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How will you style your hair for your holiday gatherings? Stumped? Here are 5 simple holiday hair ideas that are simple to do and perfectly on-trend to match any glamorous outfit!

It’s the most wonderful time of year—goodies to make, trees to trim, cards to mail and the hunt for the perfect holiday outfit is on! There‘s another thing to get a grip on for the holidays: HAIR! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; a bad hair day can ruin a fabulous outfit and good time! I’ve admittedly changed my clothes due to very unruly locks. Seriously, why waste a good outfit because your hair has a mind of its own? I’m going to tell you about some holiday hairstyles that are simple to do, look stylish and are just perfect for this festive season.

During the holiday season, time is truly precious and quite scarce. It’s also the time of year when we get to see friends and family that we haven’t seen in a while. And, it’s the season when we come face to face with our significant others co-workers, business partners and THEIR significant others. We want to look our best, and if you’re like me, you probably don’t have hours to spare perfecting the perfect holiday hairstyle for the evening’s soiree. Let’s explore some gorgeous hairstyles that are relatively easy to do and will kick your hair up a notch. You’ll surely look your absolute best at every occasion!

‘Va Va Va Voom’ Holiday Hair

If I read one more article about how long hair is “inappropriate” after a certain age, I’ll scream! Someone out there created some crazy rules for hair length and if you hit 40 and have long hair, well, I guess you’re supposed to cut it short. I have one thing to say about that: HA! Not going to happen! I’m a product of the 80’s, when big hair ruled.  There’s nothing like long, layered, bombshell hair. The longer the better, I say.

The holidays are a true inspiration when it comes to sexy glamour. Why not give your hair that extra holiday boost and create a gorgeous look? It all starts with a good blow dry. If you can get one done professionally at a blow dry bar, then treat yourself.  If not, give your hair a nice washing, spritz with a volumizing spray or use mousse before you reach for your hair dryer. Using a big round brush, separate your hair into sections and wind them around your brush to create waves. Alternatively, you can use curlers to get the same sexy look. When you’re done with your blow dry, flip your head upside down, do a quick finger comb and flip your hair back for nice luxurious, fluffy volume. Finish off with a good hairspray to help maintain your style through the evening’s festivities. As an added option, I personally like to finish off my blow dry with some teasing. The bigger the better!

Polished Pony

I used to believe that ponytails were just a cop out and should be reserved for little girls and the gym. But, boy oh boy, has the ponytail come a long way. The modern ponytail is chic and sophisticated, making it the perfect holiday hairstyle! It’s also a complementary look to your fabulous outfit, because it won’t compete for attention!

The polished pony is as easy as it gets. Comb your hair so it’s tangle free. Put your fingers on both sides of your head, just in front of your ears and run them back.  Clasp all of the hair you have gathered in one hand. If you’re looking to go simple, just smooth back all of your hair into a nice ponytail and secure with an elastic band. If you want to go a bit sexier, tease your roots with a comb. Spritz your roots with a bit of hair spray and secure with an elastic band. For a formal occasion, be sure that you don’t have any weird hair bubbles or messy spots. You may have to run your fingers through your hair a few times until you get it just right. For a really polished look, grab a small section of the ponytail, give it a quick flattening with a flatiron and wrap around your elastic to hide it, and to give your hair a nice finished appearance. If you choose to skip this step, you’ll still look just as fabulous.

Just remember, high ponytails can look cheerleader-like. So be aware of your occasion and choose the best position for your chic, new ponytail.

The Side Do

I’m a big fan of the side do and think it looks fantastic on everyone. It’s very simple and really just starts with a good old ponytail. It can instantly take your look from good to gorgeous with little to no effort. This style is not for those who crave the perfectly polished hairstyle. It’s meant to look a little messy, and frankly, that’s the beauty of it. For starters, this style is best done on day-old hair. If your hair is a little dirty, it won’t slip and slide on your as much.

I like to start this style with a bit of dry shampoo to create texture. If you don’t have dry shampoo, you can always tease away and back comb to create big hair. Use your fingers to pull together a nice ponytail, but this time on the side of your head. Either side will work, so choose your best side.  Sometimes clothing may dictate what side looks best. If you have a beautiful one-sided sparkly strap on your dress, you may not want to hide it.

Backcomb your ponytail so it keeps its beautiful texture and then simply wrap it into a loose bun and secure with bobby pins. Remember, we’re not looking for the Princess Leia look. If it looks messy and you have ends sticking out, no worries, that’s part of the charm. Use plenty of hairspray to help hold the style throughout the day or night.

Extra tip: I’m a big fan of sticky bobby pins. Lay the pins on a paper towel and spray with hairspray to make them sticky, hence the name. Once they’ve dried down a bit, go ahead and stick them in your hair to secure. For best results, use the side with the ridges on the bottom not the smooth side. Yes, I too used bobby pins the wrong way for decades!

Sparkly Holiday Hair Accessories

A holiday party is the best excuse to sport a fabulous hair accessory! I’ve seen some great rhinestone headbands, sparkly elastics and clips that look like jewelry. It can take a plain old pony or down ‘do from ordinary to extraordinary.

If you have long hair, take advantage of it! There’s nothing more gorgeous then long hair on display. And it looks even more fabulous with a sparkly headband. Accessories are great for short hair too—for those who don’t have the length to do an updo, hair jewelry can instantly make your hairstyle look formal. I love this look during the holidays because it gives you the opportunity to showcase a fabulous hair accessory like a vintage hairpin or a holiday inspired broach.

Braided Beauty

A braid is the perfect solution if your hair is just not behaving on a given day… like the day of the holiday party your entire social circle will be at! It can look very chic if done correctly. French braids and under-braids look more formal than your typical braid. One of my favorite looks is a mini French braid that merges into a side braid. To do this, part your hair to one side. Start French braiding your hair so that it goes along with your part. Only take the front section of your hair, from bangs to about the crown of your head. Once you’ve braided enough to reach just past your ear, secure with elastic that matches your hair color. Then braid the rest of your hair in a regular braid, merging your small French braid. Veer to the side when braiding to complete this side braid look.

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These are just my favorite DIY holiday hairstyles. It’s fun to change your hair for the holidays. Sometimes something as simple as changing your part can make a tremendous difference in your overall look.