make it look fuller, and trim every eight to ten weeks to keep the ends healthy.
Braided Crown Updo With Sparkles
Can a hairstyle hold its own through a full holiday dinner? A braided crown updo with sparkles on thick, wavy hair is built for it. The style gathers mid-back length into an updo with a side part, and the wavy texture gives the braid enough bulk to stay put without constant re-pinning. The dark blonde base with subtle highlights lets the small sparkling pins stand out without competing with them.
Ask your stylist for: braided crown updo with small sparkling pins. The updo suits most face shapes, and the side-swept bangs keep the front soft. Secure the style with a strong-hold hairspray, then add the pins after the braid is complete so they stay visible. Thick hair holds this style well, but it is a salon-leaning look that takes time to build, so plan the appointment for the day of the event.
Coily Braided Updo With Accessory
A coily braided updo with a decorative hair accessory is a design where the add-on does the talking. The thick, coily texture is swept into an updo with a side part, and the gold leaf and blue flower piece sits on the side where it reads clearly. Ask your stylist for: coily braided updo with a gold leaf and blue flower accessory. The style works on thick, coily hair of any length that can be gathered up, and it suits all face shapes. The side part keeps the accessory from getting buried, so hand it to your stylist before the braiding starts.
Box Braids With Gold Beads
Gold beads on box braids change the whole character of the style, turning a protective staple into something that reads as festive without extra effort. These long box braids reach mid-back on thick, coily black hair, with a middle parting and small gold beads that sit at the ends. The beads add weight, which helps the braids hang straight rather than curling up at the shoulders.
Ask your stylist for: long box braids with gold beads at the ends. They suit all face shapes and work best on thick, coily hair that can hold the braid structure. Compared to a plain braid, the beads make the style feel finished, but they also add time to the install and a little noise when you move. A lightweight oil keeps the braids shiny and the scalp comfortable between washes.
Straight Box Braids With Beaded Ends
Straight box braids with golden beads at the ends offer a cleaner line than their coily counterparts, and the smooth texture is exactly why they need a careful hand. The black, thick hair is braided down to mid-back with a middle parting, and the beads sit at the tips where they catch movement.
Ask your stylist for: long straight box braids with golden beads. The style suits all face shapes and requires mid-back length to hit the right proportion. The trade-off is real: straight braids can lose definition at the roots faster than coily ones, and the beaded ends add weight that tugs if the braids are too long. Plan for a salon install that takes hours, and keep a leave-in conditioner on hand to stop the hair from drying out. The beads will need a check now and then to make sure the closures stay tight.
Braided Crown With Gold Clips
Why does a braided crown with gold clips feel like the obvious choice for a Christmas party? Because it gives the festive signal without requiring a single ornament. Thick, coily black hair is braided with a crown detail at the front, secured with gold clips, and the rest extends down the back to mid-back. Ask your stylist for: braided crown with gold clips. The style works on thick, coily hair of mid-back length and suits all face shapes. The clips hold the crown in place, so make sure they are fastened tightly against the braid. It is a salon style that lands somewhere between formal and practical for a winter event.
Final Thoughts
For fine hair, lean into braided crowns or half-up styles that add lift at the roots. For thick or coily hair, box braids and structured updos keep the texture neat and the accessories secure. Match the braid to your hair’s natural behavior and the party will take care of itself.
- Trim split ends every 8-10 weeks to maintain braid health.
- Refresh braids with a light mist of holding spray to tame flyaways.
- For beaded or ribbon-adorned braids, ensure accessories are securely fastened before styling.
- Consider a deep conditioning treatment weekly if hair feels dry from styling.
Embrace the festive spirit with a braid that makes you shine this holiday season.
