Going straight from work to a seasonal bash is a formula for making this the least wonderful time of the year.
But you don’t need to rush from work to a salon. The News surveyed some of the top stylists in town to create five easy looks you can pull off in the office before you punch out to the punch bowl.
And luckily, creating a festive style is best with “second day” hair, because it holds its shape and doesn’t just slip through your fingers.
So experiment, have fun, and look your best out there:
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The New Chignon
Stylist: Arsen Gurgov at Louis Licari, 693 Fifth Ave.
Use a quarter-size drop of Moroccanoil Medium Styling Gel on the ends of the hair, and run it through with your fingers.
Using a Mason Pearson brush (or any paddle brush with bristles), comb the hair at the crown of the head backwards to create lift.
Create waves throughout the hair with a 1-inch curling iron on 1-inch sections.
Create a dramatic side part (roughly at the outer end of one eyebrow), and use a clear rubber band to make a low ponytail. But keep a 1-inch section of the hair near the hairline loose, from ear to ear.
Using small strands from the ponytail, create miniature loose buns, securing each with a bobby pin. Curl the front section and leave it loose for a wispy effect.
Finish off with KMS Maximum Hold Spray.
Low Ponytail
Stylist: Bricel Curry at DreamDry (multiple locations: dreamdry.com)
Use Oribe Texturizing Spray all over the hair, from roots to ends.
Use a 1-1/4-inch curling iron to create waves on one-inch sections, alternating the direction of the hair placed around the iron.
Tilt your head upside down and spray the Oribe all over to loosen up the curls.
Separate the center front section of the hair (where a mohawk would go), and back-comb that section using a Mason Pearson brush. “You want to make sure you’re getting enough height,” says Curry. Don’t comb it out, but set it with a light hair spray.
Very softly, gather all your hair into a low ponytail, maintaining the height of the mohawk section, and secure with a clear elastic band. Back-comb the top part of the ponytail for a slight bump.
Take a small strand from the ponytail and wrap it around the elastic band to hide it.
Finish with a light hair spray.
The Curly Hair Headband
Stylist: Melissa Pratt at Ouidad, 37 W. 57th St.
While hair is drying naturally, use a leave-in conditioner and gel to define the curls, making sure the curls are separated and smooth.
Use a clip to secure all the hair into a bun, off the shoulders.
Slide the Free Spirit headband by Dauphines of New York on, leaving a few trestles of curls in front of the headband to frame the face.
Remove the clip and let the hair fall down. Let some of the curls come forward over the headband instead of using it as a strict divider.
Finish with Ouidad Frizz and Flyaway Fighter.
The Sporty Braid
Stylist: Kayley Pak at John Barrett Salon, 754 Fifth Ave.
Add some pomade to the ends, and part the hair in the middle using a comb, dividing into two sections.
On each side, create an “upside down braid,” also known as a Dutch braid. Instead of braiding each of the three sections over each other, braid them under each other. Gradually add strands of hair as the braid moves down the head (in the French braid style). Make sure the braid stays tight against the head. Secure with a clear elastic band on each side.
Criss-cross the braids at the back of the neck, and wrap them in opposite directions until they form a bun. Use bobby pins to secure it, pushing them in and then down.
Finish with Oribe Superfine Hair Spray.
The Top Knot
Stylist: Eugene Toye at Rita Hazan Salon, 720 Fifth Ave.
Use a few rollers throughout the hair to give it a slight wave. Set them with light hair spray for about 10 minutes before letting hair loose.
Gather all the hair into a very high ponytail by flipping your hair upside down and tying a small elastic around the ponytail at the highest point of the head.
Back-comb the root of the ponytail slightly, and simply wrap the hair clockwise around the elastic until it forms a bun.
Using the handle on a comb, loosen sections of the bun to fan out the hair. Secure with bobby pins.