The holidays are here! You’ve received the party invite. You’ve bought the dress … and now for the hair. We asked five beauty pros to tell you how to create their favorite holiday hairstyles at home.
The High Ponytail
If you have longer hair, a high ponytail is classic, chic and always in fashion. Anthony Cristiano, celebrity stylist and owner of Anthony Cristiano Salon in Chicago, styled the look on supermodel Adriana Lima at the Cannes Film Festival. Why is this look a winner for everything from holiday parties to the red carpet? “When the hair is high and bound away from the neck, you expose the head shape, and by slicking it back it gives everyone an instant facelift,” says Cristiano. To make the look even more elegant, wrap a grosgrain ribbon around the elastic.
Cristiano uses Phytovolume Actif to amplify the roots, then directionally dries hair in sections back toward where the ponytail is going to be positioned. He periodically takes the heat off, holding the brush with the hair and allowing the style to set. To finish the ponytail, he sprays on Phytoplage, a protectant that also creates amazing shine while still giving texture to hair. Finally, he sprays a large makeup brush with aerosol hairspray and uses the makeup brush to tame flyways without disturbing the style.
Vivian Arpino, owner of BloOuts in Winnetka and Highland Park, also favors the high ponytail, which she believes complements anyone. “In this day and age, women want to look youthful and, more importantly, sexy,” Arpino explains. “The high ponytail provides a little bit of an edge for those who don’t want an up-do, but who are looking for something different for holiday parties. I’ve had clients sleep on it and just touch it up the next day for another event!”
Loose, Soft and Touchable
Pascal Pour Elle stylist and educator Brenda Bonomo favors a hairstyle that’s loose, feminine and easy, particularly for a daytime holiday event. “It’s the perfect style for busy women,” she says. Bonomo uses Label.m Volume Medium Hold Mousse followed by over-directed round brushing and a large roller set. She finishes the style with Label.m Hairspray.
The Twist
Bonomo’s other favorite look for the holiday season is a sophisticated and modern “twist,” beautiful for an evening affair. Prep hair in the same way you would for the above “loose, soft and touchable” look, then, back-brush at the crown. Pull all the hair back and down at the base of the neck into a low twist. To appear soft yet modern, let the hair be slightly looser even though it’s being pulled back from the scalp. For some festive sparkle, add a hair accessory to the twist.
Relaxed Waves and a Center Part
“It’s all about the part down the middle and loose waves at the ends to create a soft, sassy look for any holiday party,” says Angie Giannikopoulos, Teddie Kossof Salon manager and events coordinator. This style was a hit on the Emmy Awards red carpet on starlets from Mandy Moore to Kerry Washington. To achieve this style, you’ll need a 1-inch curling iron and a hairspray like Kenra #25 Volume Hairspray. Spray every section of hair before you curl. Starting from the bottom of your hair, take big sections and wrap the hair away from your face around the curling iron, leaving the ends out of the curling iron. When you’re finished curling all of your hair, run hands through and shake out hair with your hands. Finish with another few spritzes of Kenra #25 to hold the style.
The Polished Blowout
Don’t overlook the always-stylish blowout. Wendy Lewis, founder and editor in chief of national beauty blog Beauty in the Bag, chooses a blowout as her go-to party look. “My simple party style is Oribe shampoo and conditioner for beautiful color and a great blowout,” Lewis says. If you can’t make it to the salon for a blowout, Lewis recommends prepping hair with a treatment Lasio Keratin Treatment One Day Formula. “You can wash your hair in 24 hours and it stays silky and straight with zero frizz for about three months. It’s a total lifesaver!”
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