Hairstyle idea gallery
Find a holiday-party hairstyle that suits your length, outfit and evening, with 17 close-up references for waves, buns, braids and ponytails.
Editor's note
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.
— Bella Ross
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.
Look 01
The hair is drawn into a compact low bun, leaving the curved pearl vine as the one bright detail.
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.
Look 02
Broad woven sections fill the back of the head, with tiny pearl sprigs tucked into the sides rather than a single large ornament.
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.
Look 03
A defined braid leads the eye toward a low bun, giving the updo structure without making it tall.
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.
Look 04
The front is taken back lightly while most of the long copper waves remain loose and visible.
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.
Look 05
The crown is swept up into a high, rounded shape while the curled ponytail keeps the length visible.
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.
Look 06
Large rounded sections create a sculpted ponytail, with a jeweled accent at each end of the repeated pattern.
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.
Look 07
A wide braid travels over one shoulder while tiny flowers sit inside the woven turns.
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.
Look 08
One clean side part and a broad first bend turn loose brunette hair into an evening-ready wave shape.
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.
Look 09
Small pearls lift one side away from the face, exposing the long, smooth S-wave pattern below.
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.
Look 10
The waves are intentionally simple so the ornate gold crown remains the clear party statement.
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.
Look 11
A broad diagonal braid gives this compact blonde updo enough detail for a party without added length.
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.
Look 12
Dark violet roots and pale woven sections make the braided path into the low bun especially easy to see.
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.
Look 13
Broad hair sections cross toward a low bun, with a narrow silver branch placed exactly where they meet.
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.
Look 14
The pearl chain traces a V over the gathered section while the ponytail stays loose and wavy below.
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.
Look 15
A large cream bow marks the half-up join, while the dark waves beneath it remain fully visible.
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.
Look 16
The vine follows a diagonal sweep into a low side ponytail, connecting the crown detail with the curled ends.
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.
Look 17
Wide blonde sections fold into a loose side braid, with pearl sprigs tucked between rather than laid across the top.
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.
The salon brief
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.
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.
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.
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About the author · Hairstyle editor
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.