Christmas Hairstyles for Kids: 20 Fun & Easy Ideas Now!

Are you fighting tangles and tears just minutes before holiday photos? Every parent knows that rush: a chaotic bathroom, a crying kid, and a party that starts in ten minutes. Christmas hairstyles for kids should never cause that kind of stress.

This guide sorts 20 styles by time, hair type, and gender, so you find the right one fast. Every idea below uses tools most parents already own. Options range from a five-minute twisted pigtail to a detailed ribbon braid for a formal dinner. Boys’ styles get equal space here too, something most guides skip entirely.

Your child has five minutes before the school bus or fifteen minutes before a family photo. Either way, a style below fits that exact moment. Scan the quick reference table first, or jump straight to the section that matches your child’s hair type.

Why Christmas Hairstyles for Kids Matter This Season

Holiday parties, school programs, and family photos all happen in a tight window each December. Searches for holiday hairstyles for kids spike every year for the same reason: parents want something quick that still looks special. A cute hairstyle finishes the outfit and gives kids confidence walking into a crowded room. It also holds up through hours of playing, eating, and hugging relatives. Parents searching for kids christmas hair usually want two things: speed and durability. The styles below deliver both, whether your child has a five-minute morning or time for a special braid. Styling your own hair for the season too? Our holiday updos guide covers looks that hold up through a full night out.

Quick 5-Minute Styles for Busy Mornings

Some mornings do not allow for fancy braiding. These four styles use basic tools and hold up all day, even through recess or a car ride to grandma’s house. They also work well when you have more than one child to style before you walk out the door.

Bubble Ponytail with Ribbon

Gather all the hair into a high or low ponytail and secure it with an elastic. Add three or four more small elastics every two inches down the length, then gently pull each section outward to form a bubble shape. Thread red or green ribbon through the top elastic to finish. It works best on mid-length to long hair and survives a full day of play.

Twisted Pigtails

Split the hair into two even sections at the center part. Twist each red section twice around itself, then secure the end with a small elastic. Add a small bow at the base of each twist for holiday flair. Even chin-length hair holds this one just fine.

Headband Braid

Take a one-inch section of hair from each temple. Braid each section back toward the crown, then cross the two braids and pin them together at the back of the head like a headband. Leave the rest of the hair down or in a low ponytail. It keeps hair out of a child’s face during a holiday meal.

Half-Up Bow Twist

Section off the top third of the hair and twist it back toward the crown. Secure the twist with a clip topped by a festive bow, leaving the rest of the hair down. It gives fine hair the volume a full updo usually can’t hold.

Best Christmas Hairstyles for Little Girls

Girls’ hairstyles for the holidays range from simple ponytails to detailed braided art. These eight styles cover both casual days and formal events like a Christmas Eve dinner. Each one photographs well under both natural light and the warm indoor lighting common at holiday parties.

Braided & Bun Styles

Braids and buns hold up the longest, which matters during a full day of holiday activities. Each style below works better with a light texturizing spray first, since damp hair slips too much for a clean braid.

Candy Cane Braid

Section the hair into a low ponytail, then braid it with red and white ribbon woven through as a fourth strand. Wrap the ribbon tightly at even intervals to create the candy-striped effect, then finish with a small bow at the base. Budget about 10 minutes, and make sure hair reaches at least shoulder length before you start.

Ornament Bun

Gather the hair into a low bun and secure it with bobby pins. Wrap thin ribbon around the bun in a crisscross pattern, then form a small loop at the top for the ornament’s “hook” detail. The shape holds for hours, even through a long family dinner.

Wreath Braid

Best on shorter hair. Start a French braid at one temple and circle it around the head, pinning the end near the starting point. Pull a few loose face-framing pieces free for a softer look, then add small red berries or a bow clip along the braid for the wreath effect.

French Braid Crown

Best on longer hair, and it takes about 15 minutes. Start a French braid at one ear and continue it around the head to the other ear. Tuck the tail into a low bun at the back and pin it flat. It stays neat through an entire party, no touch-ups required.

Pro tip: If you’re styling two kids before a party, start with the crown braid since it takes the longest, then finish with the quicker wreath braid.

Ribbon & Bow Accented Looks

Ribbon turns a plain style into something made for the season. Width matters more than most parents expect: a thin, quarter-inch ribbon blends smoothly into a braid, while a wider ribbon tends to bunch and slip out by midday.

4-Strand Ribbon Braid

Fold a length of ribbon in half and tie it to the base of a ponytail. Braid the ribbon as a fourth strand alongside three sections of hair, keeping the tension even. Secure the end with a small elastic. It survives an entire evening of dancing at a family party, ribbon and all.

Peppermint Wrap Bun

Twist the hair into a low bun and pin it in place. Coil striped ribbon around the bun from base to top, tucking the loose end underneath. The peppermint-candy effect works just as well at a formal dinner as it does at a school concert.

Tree Pull-Through Braid

Section the hair into small ponytails stacked down the head, each one wider than the ponytail above it to form a triangle shape. Pull each ponytail through the elastic of the one below it, working down to the last section. Add a tiny star-shaped clip at the top to finish the tree shape.

Ribbon Braid Pigtails

Split the hair into two low pigtails. Apply the same ribbon-braiding technique used in the four-strand braid to each pigtail separately. It survives recess and gift-wrapping sessions alike, which makes it a safe bet for younger girls who never sit still.

Pro tip: Satin ribbon photographs better than grosgrain under indoor holiday lighting, which makes it the better pick for family photo sessions.

Festive Christmas Hairstyles for Boys

Boys deserve just as much attention during the holidays, yet most articles skip them. These five looks work for school parties, family photos, or a casual Christmas morning, and each one takes under five minutes with the right product.

Side Part

Comb damp hair to one side using a fine-tooth comb to create a defined line. Apply a light-hold gel and smooth the hair flat against the head. It works with a holiday sweater or a blazer, and it holds through an entire church service or school program without a touch-up.

Textured Crop

Rub a dime-size amount of styling cream between your palms, then scrunch it through dry hair, lifting from the roots. The result is a tousled, low-effort finish that forgives a little movement, useful for boys who can’t sit still.

Faux Hawk

Apply gel to damp hair and comb it toward the center of the head. Push the center section upward to form a ridge, then smooth the sides flat for contrast. Add temporary red or green hair spray along the ridge for extra spirit at a class party or family gathering.

Sleek Back

Comb hair straight back from the forehead using a strong-hold pomade, working the product through in sections to avoid clumps. It suits formal dinners and photographs well under bright indoor lighting, since every strand stays put.

Curly Top

Apply curl-defining cream to damp hair, scrunching gently from ends to roots. Let curls air dry, or use a diffuser on low heat, to keep the pattern bouncy for casual days. Skip the brush entirely once curls dry, since brushing breaks up the natural pattern.

Pro tip: Apply product to damp hair for hold-based looks like the side part or sleek back. Apply it to dry, curly hair. The focus is on the structure-based looks like the crop or curly top. Getting this order backward is the most common reason a style falls flat by lunchtime.

Hairstyles by Hair Type: Curly, Fine, and Straight

Not every technique works the same way on every texture. Matching the style to the hair type saves time and prevents breakage on a rushed morning.

Curly-Hair Twist-Out

Divide damp curls into four to six small sections and twist each one from root to tip. Let the twists air dry completely before separating them gently with fingers. Add small clips or a bow at the crown to finish. Curly hair grips braids longer than straight hair, so a candy cane braid often lasts two full days without frizzing out. For extra hold in humid weather, pair this with a few tips from our guide to taming frizzy hair.

Fine Hair Volumizing Half-Up

Tease the crown section lightly with a comb before clipping it back, which adds lift without extra product. Avoid tight elastics on fine hair, since they leave visible dents that take hours to brush out. A light dry shampoo at the roots before styling also gives fine strands more grip for elastics to hold onto.

Straight-Hair Low-Glossy Ponytail

Smooth a small amount of serum through dry hair to remove flyaways. Gather the hair into a low ponytail and wrap a single ribbon around the elastic to hide it. Straight hair braids loosen faster than curly hair, so a light-hold hairspray on the finished style helps it last through a full afternoon.

Tools and Products You’ll Need

Most of these styles use items already sitting in a bathroom drawer.

• Rat-Tail Comb: Creates clean parts for braids and pigtails. The pointed end makes sectioning hair for the crown braid far easier.
• Small, Snag-Free Elastics: Work better than thick hair ties, which can pull on a child’s scalp. A pack of a few hundred usually costs less than a coffee.
• Topsy Tail Tool: Makes flip-through styles like the headband braid much easier for beginners, since it threads hair through a loop instead of relying on shaky fingers.
• Leave-In Conditioner: Detangles hair before styling. Brushing through knots causes most of the tears during holiday prep.
• Light-Hold Texturizing Spray: Gives slippery, freshly washed hair enough grip to hold a braid, which matters most for straight or fine hair types.
• Styling Cream or Matte Pomade: A small tub goes a long way for boys’ styles, since kids’ hair usually needs less product than an adult’s.
• Ribbon (red, green, and gold): Adds instant festive color to almost any braid or bun without buying new hair accessories.

Pro tip: Keep a small kit of ribbon scraps and spare elastics in a drawer so it stays ready every December instead of becoming a last-minute errand.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Styling Kids’ Hair

Even simple styles can go wrong with a few common errors. Most come from rushing rather than a lack of skill, and every one is easy to fix once you know what to watch for.

• Pulling elastics too tight: Causes headaches and can damage a child’s hairline over time.
• Skipping the detangling step: Leads to painful snags mid-braid.
• Using adult-strength hairspray: Can irritate a child’s sensitive scalp. Choose kid-formulated products instead.
• Rushing right before leaving the house: Raises stress for both parent and child.
• Skipping a practice run: Trying a new hairstyle a day or two in advance makes the actual event morning far smoother.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends keeping braids and ponytails loose and using covered elastics, which lines up with nearly every tip above.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the easiest Christmas hairstyle for kids?

A twisted pigtail with a small bow is the easiest option. It takes under five minutes and needs no braiding skill at all.

2. How do you keep a kid’s hairstyle in place all day?

Use small, snag-free elastics and a light-hold gel or cream. Avoid heavy products that weigh down fine or curly hair.

3. Can these hairstyles work on short hair?

Yes. The wreath braid and twisted pigtails both work well on shoulder-length or shorter hair without needing extensions.

4. What ribbon color works best for Christmas hairstyles?

Red, green, and gold are classic choices. Striped red-and-white ribbon gives a candy cane effect that photographs beautifully.

5. Are these hairstyles safe for sensitive scalps?

Yes, as long as elastics stay loose and products are kid-formulated. Avoid pulling any section too tight against the scalp.

Conclusion

Holiday mornings move fast, but a great hairstyle should never add stress to the season. Pick one style from this list, from a five-minute pigtail to a detailed ribbon braid, and try it out before the big event. Practice one look this week so your child walks into every holiday party looking festive and feeling confident. Hosting Thanksgiving too? Our Thanksgiving hairstyles guide has more holiday-ready looks.

For more hairstyle ideas, please visit VelvetBoard.