The holiday season calls for festive flair, and your hair is the perfect canvas for Christmas-themed creativity. From shimmering ornaments to natural greenery, embrace the spirit of the season with these show-stopping styles.
These 26 Christmas Hair Styles range from simple braids with ribbon to intricate updos with pearl pins, covering fine to thick textures and short to long lengths. Fine hair that falls flat under accessories gets volume tips; longer hair that tangles with ornaments gets secure fastening advice. Every idea works for a party or a quiet family dinner.
Voluminous Half-Up Half-Down With Hair Bow
A half-up, half-down style does double duty at a Christmas party: the hair bow at the crown delivers the festive gesture, and the curtain bangs keep it from reading as prom formal. This shape favors thick, wavy hair of mid-back length; the middle part and volume through the mid-lengths elongate a round face, while the curtain bangs soften a square jaw. Ask your stylist for a half-up, half-down cut with large curls and a hair bow secured at the crown. Use a large barrel curling iron for defined waves, and pin the bow firmly so it holds through dinner.
Braided Crown With Holly Berries
A braided crown built from the hairline and woven around the head has a medieval formality that fresh holly berries undercut beautifully. The technique matters more than the hair color here: the braid needs to lie flat against the scalp, so wavy texture at mid-back length works best for grip. Ask your stylist for an intricate braided crown with fresh holly berries placed at the nape.
This is a salon-only design. The braid is sectioned and pinned from ear to ear; the holly sprig is tucked into the last pass of the braid. A winter wedding or Christmas Eve dinner suits the formality, but the berries will wilt, so wear it the day of the event.
Loose Waves With Hanging Ornaments
Loose waves with ornaments suspended in the hair look spontaneous, but the opposite is true: the ornaments are clipped onto the wave pattern, not dropped in at random. Dark brown hair with subtle highlights is a good base because the ornaments stand out without competing with the color. This medium-density, mid-back length needs a professional install so the ornaments don’t pull or tangle. Ask your stylist for loose waves with small, glittering Christmas ornaments clipped into the wave pattern.
The waves hold for about six hours if set on medium heat with a heat protectant. Ornaments should be lightweight and secured with micro clips. Expect to remove each one individually before bed.
Blonde Wavy Ponytail With Christmas Tree Clip
How do you ask for a ponytail that does not look like you ran out of time? The Christmas tree clip adds festive flair, but the cut matters: side-swept bangs and loose strands around the face keep the silhouette soft rather than gym-ready. Shoulder-length, wavy blonde hair with highlights shows the texture best. Ask your stylist for a half-up, wavy ponytail with loose strands and a Christmas tree clip placed at the elastic. The ponytail should sit at the crown, not the nape, and the bangs should sweep to one side.
Long Blonde Waves With Greenery Braid Accent
Christmas greenery woven into a braid accent turns a standard wavy style into something that smells like the holidays. The braid runs from the temple and meets the rest of the hair at the nape, so the greenery is visible from the front. Long, thick, wavy blonde hair with highlights gives the braid enough weight to hold the greenery without slipping. Face-framing pieces soften the forehead and jaw. Ask your stylist for long loose waves with a braided accent of greenery and berries placed at the temple.
This is not a DIY project. The greenery needs to be wired and pinned into the braid, not threaded through it. Dry texture spray helps the waves hold their shape. This works best for a Christmas dinner where you will be seated: the greenery stays intact but does not survive dancing.
Auburn Low Ponytail With Braided Headband
A ponytail is the path of least resistance for Christmas morning, and that is its whole appeal. A braided headband that feeds into the ponytail adds structure without adding a second appointment. Ask your stylist for a low ponytail with a braided headband and loose waves. The difference between this and a plain ponytail is the headband braid: it needs to sit snug against the hairline, so thick or medium-density wavy hair holds it best. Curl the ponytail section for volume and texture, and secure the braid firmly with pins underneath. The honest drawback is the braid can loosen after a few hours of party chatter, so bring extra bobby pins. Side-swept bangs soften the look for oval and heart-shaped faces.
Vintage Updo With Golden Leaf Crown
Can a Gibson Girl updo feel festive rather than period appropriate? Yes, if you swap the ostrich feathers for a golden leaf crown. This style works best on thick, wavy hair at medium length or longer. The volume is the whole trick. Ask your stylist for a voluminous vintage updo with soft curls and a golden leaf crown. A prominent fringe frames round and square faces, and the middle part keeps the proportions balanced. If your hair is fine or very straight, the updo will need extra teasing and likely a stylist’s hand to hold its shape. Hair that is coily or highly textured can also work, but expect a looser, more romantic silhouette.
Loose Blonde Waves With Star Hairpins
The design looks simple, waves plus pins, but the waves need to hold their shape to keep the pins from sliding. Mid-back length with medium texture and a side part gives the best grip. Ask your stylist for loose textured waves with star and snowflake hairpins. Dark roots against lighter ends add depth so the pins do not disappear into the blonde. Apply a texturizing spray before curling, then place the pins in the hollow of each wave, not on the crest. The waves hold well for an evening, though the pins shift if you dance hard. This is a Christmas party or New Year’s Eve look that shows best under warm, dim light.
Dark Brown Chignon With Holly Accessory
A neat chignon on straight, thick hair creates a clean canvas for a statement accessory. Medium length is ideal, longer hair requires more pinning to avoid bulk. Ask your stylist for a sophisticated chignon with a holly and berries accessory. The technique is straightforward: smooth the hair back, twist into a low coil, and pin in a circle. The holly piece is the challenge. It needs to sit flush against the hair, not stick out at an angle. Doing this at home is possible but fiddly; the accessory requires two or three pins placed through the stem, not the leaves. The real drawback is the chignon can feel tight by hour four, and the holly leaves catch on scarves and coat collars.
Christmas Tree Braids With Green Ribbon
Is this a children’s party style or something an adult can wear to a work event? The honest answer is it leans young, but the braiding technique is solid either way. Two French braids run down the back from a middle part; the green ribbon is woven in at intervals to create a tree shape. Ask your stylist for double French braids resembling a Christmas tree with green ribbon. Thick, wavy hair at mid-back length or longer gives the braids enough substance to hold the ribbon. The styling steps are: braid from the crown, pause every inch to thread the ribbon through the outer strand, then continue. A small white bow at the top finishes the tree. The trade-off is the ribbon frays after one wear, so this is a single-occasion look.
Intricate Blonde Low Bun
The low bun here is not a five-minute twist. It is a deliberate construction of smooth sections meeting at the nape, with a few loose tendrils left out to keep the whole thing from looking severe. That level of polish works best on shoulder-length wavy hair with enough thickness to hold shape. If your texture is fine or your layers are short, the bun can look skimpy. Ask your stylist for: intricate low bun with loose framing tendrils. Curl those tendrils before pinning them, then lock everything with a flexible hold hairspray so the structure stays intact through dinner.
Dark Brown Braid With Sparkling Bows
This is a sleek braid, not a messy one, so the contrast matters. Where a textured braid hides imperfections, a smooth one exposes every flyaway and uneven section. The hair here is dark brown and straight, and the braid runs down the back with clear, even tension. That finish is realistic for fine straight hair because the lack of texture makes the part and the plait look clean. The large jeweled bow at the top and the smaller snowflake charms do the festive work.
Ask your stylist for: long sleek braid with sparkling bows and snowflake charms. The main drawback is the ornaments themselves. Metal clips can snag fine strands when you remove them, and pulling a charm out wrong can yank out a few hairs. Slide each pin out slowly, following the direction it went in. This is a one-night style for a Christmas party, not something you want to sleep in.
Reddish-Brown Updo With Festive Accessories
The construction here is a mix of braided sections and twisted pieces, all gathered into a single updo. The reddish-brown base is thick and wavy, which gives each braid and twist enough body to read clearly without collapsing into a blob. The festive accessories, small butterflies and flowers, are tucked into the intersections where braids meet, so they look placed with care.
Ask your stylist for: complex updo with braids, twists, and festive accessories. This is a salon style, not a quick home job. Prep your hair with a texture spray before the appointment so the stylist has grip to work with. The accessories need to be pinned in separately: the stylist will build the structure first, then place each piece where the braids create a natural pocket. Budget about an hour in the chair for the full build.
Voluminous Dark Brown Curls Updo
A voluminous curl updo like this one reads as soft and formal at the same time, which is harder to pull off than it looks. The deep waves start at the mid-lengths and continue into the updo, with loose tendrils falling around the face. The side parting adds asymmetry that keeps the volume from feeling top-heavy. Compare this to a sleek chignon, which sits tight against the head and reads as severe. This version suits anyone with mid-back length thick wavy hair who wants movement, not architecture.
Ask your stylist for: voluminous updo with deep waves and face-framing tendrils. The upkeep is modest: curl the sections with a large-barrel iron, pin the updo loosely, then set with a flexible hold spray. Do not use a hard-hold spray, because the waves need to shift slightly when you move. A trim every eight weeks keeps the ends from looking ragged when they curl.
Ash Blonde Twisted Updo With Highlights
How do you get an updo that looks twisted without looking tortured? The sections here are turned in a single direction and pinned as they go, which creates a spiral effect that looks continuous. The ash blonde base with lighter highlights helps each twist stand out separately. If the hair were one flat shade, the twists would blur together. This works best on shoulder-length wavy hair with enough thickness to hold a twist without slipping.
Ask your stylist for: elegant twisted updo with loose framing strands. The loose strands around the neck are not an accident. They soften the nape area and keep the silhouette from ending in a hard line. Twist each section tightly before pinning, then use a light hairspray so the hold does not weigh down the waves.
Brown Braided Updo With Poinsettias
A circular braided updo built on thick, wavy brown hair gets its holiday moment from red poinsettias and a green wreath tucked into the woven pattern. Mid-back length and natural thickness give the braids the structure they need to hold a circular design without slipping. Ask your stylist for: circular braided updo with poinsettias and a wreath. The style suits most face shapes because the circular placement balances features evenly. Make sure the florals are pinned securely into the braids rather than just laid on top, or they will shift before the first toast.
Light Blonde Curly Christmas Tree Hairstyle
A tall, voluminous Christmas tree shape in light blonde curls is the kind of design that looks like a party trick until you see it in person. This is a salon-only project: constructing a cone shape that stands upright requires strong hold products, careful pinning and a second pair of hands. Ask your stylist for: tall, voluminous Christmas tree hairstyle with tinsel and ornaments. The honest drawback is that tinsel and small ornaments add weight, so the base needs dense, mid-back length curls to support them without collapsing.
Blonde Braided Updo With Pearl Pins
A crown-like braid circles the head in this blonde updo, with smaller braids woven inward and pearl-like pins scattered through the pattern. Loose wavy tendrils fall at the nape, softening the overall structure. Ask your stylist for: intricate braided updo with a crown braid and pearl pins. The tendrils are the part that needs attention: they hold their wave for about half a party before relaxing, so a quick touch-up with a curling tool before guests arrive keeps the contrast between polished braids and soft ends. The pearls should be pinned into the braid sections rather than clipped onto individual strands, which pulls and can loosen over an evening.
Dark Stacked Bob Christmas Tree Style
How do you turn a stacked bob into a Christmas tree? Start with a chin-length cut that already has plenty of volume at the crown, then sculpt the curls upward into a tapered cone shape. The short curly bangs and side parting stay visible, so the bob silhouette is not lost. Ask your stylist for: stacked bob styled as a Christmas tree with short curly bangs. Thick, curly texture helps the shape hold without constant re-pinning, and small ornaments clip directly into the curls. This is a style for someone who already loves a short cut and wants one night of maximum holiday theater.
Blonde Christmas Tree Shape With Ornaments
A sculpted Christmas tree shape in blonde wavy hair is a different beast from a natural updo: it is architectural, built with product and pins into a conical form that tapers at the top. Small red and green baubles sit along the surface, and a star finishes the peak. Ask your stylist for: elaborate Christmas tree hairstyle with baubles and a star. Compared to softer holiday styles that rely on texture and movement, this one is a conversation piece. It requires a salon visit and about an hour of construction time; the payoff is a look perfect for a themed party where subtlety is not the goal.
Medium Brown Braid With Red And White Ribbons
A single braid on medium brown, straight, thick hair extends to mid-back, with red and white ribbons woven through each section from the crown down. The middle part keeps the braid centered, so the festive ribbon shows clearly from the back. This braid works best on hair that reaches at least the shoulder blades; straight, thick textures hold the ribbon ties most securely without slipping. Ask your stylist for: a single braid with red and white ribbons woven in.
The technique involves sectioning the hair into three even pieces, then adding a ribbon length to each section before crossing them over. Tie a small knot at the top to anchor the ribbon, then braid as usual, keeping the ribbon taut alongside the hair. The real drawback is that the ribbons can loosen after several hours, so tuck the ends under the final elastic and use a small pin to secure the top knot. A light hairspray on a soft brush tames any flyaways without stiffening the ribbon.
Blonde Braid With Gold Rings And Pearls
Does a large, intricate braid with adornments actually work on wavy hair, or does it look messy by the second glass of eggnog? It works, provided the hair is thick enough to keep the braid substantial and the waves are loose enough to let the gold rings and pearl accents sit visibly on the surface. This blonde-with-highlights braid reaches mid-back and uses a side part to let the braid fall over one shoulder, with loose waves at the ends for contrast. Ask your stylist for: an intricate braid with gold rings and pearl accents.
The thick, wavy texture gives the braid body, so it does not look stringy when the adornments are added. For fine hair, the rings and pearls may weigh the braid down or slide out of place. The loose waves that frame the lower length also soften a square or angular jaw. A salon is the safer bet here, since threading small rings through a braid without tangling takes practice.
Honey Blonde Half Updo With Braids
A braided crown wraps from temple to temple on this honey blonde half-updo, while the rest falls in loose waves past the shoulders. The subtle highlights along the braid give the style its dimension. Fine to medium density hair can hold this shape, but the braid will look fuller if the hair has natural wave or a bit of texture spray before styling. Ask your stylist for: a half updo with a braided crown and loose waves.
The first step is to braid two sections from each temple, meeting at the back to form the crown. Secure them with small clear elastics, then pin the ends under the braid. Loose waves on the lower length prevent the style from looking top-heavy. A trim every ten to twelve weeks keeps the layers from splitting, and a texturizing spray on the waves before curling helps the hold last through a dinner shift. The braid may loosen on very fine hair after four or five hours, so a few extra bobby pins at the crown are never a bad idea.
Ash Blonde Fishtail Braid With Cream Bow
A fishtail braid is not a standard three-strand braid, and that distinction matters when you are trying to replicate this ash blonde version with highlights at home. The fishtail uses two sections instead of three, pulling thin strips from the outside of each section across to the opposite side, which creates the ribbed, textured look. This one reaches mid-back on thick wavy hair, with a side part and a soft cream bow tied at the end. Ask your stylist for: a voluminous fishtail braid with a cream bow.
The DIY challenge is that fishtail braids require consistent tension and even section sizes; uneven strips make the braid look lopsided rather than deliberately voluminous. One real drawback is that the bow can slide off if the hair is silky or the elastic is not tight enough. Gently pulling the outer edges of the braid after securing it adds width and hides small sectioning mistakes. A salon can complete the braid in about twenty minutes, whereas a first attempt at home may take twice as long.
Blonde Bubble Ponytail With Satin Bows
A bubble ponytail builds its shape by securing the ponytail with clear elastics every two inches, then gently pulling the hair between each elastic to create rounded segments. This blonde version extends to mid-back on thick straight hair, with a middle part and multiple satin bows tied at the elastic points. The lighter ends add a subtle gradient that makes each bubble visible rather than blending into one mass. Ask your stylist for: a bubble ponytail with multiple satin bows.
The technique works best on hair that reaches at least the middle of the back, since each bubble needs enough length to puff out visibly. Thick hair fills out each section without needing teasing, while fine hair may require a small backcomb at each elastic to create the round shape. This style is a natural fit for a casual Christmas party or a family gathering where the hair needs to stay off the neck but still look festive. The satin bows also double as a way to hide each elastic, so there is no need to wrap hair around the base.
Holiday Hair Ideas Roundup
This collection of festive looks proves there is no single way to do Christmas hair. From the twisted half-up you see here to braided crowns, bubble ponytails and Christmas tree shapes, the common thread is that each one relies on an accessory or a structural detail, not a complicated cut. Long layers and thick, straight texture handle the half-up twist cleanly, and the ash blonde base with highlights adds dimension without needing a fresh gloss. The trade-off: most of these styles require at least one bobby pin, a ribbon or a clip you do not already own, and the half-up twist tends to loosen after a few hours of party movement. That is fine for a single evening, less so for an all-day event. The point is variety, not perfection.
Final Thoughts
For intricate braided updos, consider your hair’s texture and thickness; fine or slippery hair may need extra texturizing spray or a professional touch. For styles with accessories, ensure they are securely fastened but not damaging.
- For braided styles, refresh with a texturizing spray to maintain definition.
- Updos may require a light-hold hairspray to keep intricate details in place.
- When using hair accessories, ensure they are gently secured to avoid breakage.
- To maintain glossy waves, use a shine serum and heat protectant before styling.
- For voluminous styles, tease roots lightly and set with a cool blast of air.
Step out with confidence and holiday cheer in a hairstyle that shines.
