16 Effortless Holiday Hairstyles You’ll Love to Try

For many, the holidays are a whirlwind of activities, from hopping between parties to scrambling for last-minute gifts. The last thing you want to worry about is how to make your hair look festive with little time to spare.

To help ease your holiday hair stress, we've put together a list of stylish and easy-to-do hairstyles that you can quickly recreate this season.

Keep reading for 16 effortless hair ideas to try during your winter break.

1. Textured Ponytail

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The holiday season is the perfect excuse to keep a can of dry texture spray close by. When your hair is on its third or fourth day and needs a quick pick-me-up, this spray will save you. Simply pull your hair into a simple ponytail, leave a few face-framing strands loose, and mist with dry texture spray to create a festive yet laid-back look. Voilà—instant holiday hair!

2. Polished Top Knot

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When you’re opting for an updo, slick back your roots with a shine spray. Leave your ends a little messy and tousled for a cool contrast. It’s the perfect balance of polished and carefree.

3. Curly Ponytail

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There are many ways to elevate a basic ponytail, like adding extensions that match your natural texture. The result? A fuller, voluminous ponytail with minimal styling effort—perfect for holiday parties.

4. Loose Waves

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Create effortlessly beautiful waves by sleeping in French braids overnight. In the morning, touch up any frizz with a small double-barrel curling iron, and you’ll have perfectly relaxed waves all day.

5. Long Layers

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If you’ve managed to squeeze in a haircut and color appointment this month, good for you! Showing off your fresh cut and color is as easy as getting a smooth blowout during the week.

6. Tousled Ballerina Bun

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To add body and texture to your hair, prep with hot rollers. The rollers will give your hair volume and bounce, creating the perfect foundation for a messy, elegant ballerina bun.

7. Bone-Straight Updo

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For a change from your usual style, try a sleek, bone-straight half-up, half-down look. All you need is a good flat iron and some heat protectant for a smooth and polished finish.

8. High Curly Ponytail

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For a more controlled high ponytail, work in sections. Start by gathering the front part of your hair, clip the bottom half out of the way, and secure the top section first. Then, blend the rest of your hair with the initial ponytail. Finish with hairspray to keep everything in place.

9. Flippy Ponytail

Instagram/ @lauraharrier

Flipping the ends of your ponytail is a fun way to add personality to your look. Use a round hot brush on the ends of your hair to set the flip in place for a playful twist on a simple ponytail.

10. Adorned Box Bob

Instagram/ @haileybieber

Dress up your box bob with a couple of tiny braids and bows for a festive, easy-to-do holiday style. This is perfect for a quick yet chic look that requires no fuss.

11. Barrettes and Braids

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Snap barrettes are a fun, creative way to style your hair for the holidays. You can add them along the hairline for a festive touch, or choose ones with seasonal colors or sparkles for extra charm.

12. Wet Look Bob

Instagram/ @patrickta

For an elegant, sleek look, saturate your bob with shine spray to give it a piece-y texture that mimics a “wet” look. This style, like Camila Cabello’s, is perfect for a sophisticated holiday party.

13. Polished Bun

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Sometimes a polished bun is all you need to look put-together. It’s a timeless, effortless hairstyle that works with any holiday outfit.

14. Bows and Ponytails

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If you’re in doubt, just add a bow! Velvet bows are everywhere during the holiday season, and they easily elevate any ponytail to give it a festive, chic vibe.

15. Headbands and Blowouts

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On lazy hair days, headbands can be your best friend. Wide, chunky headbands are trending right now, and they can instantly add a stylish touch to even the simplest of hairstyles.

16. Flippy Bob

Instagram/ @hungvanngo

Flippy bobs are great for holiday events. Work gel into your hair in sections, and use a fine-tooth comb to flip up the ends. Clip some rollers into place, and use a diffuser to set the style for a fun, voluminous look.