You probs don’t need us to remind you, but we’re going to anyway—the holidays are mad stressful. Between making sure you buy everyone the perfect gift and running through grocery store aisles to get the ingredients for your signature chocolate chip cookies, you might forget the most important thing of all: what the heck you’re going to do with your lewk for all your Christmas parties. Luckily, if you’re in need of holiday hairstyle ideas, then you’ve come to the right place.
Since you have enough to worry about this holiday season, we’re going to take this one thing off your plate. We pulled together the best holiday hair looks from IG, including everything from inspo-worthy braids to effortless beachy waves. Let’s just say everyone at your party is going to be hella jealous when you show up with one of these Christmas hairstyles (and FYI, these styles pair best with an equally chic holiday party outfit).
1. These long knotless braids for Christmas
You don’t need to take out your box braids in order to switch things up. These knotless box braids flipped to one side look oh-so-stylish for the holidays (and go perfectly with a bright red lip).
2. This bubble braid for Christmas
How dope is this look? Bubble braids put a fun twist on simple ponytails or classic plaits, and they’re so easy to do yourself. Prepare your hair with a lightweight styling cream to avoid frizz and slick it back into a ponytail. Then wrap your pony with elastics set a few inches apart from one another and use your fingers to tease and pull at each section.
3. This pearl headband for Christmas
I mean, sure, you could throw on a basic black headband, but do you really want to look like everyone else at the party? Didn’t think so. Show up and show out with this pearl headband. Smooth your hair with a flexible hair gel and then slide on the headbands to complete the look.
4. This crown braid for Christmas
Give off major regal vibes this holiday season with this chic crown headband braid. Watch this tutorial to see how it’s done, and don’t forget to secure your braid with a few bobby pins and spritz on a hairspray to keep everything in place.
5. This wet-hair look for Christmas
In case you were on the fence about trying the wet-hair look, consider this your sign—yes, you one hundred percent should. It’s a perfectly chic look for any holiday occasion. All you need to do is work a gel cream through slightly damp hair and spritz on a glossing spray to finish.
6. This waterfall braid for Christmas
You probably see waterfall braids all over your IG feed, and that’s for a damn good reason—they’re suuuper pretty. Like, who wouldn’t want to rock this style 24/7? Instead of securing your braid with a hair clip or a bobby pin, hold it in place with a velvet hair ribbon to finish off the look.
7. These beach waves for Christmas
Who doesn’t love beach waves?? They’re cute without trying too hard and they work on all hair lengths. Spritz on a sea salt spray, curl your hair with an iron, and then rake your fingers through—you’ll be left with perfectly tousled beach waves.
8. This classic braid for Christmas
Listen, you don’t have to go wild with your holiday hairstyle this year. Sometimes a simple, classic braid is all you need. Not only is it easy to execute, but it also looks really freakin’ cute. Don’t forget to slick your hair back with a non-crunchy hair gel.
9. These waves with hair pins for Christmas
In case you were wondering, no, hair clips aren’t going anywhere this season. And TBH, we don’t want them to leave, considering they instantly level up any hair look. Curl your hair with a wand to get some ’70s-inspired waves, then pin a few cute clips on either side of your head.
10. This half-up, half-down look for Christmas
Right after “What are you wearing tonight?” the most common text in your phone before a night out is probs “Wait, should I wear my hair up or down?” Instead of going back and forth with your group chat on what looks better with your outfit, do both. A half-up, half-half down look is super chic and won’t take you hours to pull together. Before you head out, spritz on a flexible-hold hairspray to keep your holiday hairstyle in place.
11. This high ponytail for Christmas
12. This curly bun for Christmas
Want a bun with a bit of curly texture? This last-minute look can be created with the help of some large curved perm rods, slick back cream, and thermal multi-styling foam, and this step-by-step tutorial will show you how it’s done. Finish off your look with a pretty pearl clip.
13. This top knot for Christmas
Forget that slick, ballerina-style updo and give off major cool-girl vibes with a slightly messy bun. Work a texturing hairspray through your hair to give your bun some volume. Remember: You want your holiday hairstyle to look relatively intentional.
14. This textured ponytail for Christmas
Give your ponytail some extra oomph by teasing it up—I’m talking volume on volume on volume. Spritz in a texturing hairspray and curl your hair in small sections for a textured, fluffy pony that’s holiday season approved.
15. These side swept curls for Christmas
If you feel like your curls fall a little flat throughout winter, try combing your hair into a deep side part for instant depth and dimension. (This tutorial will show you how it’s done.) Go ahead and add some pearl pins if you’re feeling fancy—there’s no such thing as too extra during the holidays, IMO.
16. This fishtail crown for Christmas
The trick to getting a perfectly messy fishtail braid that actually stays in place? Braid it tight and smooth and secure it first, then muss it up and pull it apart before pinning into a cute lil crown.
17. These cornrows for Christmas
Another extremely versatile braided hairstyle, cornrows can be worn a million different ways, like the example shown here, which features straight-back braids of equal widths.
18. This sleek low pony for Christmas
Keep it simple with a super-sleek low ponytail with a chic middle part. Easy? Yes. Timeless? Absolutely. Make sure your hair stays in place with a spritz of some non-crunchy hair gel.
19. These beaded braids for Christmas
Your options are pretty much endless with braids, but you can also customize them even further with a few beads. Go with white beads for an elegant touch to mid-length braids, or go all out with red-and-green beads if you’re feeling ~festive~.
20. This velvet headband for Christmas
Instantly elevate your holiday ’fit with a gorge velvet headband, which perfectly complements big curls, straight hair, or even an unexpected side braid.
21. These braided braids for Christmas
For braids on braids for the holidays, you can switch up smaller braids with larger three-strand braids all over, like the ones shown here.
Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent. Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé.
