5 Festive Holiday Updos

Chignon and French Twist

The right updo takes your look far away from the everyday. Sweep hair up for a dose of instant drama and feminine flair for all your holiday parties. Sure, the updo can be daunting, but professional intervention is not always needed. Unless it's your wedding or another stellar style situation where only perfection will do, a little know-how and practice is all it takes to live it up right -- day, night, anytime.

Here, five updos you can try at home. Be sure to select the style that complements your face shape.

Pretty Prom Hair: How To Make a Fishtail Chignon

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Chignon Who it's for: This style is slimming for round faces, especially when volume is added at the crown to elongate the face.

How-to: Collect hair into a ponytail at nape of neck and secure with a clear or hair-colored elastic. Pull the ponytail through a chignon pillow (found at beauty supply stores) and wrap hair around it. Secure with bobby pins. For a sophisticated and clean look, slick hair back. For a more romantic look, try a sideswept front.

Playful French Twist

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French Twist Who it's for: Good for all face shapes, since you can customize by adjusting hair volume to flatter face shape.

How-to: Gather hair into a ponytail between crown and nape, but don't anchor it. Twist the ponytail all around, twice. Tuck ends into twist and secure with bobby pins. Smooth out the rest of the hair by carefully brushing over the twist and securing strays.

Alternate method: Smooth hair over the top of the head with a brush into a loose ponytail. Sweep hair to one side, then secure hair in this position by placing bobby pins up the center. Brush the remaining hair down, twisting and securing it over the pins with longer bobby pins. Use small bobby pins to secure the twist and smooth where needed. Pull out a few strands around the face to soften the look, spread out the hair on top of the twist, and spray lightly with hairspray.