20 Stunning Holiday Hairstyles to Try This Christmas 2023

'Tis the season to be glamorous.

It's no wonder that we want to look and feel like our most spectacular selves during the holidays; it's a social time when many of us connect with loved ones, colleagues, and family—and hair can play a big role in the impression we want to make. So we reached out to a few top celebrity hairstylists to find out which styles they plan to try this season. Their answers ranged from slicked-back updos to a resurgence of the 60s-inspired bouffant. Expect to see a lot of shiny hair accessories, too. (What's the holiday season without a little bit of sparkle, right?) Whether you want a fresh update or a head-turning showstopper, these new holiday hairstyles will inspire you.

Because the best outcomes often start with a photo and a plan, scroll on for holiday hairstyle inspiration for every hair length, texture, and type. Whether you want to bookmark the images for your hairstylist or yourself, there are options for every skill level and preference.

A slicked-back bun is a chic and simple style that works for every event, hair type, and skill level. "I love this smooth updo because it can be dressed down and still look glam," says Frédéric Fekkai, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Fekkai Salon. The key to achieving this look is all about shine. Fekkai recommends prepping the hair with smoothing products like the Straight Balm, which will keep any frizz and flyaways at bay.

If a bun feels too tedious, you can't go wrong with sleek and straight hair. All you need to achieve this look is a flat iron and a quality shine spray to give the effect of reflective strands. Try the Andrew Fitzsimmons Prism Shine Invisible Hair Spray, which is affordable, lightweight, and smells deliciously sweet.

Keep your hair out of your face with a slicked high ponytail with curls. The addition of curls has a way of making the entire look feel more fancy and elegant for your holiday festivities.

A voluminous blowout never disappoints. "Use a dry shampoo if you feel your hair is missing body or is starting to feel dull," says Julien Farel, owner of the Julien Farel Restore Salon and Spa, which is opening a new location in Palm Beach, Florida. "Look for a lightweight formula that absorbs excess oil but doesn’t leave behind residue. Apply it right at your roots and use your fingers to shake out the excess for a refreshed look."

Looking for a glamorous hairstyle for your holiday party? Take inspo from the '60s bouffant. "With the '60s-inspired styles still relevant today, I think we’ll see beautiful Bardot bouffants making their way into holiday soirees," says Fekkai.

If you aren't into the traditional bouffant, but like the volume and elegance of the look, try this modern-take that's a little softer. "The bouffant look is all about keeping your natural texture and adding volume," says Fekkai.

Adorning your hairstyle with accessories is an easy way to add a holiday twist, says Fekkai, and we couldn't agree more. Stick some jewels throughout your bun (we like these) to take it from ordinary to outstanding.

Voluminous waves are a classic, reliable style that will compliment any outfit and makeup look. To achieve this look, we recommend investing in a quality blowdryer like the Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System, which comes with an oval brush and air-wrap curlers, like a Dyson, but for half the price.

Another popular hairstyle in the '60s is straight hair with ends that flip outward. Make this look 2022-approved by flipping the ends of the hair inward to emphasize your face. This hairstyle looks particularly stunning on short, bob haircuts.

Farel recommends doing old glam Hollywood waves with a deep side part this holiday season because it's a timeless look that will never go out of style.

For those who like a sleek look, but still enjoy face-framing pieces, try this bun. It's an easy, low-maintenance style that allows you to style and play with some loose pieces at the front of your face.

Whether you have naturally curly hair or need to use a curling wand, this curly updo is cute, effortless, and stylish. According to Marjan, the GHD Curl Thin Wand is great for creating natural-looking curls or defining your natural curl pattern.

Embracing your natural hair texture is always a good choice. Add some bedazzled hair pins throughout for an easy way to make it feel more festive for the holidays.

"I've seen bubble ponytails trending all year," says Fekkai. "They're so fun and chic!" To create this look, gather your hair into a low or high ponytail, depending on preference. Then, place hair ties throughout the tail end to create that bubble shape. Repeat this step until you reach the end of the ponytail. Then, pinch the sides of each bubble to add more volume to your hair, says Fekkai.

For those who need a style that looks put together but requires little time and effort, try this half-up half-down look. It's one of those hairstyles that looks like you spent way more time putting it together than you did.

Simple doesn't have to mean boring. Gather your hair into a low, undone ponytail for a look that's effortlessly chic. Then, add a ponytail cuff to accessorize.

Curly hair queens, gather your hair at the sides and pin them to create a seriously cool fohawk look. Bonus points if you add gems to embellish your style.

The messy bun is another one of those hairstyles that you can dress up or down. Try doing Chris Appleton's foolproof method, which includes parting your hair down the middle, creating two high buns on each side, crossing them over, and pinning them in place.

You may need to enlist the help of a professional for this one, but the results are so worth it. The intricacy of the braids is sure to make you the star of any holiday party.

For the skilled braiders, try a braided updo, like this one. It's one braid along the side of your head that's pulled back into a bun. At the end, make sure to pull pieces of hair out of your braid to make it look more voluminous and fluffy.

Genesis Rivas is the Beauty Editor at Oprah Daily, where she covers hair, makeup, skin, nails, and more. Before joining the Oprah Daily team, she wrote for several publications, including InStyle, Real Simple, and Shape. When she’s not testing, researching, and writing fun and educational beauty content, you can find her dancing and eating her way through New York City. Follow her on Instagram or TikTok

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