Before you choose
Choose the shape before the sparkle
Start with the silhouette you actually enjoy wearing: all hair up, partly back, or loose. Then decide whether the statement should come from a polished wave, an intricate braid, or one well-placed bow or jewel. The photographs below make those choices easier to compare.
For a braid-led look with more updo options, see our holiday braided updos gallery. This page deliberately includes loose waves and ponytails too, so you can choose beyond one styling technique.
The hairstyle gallery
17 holiday party hairstyles to compare
Look at the placement of the accessory, the height of the style and how much hair stays around the face. Those details change the feel more than a label like glamorous or romantic.
Idea 01
Sleek Low Bun With a Pearl Vine
The hair is drawn into a compact low bun, leaving the curved pearl vine as the one bright detail.
- Placement
- Low bun
- Finish
- Sleek
- Accent
- Pearl vine
A smooth side section wraps over the bun's upper edge and hides the join. The vine follows that diagonal line rather than sitting straight across the head, which makes the small pearls visible without covering the polished surface.
Wearability note: Choose this when you want the neck clear and an accessory that does not compete with earrings. Ask for the bun's low position and sleek finish first; the vine can be changed to suit your outfit.
Idea 02
Soft Blonde Braided Updo
Broad woven sections fill the back of the head, with tiny pearl sprigs tucked into the sides rather than a single large ornament.
- Shape
- Braided updo
- Volume
- Full
- Accent
- Pearl sprigs
The hair crosses in several raised loops before gathering into a rounded low center. Wisps at the nape soften the outline. Because the structure is already detailed, the small white accents add light without hiding the braid work.
Wearability note: Save this for the overall volume and woven back view. If your hair is much shorter or finer, ask what support would be needed to achieve the same fullness instead of assuming the photo shows an effortless result.
Idea 03
Dutch Braid Into a Low Bun
A defined braid leads the eye toward a low bun, giving the updo structure without making it tall.
- Detail
- Dutch braid
- Placement
- Low bun
- Profile
- Side view
The side braid starts above the ear and follows the head's curve before disappearing into the bun. A few smooth sections remain around the crown, so the result balances a visible woven detail with a clean side profile.
Wearability note: This is a useful reference if a high bun feels too formal but you still want detail in photos. Show the side view to explain where the braid should begin and how close the bun should sit to the nape.
Choose your direction
Quietly polished
Smooth low bun with a slim vine or the side-parted glossy waves.
Keep the length visible
Bow half-up, rope-braid half-up or a decorated low ponytail.
Statement braid
Looped low bun, jeweled pull-through ponytail or loose side braid.
Short-hair option
The tucked blonde braided updo shows how much structure a shorter length can hold.
Idea 04
Copper Waves Pinned Half Up
The front is taken back lightly while most of the long copper waves remain loose and visible.
- Style
- Half up
- Length
- Long
- Finish
- Loose waves
A small gathered section sits at the center back without flattening the crown. The lower hair falls in broad separated bends, so the style keeps movement rather than forming a smooth wave sheet. The warm color makes the layered shape easy to see.
Wearability note: Choose this if you want your length in the picture but dislike hair falling across your face. It is a softer direction than a tightly fixed half-up style; decide whether you need more hold around the front for a long evening.
Idea 05
Curly Ponytail With Crown Lift
The crown is swept up into a high, rounded shape while the curled ponytail keeps the length visible.
- Style
- Curly ponytail
- Crown
- Lifted
- Front
- Loose curl
The smooth upper layers move backward before meeting the ponytail behind the head. A single loose curl stays near the cheek; the rest falls in closely spaced ringlets. That contrast gives the style a dressed-up profile without hiding the curls.
Wearability note: Save the side view if crown height is the feature you want. Ask separately how high you would like the ponytail to sit, since moving it up or down will change both the face framing and the length visible from the front.
Idea 06
Jeweled Pull-Through Ponytail
Large rounded sections create a sculpted ponytail, with a jeweled accent at each end of the repeated pattern.
- Style
- Pull-through ponytail
- Length
- Long
- Accent
- Jewels
The top is smooth and compact before the ponytail expands into stacked, pillow-like loops. The shapes become looser toward the bottom, so the style looks long rather than rigid. Small ornate pieces bring sparkle without filling every section.
Wearability note: This is the boldest ponytail here. Save it for the loop size and overall length, but consider whether your hair needs added volume or length to reach this proportion. A shorter version could keep the same repeated structure.
Idea 07
Flowered Loose Side Braid
A wide braid travels over one shoulder while tiny flowers sit inside the woven turns.
- Style
- Loose side braid
- Volume
- Airy
- Accent
- Small flowers
The crown stays airy and raised, then the braid narrows gradually instead of being tightly plaited from top to bottom. Copper and blonde strands separate through the loops, making the braid pattern visible even without the flowers.
Wearability note: Use this if you want a braid that still feels soft around the face and shoulders. Show the placement of the flowers, then decide whether a quieter accessory would suit a winter evening better than the pale floral accents.
Idea 08
Side-Parted Glossy Brown Waves
One clean side part and a broad first bend turn loose brunette hair into an evening-ready wave shape.
- Part
- Deep side
- Pattern
- Broad waves
- Finish
- Glossy
The front section sweeps across the forehead, then curves away from the face at cheek level. Below it, the waves stay connected and glossy rather than breaking into small curls. The hair remains down, but the controlled front gives it a deliberate outline.
Wearability note: Choose this when you want glamour without pins, braids or a visible accessory. Bring the side view to show where the first bend should sit; that placement changes the whole look more than the exact hair color.
Idea 09
Auburn Waves With a Pearl Clip
Small pearls lift one side away from the face, exposing the long, smooth S-wave pattern below.
- Style
- Loose waves
- Placement
- One-side tuck
- Accent
- Pearl clip
The hair above the ear is tucked close while the rest falls in evenly spaced waves across the back. The pearl cluster marks the transition between those two surfaces. It is a subtle way to dress up loose hair without placing an ornament over the crown.
Wearability note: Save this for a one-sided accent and the wave spacing. If you prefer both sides open, ask to keep the clip small so it controls the side section without becoming the main feature.
Idea 10
Gold Crown With Long Blonde Waves
The waves are intentionally simple so the ornate gold crown remains the clear party statement.
- Style
- Loose waves
- Part
- Side
- Accent
- Gold crown
A side part lets the long front section sweep across beneath the raised accessory. The lengths fall over one shoulder in relaxed bends, giving the crown a soft base instead of another competing texture.
Wearability note: This is an accessory-first reference, not a guide to intricate styling. Try the crown with your outfit before choosing the wave finish; its height and weight will determine how much lift you want at the roots.
Idea 11
Tucked Blonde Braid Updo
A broad diagonal braid gives this compact blonde updo enough detail for a party without added length.
- Length
- Short to medium
- Detail
- Diagonal braid
- Placement
- Low tuck
The braid crosses from the upper side toward the lower back, where the ends disappear into a small rolled section at the nape. A dark clip is visible beneath the roll. The overall shape stays close to the head, making it distinct from the fuller long-hair buns.
Wearability note: A helpful reference if your hair is around bob length and you want it off the neck. Show the back view to discuss how much length can be tucked; a stylist may need to adapt the braid and visible fastening to your actual cut.
Idea 12
Violet Braids Into a Low Bun
Dark violet roots and pale woven sections make the braided path into the low bun especially easy to see.
- Style
- Braided low bun
- Color
- Violet contrast
- Crown
- Smooth
Two textured sections move in from the sides and meet in a rounded knot at the nape. The contrasting light strands outline each loop, while the upper crown remains smooth enough to keep the overall shape controlled.
Wearability note: Use this photo for the braid-to-bun construction, not as a requirement to copy the purple color. A lower-contrast hair color could create a quieter version with the same compact placement.
Idea 13
Wrapped Low Bun With a Silver Branch
Broad hair sections cross toward a low bun, with a narrow silver branch placed exactly where they meet.
- Placement
- Low bun
- Crown
- Soft volume
- Accent
- Silver branch
The crown is full but smooth rather than tightly slicked. Hair folds over itself above the nape, and the metallic detail sits horizontally at the bun's upper edge. This keeps the ornament visible from behind without interrupting the shape of the twist.
Wearability note: Choose this if you want a polished bun with a little softness at the crown. Show the photograph for the accessory's low placement; shifting it higher would create a very different, more crown-like effect.
Idea 14
Blonde Low Pony With Pearl Drape
The pearl chain traces a V over the gathered section while the ponytail stays loose and wavy below.
- Style
- Low ponytail
- Finish
- Loose waves
- Accent
- Pearl drape
Two smooth side panels join at the back and narrow into a small wrapped base. Fine pearls sit above that join instead of running down the full length. The lightly waved ends keep the style relaxed despite the formal accent.
Wearability note: This is useful if a bun feels too severe but you want the front secured. Bring the back view to show the pearl placement and decide whether a low ponytail will clear your collar or scarf comfortably.
Idea 15
Half-Up Waves With a Cream Bow
A large cream bow marks the half-up join, while the dark waves beneath it remain fully visible.
- Style
- Half up
- Length
- Long
- Accent
- Fabric bow
The top section is gathered simply, without a braid or teased crown. That restraint lets the soft bow provide the festive detail. Warm brown ribbons through the lower hair catch the light, making the loose wave pattern readable against the darker base.
Wearability note: Choose this when you want a statement accessory and your hair down. Check the bow size against your head and outfit before copying it exactly; a smaller one would keep the same placement with less visual weight.
Idea 16
Side Pony With a Crystal Vine
The vine follows a diagonal sweep into a low side ponytail, connecting the crown detail with the curled ends.
- Style
- Low side ponytail
- Finish
- Curled ends
- Accent
- Crystal vine
The upper hair is smoothed back but not pressed flat. It narrows into a gathered base near the nape, then opens into large soft curls over one shoulder. The crystal branches sit along the swept section rather than around the ponytail tie.
Wearability note: Save this for the asymmetry and the low placement. If you usually part your hair on the opposite side, reverse the sweep and accessory together so the face-framing strand still opens where you prefer it.
Idea 17
Loose Blonde Braid With Pearl Sprigs
Wide blonde sections fold into a loose side braid, with pearl sprigs tucked between rather than laid across the top.
- Style
- Loose side braid
- Length
- Long
- Accent
- Pearl sprigs
The braid begins high and travels diagonally toward one shoulder. Each section is gently expanded, which creates a full woven silhouette while the tail stays visible below. Small white accents appear at different heights and follow the braid's direction.
Wearability note: This is a strong reference for a romantic braid that still shows length. Ask for the looseness and side direction separately; the visible fullness may need an adaptation if your hair has less density or a shorter starting length.
Should you wear your hair up or down?
An updo makes the neckline and earrings more visible and is less likely to move against a coat collar. A half-up style preserves length in photographs while keeping the front controlled. Loose waves give the most movement but also show changes in texture during a long evening.
Use your outfit as a check, not a rule. A high neckline can pair beautifully with a bun, while an open neckline leaves room for the shape of long waves or a decorated ponytail.
Where should an accessory sit?
The examples here use a bow at the half-up join, a vine over a smooth bun, pearls across a ponytail base and small ornaments along a braid. Each placement draws the eye to a different part of the hairstyle.
Choose one focal point if the hair already has a complicated braid or strong wave pattern. If the base is deliberately simple, a larger bow or crown can carry the party feeling on its own.
What makes a photo useful for your appointment?
Save the view that explains the detail you want: a back view for the shape of a bun or braid, a side view for a face-framing wave, and a front view when the crown or part is the point.
Tell your stylist which feature matters most and which can change. A pearl vine, hair color or extremely long extension-like length may be optional, while the height of the ponytail or smoothness of the front may be the real reason you saved the image.
About the author
Bella Ross
Bella Ross is the hairstyle editor behind Latest Easy Hairstyles. She curates practical haircut, braid, color, and styling ideas with a focus on looks that are easy to browse, realistic to recreate, and useful for everyday hair decisions.