The 13 Holiday Hairstyles for Medium Hair Owning Your Feed

There is something about medium hair at the holidays that just works. It is long enough to feel festive and short enough that I am not fighting it in the bathroom at a restaurant. This year I have been living for soft shine, easy updos, and one too many velvet bows. These are the holiday hairstyles for medium hair I keep saving, wearing, and recommending to friends.

1. The Soft Tousled Party Waves

I start here because this is my default for almost every holiday party hairstyle dilemma. Soft, brushed-out waves on shoulder-length hair look expensive without trying too hard. Look at how she is wearing hers in the photo, that loose bend right at the cheekbone is exactly what makes it feel festive instead of everyday.

On medium hair, I use a 1.25-inch curling iron, curl away from the face, then comb through with my fingers and a little shine spray. This suits everyone, but I especially love it on layered cuts because the ends flick out just right. If you love that lived-in texture, these curly wavy medium hairstyles are worth a scroll for more length inspiration.

Salon ask: soft long layers with face-framing pieces, keep the perimeter blunt enough to look thick. Ask your stylist to show you curling techniques for shoulder length hair > before you leave so you can recreate that same bend at home. For color, a warm chestnut brown or honey-blonde balayage pops beautifully in low party light.

2. The Polished Low Bun Twist

When I do not know the dress code, I do this bun. It is neat, it stays put through hugs and coats and too many appetizers, and it lets earrings do the talking. She has hers sitting right at the nape, which I think is the most flattering spot for medium length.

I part mine in the middle, smooth with a light cream, twist low, and pin in a figure eight. Leave two thin front pieces out and curl them softly. This is perfect for fine to medium hair because you can add a small donut or padding and no one will know. It also works beautifully for second-day hair, which feels like a holiday miracle.

Salon ask: nothing major, just clean ends so the twist looks smooth. If your hair slips, prep with texture spray first. I learned a low-twist variation from reading about low chignon techniques > on a long car ride to my parents, and I have used it ever since.

3. The Velvet Bow Half-Up Moment

Okay, this is the one. A black or burgundy velvet bow clipped into a half-up style on medium hair is peak December to me. It is sweet but grown-up, and it takes about three minutes. See how she has hers tied just above the crown? That lift is what keeps it from looking flat in photos.

I curl the ends first, tease the crown lightly, pull back two front sections, and tie the bow over a clear elastic. It suits thick hair, thin hair, straight, wavy, all of it. For a holiday party, I go bigger with the bow. For Christmas morning, a smaller one feels right. If you collect clips like I do, you will love these Christmas hair accessories for holiday looks for more ways to wear them.

Salon ask: ask for soft face-framing layers so the front does not look too pulled. Hair color idea: a deep espresso or cherry cola shade looks unreal against velvet. And please use a real velvet bow with a clip, not a skinny ribbon. The plush texture is the whole point.

4. The Old Hollywood Side Wave

This one makes me feel like I should be holding a champagne coupe. A deep side part with smooth, sculpted waves is such a classic holiday updo alternative for medium hair when you want hair down but still formal. The shine in the photo is what you want to copy. It looks wet in the best way, then softens as the night goes on.

I set mine with large Velcro rollers or a 1.5-inch iron all in the same direction, brush into one wave, and pin behind one ear. This is best on one-length lobs or hair with very light layering. Round faces, square faces, it honestly flatters everyone because that deep side sweep slims and lifts.

My personal pick for a fancy dinner? This side wave. I wore it last year with a black dress and red lips and I still think about those photos.

Salon ask: a glass-like blowout with a gloss treatment, side part to your best eye. For staying power, read up on vintage wave setting methods before party day and practice once. You will thank yourself at 6pm when you are not stressed.

See the Vintage Wave Technique Live

5. The Sleek Middle-Part Lob

Sometimes I do not want curls. I want sharp, clean, straight hair with a mirror shine. A sleek middle-part lob reads so modern next to sequins and satin. Look at her ends in the image, dead straight but not flat to the head. There is still a little air at the roots.

When I tried this for my office party, I flat-ironed in small sections, tucked one side behind my ear, and added a drop of oil only on the ends. It suits straight to slightly wavy hair best, and I think it is stunning on dark, solid color without a lot of highlights. Gives that high-fashion holiday party hairstyle energy with zero fuss.

Salon ask: blunt lob hitting the collarbone with minimal layers. Ask for a keratin-style smoothing blowout if you frizz easily. My fine-haired friends love this too because the center part creates symmetry and the blunt cut makes ends look twice as thick.

6. The Loose Curly Holiday Updo

If you have natural curls or waves, please do not flat-iron them away for the holidays. A loose, pinned-up curly style is one of the prettiest holiday updos for medium length. I love how her curls are gathered up but not pulled tight. You can still see the spring and movement.

I gather curls high at the back of the crown, pin in sections, let the ends spill, and pull a few coils free around the hairline. It suits oval, heart, and long faces especially because the height elongates. Refresh curls that morning with water and cream, then diffuse. Do not over-touch it after pinning or you will get frizz.

Salon ask: a curly cut with rounded layers so the updo has shape, not bulk. For inspo on working with your texture, I keep sending people to those celebrity inspired holiday hair ideas because the red-carpet curls translate so well to real life. And use U-pins, not tiny bobby pins. They hold curls without crushing them.

7. The Textured High Ponytail

A high pony for a holiday party? Yes, when it is soft and full. Not gym hair. Think lifted crown, wrapped base, ends curled. She is wearing a perfect version here, high enough to feel fun but with enough looseness around the face that it still feels dressy.

My trick is a double elastic for lift and a little backcombing at the crown before I smooth the top. Wrap a piece of hair around the base to hide the band. This suits medium to thick hair best, but fine hair can fake it with clip-in volume at the back. It is also great if you run hot at parties, because your neck stays free.

Salon ask: long layers to give the tail movement. Skip heavy front bangs if you want it sleek, or keep curtain bangs for softness. I like a caramel balayage with this because the pony shows off the dimension.

8. The French Twist for Shoulder Length

I used to think a French twist needed long hair. It does not. On shoulder-length hair it looks even chicer, a little undone and Parisian. Just twist, tuck, and let a few ends poke out at the top. Done. She has that slightly loose finish I always aim for, not too stiff.

How I do it: sweep everything to one side, pin a vertical line down the center, then roll the hair over the pins and tuck. Pull gently at the crown for volume. This is ideal for straight or lightly wavy textures and for anyone who hates hair in their face all night. Add pearl pins for Christmas Eve and it instantly becomes bridal-level pretty.

Salon ask: keep the nape clean and tapered so there are fewer flyaways to fight. If you want that editorial edge, peek at iconic red carpet holiday hair for how stars finish a twist with a deep side part and glossy roots. So good.

9. The Bouncy Blowout With Curtain Bangs

The bouncy blowout is back in a big way for 2026 and it loves medium hair. Lots of lift at the roots, flipped ends, curtain bangs that open like, well, curtains. I wore this to a Friendsgiving and got three compliments before dessert. That never happens to me.

Blow-dry with a large round brush, over-direct the front sections forward, then roll the ends under. Velcro rollers while you do makeup lock it in. Curtain bangs suit wider foreheads and heart shapes, but honestly most face shapes can wear a soft version. The key is keeping the bangs piecey, not heavy.

Salon ask: layered medium cut with curtain bangs parted in the center, shortest piece at the nose. Ask for a root lift and a light-weight shine serum. You can learn the brush angle from reading about blowout techniques for curtain bangs the night before, it really does help with that swoop.

10. The Braided Crown Party Look

This is my romantic pick. Two loose braids pinned across the crown look like a headband made of your own hair. On medium length it stays neat because there is less weight pulling it down. Hers looks soft and a little boho, which I prefer over a tight, severe braid for the holidays.

Braid from each temple back, pancake them gently for thickness, cross and pin. Leave the rest down in waves or curls. Great for thick or textured hair, and a lifesaver for second-day roots because the braids hide them. I add a tiny gold cuff or two if I am feeling festive.

Salon ask: face-framing highlights help braids pop. No special cut needed, but light layers keep the loose hair from looking bulky underneath. Wear it to an afternoon party or church service, it photographs beautifully from the side.

11. The Glossy Low Ponytail With a Barrette

Minimal girls, this is ours. A low, glossy pony with a pretty barrette feels polished in about five minutes. The photo sold me on the placement, low but not limp, with the barrette just above the elastic. Simple, but the shine makes it look intentional.

Smooth with a boar brush, secure at the nape, flat-iron the tail, add gloss spray. This flatters fine hair because the sleekness makes it look denser. Side part for softness, center part for edge. I wore this with a velvet blazer and felt like the best-dressed person in the room without even trying.

Salon ask: blunt ends, no wispy layers at the bottom. If you struggle with flyaways, a clear brow gel on a toothbrush along the part works wonders. Choose a tortoise, pearl, or crystal barrette and let it be the jewelry.

12. The Messy Top Knot With Tendrils

For casual holidays, like cookie decorating or a low-key dinner, I live in a top knot. But make it cute: high, loose, with two curled tendrils in front. She has nailed the balance here, messy enough to feel relaxed, shaped enough to look like you meant it.

Pile hair up, twist loosely, pin, then pull at the edges for fullness. Curl the tendrils away from the face. This works best on wavy or day-old hair with some grip. If your hair is super silky, add dry shampoo at the roots first or the knot will slide by hour two. Been there.

Salon ask: nothing fancy, just keep layers long enough to reach the knot. If your layers fall out, that is fine, pin the longer pieces and let the shorter ones be part of the look. Festive and forgiving is my love language in December.

13. The Pinned-Back Glam Layers

Last one, and it might be the easiest of all. Wear your layers down but pin back the front with two fancy clips. It opens up your face for photos and keeps hair out of the fondue, which matters more than we admit. Look at how her layered ends flick forward over her shoulders. That movement is everything.

I blow out with a side part, add a soft bend through the mid-lengths, then pin one side back or both sides symmetrically. This is perfect if you just got layered medium hairstyles and want to show them off. Oval, round, square, it all works because you control how much you pull back.

Salon ask: face-framing layers starting at the chin, longer layers through the back. Color-wise, dimensional brunette or buttery blonde shows the layers best under twinkle lights. Finish with a flexible-hold spray so the front stays back but still moves when you turn your head.

My Final Take Before You Grab the Bobby Pins

So which one are you trying first? I am rotating between the velvet bow half-up for family stuff and the sleek low bun for dressier nights. Medium hair gives you so many good options without the arm workout, so have fun with it. Save your favorite, do a quick trial run before the big night, and do not forget photos in warm light. That is where the shine really shows.