It’s that time of the year when our calendars are filled to the brim with holiday parties and festivities. While you may have your party dress, sparkly shoes, and red lip all lined up, the question becomes what do we now do with our hair? The last thing we want to worry about is spending too much time on our locks, especially when we’re racing here, there, and everywhere during the holiday season. So I tapped into New York–based celebrity stylist, Jillian Halouska (who has styled celebs including Claire Foy, Julia Garner, and Lili Reinhart, name a few) to get her insider tips on how to easily style our hair this season and get it party-ready with a capital P!
"What makes party hair? What makes you look in the mirror and confidently feel your look is complete so that you're ready for champagne and fun!? Something needs to special about your hair for it to be party-ready—even just a touch over the top (an option I strongly encourage!)—a bouncy come-hither blowout, an unexpected cool-and-sexy wet look, a retro-glam pigtail moment, an inner Stevie Nicks–inspired massive head of curls, a chic boss-babe style, an accessory with a personality—these are all ways to bring the party vibe,” explains Halouska.
Scroll below as she shares her three easy ways to get your hair party ready.
The Ultimate Dancing Queen Hair
You can try this style on wet or dry hair (simply spritz sections of hair with a water bottle if doing it from dry). It requires a little more patience with your hair dryer, but the results are always worth it.
What to do:
Add a small amount of volumizing mousse through damp hair. Before blow-drying make sure you're hair is at least 60% dry to protect from frizziness. Blow out hair in sections with a big round brush until it’s fully dry. Begin with the lower layers, pointing the dryer's nozzle downward to help smooth hair. Continue with the top layers and curl the ends by rolling them under with a round brush. Add a volumizing spray then flip your hair upside down to create va-va-voom volume. Finish with a little hairspray or shine spray.
Achieve the look:
The "I'm Too Cool for this Party But I Came Anyway"
This edgy, cool-girl wet look is guaranteed to turn heads at any soirée. This works on all hair types and the best part—it's super quick and simple to achieve. No hair tools involved.
What to do:
After shampoo and conditioner, towel-dry your hair. Add a high-shine hair gel or mousse onto clean, damp hair. (The more gel you add, the wetter your look.) With a fine-tooth comb or boar-bristle brush, slick back your hair from root to tip. Mold and structure your hair with your fingers until you reach your desired look. Spritz on a shine or glossing spray evenly through the hair, avoiding roots. Finish with a shine-enhancing hairspray before the gel has fully dried and you're good to go!
Achieve the look:
The Retro-Glam Updo
For those looking for a fun and different kind of up-do, this retro look is a great option. It oozes a coy, sexy, and playful vibe with a dose of old-school glamor. This works particularly well for those with short hair.
What to do:
Curl and set your entire head with a one-inch iron and pin each section. (It doesn't need to be perfect, so you can go fast with the curls.) Spray with plenty of strong-hold hairspray. Take out the pins and brush hair out with a boar-bristle brush. Opt for a loose and tousled part, then use tiny bands to gather hair into pigtails and voilà—you're ready to go!
Achieve the look:
Up next, a celebrity stylist shares 3 easy hairstyles when you have zero time.
