Women attending holiday parties this year will want to look their very best. While fashion plays a substantial role in one’s appearance, so does one’s hairstyle. Perfectly coiffed hair always gets compliments, especially from the gentlemen at the parties. Having an updo does not mean having to attend a hair salon, especially if you are on a budget for the holiday season. The four updos described below are very easy to do, and can have fancy barrettes, combs, or even hairbands to add to the look.
A Sculpted Updo
The first updo works with long hair. Brush your hair, bending over so that the hair falls to the crown of your head. Gather it into a ponytail and use a covered elastic that will blend in with your hair (white for blonde hair, brown for brown or bronze hair, black for brunette hair). Brush the ponytail and twist it in one direction. Hold the bottom securely, then start to wind it at the base of the ponytail. Use several bobby pins to hold the small bun in place. With the remaining portion of the hair, keep it twisted, and align it right beneath the bun at your crown. Insert more bobby pins so the twisted “rope” of hair remains in place. Tuck in the bottom end of the hair so that it appears nice and smooth, securing with more bobby pins. This will give your hair a nice, sculpted form. For an option, add a rhinestone barrette like this one near the nape of your neck where the hair is secured. Called the Marque barrette, it is available from Glitz Online for $9.95.
The “T-Braid” Updo
The second updo works for hair that is shoulder length. French braid your hair at the top of your head, all the way down to the bottom. Secure the ends with a covered elastic. Tuck the ends underneath and secure with bobby pins so that it is off the nape of your neck. Then with a 14″ to 16″ strand of silky straight hair that matches your hair color and braid it, securing both ends with elastics. Position this directly over your head as you would a headband. Pin in place with bobby pins. I call this one the “T-Braid” style. Use a spritz of hairspray from Biosilk as a finishing touch. Biosilk hairspray can be purchased from Hair Products for $9.95 a can.
Updo for Short Curls
For short hair that is cut directly below the ear, or shorter, can be curled using a curling iron. Use small sections for each curl and let it hang like spirals. Start on one side of the head, working your way around to the other side. Once your hair is curled, use a rattail comb to section off a part of hair on each side near the top of your head. Do not comb out the curls; just gather the hair up and hold it in place with a banana clip The clip should be positioned where the center part in your hair would be.
Braided Bun
The last hairstyle works with shoulder length or longer hair. Brush your hair back into a ponytail, positioned slightly below the crown of the head. Braid your hair, then secure the ends with a covered elastic. Starting at the base of the braid, wind it around, securing the braided bun with bobby pins. Tuck in the ends of the braid underneath the bun with more bobby pins. At the top of the bun, stick in a rhinestone comb like this one called “Bewitching Bow” from Headpiece Heaven for $48.00.
