There are a lot of things to stress about during the holiday season—but your hairstyle shouldn’t be one of them. To help you look and feel your best at any holiday party or gathering, our expert colorists have put together a list of five simple tips for creating holiday hairstyles at home, including a few new hairstyles to try. 

Prep strands for heat styling.

‘Tis the season for voluminous curls and glamorous blowouts! If you plan on using a blow dryer, curling iron, flat iron, or any other hot tool for your holiday looks, it’s important to shield your strands from heat damage with styling products that offer thermal protection, like Triple Prep. Spritz this heat-protectant spray onto strands before styling to shield your hair from heat while also adding shine.

Heat styling your hair can also cause frizz and flyaways. For added polish to your blowouts, try our Velvet Primer smoothing balm. This nourishing blowout butter helps smooth flyaways, increase manageability, and add shine.

Use the right amount of hold.

Depending on the kind of event, your holiday looks may need different kinds of styling products to hold them in place. For example, our Cloud Mousse features a flexible hold and a natural-looking finish, making it perfect for a casual brunch with friends or a daytime gift-wrapping party. 

On the other hand, if you plan on dancing all night, you may want to use a strong hairspray to lock your hairdo into place. Plan your styling products accordingly to fit your itinerary and you won’t have to worry about your hair losing its shape.

Add some simple styles to your repertoire.

Many of us have our go-to looks like a simple ponytail or braid, but we’re encouraging you to try something new—and you don’t have to go too far out of your comfort zone. There are many easy yet festive looks that you can add to your roster, like an easy up-do or a low wrap-around bun. 

For more simple style inspiration, check out our lookbook. 

Add sparkle with unique accessories.

Another way to add some merriment to your everyday hairstyles is to add accessories. Whether it’s a bejeweled headband, sparkly barrette, or wintry-themed bobby pin, there are many different ways to make your everyday hair feel special. A little sparkle goes a long way!

Help strands recover.

Styling your hair for the holidays can cause your strands to get seriously stressed out. To help them recover, try incorporating a weekly hair mask into your routine, like Weekly Retreat. This ultra-hydrating hair mask boosts shine, helps reduce breakage, and even features thermal protection up to 450F, making it perfect for seasonal hair care. 

We also recommend investing in a silk pillowcase to help tame frizz, retain moisture in the hair, and prevent bedhead. Plus, there’s nothing like some quality beauty sleep during the holiday season!

With these five tips, your holiday hairstyles will be sure to spread cheer wherever you go. For more inspiration and hair care tips, follow @eSalon on social media.