Hi, I’m Lena — a professional hairstylist with over a decade of salon experience creating red-carpet looks and wedding-ready updos. This curated gallery of 20 winter formal hairstyles for women showcases versatile, season-friendly styles that flatter every hair length and texture. Whether you have fine, thick, straight, or curly hair, you’ll find polished low buns, romantic braided crowns, soft waves, and structured chignons designed to hold through cold, dry weather and indoor festivities. My salon tips throughout the post focus on prep (hydration and heat protection), product choices for winter hold and anti-static control, and quick ways to add luxe accessories like jeweled pins or velvet ribbons for a seasonal touch. I’ll also offer step-by-step shortcuts to achieve each look without spending hours in the chair—perfect for brides, gala guests, holiday party attendees, and anyone who wants to look effortless and elegant when the temperature drops.
Romantic Half‑Up Voluminous Curls with Face‑Framing Tendrils
This romantic half-up style pairs voluminous, cascading curls with soft face‑framing tendrils for an elegant, wearable look. Suitability: ideal for medium to long hair and works well on naturally wavy or straight hair; fine hair benefits from root-lifting products and texturizing spray for structure, while thick hair may need extra pins and thinner curling sections. Styling technique: prep hair with heat protectant and a lightweight volumizing mousse, then blow-dry. Create 1–1¼ barrel curls away from the face in small sections, clip to cool, and lightly tease the crown for lift. Gather the top half into a low-swept twist or knot, secure with bobby pins and a clear elastic, and pull two or three face-framing strands loose. Release cooled curls and soften with fingers for a relaxed finish. Tools needed: curling wand/iron, sectioning clips, tail comb, teasing brush, bobby pins, small elastic. Products required: heat protectant, mousse/root lifter, texturizing spray, flexible-hold hairspray, light shine serum. Difficulty: moderate — 30–60 minutes depending on length. Maintenance tips: sleep on a silk pillow or loose braid, refresh with a curl mist or quick touch-up with a wand, and re-pin any loosened sections; avoid heavy oils that weigh curls down.
Textured Braided Updo with Soft Face‑Framing Tendrils
This romantic textured braided updo suits medium to thick hair and medium‑to‑long lengths; fine hair can achieve the look with volumizing products or light padding. Start by creating a loose Dutch or French braid across the crown, softly pulling the braid for width, then gather remaining hair into a low, tousled bun with twisted loops and secure with bobby pins. Leave two to four face‑framing tendrils and softly curl them for a polished finish. Tools: tail comb, sectioning clips, 1‑inch curling iron or wand, bobby pins (varied sizes), small elastics, and a brush. Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or root lift spray, texturizing or sea salt spray for grip, dry shampoo to add texture, a medium‑hold flexible hairspray and a light shine serum. Difficulty: moderate — 30–45 minutes in the salon; expect practice for even tension and balanced pins. Maintenance tips: refresh with dry shampoo and gentle reshaping of loops, secure any loose sections with discreet pins, avoid heavy oils near the roots, and sleep with a silk scarf or loose bun to preserve shape between wears.
Textured Low Chignon Updo with Side‑Swept Face‑Framing Pieces
This elegant textured low chignon is ideal for medium-to-thick, shoulder-length to long hair and works well on relaxed or softly wavy textures. Fine hair can achieve the same look with light extensions or by teasing for added bulk. Start by blow-drying with a volumizing mousse and heat-protectant. Create loose waves with a 1–1.25 inch curling iron, then backcomb the crown gently to build lift. Section hair and twist into a low, loosely pinned chignon at the nape, securing with U-pins and discreet elastics; leave a few face‑framing pieces out and soften with a small round brush. Tools needed: curling iron, teasing comb, sectioning clips, rat tail comb, pins (U-pins and bobby pins), elastic bands, and a small brush. Products required: heat protectant, volumizing mousse, texturizing spray or powder, strong-hold flexible hairspray, and a light shine serum. Difficulty: intermediate — requires some pinning technique and volume control. Maintenance tips: sleep on a silk pillowcase, refresh with dry shampoo and a light mist of hairspray, tuck loose strands back with spare pins, and avoid heavy oils that flatten texture.
Loose Braided Crown with Textured Low Bun — Romantic Updo for Medium to Thick Hair
This romantic braided crown with a textured low bun is a polished yet relaxed updo ideal for weddings, events, or elevated everyday wear. Suitability: Best on medium to thick hair and shoulder-length to long; fine hair benefits from light teasing or clip-in pieces for added volume. Styling technique: Work on dry, texturized hair—apply heat protectant if using hot tools. Create a soft, slightly pulled-out braid along the crown (French or Dutch), then gather remaining lengths into a low twisted bun, anchoring sections with bobby pins and tucking ends for a lived-in finish. Leave a couple of face-framing tendrils. Tools needed: tail comb, sectioning clips, 1 curling iron or wand, elastic bands, assorted bobby pins, and a rat-tail comb for teasing. Products required: heat protectant, texturizing spray or powder, optional light mousse, flexible-hold hairspray, and a smoothing serum or shine spray. Difficulty level: Moderate—stylist-level but achievable at home with practice; allow 30–45 minutes. Maintenance tips: refresh with dry shampoo and texturizer, carry spare pins for quick fixes, and sleep on silk or loosely wrap to preserve shape.
Textured Low Twisted Updo with Face‑Framing Waves
This soft, romantic low twisted updo suits medium to long hair and works well on fine to medium-thick textures — add clip-in extensions for extra volume. Start on freshly washed hair prepped with a heat protectant and a volumizing mousse at the roots. Blow-dry with a round brush to create lift at the crown, then loosely curl mid-lengths and ends with a 1–1.25” curling iron for soft waves. Lightly backcomb the crown for height, then gather sections into loose twists and pin them into a low, textured roll, leaving a few face-framing pieces out for softness. Tools: round brush, 1–1.25” curling iron, tail comb, sectioning clips, bobby pins and small elastics. Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or root lift, sea-salt or texturizing spray, smoothing serum for flyaways, and a flexible-hold hairspray. Difficulty: moderate — a stylist can achieve this in 30–45 minutes; at-home attempts require practice. Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo and re-spray texture as needed, sleep on a silk pillowcase or pin loosely, and carry spare pins for quick evening touch-ups.
Soft Textured Low Updo with Face‑Framing Tendrils
This romantic textured low updo suits shoulder‑length to long hair and works best on medium to thick hair; fine hair can be boosted with light teasing or a volumizing powder. Start on clean, towel‑dried hair: apply heat protectant and a root‑lifting mousse, then blow‑dry with a round brush for lift. Create loose waves with a 1
Textured Romantic Low Updo with Face-Framing Tendrils
This romantic textured low updo works best on medium to thick hair and on hair with natural wave; fine hair benefits from light clip-in extensions or teased root volume. Begin with clean, dry hair treated with a heat protectant and a volumizing mousse. Section the hair into crown, sides and nape; loosely curl sections with a 1 curling iron for texture. Backcomb the crown slightly for lift, then twist or loosely rope-braid the side pieces toward the nape and pin into a low, messy chignon with U-pins and bobby pins, leaving soft tendrils around the face. Tools: 1 curling iron, tail comb, teasing brush, sectioning clips, bobby pins/U-pins and a small hair elastic. Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse, texturizing/sea-salt spray, medium-to-strong hairspray and a lightweight serum or pomade for flyaways. Difficulty: intermediate — requires confident teasing and pin placement; allow 30–45 minutes. Maintenance: refresh texture with dry shampoo or salt spray, tighten pins as needed, sleep on a silk pillowcase or loosely wrap to preserve shape, and avoid heavy oils that will weigh the style down.
Romantic Textured Low Chignon with Soft Face‑Framing Tendrils
This elegant textured low chignon suits medium to thick hair and shoulder‑length to long hair; fine hair can achieve similar fullness with clip‑in extensions or root‑level texturizing. Start with a light blowout or air‑dried texture, then create loose barrel curls (1–1.5 iron) for body. Section hair, lightly backcomb at the crown for lift, then twist and loop sections into a low, slightly off‑center chignon, securing with U‑pins and bobby pins so the loops remain soft and separated. Pull a few face‑framing tendrils and soften with a curling iron for a romantic finish. Essential tools: curling iron, tail comb, sectioning clips, assortment of bobby pins and U‑pins, small elastic, and a fine spray bottle for water. Recommended products: heat protectant, root‑lift mousse or texturizing spray for grip, flexible medium‑hold hairspray, and a light shine serum for ends. Difficulty: intermediate — expect 30–60 minutes in a salon; at home allow extra time. Maintenance tips: refresh with dry shampoo and re‑pin as needed, touch up tendrils with a curling iron, sleep on a silk pillowcase or use a loose silk wrap, and avoid heavy oils at the roots to preserve volume.
Textured Romantic Updo with Face‑Framing Tendrils
This soft, textured updo works best on medium to thick hair, shoulder length to long; fine hair can achieve the look with light extensions or added padding. Start by prepping damp hair with a volumizing mousse and heat protectant, then blow-dry with a round brush for root lift or diffuse for natural wave. Use a 1 curling iron or wand to create loose curls throughout, leaving thin face‑framing pieces. Backcomb lightly at the crown for lift, gather hair into a low, loose chignon and secure sections with bobby pins and U‑pins, pulling gently to open up texture. Finish with a sea‑salt or texturizing spray for grip and a flexible‑hold hairspray to set without stiffness. Tools needed: curling iron/wand, tail comb, teasing brush, sectioning clips, bobby pins, elastic. Products required: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or root powder, texturizing spray, light serum for flyaways, flexible hairspray. Difficulty: intermediate — expect 30–45 minutes in a salon or at home. Maintenance tips: sleep on a silk pillowcase, refresh with dry shampoo and a few re‑spritzes of texturizer, and carry spare pins to resecure loose pieces.
Romantic Low Textured Updo with Face‑Framing Tendrils
This soft, low textured updo is ideal for medium to thick hair and works beautifully on naturally wavy or relaxed straight hair — fine hair can achieve the same look with light padding or extensions. Begin by prepping damp hair with a lightweight mousse or root-lift and a heat protectant. Blow-dry with a round brush for smoothness, then add loose waves with a 1–1.25 inch curling iron to build texture. Section the hair, lightly backcomb the crown for lift, and gather into a low chignon by twisting and pinning small sections to create a soft, voluminous cluster. Leave a few face-framing tendrils and define them with a curling iron. Tools: curling iron, vent brush, rat-tail comb, sectioning clips, elastic, bobby pins. Products: heat protectant, mousse or root lift, texturizing or sea-salt spray, smoothing cream for flyaways, and a flexible-medium hold hairspray with a light shine serum. Difficulty: intermediate — requires basic pinning and sectioning skills. Maintenance tips: sleep on a silk pillowcase, refresh roots with dry shampoo, re-pin loose sections as needed, and touch up tendrils with the curling iron for day-two wear.
Romantic Textured Side‑Swept Low Chignon with Loose Waves
This romantic textured side-swept low chignon works best on medium to thick hair and on straight hair after adding wave. Styling technique: start with damp, detangled hair and apply a volumizing mousse and heat protectant. Blow-dry with a round brush to build root lift, then create loose 1–1.25 curls with a curling iron, alternating directions for natural movement. Lightly tease the crown for volume, sweep hair to one side and loosely twist into a low chignon, securing with bobby pins and a small elastic; pull soft face-framing tendrils and gently tug sections for a lived-in finish. Tools needed: blow dryer, round brush, 1–1.25 curling iron, teasing comb, sectioning clips, elastic and bobby pins. Products required: volumizing mousse or spray, heat protectant, salt or texturizing spray, flexible-hold hairspray and a light shine serum. Difficulty: intermediate — expect a 30–45 minute salon-style service. Maintenance tips: sleep on a silk pillowcase or wrap hair, refresh texture with dry shampoo or texturizing spray, re-pin any loosened sections and re-curl short face-framing pieces. Ask your stylist for long layers to preserve shape and movement.
Textured Braided Half-Up with Twisted Crown and Loose Curled Ponytail
This romantic, textured half-up blends a twisted crown with a loose, pancaked braid that feeds into a voluminous, curled low ponytail—ideal for formal events. Best for medium to long hair with at least light to medium natural texture; fine hair benefits from texturizing products and padding, while thick hair should be thinned slightly for manageability. Technique: create a deep side part, twist small front sections into the crown and secure with pins, start a Dutch/three-strand braid along the crown, gently pancake for width, gather remaining hair into a low ponytail and curl in 1–2-inch sections. Tools needed: tail comb, sectioning clips, small clear elastics, bobby pins, 1–1.25
Half-Up Twisted Braid with Loose Waves — Long Wavy/Blonde Hair Styling
This half-up twisted braid with loose, cascading waves suits long or medium-length hair and works especially well on naturally wavy or lightly layered hair. Fine hair benefits from volume-boosting products or temporary clip-in extensions; thick hair will hold the shape beautifully with more pins. Styling technique: create volume at the crown by backcombing a top section, twist or Dutch-braid the front side back toward the crown, secure with pins, then gather the remaining hair into a loose half-pony and curl the ends for soft, face-framing waves. Tools needed: 1–1.25 curling iron, tail comb, sectioning clips, bobby pins, small clear elastic, and a teasing brush. Products required: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or spray, texturizing/salt spray, flexible-hold hairspray and a light shine serum for the ends. Difficulty level: intermediate — familiar braiding and curling skills plus pinning are necessary; expect 30–45 minutes. Maintenance tips: refresh waves with a light mist of dry shampoo or texturizer, re-pin any loosening twists, sleep on a silk pillowcase or loosely braid to preserve shape, and avoid heavy oils at the crown to retain volume.
Messy Crown Dutch Braid with Loose Fishtail Double Braids
This relaxed, textured crown-to-double-braid style works best on medium to long hair and suits fine-to-medium densities; thick hair also looks great but may require sectioning or light thinning. Start on second-day or dry hair for grip: apply heat protectant, then a texturizing or sea-salt spray. Create two Dutch/French braid sections along the crown, braid each toward the nape and finish as loose fishtails or 3-strand braids. Gently pancake each braid to widen and soften the look, and pull a few face-framing pieces free for softness. Tools needed: tail comb, small clear elastics, bobby pins, curling wand (optional), and clips. Products recommended: heat protectant, volumizing or salt spray, small amount of smoothing cream for flyaways, and a flexible-hold hairspray. Difficulty: intermediate — plan 20–35 minutes depending on practice. Maintenance tips: sleep on a silk pillowcase or loosely wrap the braids to reduce frizz, refresh texture with dry shampoo or re-spray texturizer, and re-pancake or re-pin as needed. For events, touch up ends with a wand and finish with flexible-hold spray.
Textured Voluminous Low Chignon Updo with Side-Swept Fringe
Suitability: Ideal for medium to long hair with medium density — works best on straight to wavy textures; fine hair benefits from texturizing products, thick hair should be thinned slightly. Styling technique: Start on clean, towel-dried hair. Apply heat protectant and a light mousse, blow-dry smooth with a round brush. Create a deep side part and backcomb the crown lightly for lift. Divide hair into three sections (two face-framing pieces and a larger back section). Curl the back section loosely with a 1–1.25 in curling iron for movement, then twist and pin into a low, slightly off-center chignon, tucking ends and securing with long bobby pins and U-pins. Sweep face pieces across the forehead for a soft fringe and anchor behind the ear. Smooth flyaways with a small amount of shine serum and lock the shape with strong-hold hairspray. Tools needed: blow dryer, round brush, curling iron, tail comb, sectioning clips, long bobby pins, U-pins, elastics. Products required: heat protectant, light mousse or texturizing spray, shine serum, strong-hold hairspray, dry shampoo for grip. Difficulty level: Intermediate — 30–45 minutes in salon conditions. Maintenance tips: Sleep on silk, refresh with dry shampoo and re-pin loose strands, avoid heavy conditioning at the roots before styling, and use a touch of serum to tame frizz between touch-ups.
Voluminous Side-Swept Half-Up with Loose Romantic Curls
This elegant, voluminous side-swept half-up is ideal for medium to thick hair and for naturally wavy textures; fine hair can achieve the same look with light extensions or root padding. Start on towel-dried hair with a volumizing mousse at the roots and a heat-protectant through the lengths. Blow-dry with a round brush, lifting at the crown to create height, then section the hair. Backcomb lightly at the crown for added lift, sweep one side back and secure with pins behind the ear. Create large, loose barrel curls using a 1.5–2 curling iron, curling away from the face and leaving ends slightly relaxed for a soft finish. Tools: blow dryer, round brush, tail comb, teasing brush, curling iron, section clips, bobby pins. Products: volumizing mousse, heat protectant, light-hold hairspray, texturizing spray and a small smoothing serum for frizz control. Difficulty: moderate — requires basic blow-dry and curling skills and practice on pin placement. Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo, re-curl limp pieces, sleep on a silk pillow and touch up texture with a spritz of texturizing spray.
Textured Braided Low Bun — Romantic Updo for Fine to Medium Hair
Suitable for fine to medium hair and adaptable for thicker textures, this textured braided low bun is a salon-friendly option for shoulder-length to long hair. Technique: start with light product on damp hair for grip, create a loose Dutch/French braid along the hairline or side, secure it toward the crown, backcomb the crown lightly for lift, curl mid-lengths for added texture if desired, then gather hair into a low twisted bun and pin, pulling face-framing pieces free for softness. Tools needed: tail comb, sectioning clips, 1 curling iron (optional), small clear elastic, assortment of bobby pins and U-pins, and a teasing brush. Products required: volumizing mousse or sea-salt spray on damp hair, dry shampoo or texturizing powder for hold and grip, a light smoothing serum for ends, and a flexible-hold hairspray to set. Difficulty level: intermediate — expect 20–35 minutes with practice. Maintenance tips: refresh with dry shampoo and re-pin any loosened areas, sleep on a silk pillowcase or loosely wrap hair to preserve shape, avoid heavy brushing to keep texture, and trim every 8–12 weeks to prevent frizz and split ends.
Romantic Textured Bridal Updo with Loose Curls and Face‑Framing Tendrils
This soft, romantic updo suits medium‑to‑thick, medium‑to‑long hair best; fine hair can be enhanced with light extensions or a padding piece. It works beautifully on naturally wavy or softly curled hair but can be built on straight hair by creating loose barrel curls first. Technique (salon approach): prep with heat protectant and volumizing mousse, blow‑dry for root lift, then curl 1–1.25 sections. Lightly backcomb the crown for height, gather hair into a low, slightly off‑center pony, then twist and pin loose loops into a textured bun, leaving a few tendrils to frame the face. Gently pull loops to create softness and movement. Tools: curling iron, blow dryer and round brush, teasing brush or comb, sectioning clips, U‑pins/ bobby pins and small elastics. Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse, texturizing or dry shampoo, flexible‑hold hairspray and a light shine serum. Difficulty: Moderate — salon‑level but achievable at home with practice (30–50 minutes). Maintenance: refresh texture with dry shampoo or texturizing spray, tuck or re‑pin loose pieces, avoid heavy oils at the roots, and sleep on silk to preserve shape.
Textured Twisted Low Updo (Romantic Chignon) for Medium–Long Hair
A soft, textured twisted low updo ideal for bridal, formal or winter sessions. Suitability: Best on medium to long hair; works well on straight or wavy textures. Fine hair benefits from light teasing or clip-in extensions for fullness; thick hair can be smoothed and shaped into the same silhouette. Styling technique: Section hair into crown, sides and nape. Backcomb the crown for lift, loosely curl lengths, then create loose twists and loops, pinning them into a low chignon with visible texture and face-framing tendrils. Tools needed: 1–1.25 curling iron, tail comb, teasing brush, sectioning clips, strong bobby/U-pins, small elastics. Products required: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or root lift, texturizing spray or sea-salt spray for grip, medium-to-firm hold hairspray and a lightweight shine serum. Difficulty level: Intermediate — salon-style result in 30–50 minutes; practice recommended for clean pin placement. Maintenance tips: Refresh volume with dry shampoo at the roots, secure loose pieces with spare pins, and mist with flexible-hold spray to avoid stiffness. Sleep on a silk pillowcase and deep-condition after removing pins to maintain hair health.
Textured Low Chignon with Soft Face‑Framing Tendrils
This romantic textured low chignon is ideal for medium to long hair and works particularly well on fine-to-medium and medium-thick textures. The style creates fullness at the crown and a soft, undone finish with loose tendrils to frame the face. Technique: prep damp hair with a volumizing mousse, blow-dry with a round brush to lift the roots, then create loose waves with a 1–1.25 curling wand to add grip. Lightly backcomb the crown for volume, gather hair into a low, slightly off-center pony, twist and pin sections into a relaxed bun, pulling pieces out for softness. Tools needed: blow dryer, round brush, 1–1.25 curling wand, tail comb for parting/teasing, hairpins, small elastic. Products required: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or spray, texturizing powder or spray, light-to-medium hold hairspray, lightweight shine serum. Difficulty level: intermediate — achievable at home in 25–40 minutes with practice; ideal for stylists in a salon setting. Maintenance tips: refresh volume with dry shampoo, reshape loose pieces with a curling iron as needed, sleep on a silk pillowcase or pin the bun loosely to preserve shape.
As a stylist, my final advice is to plan your winter formal hairstyle with your outfit and the event’s environment in mind. Prepare hair the day before when possible: hydrate with a light leave-in, avoid heavy oils that weigh down fine hair, and use a humidity-resistant styling spray for textured or curled looks. For longevity, set styles with a flexible-hold hairspray and finish exposed areas with an anti-static serum or a soft brush to tame flyaways without flattening volume. If you have very fine hair, add discreet padding or a braided base for lift; for thick or coarse hair, work in smoothing cream sparingly and secure sections with long pins. Try accessories like velvet bows or metallic clips to tie the winter theme into your look. Book a trial for bridal or major formal events, and don’t hesitate to ask your stylist for temperature-appropriate tips — with the right prep and products, your winter formal hairstyle will stay polished, comfortable, and photo-ready all night.