This holiday season, hair is less about rigid perfection and more about texture that moves. Glossy natural waves, soft face-framing layers, and lived-in color are edging out flat-ironed straight lengths and chunky highlights as the go-to party backdrop.
With 34 Holiday Hairstyles, you get a range of looks from low-upkeep air-dried waves to intricate braided updos. There is a style for fine hair that tends to fall flat by dinner, for a fringe that will not cooperate with humidity, and for every length from a short bob to mid-back braids. Short and long, salon and DIY, each one solves a real party-hair problem.
Voluminous Glossy Waves With Side Swept Bangs
Side-swept bangs solve the problem of a forehead that feels too bare for a middle part. The long layers here keep the mid-back length from falling flat and give the voluminous wavy hair a shape that moves. Dark brown hair with subtle highlights catches light in a way solid color cannot, so the wave pattern reads clearly.
A round or heart-shaped face benefits from the asymmetry of side-swept bangs, which soften the wider parts of the face. Ask your stylist for: mid-back length waves with side swept bangs. The hold comes from a large-barrel curling iron and a lightweight shine serum applied after styling. A trim every eight weeks keeps the layers from losing their shape.
Half-Up Twisted Style With Curtain Bangs and Red Bow
A half-up twisted style creates a clean divide between the secured top section and the loose waves below. Ash blonde balayage adds dimension that a single-process color would not, so the curtain bangs and twisted section each have their own light and shadow.
Ask your stylist for: half up twisted style with curtain bangs and a red bow. This works for most face shapes because the curtain bangs soften the forehead while the twisted section adds height. The large red velvet bow secures the twist and gives the style a holiday gathering look.
Short Textured Afro With Gold Flower Pins
Gold flower-shaped hairpins with pearl accents turn a short coily afro from a low-key shape into deliberate party styling. The dense texture holds the pins securely without needing extra clips or adhesive. Ask your stylist for: short coily afro styled with gold flower pins. The ear-length cut keeps the shape compact, so the accessories do not compete with the hair itself.
Sleek High Ponytail With Intricate Braids
A standard high ponytail is a quick fix. This one replaces simplicity with detail: intricate braids run along the middle parting before meeting at the ponytail base. The difference between this and a plain ponytail is the braided section, which adds visual weight and makes the style look constructed. Thick, straight black hair holds the braid definition well, and the mid-back length gives the ponytail enough weight to hang smoothly.
This is a salon-level style because the braids need even tension and a clean parting. Ask your stylist for: high ponytail with detailed braids along the middle part. A DIY attempt risks uneven sections, but a skilled stylist can finish it in under an hour.
Voluminous Blowout Ponytail With Black Scrunchie
A blowout ponytail relies on the prep work more than the pullback itself. The volume starts at the roots, created with a round brush and blow dryer before the hair is gathered into a high ponytail. Thick, wavy blonde hair responds well to this technique because the natural wave gives the blowout something to work with rather than fighting against it. The large black velvet scrunchie holds the ponytail without creasing the hair, which matters for a style meant to last through an evening.
Ask your stylist for: high voluminous ponytail with a blowout and black scrunchie. The hold lasts about six to eight hours in dry weather. Frizz can become an issue in humidity, so a smoothing serum applied before the blowout helps. A trim every ten weeks keeps the layers from fraying at the ends.
Fishtail Braid With Satin Ribbon Bow
A fishtail braid on long, wavy blonde hair with subtle highlights already has more dimension than a basic three-strand plait. The trick is what comes after: a cream-colored satin ribbon tied into a bow at the end, which makes the whole thing read as a finished look. Ask your stylist for: a fishtail braid with a satin ribbon bow. The ribbon stays secure when the braid is tight enough, so the bow sits cleanly against the mid-back length.
Collarbone Side Ponytail With Braided Accents
A side ponytail at collarbone length does something useful for fine, wavy hair: it keeps the pieces visible rather than swallowed by the length. The side-swept bangs reduce the risk of the ponytail reading as too thin, because the eye moves across the width at the front. The braided accents are small sections worked into the main ponytail, adding texture without requiring a lot of hair to pull off. This design works best on fine to medium textures that hold a wave naturally. Ask your stylist for: collarbone length side ponytail with braids and side swept bangs.
Sculpted Finger Waves With Pearl Adornments
A short bob cut to ear length on thick, curly hair is the base here, but the finish is what separates it from a standard curly crop. The finger waves are shaped with a fine-tooth comb and a setting product, creating that sculpted S-curve that sits close to the head. The side-swept bangs curve into the wave pattern rather than falling forward, which keeps the silhouette clean. Pearl and floral hairpins are placed along the wave ridge, not scattered randomly. Ask your stylist for: a short bob with sculpted finger waves and pearl hairpins. The wave placement needs to match the ear-length perimeter exactly, so the pins sit where the wave crests rather than in the trough.
Cornrow Braids With Red Rose Accents
Cornrows are a time commitment, no way around it. A full head of neat, mid-back length cornrows on thick, coily black hair holds for weeks, which makes the salon time feel more reasonable. The red roses woven into the braids around the neck area are the part that turns a practical protective style into a holiday-specific look. They are real or high-quality fabric blooms, attached securely so they last through an evening. Ask your stylist for: mid-back length cornrow braids with red roses. The roses shift the weight of the braids slightly, so the nape area may feel tighter for the first day or two.
Mid-Back Braids With Gold Beads and Charms
Numerous braids on thick, coily black hair at mid-back length have a natural weight that pulls the style downward. The gold beads, charms and shells threaded onto the ends counteract that visually, because the eye follows the metallic accents rather than the bulk. Each bead needs to be clamped onto the braid tip firmly enough that it does not slide off during the first week, which is a detail a skilled braider handles at the end of the installation. Ask your stylist for: mid-back braids adorned with gold beads and charms. The beads should be spaced so they clink rather than stack, which keeps the braids from looking overloaded.
Soft Braided Updo With Loose Tendrils
Ever wonder how to get that romantic, slightly undone braided updo without looking like you tried too hard? This collarbone-length ash blonde style with highlights is built around an intricate braid woven into the bun, with loose tendrils and wispy bangs left out to soften the whole thing. It works best on fine, wavy hair that starts at the collarbone, since the texture gives the braid grip without weighing it down. Ask your stylist for: soft braided updo with loose tendrils and wispy bangs. A texturizing spray on the lengths before styling helps the braid hold its shape, and pulling a few face-framing pieces out afterward is what sells the effect.
Low Swept-Back Bun With Jeweled Headband
The genius of this design is how the sparkling jeweled headband does all the festive work while the hair stays quiet. Medium brown, fine hair is swept back from a side part into a low bun at the nape, and the smooth, straight texture keeps the whole thing polished. That makes it a last-minute holiday option you can actually pull off at home: brush the hair back, secure the bun low, then add the headband last so it sits exactly where you want it. The swept-back style also elongates the face, which helps if you tend to avoid pulling everything off your forehead. Ask your stylist for: low swept-back bun with a jeweled headband. It is dressed up for a festive dinner without requiring a salon appointment.
Half-Up Style With Twisted Section and Loose Waves
If your hair is medium density and wavy, this half-up style is built for you. The honey blonde balayage runs through mid-back length layers, and the top section is twisted back from a middle part while the rest falls in loose waves. Because it pulls only the crown away, it adds height without making fine hair feel heavy or dragging down thick strands.
The twist is what separates this from a plain half-up: it gives the front a sculpted line while the waves below stay soft. It suits most face shapes, since the loose waves frame the jaw and the twist adds a little lift at the top. Ask your stylist for: mid-back length half-up style with twisted section and loose waves. Curl the hair first, then twist and pin the top section, leaving a few waves loose around the face to keep the whole thing from reading as severe.
Defined Curls With Braided Temple Detail
The braided detail near the temple is the quiet anchor here: it pulls the eye along the hairline while the rest of the style stays all volume and movement. Dark brown curls with honey-toned highlights fall in loose, defined spirals from a side part, and the braid tucks the front section back so the curls don’t overwhelm the face. This is a technique that rewards thick, curly hair starting at mid-back, because the braid needs substance to sit properly and the curls need density to hold their shape. The side part and braid also work well on oval and square faces, softening the jawline without hiding it. Ask your colorist for: defined curls with a braided detail near the temple. Use a curl-defining cream and a diffuser to set the texture, then create the braid before styling the rest so it stays crisp.
Bubble Ponytail With Braided Scalp Details
How does a bubble ponytail stay put when you have thick, straight hair that weighs down everything? The answer is in the scalp braids. Multiple braids run along the crown and meet a series of bubble sections down the length, with silver charms and white string woven in for extra interest. The braids anchor the style at the roots, so the ponytail holds its shape even as the straight texture pulls downward. This one suits thick, straight hair starting at mid-back, since the bubbles need enough weight and length to read clearly. Ask your stylist for: bubble ponytail with braided scalp details and silver charms. Keep the bubble sections small, about two inches apart, and secure each with an elastic band; the smaller the sections, the longer the style stays defined through a long holiday party.
Half-Up Ponytail With Large Dark Red Bow
The bow is the focal point here, so the hair itself can stay simple. Mid-back length, dark blonde with lighter highlights, thick and wavy, pulled back from the middle part into a half-up ponytail. The loose waves soften the jaw while the raised top section adds length to rounder faces.
Ask your stylist for: half up ponytail with a large dark red velvet bow. To recreate it, gather the top section from ear to ear and secure with an elastic, then wrap the bow around the base to hide the band. The remaining waves should be brushed out for fullness. It is a five-minute DIY that works for a holiday party where you plan to be on your feet, not in a salon chair.
Soft Flowing Waves With Subtle Highlights
Long, thick dark brown hair with blonde highlights, styled in loose, soft waves from a middle part. The finish is glossy and relaxed, not curled within an inch of its life. It suits most face shapes because the long layers keep movement around the shoulders without adding width at the cheeks.
Ask your stylist for: long hair with soft flowing waves and subtle highlights. The trade-off is that these waves can fall out quickly without proper setting products or heat styling. A large barrel curling iron, followed by a brush-out and a light-hold hairspray, extends the shape through a holiday dinner. On thick hair, the waves hold reasonably well for a few hours, but expect to refresh the ends before the evening is over. The subtle highlights add dimension, so the style does not look flat even as the curl relaxes.
Vibrant Copper Mohawk With Geometric Pins
The technique relies on the natural thickness of coily texture to hold height without backcombing. Apply a strong-hold product to damp hair and direct sections upward, then secure the side with pins to keep the shape structured. Ask your stylist for: short layered mohawk in vibrant copper with geometric pins. The cut suits oval and heart faces, since the height elongates the face while the shorter sides keep it from widening. The copper color is the statement, so the pins should match the warm tone rather than compete with it.
Curly Curls With Side Braided Detail
Set this against a plain curly style and the difference is the braided detail at the temple. Thick, curly dark brown hair with warm reddish-brown highlights, styled with neat cornrows along one side that transition into voluminous curls. The side part and braid draw the eye upward, which complements oval and diamond face shapes by balancing a narrower forehead.
Ask your stylist for: voluminous curls with neat braids along the side. Where loose curls alone can read as casual, the cornrow adds structure and keeps the hair off the face on one side. Keep the braids tight and defined, then allow the curls to stay voluminous and separated with a lightweight curl cream. This is a salon-level style that holds well through a full evening, since the braids stay put while the curls keep their shape with minimal touching.
Air-Dried Waves With Subtle Highlights
Long, dark brown hair falling to the mid-back in loose, air-dried waves, parted in the middle with subtle highlights adding dimension. The finish is natural and thick, the kind of texture that looks like you woke up with it, even though the highlights took a salon visit to achieve.
Ask your colorist for: dark brown base with subtle highlights blended through the mid-lengths. The upkeep is minimal: a leave-in conditioner and a gentle scrunch while the hair dries encourages the natural wave pattern. The subtle highlights mean the grow-out line is soft, so toning appointments can stretch to every ten to twelve weeks. This style suits most face shapes, since the middle part and mid-back length elongate a round face without adding bulk at the jaw. It is the lowest-maintenance option in the holiday rotation, and it still looks deliberate.
High Bun With Gold Hair Accessory
There is no faster way to get thick, curly hair out of the way for a holiday party than a high bun, and the gold accessory wrapped around the base turns it into the centerpiece. With a middle part and the hair pulled back tightly, this is a style that holds up through dinner and dancing without constant pin checks. It suits thick, curly hair starting at collarbone length or longer, and most face shapes can wear the height without issue. Ask your stylist for: a high bun with a gold hair accessory.
Sleek Low Ponytail With Embellished Bow
How do you make fine, straight hair feel festive without spending an hour at the mirror? The answer is a sleek low ponytail anchored by a large embellished black bow, which does the decorating for you. On mid-back length blonde hair with a middle part, the style looks polished because the hair is smoothed flat and the bow sits right at the base, giving the eye a clear focal point. Ask your stylist for: a sleek low ponytail with an embellished black bow. To get the glossy finish, run a small amount of serum through the lengths before securing the elastic, then wrap a thin section of hair around the base to hide it. The bow attaches last, pinned through the elastic so it stays put. This is a DIY style that takes about ten minutes, and the finish is easiest to achieve on hair that is already smooth, since flyaways will fight the sleekness.
Shoulder-Length Bob With Twisted Braids
The trick to this shoulder-length bob is that the braided detail is built from two small front sections that twist together at the back, which gives the style a finished look without requiring a full updo. On light brown hair with blonde highlights and a wavy texture, the braids catch the lighter pieces and make the color read as dimensional. It is a simple DIY update for a holiday party, and it suits medium density wavy hair cut to collarbone length, with most face shapes getting along with the height at the back. Ask your stylist for: a shoulder length bob with twisted braids at the back.
Coily Gray Updo With Braided Elements
Coily gray hair takes to an updo with braided elements especially well because the texture grips the braids and keeps them from slipping, while the top knot adds height that balances the side-swept bang. The style is built by sectioning the hair, braiding the front pieces, and gathering the rest into a bun, then sculpting the coils with a strong hold styling cream so the shape stays intact through a festive gathering. It suits short coily hair, and the side-swept bang softens most face shapes. Ask your stylist for: a coily gray updo with braids and a side swept bang.
Collarbone Curls With Curtain Bangs
Collarbone length curls with curtain bangs are the rare style that looks deliberate without demanding heat styling, since the air-dried texture keeps the shape soft and the bangs frame the face without commitment. On thick, dark brown curly hair with a middle part, the soft layers let the curls spring up naturally, and the length at the collarbone gives enough weight to prevent the whole thing from turning into a triangle. Curtain bangs suit most face shapes, and the style works best on hair that is already curly, since straight hair would need a curling iron to replicate the bend. Ask your stylist for: collarbone length natural curls with curtain bangs.
Vintage Updo With Ornate Hair Accessory
Does your hair actually stay in a vintage updo all night, or does it start sliding south by appetizers? With long, thick, curly hair in a vibrant red, the answer depends on how tightly you pin those curls. This is not a five-minute twist: each section needs to be curled, swept up and secured with enough bobby pins to feel like armor. The reward is a side view that shows off the tightly curled texture and the ornate hair accessory placed prominently at the back.
Ask your stylist for: vintage updo with ornate hair accessory. The accessory itself is large, studded with pearls and rhinestones, so the hair needs to hold still around it. A strong-hold hairspray and a few extra pins around the accessory keep everything in place through dancing, dinner and photo ops. Curly, thick textures hold the shape better than fine hair, which can sag under the weight of the embellishment. The finish is glossy, the hold is firm and the volume stays put until you take the pins out.
Blowout Bob With Curtain Bangs
This is not a blunt bob. The shoulder-length cut uses soft layers and subtle curtain bangs that sweep to the sides, so the line feels softer and more lived-in. Ask your stylist for: shoulder length bob with curtain bangs and a blowout. The warm brown base with lighter brown highlights adds dimension that a single-process color cannot match. A side parting and loose waves from a round brush create volume at the roots and a glossy finish. The curtain bangs frame the forehead without committing to full fringe maintenance. A trim every six to eight weeks keeps the shape clean.
High Bun With Blunt Bangs
Fine, straight blonde hair pulled into a high bun and paired with blunt bangs is a study in precision. The top knot sits neatly at the crown, and the blunt bangs frame the forehead in a clean line. The honest drawback: fine, straight hair can lack the volume to support a high bun without slipping or looking flat. A smoothing cream helps the hair stay sleek, and a few extra pins around the base prevent the bun from loosening. This style suits oval and long faces best, where the blunt line across the forehead balances the length of the face. Ask your stylist for: high bun with blunt bangs.
Voluminous Curls With Braided Hairline
Intricate braids along the hairline frame the face while the rest of the hair stays in voluminous, defined curls. The contrast between the tight braid pattern and the loose, coily texture creates a structured look that holds well on thick, curly hair starting at mid-back. A side parting keeps the braids visible and balanced.
Ask your stylist for: voluminous curls with intricate braids along the hairline. The braids need to be neat and secured close to the scalp to stay put through a long event. The loose curls benefit from a curl cream or mousse to maintain definition and fight frizz. The hold is good for a full evening, though the braids may need a touch-up if the hair is very dense. A deep conditioning treatment the day before keeps the curls soft and the braids smooth. The overall finish is sophisticated and festive without requiring constant adjustment.
Double Braids With Blonde Highlights
Can you pull off double braids for a holiday event without looking like you are headed to the school drop-off? Yes, if the braids are neat and the blonde highlights add dimension. This style works on thick, wavy brown hair with long layers, starting at mid-back. A side parting keeps the braids balanced.
Ask your stylist for: mid-back length double braids with blonde highlights. For a DIY version, section the hair down the center of the back, braid each side from the scalp and secure with small elastics. The blonde highlights create contrast and prevent the braids from reading as one solid block of color. This is a quick style for a holiday outing or a casual festive gathering: about fifteen minutes once the hair is detangled. The hold is secure all day, and the braids look intentionally polished.
Loose Curls With Sparkling Hair Clips
The trick to this look is letting the curl do the work: air-dried, loose spiral curls on thick, dark brown hair with a middle part and subtle highlights. The small sparkling clips along the hairline are the festive part, and they double as a way to keep curtain bangs out of your eyes. Ask your stylist for: loose curls with subtle highlights and small sparkling hair clips. This style suits thick, curly hair starting at mid-back and works with most face shapes. A texturizing spray on damp hair encourages the natural wave, and the clips hold all night without pulling.
Collarbone Waves With Pinned Sections
The wispy bangs soften angular face shapes, and the pinned pieces keep the style from falling flat. Ask your stylist for: collarbone length soft waves with pinned sections and wispy bangs. A texturizing spray gives fine hair grip, and the face-framing pieces stay put for a few hours of mingling. This salon-leaning style looks polished without looking stiff.
Intricate Twisted Updo With Loose Tendrils
Unlike a simple chignon, this updo is built from multiple twisted sections that create volume at the crown and a soft, undone silhouette from the back. The blonde hair with subtle highlights adds dimension to the twists, and the loose tendrils at the nape keep it from feeling severe. Ask your stylist for: intricate twisted updo with loose tendrils. It holds best on thick, wavy hair of collarbone length or longer, and the pins do the work once the sections are twisted and tucked. The tendrils soften the finish, but they need a touch of texture spray to stay defined through a long evening.
Medium Length Hairstyles for Older Women
Is medium length actually low maintenance, or just a compromise between short and long? The honest answer: it depends on the cut. This collarbone length style with long layers and curtain bangs gives thick, wavy hair movement and body, and the dark brown base with caramel balayage adds depth without harsh regrowth lines. Ask your stylist for: flattering medium length hairstyle with long layers and curtain bangs. A blowout keeps the shape polished, but the real upkeep is a trim every six to eight weeks, because medium length shows split ends faster than you’d think.
Final Thoughts
Fine hair often needs a blunt baseline and minimal layers to hold a curl. Round faces benefit from length that falls below the chin, and square faces soften with volume at the sides. For a low-maintenance holiday option, a simple braided ponytail or a low bun with a decorative pin works with minimal fuss.
- Deep condition hair weekly for optimal shine and health, especially before styling.
- Use heat protectant spray before any heat styling to minimize damage.
- Refresh braids by gently smoothing flyaways with a finishing spray or pomade.
- Updos can be maintained by sleeping on a silk pillowcase to preserve the style.
- Trim split ends every 8-10 weeks to keep layered cuts looking fresh.
Find your perfect festive hairstyle and shine this holiday season.
