The Top 6 Holiday Hair Mistakes

Mistake #1: Ringlets of Any Kind

The holiday buzz can make you feel like a kid again, but that doesn't mean you should look like one. Tight curls that dangle from an updo "make you look like a little girl—or worse, old-fashioned," says hairstylist Nathaniel Hawkins. We suggest wearing your curls soft and bouncy.

Mistake #2: Rapunzel-Worthy Hair Extensions

When you have long, shiny hair that grazes your butt, but only a bob's worth has actually grown out of your head, "even the straightest of straight guys will know something's up with your hair," says Hawkins. Instead of using extensions for length, try them for boosting fullness and maybe to add an inch or two, max, to the bottom. Hawkins suggests having your hairstylist razor the extensions to blend them in with your actual ends, and asking him to clip them in below the round of the head for a more believable look.

Mistake #3: Crunchy-Looking Curls

Here's a problem that's easily prevented—all you need is a blow-dryer and a large-barrel curling iron (chucking the jumbo bottle of gel won't hurt, either). Hawkins suggests prepping the hair with Living Proof No Frizz Weightless Styling Spray, roughly blowing it dry, and then defining the curls by wrapping combed-out sections around the iron: "It smooths and controls the hair in a gorgeous, touchable way."

Mistake #4: Accessory Overload

Your goal isn't to outshine the Christmas tree—one topper in the hair is plentyfestive. Tone down the sparkle and keep your accessory simple: A well-placed barrette—like the jeweled ones placed on the side at the Marchesa Spring 2016 show is all you need.

Mistake #5: Too Big a Tease

Skipping any style that adds two inches or more to your height is always a good idea. To create more luxurious-looking volume, Hawkins recommends gently back-combing the hair at the crown with a boar-bristle paddle brush. Then lightly tease your hair throughout and smooth it over with your palms. "If you tease solely at the crown, you'll create a crazy pouf," he says.

Mistake #6: Hair Claws of Any Kind

Just like your flannel bunny pajamas, the clip that keeps your hair back when you're washing your face should never leave the house. Instead, secure an evening updo with one of our favorite accessories that actually disappears in your style: the Goody Spin Pin, a coil that twists into a bun or chignon to keep it locked into place. "You'll get the same effect and height without the tacky look of the claw," Hawkins says.

source:http://www.allure.com/