Easy Holiday Hairstyles to DIY: Options for All Hair Lengths

With the holidays right around the corner, if you’re like us, your calendar is filled with holiday parties and gatherings this month. From work holiday parties to family get-togethers and gift exchanges with girlfriends, there are plenty of excuses to dress up in a festive outfit—and even more, dress your hair up! Recreating a chic holiday hairstyle is a fun way to get into the festive spirit and try something different with your locks. And luckily for you, we talked to pro hairstylists on their expert tips for all things holiday hair, including the best holiday hairstyles and how to recreate them.

5 easy holiday hairstyles to DIY

Keep reading for easy, DIY holiday hairstyles that work on a variety of hair lengths, textures and fullness.

Effortless beach waves

Soft glam, beachy waves are gorgeous for the holidays (and really any time of year). You can dress them up or down, and best yet, they’re easier than you may think to DIY.

“Beach waves are a go-to classic during the holiday season, and the Beachwaver Rotating Curling Iron makes it so fast and effortless to get beautiful waves in the comfort of your home,” says Sarah Potempa, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Beachwaver Co., the viral hot tools and hair product brand. “The ceramic barrel helps to tame frizz and adds shine to the curls for healthier looking hair, which is always in style for the holidays.”

Get the look:

1. Prep hair using a heat protectant, such as Beachwaver Great Barrier Heat Protectant Hairspray, “to protect the hair from heat and add a flexible hold for longer lasting waves,” says Potempa. We also like Redken Thermal Spray High Hold.
2. Section hair and “create holiday beach waves by curling the hair using the Beachwaver B1,” says Potempa. “Leave 1-2 inches of the ends out for a more relaxed, beachy look.”
3. Let curls cool completely. Then, “use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to gently break up the curls for a textured look,” says Potempa.
4. Set with hairspray. For extra shine, glam and smoothness, use a shine serum like Beachwaver Shine Bright Vegan Keratin and Argan Serum to the ends.

2. Rockette twist

“Star in your own ‘Christmas Spectacular’ with a classic Rockette-inspired French Twist that’s timeless and sure to last all evening (especially after a couple of high kicks)!” says celebrity hairstylist Artur Kirsh. French Twists, like the one above by @bykristinacurtis, are timeless, sleek and classic, and a great way to get hair out of your face and off your neck.

Get the look:

1. Brush through hair then gather at the back of the head, twisting upward in one direction, says Krish. Secure with bobby pins.
2. “Take the extra hair and tuck it into itself, securing once more,” says Kirsh.
3. Set the style with a strong-hold hairspray, like Amika Headstrong Intense Hold Hairspray.

Watch the video below by @alexgaboury on YouTube for a visual on recreating a French Twist.

3. Soft, low knot

You’ve heard of a top knot, but a low knot is great for a casual-meets-chic hairstyle, says Rodrigo Padilla, senior hairstylist at Jenna Perry Hair Studio. Plus, it takes mere minutes to recreate, and doesn’t have to be perfect; a messy low knot is both stylish and ultra-easy.

Get the look:

1. Gather hair into a low, loose and relaxed pony.
2. “Twist the ponytail and wrap it into a bun at the nape of your neck, securing it with bobby pins,” says Padilla.
3. To frame your face and add a touch of soft elegance, leave out a few wispy pieces around your face, Padilla suggests. Spray with a light-hold hairspray.
4. For extra holiday glam: “Wrap a thin, neutral-colored ribbon around the bun or add a delicate hairpin for a hint of holiday sparkle,” says Padilla.

4. Slick-back ponytail

Slick-backed hairstyles are a huge trend at the moment, and we’re all for it. For starters, they work on fine, thin hair—you don’t need thick, full locks to create this look. Plus, it’s easy as pie to DIY.

“Slick-back ponytails are simple but can look very chic this holiday season!” says Potempa. “You can use the same step-by-step process (below) to turn this slick back into a ponytail, bun or half-up style.”

Get the look:

1. Brush through hair to get out any knots and tangles.
2. Apply a styling cream or gel, like Beachwaver Epic Flex Styling Gel, to prep hair for the slick-back. “Using a mixed bristle brush, smooth all of the hair back into a tight high ponytail,” says Potempa.
3. Apply a shine serum like Beachwaver Shine Bright Vegan Keratin and Argan Serum to rid flyaways, says Potempa. We also like Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream with Taming Wand to smooth frizz, especially if you’re on the go.
4. Pro tip: “Tilt the chin up while gathering the hair into a ponytail with a brush,” says Potempa. “This will help keep the hair near the nape of the neck tight to the head for a clean, chic look.”

5. High or low ponytail with a festive ribbon

Not into a slick back pony? No problem. Try a textured, high or low ponytail, says Padilla. “A voluminous, high ponytail with a velvet ribbon wrapped around the base for an elegant finish” is perfect for the holidays.

Get the look:

1. Spray hair from roots to ends with a volumizing or texturizing spray, says Padilla. We like Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray or Amika Rising Star Volumizing Finishing Spray.
2. For a high pony: “Gather your hair into a high ponytail and secure it, then tease sections of the ponytail to add volume,” Padilla advises. You can add more texture or volumizing spray to the pony if needed. For a low pony: Repeat the previous steps, but instead of gathering into a high pony, gather hair at the nape of the neck for a low ponytail.
3. To finish off the look, “Wrap a long velvet ribbon around the base of the ponytail and tie it into a small bow, letting the ends hang loose for a romantic touch,” he says.