5 Easy Christmas Hairstyles Anyone Can Pull Off

Our Christmas morning hairstyles are not exactly something we’re proud of (serious bedhead abounds), but our beauty looks for the night’s festivities are another beast entirely. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and Christmas Day is our last opportunity to rock the festive holiday hairstyles we’ve been holding out for since last Christmas, so if you’re going to do it, do it all the way. These 5 Christmas hairstyles are easy to wear and even easier to execute, so choose one and go forth … and save another for New Years.

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Smooth Ponytail
Want to show off a gorgeous set of statement earrings this Christmas? Of course you do, and this hairstyle is the perfect way to put ‘em front and center. You can style freshly washed hair with smoothing cream and a good blowout or just run the cream through dry hair, focusing on the lengths and ends and using whatever’s left on your palms to smooth out the front of the hair. A middle part is ideal, but if it seems too dramatic, place the part just slightly off-center to give it a more relaxed effect.

Glossy Waves
Go polished, but not fussy, with a soft, glossy wave. Use a large barrel curling iron to create big, loose curls, then brush through to break up the wave, which results in the smooth “flowing” effect. Finish it off by using a generous amount of soft-hold smoothing cream all over your hair, avoiding the roots to keep a bit of volume intact.

Slick Bun
The trendy slicked-back look is, indeed, a slippery slope, but the damp-yet-styled bun is one way to wear it without looking like you just swam out of a grotto. Keep your roots and the top of your head dry, but use a handful of gel to slick through your lengths and ends, then wrap the hair around itself to form a tight bun. Pin the ends tight against the back of your head and set with a light mist of hairspray to keep everything in place.

Second Day Texture
Cool and carefree but not messy, this hairstyle is perfect for … well, everyone who likes to look put together but also like they didn’t try too hard. Take your—you guessed it—second day hair, which can also be replicated on clean hair with a good texturizing cream, and create a deep side part, tucking the front section behind one ear. If your hair has a bit of natural texture, you can achieve the slightly wavy look with a texturizing spray and some scrunching, but straighter, finer hair types should use a large barrel curling iron for some wave.

Half Up with a Twist
A half up hairstyle has its place at any occasion—it’s a classic, and something about the way it frames your face makes it super flattering (and even slimming). This variation takes a simple look and makes it a little more interesting, courtesy of a twist at the back of the head. For a simplified version, take a front section from each side of your head over each ear, then twist into a knot and pin in place from beneath to conceal the pins.

Photo: 5 Easy Holiday Hairstyles Sure to Impress this Holiday Season