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Christmas Party Hair Up: Four Easy Updos That Last All Night

“Party updos fall down for one reason: clean, silky hair with nothing to hold on to. Give it grit first, pin it like you mean it, then pull a few strands loose. Messy by choice lasts; perfect by accident doesn't.”Her take

Prep so it stays up

Freshly washed hair is slippery. Second-day hair holds pins far better. If you've just washed it, blow-dry with a little mousse at the roots, then spray texturising spray or dry shampoo through the lengths before you start.

Brush hair in the direction you'll style it. For anything gathered at the back, brush it back with your head tilted slightly up so it doesn't sag at the nape. Have everything ready: bobby pins in your hair colour, a few open U-shaped hair pins, small clear elastics, a claw clip and hairspray.

The twisted low chignon

This is softer than a sleek bun and suits shoulder-length hair or longer. It works with high necks, sequins and anything strapless.

• Gather hair at the nape into a low ponytail and secure with a small elastic.
• Twist the ponytail away from your face until it coils on itself.
• Wrap the coil around the base, tucking the ends underneath.
• Pin through the edge of the coil into the hair at the base every few centimetres, crossing pins in X shapes.
• Gently pull out a few pieces at the crown and around the face, then mist with hairspray.

The claw-clip French twist

Fastest of the four, and the most forgiving on fine or layered hair. Gather all your hair at the back of your head as if for a ponytail. Twist it upwards against your head, folding the ends down into the twist, and clamp a medium or large claw clip over the twist so its teeth catch both the twist and the hair beside it.

A plain tortoiseshell, matte black or metallic clip looks grown-up; avoid anything very small, which slips. For extra security, add two pins through the bottom of the twist. This is the one to choose if you might take it down halfway through the night.

Half-up with volume

Good for short hair, very thick hair, or if you don't like your neck fully on show. Take the top section from your temples back, backcomb gently at the crown for lift, smooth the surface with a brush, and secure at the back of the head with an elastic hidden under a small piece of hair, or with a bow or slide.

Curl or wave the lengths with a wand or velcro rollers first so the bottom looks finished. With a halter or high neck, this keeps the outfit's neckline clear.

The wrapped high ponytail

A dramatic option for long hair with a simple dress or a suit. Brush hair up to the crown and secure tightly. Take a small section from underneath the ponytail, wrap it around the elastic to hide it and pin the end underneath. For extra fullness, add a second elastic a few centimetres below the first to make the tail stand out.

High ponytails can pull on the scalp over a long night. If you feel tension, move it slightly lower.

Which updo goes with which outfit?

Match the hair to the neckline. High necks and polo necks look sharpest with hair up at the nape or high on the crown, which shows the line of the neck. Strapless and off-the-shoulder suit a low chignon. Busy or embellished tops look better with sleek, simple hair; a plain dress can take a bigger, softer style.

Think about earrings too. If you're wearing statement drops, a full updo shows them off. Small studs can disappear under a half-up style with loose waves.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Grip first, pins in an X, a style that suits your neckline, and a few loose strands on purpose.

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