Holiday Hairstyles

Stay beautifully coifed from one fete to the next with these haute hair tips.

The holidays are a time of thankfulness, reflection and celebration! As your calendar fills with holiday parties, here are a few hairstyles that will keep you looking perfectly polished.

The Formal Updo
For an updo, your hair needs texture to hold its style (plus it will be easier to work with), so starting with second-day hair is best. Tereska Jaranowski, master stylist and owner of Salon Tereska in Old Metairie, says that her clients often come to her asking for an updo that looks put together but not too overdone — “as if they did it themselves,” she says. To achieve this, Jaranowski keeps her updos loose and soft, creating texture and volume with a little back-combing. Though clients often bring in a photo of a style they like, Jaranowski says that a professional stylist can help you achieve a look that’s right for you. “I love photos for inspiration, but I also have to consider a client’s hair type and face shape to ensure we come up with a style that’s perfect,” she explains.

Salon Tereska
613 Metairie Road, Metairie
(504) 832-3900
salontereska.com
Braided Bliss
Beth Washington of Hair by Beth NOLA and Carpe Diem Salon loves the way braided styles immediately transform a client’s look. To keep a braid from looking too “Tiger Lily,” Washington suggests leaving face-framing pieces out for sophistication. “For an elegant party look, I would add volume and height at the top of the head, and then pull the sides into a loose, elegant half-up, half-down braid,” she says, noting that second- or third-day hair is best for achieving a braided style.

Carpe Diem Salon
209 Harrison Ave.
(504) 723-5919
carpediemboutiquesalon.com
The High Ponytail
A sleek, high ponytail draws attention to your makeup, jewelry and outfit. Plus, it can be easily achieved at home. Here’s how to execute it:

Start with clean, freshly washed hair.
Blow dry with a round brush, making sure to dry all the way through the ends to achieve a sleek look.
Pull hair into a high ponytail, and secure with an elastic band.
Flat-iron the ponytail, and wrap a piece of hair around the elastic to hide it.
The Messy Topknot
Similar to the high ponytail, the topknot is youthful and a bit playful. Pull it off like so:

To achieve height and volume, flip your head upside down and gather your hair at the top of your head before flipping back over.
Pull your hair into a ponytail, and secure with an elastic band at the crown.
Lay your thumb horizontally on the elastic and loop a thin section of the tail over your thumb, anchoring it to the elastic band with bobby pins.
Wrap the rest of the tail around the loop to form a full bun.
Pin in place.
Delicately pull a few strands out for a messy, natural look — especially around the face.

Short & Sassy
You don’t have to have long locks for a formal party look! Just follow these guidelines for an easy, breezy look:

Amplify your sleek bob by getting it blown out professionally so it’s picture-perfect.
Another option is to dress up your short tresses by adding texture and a few waves with a curling iron or beach spray, then spritz with hairspray to keep it in place.