15 Festive Hairstyles for Holiday Parties and Celebrations

The right hairstyle can carry your whole holiday look, and the best festive hairstyles for holiday parties are the ones that look glamorous in photos, survive a full evening of dancing, and do not take two hours to create. Whether you are heading to an office party, a family Christmas dinner, or a New Year’s Eve countdown, this list has a style for your hair length, your outfit, and the amount of time you actually have.

Below you will find 15 party-ready styles, each with how long it takes, who it suits best, and the one detail that makes it feel festive instead of everyday. Pick by your party first, then by your hair.

How to Choose Your Festive Hairstyle in 30 Seconds

Before you reach for the curling iron, match the style to the party. A formal dinner calls for polish — a sleek chignon or Old Hollywood waves. A lively house party or a night of dancing calls for something anchored in more than one place, like a braided crown or a high ponytail, so it cannot fall apart by midnight. A casual family gathering is the perfect place for soft curls and a single statement accessory.

Time matters just as much. If you have five minutes, let one accessory do the work: a velvet bow, a pearl headband, or a jeweled clip turns smooth, brushed hair into a party look. If you have twenty to thirty minutes, you can build waves, a braid, or a proper updo. And if your hair is on day two, choose an updo or a braided style — slightly lived-in hair actually holds pins and braids better than freshly washed hair. If you want more ideas that take 20 minutes or less, these Christmas party hairstyles that take 20 minutes or less are a good second reference.

One more rule that saves every look: one statement piece per style. A velvet bow, a pearl comb, gold cuffs on a braid, or a single jeweled clip — pick one and let it shine. Two competing accessories is what turns festive into fussy.

15 Festive Hairstyles for Holiday Parties and Celebrations

1. Old Hollywood Waves

Deep, glossy, sculpted waves are the most classic holiday look there is, and nothing goes better with a red lip and a dark dress. Part your hair deeply on one side, curl large sections away from your face with a wide-barrel iron, then brush the curls out gently so they fall into one smooth wave. Finish with a shine spray and a light mist of flexible-hold hairspray.

Time: 25–30 minutes. Best for: Medium to long hair, straight to wavy. Pair it with the soft, glowing skin from our Christmas makeup inspiration guide and a simple black or jewel-toned dress.

2. Velvet-Bow Half-Up Twist

This is the fastest way to look Christmas-ready, because the bow does the festive work. Take a section from each temple, twist each one back, cross them at the crown, and pin. Then tie a wide velvet bow over the join. The two twists act like a headband made of your own hair, so the front stays tidy while the length underneath keeps the look soft. A deep red or forest green bow reads festive against any hair color.

Time: 10 minutes. Best for: Medium to long hair. Keep the bow at the crown, not the nape, so it shows in photos.

3. Sleek Low Chignon with a Ribbon

A low chignon is quiet luxury in hairstyle form: smooth, polished, and elegant enough for the most formal party on your calendar. Brush your hair back into a low ponytail at the nape, twist it into a knot, and pin it flat. Wrap a thin satin ribbon around the base and let the ends hang down, or tie a small bow just above the knot. Tame flyaways with a little gel smoothed on with a toothbrush.

Time: 15 minutes. Best for: All lengths that gather at the nape, all textures. This is the style to choose when your dress has an interesting neckline or back, because it keeps both fully visible.

4. High Voluminous Ponytail

A high ponytail is the party look that never moves all night — it keeps your neckline clear, shows off your earrings, and survives dancing. Brush everything back into a ponytail at the crown, backcomb the underside of the ponytail lightly for volume, and wrap a small section of hair around the elastic to hide it. Tie a velvet bow right over the top for the festive finish, and add a soft curl to the ends if you have time.

Time: 10–15 minutes. Best for: Medium to long hair. A long, full ponytail looks intentional under a big bow; a thin one looks unfinished, so add a clip-in ponytail piece if yours needs fullness.

5. Braided Crown with Festive Ribbon

A braided crown wraps all the way around your head and meets at the back for a clean, polished finish — romantic, secure, and completely hands-free once it is pinned. Braid two sections from behind each ear, cross them over the crown, and pin the ends underneath. Weave a thin red or gold ribbon through one of the braids before you pin it, and finish with a tiny star or pearl pin where the braids meet.

Time: 20 minutes. Best for: Medium to long hair. This is the best choice for an all-night party, because a braid anchored in several places cannot loosen the way a bun can.

6. Soft Curls with a Pearl Headband

Soft curls with a pearl headband are the relaxed Christmas party look that still reads as dressed up. Curl your hair in large, loose sections, brush them out until they are soft waves, and slide a pearl headband on just behind your hairline. The headband does all the festive work, so the curls underneath only need to be soft, not perfect.

Time: 15–20 minutes. Best for: Short to medium hair, especially bobs and lobs. Pair it with a velvet or satin dress and soft glam makeup.

7. Glossy Glass Hair

Mirror-smooth, ultra-shiny hair is minimal and chic, and it looks especially striking with sequins, satin, and metallics. Blow-dry your hair straight with a round brush, then run a flat iron through it in small sections and finish with a few drops of shine serum smoothed over the surface. The trick is the finish: hairspray on a brush, lightly swept over the top layer, tames every flyaway without dulling the shine.

Time: 20 minutes. Best for: Straight to slightly wavy hair, any length. This is the lowest-effort look on the list if your hair is naturally straight — and the most striking with a bold red lip.

8. Low Ponytail with a Velvet Bow

The velvet-bow low ponytail is the fastest genuinely festive party style, and it takes about five minutes. Brush your hair smooth, gather it low at the nape with a strong elastic, wrap a small section of hair around the elastic and pin it underneath, then tie a wide red or green velvet bow over the base. Loosen one or two face-framing pieces for softness. The low anchor keeps the ponytail from sliding as you dance, and it survives the whole evening with no re-pinning.

Time: 5 minutes. Best for: Medium to long hair, all textures, fine to thick. Keep this one in your back pocket for the party you almost forgot about.

9. Romantic Side-Swept Curls

Side-swept curls are pure old-Hollywood romance with a softer, more modern feel. Curl your hair in large sections, sweep everything over one shoulder, and pin the hair on the opposite side flat against your head with two crossed bobby pins hidden underneath. A single jeweled clip above the ear is the only accessory you need. This style photographs beautifully from the front and shows off one earring perfectly.

Time: 20 minutes. Best for: Medium to long hair. Choose it for date-night parties and New Year’s Eve, when you want the hair to feel glamorous rather than structured.

10. Textured Top Knot with Sparkle Pins

A top knot is the host’s best friend: it takes ten minutes, keeps hair completely off your face while you cook and greet guests, and still looks deliberate. Gather your hair high, twist it loosely, and pin it into a soft, textured knot — do not pull it too tight, or it reads as a gym bun. Slide two or three sparkle pins into one side of the knot, and pull out a few wisps around your face.

Time: 10 minutes. Best for: Medium to long hair, especially thick hair. This is also the best rescue style if your curls fall flat halfway through the evening.

11. Bubble Ponytail with Gold Cuffs

A bubble ponytail turns a basic ponytail into a party piece. Secure a high ponytail, then add small clear elastics every two inches down its length, gently pulling each section outward to form soft bubbles. Slide a thin gold cuff over the base elastic and one more over the first bubble. The result is playful, modern, and surprisingly elegant — and it holds its shape for hours.

Time: 15 minutes. Best for: Long hair. It pairs beautifully with sequin styling, because the clean lines of the ponytail balance the sparkle of the outfit instead of competing with it.

12. Fishtail Braid with Hair Tinsel

A fishtail braid looks far more intricate than it is, and a few strands of hair tinsel woven through it catch the light every time you move. Divide your hair into two sections and cross small pieces from each side to the other until you reach the ends, then pull the braid gently apart to make it fuller. Tie the tinsel strands near the top so they run through the whole braid, and finish with a small velvet ribbon at the end.

Time: 20 minutes. Best for: Medium to long hair. This is the best pick for a themed or creative party, where a little extra sparkle is exactly the point.

13. Curly High Puff with a Satin Scarf

For curly and coily hair, a high puff with a satin scarf is quick, festive, and protective at the same time. Gather your curls high with a soft scrunchie, shape the puff, and tie a satin scarf around the base with the ends flowing to one side. A deep red or emerald scarf reads instantly festive, and the satin protects your edges from friction all night.

Time: 10 minutes. Best for: Curly and coily hair, medium to long. Add gold cuffs to a few curls at the front for extra party shine.

14. Sleek Slicked-Back Bun

The slicked-back bun is the fashion-forward choice: sharp, polished, and perfect for showing off statement earrings or a bold makeup look. Brush your hair back with a strong-hold gel, smooth it into a low bun at the nape, and pin it flat. The key is the finish — no bumps, no flyaways, just a clean, sculpted line from hairline to bun. A center part keeps it modern; a deep side part makes it softer.

Time: 10 minutes. Best for: All lengths that gather, straight to wavy hair. Choose it for formal dinners and office parties, where you want to look polished without trying too hard.

15. Vintage Curls for Short Hair

Short hair gets a festive moment too. Vintage curls — tight, sculpted, finger-wave style curls — have never gone out of style for bobs and pixies. Use a small-barrel iron to curl small sections, pin each curl flat against your head while it cools, then release them and shape them with your fingers. A single sparkle clip at the temple, or a thin velvet headband, finishes the look in seconds.

Time: 20 minutes. Best for: Short hair, bobs, and pixies. If your hair is too short to curl, a pearl headband or a stack of crystal clips on a smooth bob takes under two minutes and photographs like a styled look.

Festive Hairstyles by Hair Length

If you are still deciding, start with your length. Short hair shines with vintage curls, a pearl headband, or a velvet bow clipped to a smooth bob. Medium hair has the most options: half-up twists, low chignons, soft curls, and braided crowns all work beautifully. Long hair can carry the dramatic styles — Old Hollywood waves, high ponytails, fishtail braids, and bubble ponytails. Curly and coily hair looks best in styles that work with the texture rather than against it: high puffs, side-swept curls, and braided crowns. For more length-specific ideas, see these easy holiday hairstyles for any length.

How to Make Your Holiday Hairstyle Last All Night

The difference between a hairstyle that looks great at 7 p.m. and one that still looks great at midnight is prep, not luck. Start with day-old hair when you can — freshly washed hair is slippery and drops curls faster. Use a heat protectant before any hot tool, then set each curl with a pin while it cools; cooled curls hold their shape far longer than curls that are brushed out while still warm.

Anchor every style in more than one place: two pins instead of one, a braid plus a pin, a ponytail plus a wrapped section of hair. Finish with a flexible-hold hairspray from about a foot away, in two light layers rather than one heavy one, so the hair can still move. And if you are dancing, a style that is pinned at the crown and the nape will always outlast one held by a single elastic.

What to Pack in Your Party Touch-Up Kit

A tiny kit saves the night. Pack six bobby pins in your hair color, one small clear elastic, a travel-size hairspray, a few blotting papers, and your lipstick. Add one spare accessory — a small velvet bow or a jeweled clip — because it can rescue a style that has loosened: clip the front section back, and the whole look reads as intentional again. While you are packing, match your nails to the mood too — emerald green nail designs are a perfect partner for a red bow or a gold cuff.

Conclusion

Festive hairstyles for holiday parties do not need to be complicated to feel special. Pick a style that matches your party, your hair length, and the time you have — then add one festive detail and stop there. Whether you choose Old Hollywood waves, a velvet-bow half-up, or a five-minute low ponytail, the best holiday hair is the kind you forget about once the party starts, because it simply stays put and lets you enjoy the evening.

Emily Carter

Emily Carter is the founder and editor of Her Everyday Nest. After nine years of renting in five apartments across three cities, she's learned how to make any rental feel like home.