Best Party Hairstyles for Every Hair Length
The holiday season is just around the corner, and you know what that means? There’ll be gatherings, food, and a ton of opportunities to try some new party hairstyles! Half the fun of the holiday season is getting to experiment with your look.
If you’re looking for inspiration, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a guide to some of the best party hairstyles for long, medium, and short hair. We also included tips on how to achieve a style that’ll last, whether you’re partying all night or making important appearances at upscale galas.
Are you ready to party?
Party Hairstyling Tools & Tips
To achieve most of these party hairstyles, you’ll want to have a few essential hair styling tools and accessories on hand. Here are some of the things you might need:
- Hot Tools: A blow dryer is always a must for prepping the hair. You may also want to have a straightener for sleek styles or a curler for wavy and curly styles. Curling your hair prior to most updos will actually help them stay in place longer.
- Hair Care Products: Hair spray will ensure that your hair stays put all night long, even if you’re planning to attend some wild celebrations. A heat protection spray is useful prior to straightening or curling, and a dry shampoo will prep your hair for textured voluminous styles.
- Hair Brushes & Combs: A wide-tooth comb will help you detangle your hair before you start and brush out curls into waves. Paddle brushes are great for smooth styles, and a round brush will help create voluminous blowouts.
- Styling Accessories: For most updos, you’ll need some small elastics and bobby pins. If you’re wearing your hair down, sectioning clips will help you stay in control as you heat style. Finally, you can add all kinds of fun clips or hairpins to glam things up!
Party Hairstyle Inspiration
Flipped Out Blowout
Right now, the hottest party hairstyle for long and medium hair is a flipped-out blowout. This style is smooth, voluminous, and incredibly sexy. Having the hair away from the face allows you to show off your gorgeous makeup, but this approach doesn’t have the severity of a tight ponytail or a slicked-back look.
To achieve this kind of blowout, you’ll want to blow dry your hair with a round brush, and make sure to twist the hair away from the face as you style. As an alternative, using a blow dryer brush makes the process faster and easier thanks to the built-in round brush barrel.
Mussed Waves
Very few styles are as sexy as mussed, beachy waves. This is one of our favorite party hairstyles for medium hair, especially if you’re planning to have a wilder night.
To create this look, start by parting your hair in the middle. Next, a bit of dry shampoo won’t hurt since it’ll add some grip and texture. Then, curl your hair in small sections, making sure each section is curled in a different direction. A medium-sized curler like our
Finally, using a wide-tooth comb, brush out those curls to create a beachy wave, and then use your hands to mess things up a little for that carefree style.
Clean Knot
In need of a cleaner or more professional party hairstyle, perhaps for your office Christmas party? A clean, low-slung knot is an excellent choice.
First, smooth your hair with the help of a hair straightener, and spray it with some hairspray to keep it in place. Use a brush to pull your hair back into a low-slung ponytail. Then, use a second elastic to pull your hair into a little loop, with a long tail.
Finally, wrap your hair around the elastic, with the little loop of hair still sticking out from below. Pin everything into place and you’ll have a gorgeous, easy party hairstyle.
Marcel Curl
If you’re planning to attend an upscale soiree, the Marcel wave is the most glamorous party hairstyle for long hair.
Creating this kind of look requires a large-barrel curler like our Paradise Max Volume Clip Curler. Curl the mids and ends of the hair all in one direction, being very careful to keep the size of every curl identical.
Alternatively, you can use a multi-barrel curler like the Almost Famous Wave Away, which quickly creates that defined, wavy texture in the hair with minimal fuss.
Finally, tease the roots to add some volume, and add a headband to give the look a slightly youthful twist. You can also leave it as is to keep things seductive.
Edgy 90s Bun
Want a playful look for all-night partying? This spiky bun is the perfect blend of 90s edginess and modern glamor. Plus, it looks fantastic even if your hair hasn’t been washed for a few days.
For an ultra-sleek style, straighten your hair first. Then, with a comb and some hair gel, pull it back as tightly as you can into a medium-high ponytail. Next, twist your hair and wrap it around the base of the ponytail, creating the start of a donut bun.
Pin the bun at the base, but leave some hair sticking out from the top. Use pins to hold that end in place. Run some gel through to make the end a little spikier, and you’re done!
Voluminous Ponytail
A party ponytail should be a little extra compared to your day-to-day pulled-back style. We love this super textured, voluminous look. It’s an excellent party hairstyle for any kind of event, from the most casual to the ultra-elegant.
To achieve this kind of volume, curl your hair first, and then mess up those curls with a wide-tooth comb or fingers to transform them into waves. A bit of teasing at the crown and a quick dose of dry shampoo will add texture and volume.
Finally, pull the hair into a low ponytail, but leave a few strands loose near the face and one small section loose below the ponytail. Twist that section around the base of the ponytail to hide the elastic - it’s our secret to upgrading even the simplest styles.
Finally, pull on sections of hair above the ponytail to add more volume and definition, and give a final curl to the hairs framing your face.
Flipped Ends
Simple. Glamorous. Chic. This is an easy party hairstyle for medium hair, but it really makes an impact.
All you need for this kind of exceptional look is a hair straightener. Ideally, choose a straightener with negative ion technology, to ensure you achieve that indescribable sheen.
Part your hair to the side, and then straighten it in sections. As you reach the end of each strand, curve the straightener outwards to create that flipped end effect. Once you’re done, go over the ends again to make sure they all flip out uniformly.
Side-Pinned Natural Curls
If you’re a naturally curly babe, you don’t have to stray from your natural hair texture. This glamorous look celebrates those lush curls, with just a few of them pinned to the side for that glam touch.
To create this kind of look, first, make sure that your curls are as defined as can be. You can apply a bit of hair gel to your hair, and then blow dry it on a low setting with a diffuser - it’s a sure way of getting your curls to look their best.
Then, part your hair sideways. On the side with the part, separate the hair near your hairline into a few sections. Twist each section and pin it back an inch or two away from your hairline for that sexy side-swept look.
Party On!
Party hairstyles don’t need to be super complicated or over-the-top. When you’re getting ready for a celebratory evening, it’s all about doing something a little different to help you feel special!
Every party is different, so do choose a hairstyle that’ll suit the particular event you’re attending.
Are you inspired by any of these gorgeous looks? Which one are you tempted to try, and for which event? Share your look with us on Instagram @LoveGlister and let us know!
Love,
GLISTER