10 Christmas Hairstyles for Kids That Are Easy and Cute
At 4:30 on Christmas Eve, someone is holding a hairbrush while a kid hops between the tree and the couch. The style you saved on your phone looked so neat, and now it seems to need three hands and a child who never moves.
The best christmas hairstyles for kids need neither. They hold up through wrapping paper, car seats, and a plate of cookies, and they still look dressed up in photos. Most use a brush, a few small elastics, and one festive touch like a ribbon or a velvet bow.
Below are 10 looks for short, long, straight, and curly hair, with a note on who each one suits and what usually goes wrong. Pick one to practice this weekend so the real day feels calm. Then save the list, because next December will come around fast.
Quick Look: What’s Inside
1. Wind Red and White Ribbon Around Pigtails for a Candy Cane Look
Red and white ribbon spiraled around a pigtail looks like a candy cane from across the room. It is also the fastest way to turn two plain pigtails into a holiday style.
Here is the quick version:
- Part the hair down the middle and make two pigtails
- Tie a long ribbon at the base of each one
- Wind the ribbon down and tie it off near the ends
Cut each ribbon about three times the length of the pigtail, so you never run short halfway down. Satin slides, so a tiny clear elastic at the bottom keeps it from unwinding.
2. Top Two Space Buns With Small Velvet Bows
Space buns keep hair off the neck and out of the mashed potatoes. Add a small velvet bow at the base of each bun and they look planned for the occasion.
Make each bun from a high ponytail, then twist the hair and wrap it around the base. Pin any loose ends with bobby pins that match the hair color. On fine or slippery hair, a light mist of water before twisting gives the strands something to grip.
Bows go on last, so they do not get crushed while you wrap.
What to grab first
3. Braid a Snowflake Crown Across the Top of the Head
Start a Dutch braid above one ear and let it travel over the top of the head like a headband. Finish behind the other ear and tuck the end under the hair with a pin.
A Dutch braid crosses the strands over the middle one, not under it. That makes the braid sit on top of the hair, so it shows up in photos and stays put better.
Add one snowflake clip where the braid tucks in, and the look is done. Very thin hair may need a small clear elastic at the end.
Loose hair keeps falling into her face while she opens presents.
The braid holds the front back, and the rest of the hair falls loose for photos.
4. Clip a Loose Half Up Bow on Short Hair
The usual mistake with short hair is pulling the top section too tight. It pops loose within the hour anyway, and it tugs on the scalp the whole time.
Gather a small section at the front, twist it once, and fix it with a bow barrette. Leave the rest down. Keep the hold loose enough that you can slide a finger under it.
Barrettes with a closed back hold better than slide clips on fine hair.
💡 Quick Tip
Let your child choose between two bows. Kids tend to keep a style in when they picked the finishing touch.
5. Pin a Low Braided Bun for Dressy Dinners
Church, a family dinner, a photo with four cousins. Some days call for hair that looks finished, not tied back.
A low braided bun does the job:
- Make a low ponytail at the nape
- Braid the ponytail all the way down
- Coil the braid around the base and pin it in place
Weave a thin ribbon into the braid as you go. It peeks out at the bun like gift wrap. Best on hair past the shoulders.
Quick Comparison Table: Styles 1 to 5
| Idea | Hair Length | Effort | Best Occasion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1) Candy cane pigtails | Shoulder length or longer | Low | 🍭 Playtime |
| 2) Velvet bow space buns | Medium to long | Medium | 🎀 Parties |
| 3) Snowflake braid crown | Long | Medium to high | ❄️ Photos |
| 4) Half up bow | Short to medium | Low | 🎄 School concert |
| 5) Low braided bun | Past the shoulders | Medium | 🍽️ Dinner |
6. Set Heatless Curls With Overnight Braids
Heat tools and small kids do not mix, and holiday curls do not need them. Overnight braids do the job while everyone sleeps.
The method is simple. Dampen the hair a little, braid it in several loose sections, and let it dry. In the morning, take the braids out and run your fingers through the waves. Skip the brush, or the waves puff into a cloud.
If your child hates sleeping in braids, set them after the bath and take them out once the hair is fully dry.
Heatless waves in four steps
Mist the hair with water until it is damp, not wet.
Braid the hair in four to six loose sections.
Let the braids dry fully before you take them out.
Loosen the waves with your fingers and add a bow on top.
7. Fake a Braid With a Pull Through Ponytail
A real braid needs a child who can sit still. A pull through braid needs far less patience.
Make a ponytail, then add small elastics down the length, about two inches apart. Gently tug the hair between the elastics outward until it puffs into a thick, braided look. There is no plaiting at all.
Clear elastics give a clean line. Red and green ones give a quick holiday touch. Pull gently, because tugging too hard can hurt.
Use soft, snag free elastics.
Pull each section out slowly and evenly.
Rubber bands, which snag and break hair.
A tight first elastic at the scalp.
8. Tie Curly Hair Into Two Soft Puffs With Satin Scrunchies
On curly and coily hair, the styles that last are the ones with room to move. Two puffs high on the head hold the curls without squeezing them.
Mist the hair with water and a little leave in conditioner so the curls clump together. Gather each side, secure it with a satin scrunchie, and tie a ribbon bow around the base.
Satin snags less than a plain elastic. Keep the ties loose at the base.
⚠️ Watch Out
Tight bands can pull on the scalp and break curly hair. If your child winces or the scalp looks red, loosen the tie.
9. Comb a Neat Side Part for Holiday Photos
Tiny rule for a neat side part: comb it while the hair is damp, then let it dry in place.
Look for the natural line where the hair already wants to fall. If you cannot see one, start the part above the outer edge of one eyebrow and draw the comb straight back. Smooth the top once with a small dab of kid safe hair cream on your palms.
A side part looks sharp with a collared shirt or a sweater. Too much cream leaves short hair looking wet in photos.
On short hair, a clean part and one light dab of cream do more than a lot of product.
10. Line Up Snap Clips on Short Hair
Short hair cannot do a bun or a braid, which can make holiday styling feel limited.
Clips solve it. Make a side part, then place three snap clips in a diagonal line along one side, spaced apart, in red, green, or gold. Another option is crossing two bobby pins into an X, which looks like a tiny snowflake.
For toddlers, skip clips with small decorations that could come loose. Cloth covered snap clips are a safer choice.
- ▸Three snap clips in a slanted line above one ear
- ▸Two bobby pins crossed into an X at the part
- ▸One large bow barrette tucked behind the ear
- ▸A mix of red and green clips, kept small and snug
Quick Comparison Table: Styles 6 to 10
| Idea | Hair Length | Effort | Best Occasion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6) Heatless overnight curls | Medium to long | Low, done overnight | 📸 Photo day |
| 7) Pull through ponytail | Medium to long | Low | 🎁 Gift opening |
| 8) Curly puffs | Curly and coily, most lengths | Low | 🎄 All day play |
| 9) Neat side part | Short | Low | 🍽️ Family dinner |
| 10) Snap clip line | Short | Low | 🎉 Party |
Short Q&A
How far ahead can I style the hair?
Heatless curls can be set the night before. Most other looks hold best when done on the same day, close to when you leave.
What if my child hates having their hair done?
Let them pick the bow or the clips, and put on a show while you work. Keep the session short and choose a quick style.
How do I know a style is too tight?
You should be able to slide a finger under the elastic or clip. If your child complains or the scalp looks red, redo it more loosely.
Are clips and bows safe for toddlers?
Choose cloth covered clips with no small decorations, and take out hard clips before naps and bedtime.
Pick One Look and Practice It This Weekend
The best christmas hairstyles for kids are the ones that survive the whole day. Pick one look from this list and try it this weekend, so the real morning feels calm and unrushed.
If your child chooses the ribbon or the bow, even better. A kid who likes the style is far more likely to keep it in. Keep elastics soft and the fit loose, and let a few wisps escape. Every holiday photo has some.
Save this list for the next time you need a quick hair idea, and come back to it next December.
