15 Christmas Hairstyles for Girls for the Holidays

The step diagram shows a three-strand braid with a red and green tartan ribbon incorporated as part of one strand, running the full length and finishing in a small bow. Weaving ribbon into a braid rather than tying it at the end is the single most useful holiday hair technique, and it takes no longer than an ordinary braid once you have done it twice. Pin the ribbon at the top of the section before you begin, or tie it to the elastic at the base of a ponytail, then simply treat it as part of one of the three strands and braid normally. The ribbon appears and disappears along the length, which looks deliberate and considerably more interesting than ribbon added afterward. Grosgrain is the fabric to choose — the ribbed weave grips against hair, while satin slips out within the hour regardless of how tightly it is tied. Tartan specifically reads as Christmas without any other festive element, so the rest of the style can stay completely plain.

The step diagram shows the top section gathered back and secured with a small elastic, finished with a burgundy velvet bow tied over it. This is the fastest festive style here, at around a minute, and it works because the accessory does all the seasonal work while the hairstyle underneath is entirely ordinary. Velvet photographs beautifully because the pile catches light softly rather than reflecting it as a hard spot, unlike plastic or metallic clips. Keep the bow proportioned to her head — an oversized bow dominates a tight photograph crop and can cast a shadow across her face. Position it slightly to one side rather than centred, which reads more naturally.

The step diagram shows a centre part with a Dutch braid down each side, each with a red ribbon woven through and finished with a small bow. This is the practical holiday style — the braids hold through a full day of a family gathering, and the ribbon carries the occasion. Cross the outer strands under the middle rather than over, adding a little new hair before each cross, with the ribbon travelling as part of one outer strand. Removing the ribbons afterward leaves two ordinary Dutch braids, which means the same style covers a Christmas dinner and a school day.

The step diagram shows a Dutch braid worked around the perimeter of the head like a headband, with the tail tucked and pinned, finished with a small green velvet bow at the join. The crown braid is the most secure style available, which makes it right for a long evening that involves running, dancing, and eventually falling asleep in a car. Every strand of front hair is contained. It takes around seven minutes, so practise it before the day rather than attempting it for the first time on Christmas Eve. Placing the bow over the join where the braid tucks under hides the finish neatly.

The step diagram shows a low bun at the nape with a burgundy ribbon wrapped twice around its base and tied in a small bow underneath. A low bun is the dressiest simple style and the most comfortable for a long evening, since it sits below a chair back and does not press when she leans. Twist the ponytail until it coils naturally, wind it around the base, and pin around the outside pushing inward. Then wrap the ribbon around the base of the bun and tie underneath rather than on top, which looks more finished and keeps the bow out of the way.

The step diagram shows a centre part with two high buns, each pinned and finished with a small tartan bow. Space buns are among the most requested styles by children themselves and the festive version costs nothing extra. Gather each side into a high ponytail, twist and coil into a bun, and pin around the outside. Position them slightly back from the very top of the head so they do not press when she leans back in a car. Two small matching bows rather than one large one keeps the balance right.

The step diagram shows a mid-height ponytail divided by four elastics, with a thin ribbon tied over each elastic. This turns a bubble ponytail into a holiday style with about ninety seconds of extra work, and the repeated bows read clearly even in a small photograph. Use thin ribbon rather than wide, since wide ribbon at four points becomes overwhelming. Tie each in a small single bow and trim the ends short — long trailing ends catch on clothing and get pulled. The multiple securing points mean this holds through a full evening.

The step diagram shows the top half gathered into a small bun at the crown with a fine gold cord wrapped around its base. A fine metallic cord is the subtlest festive element here and it catches tree lights beautifully without reading as costume. Use the half-pull loop method for the bun — pull the hair only halfway through the elastic on the final pass and tuck the end under, which makes a bun with no pins in under a minute. Wrap the cord twice and tuck the ends under rather than tying them, which stays neater.

The step diagram shows all the hair gathered over one shoulder into a plain three-strand braid, finished with a wide velvet ribbon tied in a bow. A side braid is the most comfortable dressy style and the fastest, since everything happens in front of you rather than behind her head. Bringing it forward over the shoulder also means the braid and the ribbon are visible in a photograph rather than hidden behind her. Secure the end with an elastic first and tie the ribbon over it, rather than relying on the ribbon alone to hold.

The step diagram shows two front sections twisted back and secured at the crown, with two small faux holly sprigs pinned at the join. Small botanical clips are a more elegant alternative to bows and photograph well because the shapes read clearly at a distance. Keep them small and use two rather than one, placed asymmetrically. Twist the front sections inward toward the back of the head rather than outward, which tucks the hair against the head and holds considerably longer.

The step diagram shows a fishtail braid down one side with a thin red ribbon woven through it. A fishtail uses two sections rather than three, crossing small pieces from the outer edge of each section over to the other. It looks considerably more intricate than a standard braid and is genuinely not much harder, though it takes longer. The woven texture holds a thin ribbon particularly well because there are more crossing points to grip it. This is the style to choose for a formal Christmas gathering or photographs.

The step diagram shows a mid-height ponytail with a large velvet bow tied at the base, covering the elastic entirely. The oversized bow is a deliberate choice here rather than a mistake — for a full-length photograph or a party rather than a tight portrait crop, a larger bow reads well and is a recognisable holiday look. Keep it to velvet or grosgrain rather than stiff wired ribbon, which sits awkwardly and pokes. Secure the ponytail properly with an elastic first; the bow is decoration and should not be load-bearing.

The step diagram shows a centre part with each side divided in two, twisted individually, wrapped around each other in the opposite direction, and finished with small bows. A rope twist looks like a braid and takes roughly half the time, because it uses two sections rather than three. Twist each section in the same direction, then wrap the two around each other in the opposite direction — that opposing wrap is what locks it and stops it unravelling. Adding a thin ribbon into one of the two sections works exactly as it does in a braid.

The step diagram shows a small braid from one temple, worked across the top of the head with a green ribbon woven through, pinned behind the opposite ear with the rest of the hair down. This is the most understated option here and a good choice for a school concert where a large bow would be impractical on stage. It keeps every strand off her forehead, which matters under stage lighting, while the hair stays down. Pin with two pins crossed in an X, which grips several times more securely than parallel pins.

The step diagram shows damp hair divided into two loose braids before bed, unbraided in the morning to reveal soft waves. Christmas morning is the one day of the year when nobody has time to do hair, and this removes the problem entirely. Braid lightly damp hair loosely before bed — loose rather than tight, since a tight overnight braid crimps rather than waves and is uncomfortable to sleep on. In the morning, unbraid and separate with fingers rather than a brush. Add a bow later if there are photographs. It costs two minutes at bedtime and zero minutes on the day.