Hair Care
Beauty Trends Taking Over This Holiday Season
Dec
Need some beauty inspiration for all of the festive events you’re attending? Keep reading as Nubi shares some of the most exciting holiday beauty trends to try!
Hollywood Waves
Let’s start with Hollywood waves – a hair trend that often reappears at this time of the year. It’s easy to see why – Hollywood waves are glam and dramatic yet beautifully classic. They’re perfect for the festivities!
Want to give this trend a try? There are several methods out there for creating these bouncy curls. The most popular, however, relies on the use of a curling wand (read wand, not iron). Nubi’s Sleek Curl clipless curling wand is ideal for this. Make sure that your hair is dry, tangle-free, and has been treated with a heat protectant. Then, divide your mane into sections, and get curling!
‘Clean Girl’ Skin
You’ve probably heard of glass skin, and maybe even cloud skin. However, 2026 sees clean girl skin taking center stage.
This trend involves ditching heavy makeup in favor of a naturally dewy look. Hydration is a big emphasis, which is achieved through the use of hydrating skincare products. These are layered on the skin, starting with a hydrating toner or essence and ending with a hydrating face cream, like the Facial Day Moisturizer from Nubi.
Makeup can still be used, but try to keep this as light as possible. A dewy primer, selective use of concealer, and a cream blush combined with groomed brows and glossy lips will have you perfecting the clean girl aesthetic. It’s a wonderfully wholesome look for the festive season, which is why this is one of the holiday beauty trends that so many will be trying this year.
Mistletoe Makeup
Aiming for a festive yet romantic look this holiday season? If so, mistletoe makeup is one of this season’s holiday beauty trends that you should definitely try! This trend places its focus on the lips and the cheeks, pairing a soft blush with sultry lips in a way that will leave you looking naturally flushed and with a pout that’s ready for that big kiss under the mistletoe!
This trend is the opposite of the super-contoured looks that previously dominated. Instead, it’s all about keeping things soft and diffused. It should look as though you’ve just come indoors on a chilly day, as opposed to having just spent an hour perfecting your makeup. So long as you pick the right shades, you’ll be able to pull this look off no matter your skin tone.
What should you do with your eyes if all the focus is on your lips and cheeks? A touch of mascara is all you need. Let your lips and cheeks be the stars of the show!
Slicked Back and Snatched
Beauty trends often contradict each other, and that’s certainly the case with this one in comparison to the Hollywood waves we talked about earlier. Sleek, slicked-back, and snatched looks are also going to be favored this festive season. Not only is this a hairstyle that complements every outfit, but it looks good with every hair type too. The best part is that it’s also functional. It will keep your hair out of your face, enabling you to make the most of the festivities without worrying about your hair.
The key to pulling this look off lies in using a strong-hold styling product to tame even the smallest of frizzy strands. Apply the product to a brush before brushing your hair back and securing it tightly. Add a festive flair to your look by topping it off with a holiday-themed hair accessory.
Although this style could quickly become a go-to for many, keep in mind that it’s a high-tension hairstyle. It will place pressure on your roots, which will weaken your strands and could cause shedding in the long run. Alternate the slicked back look with plenty of looser styles that don’t tug on your scalp.
Sleek, Laminated Brows
Tired of constantly trying to tame your unruly brows? One way to effortlessly rock flawless brows for a couple of months is by laminating them. It’s a beauty trend that has really taken off this year, and is set to be even more popular as the new year draws in. Make the most of it this holiday season, so that you can enjoy the festivities without worrying about your brows.
What does brow lamination actually involve? A chemical solution is used to soften the eyebrow hair follicles. The hair is then usually brushed upwards. Brows can also be reshaped at this point – you can finally have that perfect arch! The hairs then set in this position and retain their new shape for 6-8 weeks.
While brow lamination is a great treat for the holiday season, make sure that you don’t do it too regularly. It’s very easy for those hairs to end up over-processed, which would make them even harder to manage!
Glass Hair
You’ve probably seen shampoo advertisements where the model’s hair looks so unbelievably silky and smooth that it resembles glass. This is what glass hair is – hair that has a mirror-like shine that perfectly catches the light.
How do you get glass hair? While many of these holiday beauty trends can be recreated instantly, glass hair requires some dedication. You’ll need to start by ramping up how much moisture you give to your hair. Deep conditioning masks and hydrating treatments are a must. Smoothing serums can be a big help as well when applied before you style your glass hair.
A good flat iron is also key. While glass hair can be adapted to other hair textures, it always looks best on super-straight hair. Make sure that yours has ceramic plates, like the Nubi Soft N’ Straight 1.25” Ceramic Purple Styler. This will minimize the appearance of heat damage while enhancing shine.
Icy Tones
Icy tones – another one of those holiday beauty trends that seems to make a comeback each year. Cool, frosted, and shiveringly metallic – all synonymous with the winter months and the festive season. This trend gives you a chance to really get creative, as there are so many ways to bring this one to life.
Want to bring out your cold girl glow? Try frosted metallics on your eyes, with either just a subtle pop in your inner corners or a full sweep over your lids for a more dramatic finish. A cool-toned blush dotted onto your cheekbones and nose, combined with a silvery pink highlighter, will give you that frostily flushed look that’s so sought after this season. Holographic liners, shimmer finishes, and crystal-lined lashes will enhance that look even more.
Gothic Nails
Dark and dramatic yet utterly chic and romantic, it’s easy to see why gothic nails have really taken off this season. They’ll give any festive outfit an edgier touch!
While the black base needed for gothic nails may not seem very seasonal, there’s a lot more to this trend than this. Add some festive flair by opting for some delicate, lace-inspired nail art over that black. A cobweb pattern sprinkled with glitter would work well too, as would bringing in metallics, which are also on trend this season. With the right art and shimmer, gothic nails can be a surprisingly good fit for the holiday season.
Colored Mascara
Largely thanks to social media, colored mascara has made a big comeback this year, just in time for the holiday season. While black mascara has always dominated and brown has recently begun to edge its way in, this season sees brighter and more vibrant shades steal the limelight.
Pick the right shade, and this trend could really make your eyes pop even more than your regular mascara does. Blue beautifully highlights brown eyes, while burgundy shades perfectly contrast with blue eyes. If your eyes are green or hazel, try a deep purple mascara.
Pairing your chosen shade to the occasion is important too. You may want to keep things subtle with a light burgundy for your office party, but then jazz things up with an electric blue when celebrating with friends.
Nail Jewels
While this trend may seem like a given, nail jewels are always a great way to add some sparkle to your look. It’s no surprise that they become particularly popular during the holiday season!
Again, this is another trend that will allow you to really get creative. Try basing your designs on the holiday season, opting for festive-inspired patterns.
When choosing your nail jewels, in addition to picking out festive colors, remember that flat-backed jewels are the best way to go. They adhere to the nail more effectively, meaning that they’ll last much longer.
Bitten Lips
Love the idea of a bold red lip but don’t want such a dramatic look? Bitten lips is a trend that you’ll be interested in! It’s all about that just-been-kissed look – a soft focus lip that looks slightly messy and blurred. It’s a much less intimidating way to give bold shades a try compared to the perfectly lined, flawless lip that was previously trending.
How do you achieve it? Go for a creamy lipstick. A satin finish would be ideal as this will add a touch of shine. While you could apply it with a brush to begin with, this look always needs to be finished with the fingers. Blending it in this way will give you that smudged finish that this trend is so famous for.
Which Holiday Beauty Trends Will You Be Trying?
The holiday season is the perfect time to have some fun with the many seasonal beauty trends out there. There are plenty to choose from – which ones will you be trying?
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