Christmas hairstyles are the one occasion in the calendar where more is not only acceptable but expected. Celebrity hairstylist Kristin Ess confirmed in her 2026 festive styling guide that Christmas and holiday party hair is the moment to do the thing you would never do on a Tuesday. The tinsel. The braid with ornaments. The voluminous blowout with a velvet bow. All of it.
The 2026 Christmas hair direction spans from maximalist embellished updos through to the elegant sculpted styles that carry a festive energy without a single rhinestone. Both categories are on this list because crazy Christmas hair does not have to mean costume hair. It means hair that communicates that you dressed for the occasion.
These 18 Christmas hairstyles for women cover every hair length, texture, and occasion level, with the specific tools, products, and accessories for each.
Embellished and Decorated Christmas Hairstyles
Tinsel Highlights Blowout
A voluminous blowout with thin strands of silver or gold hair tinsel woven through the length, the tinsel catching the light at every party, dinner, and family gathering. The most festive hair decision available with zero heat damage risk.
Hair tinsel is threaded into individual strands at the root and hangs through the length alongside the natural hair. It photographs under party lighting with an almost editorial quality. Silver tinsel reads as winter and ice. Gold tinsel reads as warm and luxurious. Mix both for the maximum Christmas impact.
Thread tinsel into the hair using a loop tool or a thin crochet hook, pulling a small section of hair through the loop with the tinsel and tying it close to the root. It lasts through washing if knotted correctly and removes without damage.
Christmas Ornament Braid
A loose three-strand or fishtail braid with miniature Christmas ornaments, small red and gold baubles, threaded onto individual strands before the braid is secured, the ornaments sitting within the braid structure rather than dangling from it.
Thread the loop of each mini ornament onto a small section of hair before incorporating that section into the braid. The ornament gets woven into the plait rather than hanging off it, which means it stays put through the evening. Use ornaments no larger than two centimetres to keep the weight manageable.
Glitter Root Updo
A sleek bun or chignon with loose glitter pressed into the roots and parting using a clear hair gel as adhesive, the glitter visible at the scalp against a dark or light hair base.
Apply a thin layer of clear hair gel along the parting and at the root area before pressing chunky cosmetic glitter in gold, silver, or red directly into the gel. Let it dry before styling the rest of the hair into the updo. The gel holds the glitter at the root without it falling onto the face or shoulders.
Use cosmetic-grade glitter only. Craft glitter has sharp edges that can scratch the scalp and the skin near the face. L’Oreal Elnett holds the updo firmly once the glitter has been applied and dried.
Velvet Bow Half-Up
A half-up half-down style secured with a large velvet bow in deep red, forest green, or midnight blue, the bow placed at the crown and the remaining length left in soft waves or a blowout.
The velvet bow is the Christmas hair accessory with the highest impact-to-effort ratio on this list. The half-up takes three minutes. The bow does all the festive work. A large structured bow in red velvet reads as the most deliberately Christmas-coded hair accessory available without any ornaments or glitter required.
Buy a pre-tied velvet ribbon bow rather than tying one from ribbon, which loses its structure within an hour of body heat. A stiff pre-tied bow in a premium velvet keeps its shape through a full evening.
Holly and Berry Hair Pins
Loose waves or a low bun decorated with small holly leaf and red berry hair pins scattered throughout the length or clustered at the bun base. The nature-forward Christmas hairstyle.
Holly and berry pins read as sophisticated rather than costume because they reference the natural botanical imagery of Christmas rather than the commercial one. Scattered through loose waves they photograph as editorial. Clustered at a low bun base they read as a curated bridal-adjacent look appropriate for Christmas Day itself.
Glamorous Christmas Party Hairstyles
Old Hollywood Christmas Waves
Deep-set finger waves or large barrel curls set with hot rollers, styled into a classic Old Hollywood wave pattern with a deep side part and maximum gloss. The most glamorous Christmas party hairstyle on this list.
Set large sections on 40mm rollers for the broadest wave. Once cooled, brush through gently with a paddle brush in the direction of the wave and apply L’Oreal Elnett Extra Strong Hold lightly from distance. A gold or pearl hair clip at the deep part side completes the look with the festive accessory this style needs.
Rhinestone Crown Braid
A halo braid or crown braid around the head with rhinestone or crystal pins pressed into the braid at intervals, the crystals catching the light against the plaited base.
A crown braid pinned into a halo around the head provides the structure that rhinestone pins need to be pressed into at a consistent angle. Flat-back crystal pins hold better in a braid than in loose hair because the plait provides the tension that keeps the pin in place. Use pins in both silver and gold for maximum light reflection.
For the halo braid and crown braid techniques that provide the structured base for rhinestone pin Christmas hairstyles, the medium layered hairstyles guide covers the layered length and volume-building approaches that give medium-length hair the best foundation for a Christmas halo braid.
Christmas Sleek Low Bun with Pearl Pins
A sleek, glossy low bun at the nape with pearl-head pins pressed in a decorative pattern across the bun surface, the pearl pins adding the elegant festive detail to the simplest possible updo.
Apply Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother to damp hair before blow-drying for the glass-finish that makes this bun read as expensive. Gather all hair into the low bun, twist and pin tightly, then press pearl-head pins in a geometric or scattered pattern across the surface. The contrast between the sleek dark bun and the white pearl pins is the visual that makes this work.
Voluminous Christmas Blowout with Red Ribbon
A Sabrina Carpenter-style voluminous blowout with a thin red satin ribbon woven through the top section and tied in a small bow at the crown. The most festive version of the season’s biggest hair trend.
Thread a thin red satin ribbon through the top section of the hair before blow-drying and setting with hot rollers. The ribbon sits within the volume rather than sitting on top of it, which makes it read as integrated into the style rather than added after. Tie a small flat bow at the crown after the rollers are removed.
Fun and Crazy Christmas Hairstyles
Christmas Tree Updo
An updo structured into a triangular shape referencing the Christmas tree silhouette, with green or natural hair gathered into a cone shape and decorated with gold pins or small star clips at the top.
The Christmas tree updo requires either green temporary hair spray over the natural hair or a natural hair shade that reads as dark enough to provide contrast for the gold ornament pins. Tease the hair upward from the crown into a pyramid-adjacent shape and pin in layers, narrowing toward the top. Add gold star clips and small ornament pins throughout the structure.
This is the hairstyle for an ugly Christmas sweater party or an office party with a festive dress code. It is not subtle. That is the point.
Candy Cane Space Buns
Two space buns, one on each side of the head, with red and white ribbon or a red and white hair wrap wound around the base of each bun to create the candy cane spiral pattern.
Divide the hair into two equal sections. Gather and twist each section into a bun and secure with a clear elastic. Wrap a thin red and white alternating ribbon or hair wrap tape tightly from the base of the bun upward in a spiral, securing the end with a bobby pin. The candy cane pattern reads immediately at any distance.
Snowflake Braid Pattern
A series of small braids arranged across the top of the head in a geometric pattern that references a snowflake design when viewed from above, with the remaining hair left loose or gathered at the nape.
The snowflake braid requires six small sections radiating from a central point at the crown, each braided outward in a different direction and pinned to the scalp. The overall pattern reads as a six-pointed star or snowflake from above. Silver or iridescent pins at each braid end add the winter finish.
Elf Ear Side Ponytail with Ribbon
A high side ponytail placed at the temple rather than at the nape, with a large bow or ribbon at the base, referencing the pointed side topknot of an elf character. Playful, immediately recognisable, and fast to execute.
Gather all the hair to one side and secure at the temple level with a red or green ribbon tied directly around the elastic. The height and the side placement rather than the standard high ponytail position is what creates the elf-ear reference. Add a small felt or fabric pointed elf hat clip at the crown for the maximum costume-adjacent commitment.
Elegant and Wearable Christmas Hairstyles
Gold Leaf Crown Updo
A loose or structured updo decorated with thin gold leaf pins or gold leaf fragments pressed onto strands using a light hair gel, the gold catching the warm light of Christmas candles and party venues.
Gold leaf hair is the Christmas hairstyle trend confirmed as having sustained strong save rates on Pinterest throughout the 2025 and 2026 holiday seasons. Apply small fragments of imitation gold leaf over a light gel base on individual strands before gathering the hair into a low chignon or updo. Finishing with a light hairspray over the gold leaf prevents flaking.
Braided Ponytail with Christmas Ribbon
A sleek high or mid ponytail where the ponytail section is braided loosely from base to tip, with a thin Christmas ribbon, red, gold, or green satin, woven through the braid from root to end.
Thread the ribbon through the braid as you plait rather than weaving it in after. Starting with the ribbon alongside the three sections of hair as a fourth element allows it to run consistently through every twist rather than lying on the surface. The ribbon peeks through the gaps in the braid rather than sitting on top of it.
Festive French Twist with Pearl Pins
A classic French twist secured at the back with pearl or crystal-head pins placed at regular intervals up the twist, the pins visible from behind and adding the festive decorative element to the most elegant updo available.
The French twist is the updo with the longest continuous fashion history at formal events. Adding Christmas-appropriate pins, pearls for an elegant approach, crystals for a sparkle approach, converts the foundational occasion hairstyle into a specifically seasonal one without requiring any additional decoration.
For the fringe directions that pair with a French twist or any Christmas updo where the front of the hair needs to read as styled and intentional rather than simply pulled back, the micro bangs styles guide covers the fringe lengths from curtain fringe through micro bang that add the face-framing element a Christmas updo needs at the front.
Sleek High Ponytail with Tinsel Extension
A sleek, gelled-back high ponytail with silver or gold tinsel woven through the ponytail section, the tinsel adding length, shimmer, and a dramatic light-catching quality to the most graphic party hairstyle.
Thread hair tinsel throughout the ponytail section after securing the elastic. The tinsel sits among the natural hair strands rather than on top, giving the ponytail a textured, multidimensional shimmer. A high sleek ponytail with gold tinsel under warm party lighting photographs as a fully editorial result.
Messy Bun with Festive Jewelled Pin Cluster
A textured or deliberately messy bun secured loosely at the crown or nape, with three to five jewelled, crystal, or gold hair pins clustered at one side of the bun for the concentrated decoration. The effortless Christmas hairstyle.
The clustered pin approach is what converts a standard messy bun into a Christmas hairstyle. Do not spread the pins across the full bun surface. Cluster three to five at one side, all pointing in a similar direction, and leave the rest of the bun undecorated. The concentrated decoration reads as a deliberate design decision.
For the structured and layered cut approaches that give medium to long hair the most textured, voluminous base for a Christmas messy bun with maximum body and hold, the hime cut hairstyles guide covers the blunt and layered cut structures that provide the weight and texture that a Christmas updo or embellished bun depends on for hold and visual impact.
Christmas Hair Products and Tools
A strong-hold hairspray is non-negotiable for Christmas hairstyles. L’Oreal Elnett Extra Strong Hold is the professional standard for updos and embellished styles where the hold needs to last through a full evening of party conditions. Apply in two light layers rather than one heavy coat.
For gloss and shine on blowouts and sleek styles, Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil at two drops through the ends before finishing adds the light-reflective quality that party venue lighting rewards. More than two drops weighs the hair down. Two drops on the ends only.
Hot rollers in jumbo size for blowout volume and 32mm barrel for curl definition are the two heat tools that produce the best Christmas party hair. Diffusers on low heat for curly textures. A fine-tooth tail comb for sleek updos and partings. Bobby pins in both brown and black to match different hair shades. That is the complete Christmas hair toolkit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good Christmas hairstyles for women?
The 18 Christmas hairstyles on this list range from the maximalist Christmas tree updo and the candy cane space buns through to the elegant sleek low bun with pearl pins and the gold leaf crown updo. The most popular on Pinterest across the 2025 and 2026 holiday seasons are the tinsel blowout, the velvet bow half-up, and the rhinestone crown braid. Celebrity hairstylist Kristin Ess confirms Christmas hair as the moment to do the thing you would never do on a Tuesday, meaning the embellished and decorated options are always appropriate for the occasion.
How do you add tinsel to hair for Christmas?
Thread tinsel into individual strands at the root using a loop tool or thin crochet hook. Pull a small section of hair through the loop alongside the tinsel strand and knot the tinsel close to the root. It lasts through washing if knotted correctly. Silver tinsel reads as winter and ice. Gold reads as warm and luxurious. Mixing both reads as maximum Christmas. The tinsel should run through the hair alongside the natural strands rather than being tied on top of them.
What accessories work best for Christmas hairstyles?
Velvet bows in deep red, forest green, or midnight blue are the highest impact-to-effort Christmas hair accessory. Pearl-head pins and crystal pins add elegant festive detail to any updo. Holly and berry pins add the botanical Christmas reference. Gold star clips and small ornament pins work for the more playful styles. Hair tinsel in silver and gold works for any style from a blowout to a braid. The accessory should be chosen based on the formality of the occasion: pearl pins and gold leaf for Christmas Day or a formal dinner, tinsel and ornament pins for a party or an office celebration.
How do you do a Christmas hairstyle that lasts all night?
Start with a strong base. Apply a volumising mousse or root spray before blow-drying for styles that need volume. Use a strong-hold hairspray like L’Oreal Elnett Extra Strong Hold in two light layers before and after any embellishment. For updos, use plenty of bobby pins across the entire structure rather than relying on one or two at the securing point. Pre-tied velvet bows rather than hand-tied ribbon bows maintain their shape through body heat. Hair tinsel stays in through the evening when knotted tightly at the root.
Can short hair work for Christmas hairstyles?
Yes. The velvet bow half-up works from chin-length hair upward. The glitter root application works on any length. The tinsel highlight blowout works on a pixie cut upward. The French twist works on bob-length hair with enough height. The jewelled pin cluster works on hair gathered into even a very small bun. The snowflake braid pattern works on hair long enough to braid individual strands from a centre point. Short hair benefits specifically from the accessory-focused Christmas hairstyles, where the decoration is the statement rather than the length.
Final Thoughts
Crazy Christmas hairstyles for women in 2026 work on one principle Kristin Ess named: this is the moment. The tinsel, the bow, the rhinestone crown braid, the gold leaf, the candy cane space buns. The occasion earns all of it.
Start with the velvet bow half-up if you want something simple and high impact. Move to the tinsel blowout if you want to keep the style wearable while adding the festive element. The Christmas tree updo is there for anyone who has fully committed to the season.
