Most of the time having short hair is a breeze—that is, until it’s time to style your hair for a special occasion. For years it seemed like every woman was required to show up to special occasions with down-to-there hair, requiring ladies with short locks to break out their hair extensions.
Luckily, these days we know special occasion short hairstyles can be just as stylish and trendy as long locks. If you’re not sure how to style your short hair for your next event, look no further. We’ve rounded up 13 looks that will look great at a wedding or on the red carpet.
The Best Special Occasion Hairstyles For Short Hair To Try Now
Sleek Braided Chignon
A sleek chignon should be a staple style for every woman with short hair. Not only are they incredibly easy to create, but also you can dress them up or down. To begin apply a medium hold styling pomade to your edges. Then, part your hair to the side, down the middle, or brush all of your hair straight back and secure a ponytail at the nape of your neck. Next, create a standard braid and fasten the end with a clear elastic. Then, wrap the braid around itself to form a bun and secure the style with bobby pins.
To give your chignon a little more glamour, dress up your look with bold statement earrings or use embellished bobby pins to secure your bun.
Windswept Updo
You know how your favorite celebrities always show up on the red carpet looking like they just got caught in an incredibly fashionable wind storm? Their hair is blown back and just a little messy and yet it looks perfect. Hate to break it to you, but there aren’t any fashionable wind storms making their way to your neighborhood anytime soon. Luckily, that perfectly unkempt look is totally achievable.
Start at the back of your head, working with 2-inch sections of clean, dry hair. Spray each one with a heat protectant before wrapping it around a 1-inch curling wand. Hold each section of hair to the wand until it’s just heated through (approximately 30-60 seconds depending on the thickness of your hair).
Once you’ve curled your entire head, run your fingers through your hair to loosen the curls. Remember, you’re going for a perfectly imperfect final look. Next, use your fingers to gently rake your hair back and away from your face and begin to loosely pin the curls to form a messy chignon. Set your look with a flexible hold hairspray.
Flapper Fingerwaves
Fingerwaves burst on the beauty scene in the 1920’s and almost 100 years later, they’re still fabulously stylish and perfect for any special occasion. To get this look, begin by giving yourself a deep part on the left or right side of your hair. Once your hair has been parted, section it into three segments, the back and both sides of your part.
Start with the side containing the most hair and use a curling iron to curl 2-inch sections first under, then over to create an S-shaped wave. Once you’ve curled the entire section and then move on to the other side of your part. Once both sections are curled, secure the peak of each wave with a finger wave clip, spray it with a flexible hold hairspray.
As your waves cool and set, turn your attention to the back section of your hair . Once your hair is completely cool, gently brush through your waves to give them bounce and movement.
Slicked Back
If you’re heading to a special occasion, chances are good you have a killer outfit to wear. The last thing you want is for your hair to upstage the ensemble you’ve been waiting months to slay. Let your fashion choices take center stage and keep your hair super simple.
For this look, begin with wet hair or dampen your dry hair using a spray bottle filled with water. Once your hair is damp, work a medium hold styling gel through your strands and comb your hair straight back from your face.
Sparkly Headband
Your natural hair is perfect for all special occasions but that doesn’t mean it can’t benefit from a sparkly accessory. If you want to upgrade your everyday go-to style, pop on a sparkly headband to add that extra wow factor.
Good hair day by @styledbyreece.
Twist Out
The curl pattern you’re born with is flawless but that doesn’t mean you can’t play around with other textures. If you want to give a new curl pattern a whirl, consider a twist out. This simple three-strand twist out is super easy to pull off and is a great way to give your curls some much-needed definition and volume.
Good hair day by @nakawunde.
Half-Up Twist Out
Begin by cleansing and conditioning using Mizani Thermasmooth Shampoo and Conditioner. Spritz Mizani 25 Miracle Milk throughout the hair to help detangle your mane. Then, apply Mizani Thermasmooth Sleek Guard Smoothing Cream to prep before blow drying the hair in 2-inch sections.
Part the hair horizontally from one ear, over the crown of your head, to the other ear. Using Mizani True Textures Curl Define Pudding, braid or flat twist the front section of hair back in the direction of a high pony. Then, create medium flat twists with the remaining hair from the back of your head. Set hair under a hooded dryer. Release the flat twists from the back section and fluff. Then, pull the front twisted section into a ponytail and secure with bobby pins. Release only the ends and fluff to build volume. Finish with Mizani HRM Humidity Resistant Mist and Thermsmooth Shine Spritz Hairspray for flexible hold and shine.
Good hair day by @ellendevinehair.
Soft Waves
Sometimes it can feel like ladies with long hair have the beach waves market cornered, but you don’t need down-to-there-hair to pull off stunning soft waves. Start at the back of your head, working with 2-inch sections of clean, dry hair. Clamp the base of each section with your flat iron, flip the flat iron down and hold it in place for 15 seconds.
Then, move your flat iron down the section of hair, flip it up, and hold it in place. Continue twisting the flat iron up and down until you reach the bottom of the section.
Good hair day by @sorayahstyles.
Curled Pixie
Just because you have short hair doesn’t mean you can’t create big bouncy curls! The key to this style is to rely on small roller and foam wrap to set your look in place. We love Mizani’s Styling Foam Wrap.
Good hair day by @mariemaireal.
Bedazzled Hair Pins
You don’t need to have an intricate hairstyle to turn heads. Give your disheveled bob a little sparkle with a few strategically placed bedazzled hair pins.
Good hair day by @marissacydya.
Sleek Bob
If you’re celebrating a special occasion, chances are good you have a spectacular outfit to match. Allow your hair to subtle complement your killer sense of fashion with a sleek and simple bob. Use a hair oil like Kérastase L’Huile Original Hair Oil to give your hair some extra shine.
Good hair day by @geobrianhmu.
Side Twist
Constantly pushing your hair out of your eyes? We’ve got just the fix. Keep your strands stylishly tucked away with a simple side twist.
Good hair day by @jamiewileyhair.
Triple Braids
Braids are the ultimate special occasion hairstyle and what’s better than one braid? Three!
Interested in a professional holiday hairstyle? Use our salon locator to book an appointment at a salon near you.
Thermasmooth Shampoo
A hair straightening shampoo that prepares hair for smoothing.
25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner
A lightweight leave-in conditioner with heat protection that detangles, calms frizz, and treats damage and dryness.
Thermasmooth Sleekguard Cream
A styling cream that conditions, smoothes and eliminates frizz.
Curl Define Pudding
A luxurious curl activator that elongates coily to extremely tight texture types.
Humidity Resistant Mist Hairspray
A humidity-resistant anti-frizz spray delivering light hold.
Thermasmooth Shine Extend Finishing Spray
An anti-frizz hairspray that adds shine and protects hair against heat.
Elixir Ultime L’Huile Original Hair Oil
Nourishing treatment and anti-frizz oil that blends Argan Oil and Marula Oil to add shine, hydration, and strength to all hair types and textures.
