27 Stunning Winter Formal Hairstyles to Elevate Your Look
Discover 27 breathtaking winter formal hairstyles perfect for any formal event. From classic updos to modern waves, find the ideal look to sparkle at your next winter dance or party.
Winter formals are the perfect opportunity to embrace glamorous styles and make unforgettable memories. The right hairstyle can transform your look, whether you’re heading to a school dance, a holiday celebration, or any special event this winter. Marie Claire’s own roundup of the season’s best holiday hairstyles makes a great point worth keeping in mind: the most flattering formal looks work with your natural hair type rather than fighting it, whether that means loose waves for straight hair or a defined curly updo for natural texture.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up 27 stunning winter formal hairstyles to inspire your next big night. From elegant updos to soft, romantic curls, get ready to turn heads and feel confident all evening long.
Braided Low Bun
The effortlessly chic braided low bun is a dreamy pick for your winter formal, keeping hair secure and polished through a full night of dancing.
Twisted Half Updo For Short Hair
Searching for a cute, low-fuss winter formal style that works perfectly on shorter hair? This twisted half updo adds structure at the crown while letting the rest of your length fall naturally.
Elegant Ponytail with Soft Waves
This effortlessly chic style keeps every stray soft wave perfectly gathered into an elegant ponytail, giving you movement without sacrificing polish.
Glamorous Curls With Headband
Elevate your winter formal look with soft, cascading glamorous curls paired with a sparkly headband for a touch of instant sophistication.
Voluminous Textured Updo
This voluminous textured updo is a dreamy pick for your winter formal, bringing height and dimension that photographs beautifully from every angle.
Side Braided Bob
This chic side braided bob is perfect for winter formal events, bringing a braided detail to a shorter length without needing extensions or extra length.
Curly Low Bun with Headband
Slip on a sleek velvet headband to elevate this soft curly low bun, turning a simple gathered style into something that feels event-ready.
Sleek Retro Waves
Sleek retro waves strike the perfect balance of timeless glamour and modern polish, working beautifully with a deep side part and a glossy finish.
Elegant Braided Low Bun Variation
This elegant braided low bun is perfect for winter formal events, offering a secure, sophisticated shape that holds up through a full evening.
Textured Low Chignon
The textured low chignon is a dreamy, effortlessly elegant pick for your winter formal, balancing polish with just enough undone texture.
Romantic Curled Holiday Ponytail
This soft, romantic curled holiday ponytail adds effortless charm to any winter formal look, with loose curls cascading below a secure base.
Whimsical Wavy Updo
Perfect for a dreamy winter formal vibe, this whimsical wavy updo combines soft texture with a gathered shape that feels both formal and relaxed.
Boho Bubble Braid Half-Up
Looking for a dreamy, low-fuss winter formal hairstyle that feels a little boho? The bubble braid half-up adds playful dimension to a half-up base.
Voluminous Wavy Half-Updo
This soft, voluminous wavy half-updo is perfect for your winter formal, combining lift at the crown with loose waves left down below.
Loose Curly Half-Up Hairstyle
This soft, romantic loose curly half-up look is perfect for winter formal events, letting natural curl pattern shine while keeping hair off your face.
Soft Curly Updo
The soft curly updo is such a dreamy pick for your winter formal, gathering natural texture into a polished, secure shape for the whole night.
Messy High Bun
For a dreamy winter formal vibe, the effortless messy high bun is quick to create and reads as intentionally undone rather than rushed.
Fishtail Half Updo With Waves
This dreamy fishtail half-up with soft, cascading waves is made for winter formal events, combining braided detail with romantic movement below.
Romantic Braided Half Updo
This dreamy romantic braided half updo is made for winter formal season, framing the face with a soft braid while leaving the rest of your hair loose.
Side Swept Dutch Braid
The side swept Dutch braid is such a dreamy, romantic pick for your winter formal, adding texture and movement that sweeps elegantly to one side.
Elegant Braided Bun With Twists
Perfect for wowing the crowd at your winter formal, this elegant braided bun with twists layers multiple techniques into one polished, detailed updo.
Voluminous Curly Ponytail
Elevate your winter formal look with this effortlessly chic voluminous curly ponytail, giving natural texture serious presence and movement.
Braided Updo With Winter Accents
This cozy braided updo, dotted with tiny frosted pine sprigs or sparkly pins, brings a festive seasonal touch to a classic braided shape.
Soft Twisted Low Bun
Perfect for a dreamy winter formal, this soft twisted low bun wraps neatly at the nape for a shape that feels both simple and elevated.
Curly Half-Up Ponytail
This soft, romantic curly half-up ponytail checks every box for a winter formal look, blending natural texture with just enough structure.
Twisted Half-Up Curls
This dreamy twisted half-up curls look is made for winter formal season, adding a twisted detail at the crown above soft, cascading curls.
Elegant Low Bun With Headband
This sleek, romantic elegant low bun paired with a dainty sparkling headband is a timeless choice for winter formal season. Fox News’s own roundup of expert hairstyling tips for the holidays echoes a lot of what makes these looks work: pick one statement accessory rather than layering several, and let it do the talking.
