The holidays are a great time to play with many styles and accessories. Here are some of my go-to tips on how to style your hair to perfection during this festive time.

1. Banish Dry, Static-y Hair

Photo: Joe Crawford

We all know these cold months tend to dry out our hair (due to the lack of moisture in the air)—and static is an instant hairstyle enemy. So make sure you condition your hair well. To get your style on the right foot, use a leave-in conditioner to help control the static and add moisture. When styling, use a flexible-hold hair spray to help with any fly-aways. Bristle brushes cause the most static when styling so using a comb instead. A trick I’ve used when styling hair is to dip the comb in a glass of water just lightly and run it through the hair.
2. Mermaid Waves

Photo: Joe Crawford

Mermaid waves have been hot this year and can be transitioned into many great styles. Not only is it a very classic look, but it’s versatile—great for any occasion. To style, all you need is a curling iron. The most ideal size is 3/25 of an inch. Your section doesn’t have to be perfect. However, whichever side you curl, always curl away from the face. The key to this technique is to twist your section and then wrap it around the outside of your iron. For tighter waves, take smaller sections. For looser waves take larger sections. Add an accessory and you are ready to go!

3. Faux Bob

Photo: Joe Crawford

Mermaid waves also transition to other styles seamlessly with just a few minor changes. For a faux bob à la Lauren Conrad, section away the top half of your curls, tease, then bundle up the curls underneath and pin down. You can do so loosely and still a little messy. Once pinned, let your top curls lay over. If you have shorter layers then all you need is a spritz of finishing spray and you’re done! If you have longer hair you can take your ends and pin them underneath where your other hair is tucked away. This same technique of pinning can be used to twist and pin away one side to give you and off to the side look that is also very popular.

4. Hot Buns

Photo: Joe Crawford

Audrey Hepburn, anyone? You can’t go wrong with a bun of any sort, but my favorite is the sleek clean bun that sits right on top of your head. It can be worn with or without accessories and is a perfect holiday style this season. A trick to get a fuller bun: section out half of your ponytail. the bottom section tease and roll into a ball. Pin your ball at the base and make sure there are no random fuzzies. Then take your top section and smooth it over your teased hair. You can use hair spray to help smooth it over. Once smooth, pin around the base of your bun. Twist the excess hair and wrap it around the base of your bun or just smooth it around the base. You can use this same technique anywhere you choose to place your bun.

5. Accessorize with Seasonal Flair

Photo: Joe Crawford

Accessories add some fun and personality to any style you choose. I like to use a headband, a brooch, or even a flower that’s in season. Accessories can be subtle to accent your look or bold to really make a statement and have you stand out in the crowd. Another fun addition you can add to your hair for the holidays is hair tinsel. Some colors can just add some shimmer (golds, black, or silver) or others can add a pop of color. For this look, I added a poinsettia to the bun. It completely changes the look! A poinsettia can be purchased at your local grocery store. This one was $3! Just bobby pin the stem to your hair. Ashley Stone is a stylist and owns her own salon.

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