| Updos For The HolidaysOrAny Special Event |
| Karen Marie Shelton |
| Date: 12/20/2000, Revised 8/4/2002 |
Introduction
 You
are all ready for the Holidays. You've
got the gorgeous Holiday dress and you are planning your entrance at a
fabulous Winter formal, corporate Christmas bash or some other festive
dress-to-the-nines event.
If you are stuck for what to do with your hair
this article has some great styles that are easy to do but will wear
well with any spectacular gown.
Simple But Elegant
 The simple but elegant bun is easy to create and
looks elegant when you want to show off a killer jeweled necklace,
fabulous earrings or a gorgeous neckline. This style
will work for just about any age and for hair that is medium in length
to long.
This style is best for hair that is straight and
medium to thick. However, if you have naturally curly or wavy
hair and are willing to first temporarily straighten your hair with a
balm like
Phytodefrisant,
Mine
Smooth Sailing or a similar product you can also easily create this style.
To create this simple but elegant bun style:
 1. On hair that is a day old (unwashed) or
on clean hair that is prepared with a good
mousse,
brush hair until it lays smoothly behind your ears.
2. Gather hair into a loose ponytail at the
top of your crown. Allow some hair on either side of the
ponytail to loosely drape to give the bun a softer and fuller look.
3. Clasp the ponytail with a "hair
friendly" elastic band that is the same color as your
hair. (Hair in side photo by L'Oreal)
 4. Twist the ponytail 2 or 3 times very
loosely so that a soft loose knot forms halfway between the top of
your head and the top of your neck. Use your hands to fashion and mold
your hair into this bun. Make it as full or tight as you prefer. Think
of your hair as molding clay and sculpt it into whatever shape seems
best for your preferences.
5. Use hair pins that are the same color as
your hair and anchor the bun so that it is held softly but firmly in
place at the middle of your head.
 6. Spray the bun with a good styling spray
to keep it in place. If you are going to wear hair jewelry always
spray your hair BEFORE applying the hair jewelry.
7. Add hair jewelry like
tiny
glittery hair jewels or place one larger flower into the bun to
instantly dress it up. Match the hair jewels to your dress for a
gorgeous accessory option.
 8. Take a
bottle of styling spray
with you in your purse to help control the
style.
You are all set to make a grand entrance to any
Holiday party or special event.
For an alternative look twist the hair so the bun
lays right on the top of the nape of the neck as shown above.
This allows you to create a softer and more sensuous look. Jazz
up the style with killer earrings and a fabulous cape or wrap.
Drama Queen
Hair
 Sleek
elegant and shiny hair never goes out of style. Right now for
the Holidays glamour and drama go hand in hand to define some hot hair
looks. This look will never go out of style since it has
classic appeal.
The style to the side is very easy to create but will
turn heads anywhere that you go. The key to this look for medium
to longer hair is dramatic shine.
To create this simple but elegant bun style:
1. On hair that is a day old (unwashed) or
on clean hair that with a good
mousse,
brush hair until it lays smoothly.
 2.
Bend over and brush all of your hair into a ponytail at the very top
and slightly to the side of your crown. Pull a small section of
hair out of the gathered hair and leave it to fall loosely over your
shoulders. Gather the rest of the hair into a tight ponytail at the
very top of your head. Your hair should be in two sections with
one section in a ponytail falling over your forehead into the front of
your face. The other section should be loose an falling over
your shoulder.
 3. Be sure to clasp the ponytail with a "hair
friendly" elastic band that is the same color as your
hair.
4.
Brush the ponytail hair until it is flat
and smooth and shiny. Apply a
good shine product and finish with
a shaping spray.
5.
As an option you can gather all the hair at the very top and side of
your hair and twist it into a big comma. Pin the tail of the
ponytail as shown to the right into a big loop. Spray with
shaping spray. Pull a few strands loose to splay out at the ends
of the ponytail.
 6. Use hair pins that are the same color as
your hair and anchor the ponytail loop so that it is held softly but firmly in
place on your head.
7. Spray the loop with a good
styling spray
to keep it in place. If you are going to wear hair jewelry always
spray your hair BEFORE apply the hair jewelry.
Be creative with the style. Pull some
strands out to "splay" in different directions. Play
with the style until you find the best look for you.
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