We’re loath to admit that the holidays are upon us when we’re still holding on to the dregs of summer beauty (long live orange lipstick!), but it can’t be avoided—for all intents and purposes, they’re here. Though we can’t cop to loving winter weather, we will say that festive holiday hairstyles are among our favorites of the entire year. They’re fun to create, and yes, even more fun to wear. We consulted the pros to get the details on the prettiest looks for the holiday season, and all the tips and tricks required to recreate them. Look no further for the easy holiday hairstyles of your hair amateur dreams.
Photo: Tom Mendes
Ballerina Bun
We love this look—it’s the mussed-up, voluminous ballerina bun that everyone wants, but rarely knows how to achieve. We’ve unlocked the secret (with plenty of help from DreamDry hairstylist Maria Rodriguez, of course), and it mostly involves a lot of teasing. Pull your hair into a high ponytail and tease the lengths with a fine-tooth comb, then wrap it all around the base of the ponytail where you’ve placed your hairband, and pin in place close to the scalp. You can tease around the front too, depending on whether you want the look to be on the messier side or more polished, but whatever you choose, be sure to finish it off with a mist of a light-hold hairspray to fend off flyaways. As per makeup artist Yuui, no updo is complete without light contouring under your neck and around your jawline—and a bit of shimmery powder dusted on your clavicle, just because it’s pretty.
Photo: Tom Mendes
Soft Waves
Rodriguez was inspired by a more refined version of the beloved beach waves effect for this look. The difference? While the best beach waves often come courtesy of a texturizing spray or mousse, Rodriguez advised us to leave strands bare. “Unless you have really fine hair, don’t use any product so you can retain a super soft texture,” she said. Use a medium barrel curling iron to create the waves, then run your fingers through to separate. If you do have fine hair, work a texturizing powder, like OSIS+ Dust It, through dry hair before styling. It’ll give the hair light hold and a fuller feeling, but it won’t cause stickiness or crunchiness.
Photo: Tom Mendes
Low Bun
If you like a messy-on-purpose look (and don’t we all from time to time?), this low bun perfectly straddles the line between unkempt and fashionably undone. Rodriguez first teased the hair at the crown and brushed it all toward the back, then used a simple but skilled technique to create the body of the bun by knotting the length of the hair until the very end before pushing it in and pinning it to the head. She used her fingers to loosen the front of one side gently to create a “smooth wave” to frame the face.
Yuui complemented this look with a vivid pink lip, which she created by blending MAC Chromagraphic Pencil in Process Magenta with Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Pretty Boy and applying with a brush.
Photo: Tom Mendes
Half-Up
This glamorous, retro-inspired look is trés sensual—very Brigitte Bardot—and perfect for holiday cocktail parties. It’s also incredibly easy, both at Rodriguez’s hands and our less skilled set. Just tease the crown of your dry hair toward the front with a fine-tooth comb, stopping at your desired height, and pin your newly created bouffant in place. Fini.
Photo: Tom Mendes
Low Ponytail
Because a gym ponytail at a dressy holiday party just won’t do, kick your game up a much-needed notch with this cool knotted version. Rodriguez used a medium barrel curling wand to create a face-framing wave, brushing out the finished curl for smoothness. She then created a loose knot in the length of the hair and pushed it to the front over one shoulder before smoothing the front section and bangs back toward the crown with hairspray for a sleek finish. Yuui created “sexy bedroom eyes” to go with this look: She lined the waterline fully with a soft black pencil liner, then added further drama with a bold red lip courtesy of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Colour Pencil in Lydia and RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek in Diabolique applied with a brush. She said of the eye-catching dark lip, “For people who shy away from bold lip colors, there’s no better time than the holidays to bring them out.”
Credits:
Photographer: Tom Mendes
Hair: Maria Rodriguez, DreamDry
Makeup: Yuui Vision
Stylist: Kelly Kellon
Wardrobe: Rent the Runway
Features Director: Samantha Lim
Beauty Director: Rachel Adler
