The Best Holiday Hairstyles For 2023

The holidays call for an extra touch of glam, and this includes how we style our hair. For many of us, this season packs a few more dinners, events, and celebrations into our schedules, so we want to put thought into how we arrive. After all, a carefully curated outfit is a message to the host that says we want to be at their event, and we're taking their invitation seriously. So whether it's a staff holiday party, a family dinner, or any other holiday event, dressing up isn't a self-centered act. It's a way of showing our engagement with fellow party guests, and gratitude and respect for everyone involved. Everybody loves to see a little effort. 

On that note, we've got you covered for holiday grooming and glamming. There are several gorgeous French manicure ideas that are holiday-specific. As far as makeup styling goes, cinnamon makeup is by far the top trend for the winter months; It's warm and seductive all at once. Once you have your perfect holiday nails and your warm-toned makeup, all you need is the perfect holiday hair look, and we've got options galore. Think bows, ribbons, pearls, diamonds, headbands, and curls! Time to ho ho ho all the way to the hair curler. 

Lupita Nyong'o led the way with holiday party hair inspiration when she attended the 3rd Annual Academy Museum Gala on December 3, 2023. The actor showed up with a flower crown placed over her shaved hair, and the effect was festive and effervescent. The baby's breath crown was the perfect choice as a juxtaposition to the chilly months surrounding the holidays. Nyong'o brought the garden with her, and this crown inspiration is well worth a try! 

One of the absolute easiest ways to make your hair holiday-ready is by using a small, red scarf. Pull your hair back into a ponytail; you choose how high or low you want it to sit. You always have the option of quickly curling the ends of your ponytail with a curling wand. Then simply tie a festive, cranberry-tone red scarf around the elastic. Bonus points if it matches your red holiday top. 

In a hair tutorial on TikTok, content creator Zenita, who goes by truleytalentedbeauty online, shared her holiday hair look. Zenita created a high bun by using a string to hold her hair in place as opposed to bobby pins. In the Linktree in Zenita's bio, she posted her Amazon shop, with the go-to products that she uses to do her hair. She posted the natural hemp cord that she used in her hair, as well as some Shine 'n Jam Conditioning Gel. So there's everything you need to recreate her holiday look. 

Gold headbands look like crowns, and become the perfect holiday hair accessory to jazz up any look. Choose one gold headband or layer up with a few headbands for added cheer. You can style a headband with any look, but it looks especially good with a Brigitte Bardot-inspired up-do, with wispy, face-framing layers. 

Holiday looks are all about sparkle, so add some to your hair. In a tutorial by Monat on TikTok, a content creator shows how to use hair mousse to pull hair back into a sleek ponytail. Add self-adhesive hair gems to your hair. There's a set available on Amazon, and Ulta Beauty also carries Hot Fix Hair Gems. Hair gems are so fun because they have a touch of Y2K nostalgia to them, while still looking festive and glitzy.

Red is a tried and true holiday favorite when it comes to creating a look for those December festivities. Create a simple hairstyle by securing your hair in a high ponytail. Using a pre-made hair bow or a ribbon tied into a bow, cinch the ponytail. Some face-framing pieces are always welcome. Keep the cheerful accessories going with some long, pearl earrings. Red lipstick is always a win, especially when it ties in the red of the ribbon. 

Gold hair rings make for perfect hair jewelry for any holiday event. Face-framing rings add a dramatic flourish to braids, setting a glamorous tone for a look. On YouTube, Marimba Nolan gave a tutorial on how to add hair jewelry and rings to braids, and said that you just have to open the ring and secure it into the center of the braid. Then you pinch it closed to secure the ring. Nolan stressed that they're easy to put in, so no stress there. But the impact is major glam. 

If you want something that's both festive and insulating (we're all after some extra warmth during the holidays), go for a pleated turban. Gold decorative elements, like a brooch, add to the charm. Plus, it makes for easy styling. Opt for curling your ends and don't worry about the rest of your hair. Amazon has several options available in decorative turbans, while Babeyond has a turquoise 1920s-style turban in peacock jewel tones. 

Source out a little extra bling for your hair by adding gold hair clips and pins to a simple bun. You can go for gold or silver, depending on your look, since both metal tones add a touch of effort to your hair. Cricket sells metallic safety pin barrettes, while Spruced Roost also sells gold or silver safety pin barrettes. They get bonus points for being incredibly easy to style into the hair. 

On TikTok, Ashlee West shared a video of a holiday hair look using a claw clip. She twisted her hair up and secured it with the clip, letting the curls pour out over the top. West kept out a few face-framing pieces, to add to the glamour of the look. When people on TikTok asked West how she managed to secure all of her curly hair with one claw clip, she left a response. "My hair is pretty thin so it works with the regular claw clips you mainly see people have you probs just need a bigger one, you can find those basically anywhere too," she began. "Pretty sure free people, urban outfitters, anthropology, & target have them." So for those with thicker hair, go for a bigger claw clip.