10 Holiday Updos for Long Hair, Sorted by How Much Time You Have
Long hair gives you more to work with than any other length, but it also brings one problem that shorter hair doesn’t have: weight. Hair past your shoulder blades can pull a loosely built updo down by the time dessert is served, and the pins you placed at 6 p.m. are sliding by 9.
The fix is partly in the prep and partly in choosing a style that matches the time you have. A rushed 30-minute updo holds worse than a well-built 5-minute one. So these ten holiday updos are grouped by how long they take, and each one lists what you need before you start.
Pick Your Updo by Time
| Time you have | Updo | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 5 minutes | Rope-twist low bun | Family dinners, travel days |
| 5 minutes | Topsy-tail chignon | Last-minute plans |
| 5 minutes | Hair-stick bun | Cozy nights in, no elastics |
| 15 minutes | Gibson tuck | Office parties, dinners |
| 15 minutes | Rope-twist crown | Daytime gatherings, photos |
| 15 minutes | Double-knot chignon | Any holiday outfit |
| 15 minutes | Faux bob | Cocktail parties |
| 30 minutes | Side chignon with waves | Dressy events |
| 30 minutes | Loose pinned-curl updo | Formal dinners |
| 30 minutes | Victory-roll updo | Themed and vintage parties |
Prep That Keeps Long Hair Up
Heavy hair needs grip, and freshly washed, silky hair has almost none. Do these three things before any of the styles below.
Work on second-day hair, or fake it. A light mist of texture spray or dry shampoo at the roots and mid-lengths gives pins something to hold. Hair that’s too clean and smooth is the most common reason long-hair updos slip.
Curl or wave first for the fuller styles. A loose curl adds texture and makes hair easier to shape. If you use heat, apply a heat protectant on towel-dried hair (not soaking wet), and keep the temperature matched to your hair’s thickness. Our heat damage guide explains the settings.
Pin in pairs, crossed. One bobby pin slides; two pins crossed into an X lock each other in place. Use this on every section that carries weight. Firm, even tension is what holds an updo, but it should never feel tight at the hairline, which can cause breakage over time.
5-Minute Holiday Updos
1. Rope-Twist Low Bun
Gather your hair into a low ponytail at the nape and split it into two sections. Twist each section in the same direction, then wrap them around each other in the opposite direction to form a rope. Coil the rope around the elastic and pin it. The twisting compresses long hair into a smaller, denser shape, so the bun stays neat and doesn’t droop the way a loose wrap does.
It looks polished with a sweater, a velvet dress, or pajamas on Christmas morning. For a softer finish, gently pull a few pieces of the rope loose before pinning.
You need: 1 elastic, 4–6 bobby pins, texture spray
2. Topsy-Tail Chignon
Make a loose low ponytail, open a gap in the hair above the elastic, and flip the ponytail through it from the top. Then roll the flipped length upward into the gap, tucking the ends inside, and pin the roll in place. The flip creates twisted detail on both sides, so it looks more complicated than it is.
Long hair is ideal here because there’s enough length to fill the roll completely. If the roll feels too bulky, twist the ends before tucking them in.
You need: 1 clear elastic, 6–8 bobby pins
3. Hair-Stick Bun
Twist all your hair into one rope, coil it at the back of your head, then slide a hair stick (or two) through the coil, catching hair from the scalp underneath. The stick anchors the bun to the base, so no elastic is needed. That makes it one of the most comfortable updos for a long evening.
A wooden, pearl, or gold hair stick doubles as the holiday accessory. Practice once before the day: the trick is weaving the stick in and back out through the scalp hair, not only through the coil.
You need: 1–2 hair sticks, a light mist of hairspray
15-Minute Holiday Updos
4. Gibson Tuck
Put a thin stretchy headband over your hair, sitting at your hairline in front and at the nape in back. Take small sections and roll them up and over the band at the back, working from one side to the other, until all the length is tucked in. Pin the ends underneath.
This roll keeps long hair’s weight spread along the headband instead of hanging from one point, so it holds very well. Choose a velvet or jeweled band if you want it to show, or a thin elastic one that disappears into the roll.
You need: 1 stretchy headband, 6–10 bobby pins
5. Rope-Twist Crown
Part your hair down the middle. On each side, twist the hair back from the temple, adding hair as you go, then continue the twist to the ends. Lay one twist across the top of your head like a headband and pin it, then lay the second behind it. The result looks like a crown braid but takes half the time, since twists are faster than braiding.
Long hair has the length to reach fully across the head, so there are no gaps. If your hair is extra long, wrap the second twist around the back instead. Prefer braids? Our Dutch braid guide includes a full Dutch crown.
You need: 2 clear elastics, 10–12 bobby pins
6. Double-Knot Chignon
Split your hair into two sections at the nape and tie them in a simple knot, like tying a shoelace. Tie a second knot, then tuck the ends under the knots and pin. Long hair gives you enough length for two knots, which creates a compact, textured bun with no elastic at all.
It’s a low-profile style that works under a festive headband or with a small bow clipped to the side. Softly waved hair makes the knots easier to see.
You need: 4–6 bobby pins, texture spray
7. Faux Bob
Want a bob for one night without cutting? Curl your hair in loose waves, then gather the lengths at the nape into a low, loose ponytail. Roll the ponytail under and up toward the nape, and pin it so the ends disappear. Let the front and sides fall naturally over the roll, so from the front it reads as a wavy, chin-length bob.
This is a fun way to change your look for a cocktail party, and it takes the weight of long hair off your shoulders for the night. It works best on hair with some body; very fine, silky hair needs extra texture spray to hide the roll.
You need: a curling iron or wand, 1 elastic, 10–15 bobby pins, texture spray
30-Minute Holiday Updos
8. Side Chignon With Waves
Curl all of your hair in loose waves. Take a deep side part, then sweep the hair to one side just below the ear and twist it into a low bun that sits over one shoulder. Leave the waves at the front loose and soft, so they frame the face.
Placing the bun to the side takes weight off the back of the head and shows off earrings. It’s a strong choice for dressy holiday parties and photos. For more event-ready styles, see our festive hairstyles.
You need: a curling iron, 1 elastic, 10–12 bobby pins, flexible hairspray
9. Loose Pinned-Curl Updo
Curl your hair in medium curls and let them cool. Starting at the nape, lift one curl at a time, loop it loosely toward the back of the head, and pin it where it looks good. Keep going upward until all the curls are pinned in a soft, full cluster, leaving a few curls around the face.
This one looks romantic and effortless, and it’s forgiving: if a curl falls, just pin it again. Long hair creates a fuller cluster than shorter lengths can. If your curls tend to go frizzy, our frizz and humidity guide explains the routine that fits your hair.
You need: a curling iron, 15–25 bobby pins, flexible hairspray
10. Victory-Roll Updo
Take two sections from the front, one on each side of a side or center part. Roll each section backward around two fingers into a smooth tube and pin it on top of the head. Then gather the rest of your hair into a low roll or bun at the nape.
This vintage style is perfect for themed parties, retro dresses, or a New Year’s Eve night. The rolls need texture to hold their shape, so backcomb the section lightly at the root before rolling. For more New Year’s ideas, see our New Year’s Eve hairstyles.
You need: a teasing comb, 15–20 bobby pins, strong-hold hairspray
FAQ
What is the easiest holiday updo for long hair?
The rope-twist low bun and the topsy-tail chignon both take about 5 minutes and need only an elastic and a few pins. Twisting compresses long hair, so both stay neat without much skill.
How do I keep an updo from falling out in long, heavy hair?
Start with texture: second-day hair or a mist of texture spray. Build the base with an elastic where the style allows it, and pin in crossed pairs. Updos that spread the weight, like the Gibson tuck or a rope-twist crown, also hold better than a single heavy bun.
Can I do a holiday updo the night before?
The Gibson tuck and rope-twist crown can be done the night before and refreshed in the morning with a few new pins. Curled styles like the pinned-curl updo look best done on the day.
What should I use instead of bobby pins?
A hair stick, a claw clip, or U-shaped pins can replace some bobby pins. U-pins are especially good for long hair because they hold large sections without pinching.
Choose the updo that fits the time you have, prep for grip, and pin in pairs, and your long hair will stay up through dinner and beyond. For more ways to wear it up, see our bun hairstyles, braided buns that hold all day, or our Christmas party hairstyles for every kind of holiday party.
