Celebrity-Inspired Holiday Hair Ideas 2014
Celebrity-Inspired Hair Ideas Perfect For Winter Parties
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The holidays require you to up your glam hair game: glimmering hair accessories, sleek buns, and awe-inducing braids will be appearing at every party that comes your way. It's time to put a little sophistication into your daily style for festive soirees. A-listers have been sporting gorgeous styles that any woman is totally capable of re-creating at home. Keep reading to check out how you can achieve the looks of celebs like Selena Gomez, Jamie Chung, Rita Ora, and more.
1 Tousled Side Braid
To achieve an effortlessly tousled side braid à la Cara Delevingne, first run a curling iron through your hair to create a textured base. Then, spray a dry shampoo like Umberto Dry Texture Spray ($10) through strands to give your hair grip. Weave your hair into a loose braid, and place it over your shoulder.
2 Low Bun
When creating this look, like Selena Gomez's, you want to make a perfectly straight middle part. Use a fine-tooth comb like the Cricket Silkomb Comb ($20) for precision, then sweep hair back to the nape of your neck and secure with an elastic. Create a carefree bun by pinning pieces of hair until all locks are secure. Top off the look with a flexible hair spray for polish and hold, like TIGI Rockaholic Fun Times! Flexible Hairspray ($23).
3 Chain-Wrapped Braids
To give your hair a hint of glitz like Jamie Chung did, find a thin gold necklace chain and unfasten it so that it's one long strand. Create two small braids toward the top of your head, and fasten with a clear hair elastic. Drape the chain around one braid, and let it hang a few inches from the plait. You'll be getting compliments on your glitzy hair accessory all night.
4 Polished Ponytail
To create a polished ponytail like Maria Menounos's, the key is to create smoothness and shininess without weighing down your hair. Use a light product like Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum ($19) before blow-drying hair with a round metal brush. While drying, make sure to curl the ends under by rotating your brush at the tips of locks while applying hot air. Once hair is completely dry, brush it back and secure it in the middle of your head for a perky pony.
5 Wavy Updo
Gugu Mbatha-Raw always looks flawless, but you too can make yourself look like you stepped out of 1930s Hollywood by rocking this updo. First, follow our finger-wave tutorial to achieve flawless vintage curls. Then, brush one side of hair tight and leave the other half loose when fastening hair low to your head. Wrapping your already-curled hair into a bun should be easy after following the previous steps.
6 Topped With a Headband
Feeling lazy before stepping out for a night of partying? The easiest possible way to achieve holiday-ready hair is with an incredible head accessory, as demonstrated by Katy Perry. Simply pull your hair into a bun, and braid the ponytail. Wrap the braid around itself, and pin in place. Top off your look with a killer statement-maker like this Siboa Headband ($35) from Nasty Gal.
7 Simple Topknot
If you have bangs, consider sweeping them to the side for an Audrey Hepburn-esque look like Rashida Jones did. Pile hair on top of your head, and secure with a hair tie. Leave a three-inch section of hair hanging from your ponytail, and pin the remaining hair into a bun. Take your three-inch strand, braid it, wrap it around the bun, and pin it in place — your festive updo is complete!
8 Glam Curls
Short-haired girls like Lily Collins can rock curls too. Wrap dry hair in Studio LUXE Setter ($45) hot rollers, and let set for 15 minutes. Gently pull out the rollers and brush through so that the top of your head is smooth. Finish off with a touch of Rusk W8less Strong Hold Shaping and Control Hairspray ($8).
9 Down and Sleek
To keep your locks sleek and shiny like Gwen Stefani's, wash your hair with a frizz-controlling formula like Aveda Smooth Infusion Shampoo ($40). Once dry, use Pantene Pro-V Stylers Heat Protection Spray ($6) from root to tip and flat-iron hair for a supersmooth finish.
10 Milkmaid Braids
This Lauren Parsekian style would make any ugly Christmas sweater look adorable. Part your hair down the middle, and brush until smooth. Weave a braid on each side of your head, and wrap over the top of your head until it meets your opposite temple. Secure with Kimble Rubberized Bobby Pins ($7) for a slip-free finish.
11 Soft Waves
Rita Ora's style is a no-brainer if you follow our sexy-waves tutorial. First apply a volumizing spray to damp hair, like Sally Hershberger Plump Up Thickening Mist ($13). Flip your hair over and blow-dry it, then add a shine spray through locks. Curl your hair, alternating between one- and two-inch sections. Spray strands with hair spray, and gently run your fingers through it for an effortless look.
12 Vampy Half-Up
Jennifer Lopez's look is all about creating volume with the half-down part of the hair, so apply Davines Volume Boosting Mousse ($26) to the roots of locks before blow-drying. Then pull back half of your hair, starting at your temples, and secure with a clear hair elastic.
13 Retro Ponytail
Iggy Azalea's perfect pompadour is all about volume. Curl your hair from root to tip, and brush it out so that the waves smoothly melt together. Take the top piece of your hair: a good way to measure is to draw an imaginary line from each pupil up to the top of your head; the space in between your pupils will amount to the perfect section of locks. Backcomb the selected piece of hair for tons of volume using a Spornette teasing brush ($8), then brush it back so that it's smooth on top. Pull your hair back tight to the sides of your head, and fasten with a ponytail holder. You'll be looking like a movie star all night.
14 Tight Curls
The key to Jordin Sparks's 1970s diva curls is a tiny curling iron like this Hot Tools Professional iron ($36) that's just three-eighths of an inch thick. Wrap small sections of your hair around the iron, and then shake your hair from your roots with your fingertips. Finish off the look with hair spray.
15 Glossy Waves
Looking to channel your inner Veronica Lake (or Emma Stone)? Create glossy curls by running a smoothing product like Redken Glass 01 Smoothing Serum ($22) through damp locks, and blow-dry straight. Then wrap two-inch sections of hair around a curling iron. Once curls cool, gently brush them out to polish off the look.
