Holiday Hair Trends

From a sexy, slightly undone bun to a messy braid, the best party looks this season are DIY

You've got a calendar filled with upcoming holiday parties, from family get-togethers to swank evening soirees. While you're shopping for a killer cocktail dress (or two) and working on the season's glam cat-eye, take a chance with a new updo, too. If you've never been able to master a flawless chignon or a polished French knot, don't fret. This year's party hair is all about texture and imperfection.

Here are the easy steps to two great holiday dos from Janine Jarman, owner of Hollywood's Hairroin Salon. Trust her to get sexy right: She's styled the hair of the Pussycat Dolls, Britney Spears, Christina Applegate and Carmen Electra.

Messy Bun
The key to the look (and the messy braid that's below) is beginning with great hair texture, says Jarman. “If you don't have it, you can create it,” she says. Her favorite do-it-yourself tool: Hot Tools Deep Waver.
1. Starting with clean or, better yet, day-old hair, section your tresses with clips, like Hot Tools Professional Alligator Clips.
2. Taking a 1-inch section of hair at a time, begin at the roots, and press the hair into the waver. Hold for three full seconds. Then, overlapping slightly so you don't leave gaps, work down to your ends. When you've finished your whole head, “you'll have this great wild wavy hair,” says Jarman.
3. Apply a dry, workable hairspray like Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Working Hairsprayrunning your fingers through your hair to reach the layers underneath.

4. Pull your hair softly to the nape of your head. Secure with a Localoc Bobby Band, a combination bobby pin and elastic. “They're much easier to handle than separate elastics and bobby pins,” says Jarman, “and every stylist uses them on photo shoots.”
5. Take this low ponytail and twisting it to the right, coil softly around the bobby pin. Secure with large hairpins.
6. Now, go through the bun and pull it slightly apart with your fingers. “Some hairs will come loose and that's fine,” says Jarman. “Let these frame your face. You want the look to be loose, not tight and contrived.”
7. Mist lightly with your working hair spray.
8. Embellish with decorative hairpins or your favorite brooch attached to a bobby pin.

Messy Braid
Follow steps No. 1 and 2 to the left.
3. Smoothing your hair with your hands, sweep your hair over your right or left shoulder.
4. Keeping your hands in front of you, so the braid lies flat, braid your hair.
5. Secure the bottom inch with an elastic.
6. Divide the hair that's below the elastic into two parts, pinch one section and push the braid section up to gather the hair into a “push-up” braid. “It just makes the braid a little more interesting,” says Jarman.
7. Spray with working hair spray.
8. Go through the braid with your fingers, loosening it up a bit to let some wisps fall out and frame your face.
9. For a finishing touch, layer two or three Karina Elastic Flat Headwrapsin different colors, letting them criss-cross over one another.