25 Christmas Hairstyles for Women That Are Easy and Festive

How to Plan Christmas Hair Around a Busy Day

• Do the slow part the night before. Braid damp hair before bed for waves, or set dry hair on a satin heatless curling rod. In the morning you only spend five minutes finishing it.
• Wear it up if you are cooking. Oven heat and steam flatten a blowout and frizz curls within an hour. A clip or low bun keeps hair out of the gravy and still looks neat at the table.
• Let the neckline decide. Turtlenecks and chunky knits look cleaner with hair up or swept to one side. Save loose waves for V-necks, wrap dresses and off-the-shoulder tops.
• Fight sweater static. Wool and dry indoor heat make fine hair fly away. Press a drop of hair oil between your palms and smooth it over the lengths, or keep a small anti-static spray in your bag.
• Keep a tiny accessory stash. A claw clip, a velvet bow, six pearl pins and a yard of thin satin ribbon cover most looks on this list.
• Prep for photos. Flash picks up every flyaway. Mist a clean toothbrush with hairspray and run it along your part and hairline right before the group picture.

1. Claw Clip Twist for Kitchen Duty

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Hosting means hours near a hot oven, so start with the fastest updo there is. Gather your hair at the nape, twist it upward against the back of your head and fold the ends down over the roll. Snap a medium claw clip across the whole twist.

A tortoiseshell or deep green clip reads as a choice, not a shortcut. Pull two thin pieces loose at the temples before guests arrive.

Styling time: 2 minutes.

2. Velvet Scrunchie Top Knot

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Christmas morning calls for pajamas, coffee and hair that takes no thought. Flip your head forward, gather everything at the crown and twist it into a loose knot. Wrap a red or emerald velvet scrunchie around the base twice.

Velvet grips better than a plain elastic and leaves no dent when you take the knot down for brunch. Long, thick hair may need one bobby pin pushed through the center.

3. Pixie With Red Enamel Clips

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Short hair can join the holiday fun with almost no effort. Rub a little matte paste through a pixie, sweep the longer top to one side and slide two small red enamel clips above the ear, angled into a V.

The clips hold the side flat and add color to a plain sweater. Swap them for gold stars or tiny bows at the next party.

Best for: pixies and short crops with at least two inches on top.

4. Tucked Bob With a Mini Temple Braid

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A tiny braid gives a bob a holiday detail without an updo. Take a half-inch section at the temple on your part side and braid it down about three inches. Tuck the braid behind your ear and pin it under the hair at the back.

That braid also keeps one side out of your face while you carve the turkey. Add a thin gold cuff to the end for a little shine.

5. Knotted Low Ponytail

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Here is a ponytail that looks styled with zero tools. Split your hair into two sections at the nape and tie them in one loose knot, like the first step of tying a shoe. Secure just below the knot with a clear elastic and fan out the tail.

Hair between the collarbone and mid-back works best. Shorter lengths can slip, so slide one pin across the knot.

Styling time: 3 minutes.

6. Side Ponytail for Turtlenecks

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Loose hair bunches against a turtleneck, and a high ponytail can look too sporty for a holiday lunch. A low side ponytail fixes both. Brush everything over one shoulder, tie it just below the ear and wrap a strand around the elastic.

Curl the ends with a 1.5-inch iron so they rest softly on the knit. One hidden pin at the nape keeps the other side smooth.

7. Two Low Braids Under a Beanie

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Tree farms, skating rinks and Christmas markets all come with a knit hat. Part your hair in the center and make two loose three-strand braids starting below the ears. Tug the edges gently to widen them, then put on the beanie.

Low braids still look neat when the hat comes off, while a ponytail leaves a bump. Leave a few strands out at the front to soften the look.

8. Loose Fishtail Over a Cable Knit

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A fishtail mirrors the texture of a cable knit, and the pair looks lovely in photos by the tree.

1. Sweep your hair over one shoulder and split it into two halves.
2. Take a thin piece from the outer edge of the left half and cross it to the right half, then repeat from the right.
3. Continue to the ends, tie off and pinch the edges outward to loosen the braid.

9. Air-Dried Lob With a Flat-Iron Bend

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Cozy days call for hair that looks relaxed, not set. Let a lob air-dry with a little light mousse, then press a flat iron down the middle of two-inch sections, flipping your wrist halfway. Leave the last inch straight.

Those flat bends look modern with a chunky sweater and jeans. Under a scarf, they also flatten less than tight round curls.

10. Half-Up Velvet Bow

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No accessory says Christmas quite like a velvet bow. Gather the top third of your hair from temple to temple, tie it at the crown and clip a large red or forest green bow over the elastic.

Loose waves underneath keep it grown-up rather than school picture. Pick a bow on a sturdy barrette, not a tie, so it stays straight all evening.

Best for: medium to long hair, straight or wavy.

11. Ribbon-Laced Braid

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Weaving ribbon into a braid looks fiddly, yet it adds only a minute. Tie a thin satin ribbon around a small section at the top, then treat the ribbon as part of one strand as you braid down. Knot both ribbon ends around the final elastic.

A quarter-inch ribbon works best. Wider ones twist and fold as you go.

12. Tartan Bow on a Chin-Length Bob

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Bows work on short hair too, as long as they stay small. Smooth your bob with a round brush, tuck one side behind the ear and clip a three-inch tartan bow just behind it.

Red and green plaid suits a family brunch, while a navy and green tartan pairs well with a dark dress. The bow sits low enough that it never pokes the headrest on a long drive.

13. Half-Up Bow Made From Your Own Hair

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This is the playful one. It gets compliments in every family photo and needs only an elastic and two pins.

1. Pull the top section back into an elastic, but on the last pass leave a loop instead of pulling the hair all the way through.
2. Split the loop in half and fan each side out to form the bow.
3. Fold the leftover tail up over the middle and pin it underneath.

14. Dutch Braids Into a Low Bun

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Christmas dinner keeps you up and down from the table all night, and this updo will not budge. Make two Dutch braids from the hairline back, stopping at the nape. Join the tails, twist them into a small bun and pin it.

Dutch braids sit on top of the hair instead of tucking under, so they look full even on medium-thick hair. A little shine spray brings out the pattern.

15. Waterfall Braid Over Soft Curls

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A waterfall braid runs across the back of the head while strands drop through it, so most of your curls stay loose. Start at one temple, braid toward the back and let the top strand fall each time you cross.

It looks best from behind, which matters when everyone gathers around the tree. Practice once before the big day, since the first try often comes out lopsided.

Stylist tip: curl first and braid second. Curling after the braid tends to pull it apart.

16. Pull-Through Braid Ponytail

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This faux braid needs no braiding skill, only clear elastics. Make two ponytails, one directly above the other, then split the top one in two and pass the lower one up between the halves. Tie the halves together below it and repeat down the length.

Gently tug each section wider for a chunky look. It holds through gift wrapping, cooking and dancing in the living room.

17. Bouncy Blowout for the Office Party

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Office parties usually start straight from your desk, so the style has to last from 9 am. Blow-dry in the morning with a 2-inch round brush, then wrap each section around a large velcro roller for ten minutes while you do your makeup.

Break up the curls with your fingers, not a brush, to keep the bounce. By 6 pm, a little dry shampoo at the roots brings back the lift.

Ask your stylist for: soft long layers, which help a blowout swing.

18. Retro Flipped Bob

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Ugly sweater parties deserve some fun hair. A flipped bob nods to the 1960s and works with anything from a reindeer sweater to a little black dress. Flip the ends out with a flat iron, turning your wrist away from your face.

Tease the crown slightly and set it with a strong spray. A skinny headband completes the retro effect.

Best for: straight bobs between the chin and shoulders.

19. Scattered Pearl Pins on Loose Waves

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Pearls feel festive without the full sparkle of a party dress. Curl long hair loosely, brush out the curls and slide five to seven pearl pins along one side, from the temple to behind the ear.

Stagger them at slightly different angles so they look scattered rather than lined up. This is a graceful choice for a Christmas Eve service or a dressy lunch.

20. Gibson Tuck for Christmas Dinner

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A Gibson tuck is a rolled updo that sits low and flat, so you can lean back in your chair without crushing it. Slip a stretchy headband over your head, then tuck sections of hair up and under the band all around the back.

Finish with a few pins along the roll and a light mist of spray. Choose a band close to your hair color, or a metallic one for more shine.

Styling time: 10 minutes.

21. Side Chignon With a Gold Comb

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For a formal Christmas party, move the classic bun off center. Sweep your hair to one side, twist it into a low coil just below the ear and pin it. Push a gold leaf or holly comb into the top edge.

Wearing the bun to one side shows off an earring on the other ear. Smooth the crown with a little cream so the shape stays clean.

22. Twist-Out With a Velvet Headwrap

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A twist-out gives natural hair definition that lasts several days, which helps in a week packed with events. Twist damp hair with a curl cream the night before and unravel each twist slowly in the morning.

Tie a burgundy or emerald velvet wrap around your hairline and knot it on top, leaving the twist-out full behind it. The wrap also keeps your edges smooth in cold, dry air.

23. Silk Press With Bouncy Ends

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A silk press makes natural hair sleek and swingy for a dressy evening. Book it a day or two before the party, curl the ends under with a large barrel and wrap your hair in a satin scarf every night.

Steam and humidity bring the curl pattern back, so keep a shower cap handy while the turkey roasts. A small umbrella in your bag protects it on the way home.

Best for: natural hair from 3C to 4C with a recent trim.

24. Knotless Braids in a Half-Up Bun

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Braids with added hair, often called attachments, are a popular holiday choice because they last for weeks. Pull the top half of your knotless braids into a bun at the crown and let the rest hang.

Thread gold cuffs onto six or eight braids around your face. Light catches them in every photo.

Ask your stylist for: medium knotless braids installed with light tension at the hairline.

25. Defined Curls With a Plaid Scarf Headband

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A silk scarf adds holiday color without crushing your curls. Fold a square scarf into a two-inch band, lay it under your hair at the nape, bring the ends up and knot them on top just behind the hairline.

Refresh second-day curls first with a spray of water and a little curl cream, scrunching gently. The scarf covers any frizz at the roots.

Quick Picks by Hair Length

• Short hair: the pixie with red enamel clips, the tucked bob with a temple braid, the tartan bow and the retro flipped bob.
• Medium hair: the claw clip twist, the knotted low ponytail, the air-dried lob, the pull-through braid and the office party blowout.
• Long hair: the fishtail, the half-up velvet bow, the Dutch braid bun, the waterfall braid, the Gibson tuck and the side chignon.
• Curly and natural hair: the twist-out with a headwrap, the silk press, the knotless braid bun and the scarf headband.

Planning for the countdown as well? Our New Year's Eve hairstyles are built to last past midnight. If you want a fresh cut before the holidays, browse these short haircuts for women, or see our short haircuts for Black women for tapered cuts, pixies and bobs.