Pulling together the perfect holiday party look involves more than just finding the right outfit. Regardless of whether you’re going for a sleek, tailored vibe or something bohemian and romantic, your hair style is an essential part of your overall aesthetic. To get a few party hair ideas for this holiday season, we turned to Clementine’s Salon owner Dani Everson. The veteran stylist said that the first step to getting party ready hair is to make sure it’s in tip-top shape. “Just like your skin, the winter climate can cause hair to become dry. Adding a conditioning treatment to your haircare routine, and switching to a more moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, will help combat dehydration.” Her second pro tip is to use a good SPF heat protectant. Blow dryers tends to be used more during winter months, and tend to dry out hair. With those basic tips in mind, here are Everson’s party styles that any girl with average hair skills can master.

The Rolled Headband

Start with a dry shampoo like Bumble and Bumble Pret a Powder on dry hair, and massage it into your roots or add a pinch to your brush and work it through your hair. The dry shampoo will give hair some grit, as well as absorb oil. Next, place a headband on your head with the open portion of the band at the forehead and the body of the headband resting on the occipital bone in the back. Grab a medium-sized amount of hair around the face and tuck it into the headband, making sure it comes out on the opposite side. Do it again, by grabbing the next section of hair in towards the center of the back of the head, and repeat this process. Continue working your way toward the center of the headband by pulling sections of hair and wrapping them around the headband. Once you reach the back-center of your head, twist the hair and tuck with a bobby pin. Tuck any flyaway hairs into the band with bobby pins as well. Use a light hold hairspray like R + Co Outer Space Hairspray to hold the style.

The Easy Braided Updo

Start by using a texturizing spray like Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray to give the hair a little grit. Take all of your hair and place it into a side ponytail at the nape of your neck. Braid the hair and place an elastic hair band at the base of the braid. To give it a “messy” or textured look, feather out the braid by pulling small sections of hair outward. Pull the braid across the back of the head to the other side, tuck under the main portion of the braid to hide the ends and secure with a bobby pin. Finish with a medium hold hairspray like Living Proof Flex Shaping Hairspray for hold and to tame flyaways.

The rolled headband. Photography courtesy of From the Hip Photo
The rolled headband. Photography courtesy of From the Hip Photo
The easy braided updo. Photography courtesy of From the Hip Photo
The easy braided updo. Photography courtesy of From the Hip Photo
Vintage waves. Photography courtesy of From the Hip Photo
Vintage waves. Photography courtesy of From the Hip Photo
The deep-parted slick ponytail. Photography courtesy of From the Hip Photo
The deep-parted slick ponytail. Photography courtesy of From the Hip Photo

Vintage Waves

Use heat protectant spray on the entire length of hair; Dani recommends DryBar Hot Toddy Heat and UV Protectant, which evens porosity and protects against heat damage and Shu Uemura Ample Angora Volumizing Mousse to enhance curls and build volume. Take a small half-inch curling iron and curl all of the hair in small sections going the same direction. Once all the hair is curled, run Bumble and Bumble Grooming Creme from roots to ends for a matte finish and to help with hold. Next, use a wide-toothed comb to brush the hair out. It will take more combing than you initially think. Just keep combing until you get the desired wavy effect. Set the look with a medium to strong hairspray, like Bumble and Bumble Spray de Mode. This style also looks especially polished with a barrette placed toward the bottom of the bangs, above the ear.

The Deep-Parted Slick Ponytail

Part hair deeper than normal. Use a light pomade and your hands to calm the flyaways and slick the hair back. Secure with a metal-free hair tie at the base of the nape of your neck, then—if your hair is thick enough—wrap a small section of hair around the hair tie, to conceal the fastening. Use a dime amount of R + Co Continental Glossing Wax to slick back flyaways and give hair a subtle sheen. This elegant and sophisticated look can take as little as five minutes—but that can be your little secret.

Clementine’s Salon, 2009 W. 33rd Ave. or Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Second Level, 720-328-3594, clementinesdenver.com