What would you do with your winter instead of coats and scarfs, but a new hair? When the weather turns colder, I feel like I need not just something cozy, but also creative something that is warm and elegant at the same time, that makes every stop in the mirror seem special. Whether you are entering a warm cafe or a winter partying, the correct hairstyle will turn out to be your silent message.
The winter 2025-2026 trends in hairstyles are going to be softening their textures, adding romantic pieces, and sheer polish. Winter hair is all about opposites that are seemingly conflicting and yet clearly modern, structured and yet natural, sleek ponytails with a bit of nostalgia, and braids with a touch of nostalgia. And now to take off some of my favorite fashions that make the cold weather mood, a strand at a time.
Romantic Waves with a Statement Bow
Soft cascading waves are something timeless coupled with a satin bow. I like the fact that this design is feminine but with a hint of nostalgia – it is almost cinematic. The warm blonde colors complement the reflection of the light, and the deep red bow brings that optimal burst of color on the winter colors. It is the type of the hairstyle that is pretty both on holiday dinners and on a friendly Sunday brunch.
I normally use Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil to keep those bouncy curls in place throughout the cold months – it keeps the moisture locked in but does not add any weight or leave any greasy finish on the hair. This sophisticated but not too complex appearance can be achieved with the help of a lightweight curling wand and a touch of heat detergent.
Personally, this hairdo reminds me of winter mornings when the air is calm and somehow nostalgic. It is romantic, uncomplicated, and has that air of old-Hollywood endearance that cannot possibly ever be out of fashion.
Boho Braided Half-Up for Short Hair
The shorter hair does not imply the lesser options. I love this half-up braid, as it looks so bohemian, but at the same time, is so well-kept that it can be worn on a daily basis. The interlacing strands provide a slight volume and the side sweep makes it appear contemporary. This haircut is a great match with sweaters with textures or soft knits; this will bring out the cozy-chic touch to your winter fashion.
To hold the braid and keep the flyaways in place I normally apply a touch of Living Proof Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray. It is not about perfection, but a little bit of undress texture is the major key to making it more appealing and even easier.
It is an intimacy that is friendly, particularly to the rest of us whose preferences are of styles so effortless but done. Celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin is fond of uttering the phrase that the coolest hair moves and this braid definitely embodies this idea.
Soft Oversized Braid with Romantic Layers
The winter romance is an oversized soft braid. The uncontrollable, free strands and stature make it soft and volumized, which is fairytale-ic and modern, at the same time. It is ideal to those who desire organization and yet movement – sophisticated, not too finished.
In case of need, a conditioning leave-in such as Kerastase Nutritive Lotion Thermique keeps the strands smooth and moist, even when you use heat to do your hair.
This type of braid is one of the ones that I frequently wear when I am in need of feeling like I am well-dressed but not perfect. It has that snow day air – light, graceful, totally indefinite.
Sleek Mid-Low Ponytail with Gradient Blonde
A smooth ponytail comes when I am in need of something strong, but discreet. The gradient blonde, combined with a smooth finish, provides this style with a high-fashion advantage and keeps it practical. It lengthens the neckline and works well with fitted winter coats or turtlenecks – minimalism to the max.
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, another stylist-favorite, is how I would get that mirror-like shine, and Chris Appleton uses it. It closes humidity and provides that liquid-glass look which remains perfect throughout the day.
On other occasions, I believe that slick hair is confidence in a bottle – it is not in your face but it stands in the room.
Soft Ponytail with a Modern Gold Clip
I will never say no to a business-like ponytail completed with a metallic attachment. It is also feminine and up to date, particularly with this gold clip that gives it a sculptural touch. The soft movement over the pony maintains its not too formal appearance – an ideal daily appearance that also shifts smoothly between morning coffee and evening affairs.
I would add Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray to make it more shiny and defined – it provides a soft touch and a nice shine. This structured accessory and undone softness are precisely what makes the winter hairstyles of 2025-2026 so interesting in the season.
It is the sort of style that exclaims, I did not really make any effort, and yet, it makes one feel lifted up – and is not that the winter beauty ideal?
Low Textured Bun with Cozy Knits
A low bun and a bulky knit sweater are the best things to wear during winter. This is a style of minimalism – unkempt but deliberate. The strands moderately plucked into a knot at the neck back of the head make the appearance look quietly sophisticated. It works well on a cold morning when you are headed to get a cup of coffee or during a fire hangout.
I would normally apply Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray before putting the hair down to get this carefree feel. It has that half-undress appearance that stands without rigidity. In case your hair is inclined to frizz when you are in the winter air, a drop or two of Davines OI Oil on the end will fix it all.
It is a fashion that speaks class as opposed to making a statement – warm, relaxed, and completely perennial. Simplicity is beautiful, and this appearance testifies to the same.
Bubble Ponytail with Metallic Accents
Bubble ponytail is still trending this season and I cannot adore it any more. It is young, smooth and even surprisingly easy to reproduce. I like how metal accessories provide both structure and glamour to a basic pony and make it appear fashion-forward. It is fun but fashionable – just what the winter fabrics should possess.
To keep the hair shiny between each bubble section a smoothing serum such as Kerastase Elixir Ultime L’ Huitage is used. I also enjoy giving a little tease at the top before tying off each part – this also gives it the required volume without sacrificing the smoothness.
This hairstyle to me seems a little act of rebellion against the grey droning of winter – it is so well-organized, cheerful, and cool.
Glossy Half-Up Waves with Subtle Highlights
Half-up hairstyle is a permanently favorite of mine. The loose and shiny waves plus the face-framing highlights make this style both wearable and romantic. It falls right between the polished and the relaxed as well as, both day to night style.
When I am in the mood to maintain my waves moist yet fixed, I grab Ouai Wave Spray – it puts shine on and contains the hair without weighing me down. The trick is to twist huge strands of hair up and down on the other side to achieve that very natural and non-effortful look.
This hairstyle is reminiscent of the assured, carefree vibe we need in the wintertime – smooth enough to go out to dinner and casual enough to go relax on a Sunday. It is easy, all round, and infinitely complimentary.
Half-Up Top Knot for Casual Winter Days
The half-up top knot is an example of a timeless, effortless yet purposely looking style that cannot be out of fashion. I adore this unbuttoned version with soft and wavy lengths – it is the perfect mix of casual and contemporary. It is a second-day hair or lazy Sunday when you feel like you have to look presentable.
The top knot should be sprayed with a drybar triple sec 3-in-1 Finishing Spray, so that it still has a light volume and will not drop down. I also enjoy loosening a few strands around the face to make the look softer – the style of hairstyle becomes easier to wear and more comfortable.
It is nonchalant yet stylish, a winter hairstyle and it seems to be spontaneous as though you have just left a downtown cafe, completely dishevelled.
Elegant Low Bun with a Black Ribbon
It has a kind of secret luxury in this smooth low bun, bound with a black ribbon. It is classy and evergreen and reminds me of that old-money classiness that will be taking a resurgence with winter hairstyles in 2025-2026. The ribbon provides a hint of romantic contrast to the traditionally-shaped form – plain, but intense.
I apply Color Wow Pop & Lock Gloss Treatment to achieve a polished look, but it does not make the hair rigid, whether on the front or the back. The trick is to rub the ends deeply under and pin them invisibly then tie the ribbon.
It is that type of a hairstyle that is excellent with turtlenecks, cashmere, and gold hoops – a subtle style with a feminine touch. I would wear it to any winter party, brunch to holiday cocktails.
Messy Top Knot with Soft Face-Framing Layers
I will confess that in winter, the disheveled top knot will be my everyday accessory. It is comfortable, it is fast and somehow it always finds a way to appear stylish. The casual yet deliberate look is provided by the undressed bun and the face-framing waves that make it look just right. It is the hairdo version of that big, cozy sweater–easy but classy.
Sprays like Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo can be used to add a little bit of volume and texture to the bun that makes it feel like it has been lived in. I prefer to draw a few of them out about the temples to make the appearance soft and flattering.
It is ideal when you have a lazy Sunday to walk around or even a nice date over a cup of coffee. It is so real and so familiar–so much so, in fact, that it does not strain itself, yet still feels beautiful–as winter hair.
Voluminous Curly Ponytail with Retro Flair
Winter does not necessarily mean wearing a hat with your hair. This thick, curly pony actually is testimony to the fact that you can add glamour even to the coldest days. The exaggerated bounch of the curls on top and the roots of the hair are smooth–done in a playful, bold, and retro-ish way.
I have been using GHD Curve Soft Curl Iron to make these perfectly rounded curls and fix them with Oribe Superfine Hair Spray. It is not stiffly-moving and that is important to maintain that vibrant, swingy feel.
This ponytail makes me think of party events and candlelit dinners it is festive and powerful, and a bit retro Hollywood.
Soft Twisted Half-Up Waves
Sometimes, simplicity wins. This half-up, bent in a twist hairstyle is so soft and we all desire to have that gentle romantic touch in winter. The waves are rather subtle and they add some texture and depth and the small twist is present giving structure without being overdone. It fits well in medium to long hair and it looks beautiful with either a knit or velvet evening.
I always use Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother before blowing dry to make the waves more shiny, it leaves the hair soft. It is the trick to twist loosely in order to make it feel airy, it should not be too much structured.
It is that kind of quiet confidence style which is beautiful without crying out to be noticed. It is one of those glances that simply makes one feel well dressed even in the most normal day.
Low Ponytail with Polished Waves
Even the low ponytail is having a grave moment at this point, particularly when accompanied by soft and polished waves. It is vintage, elegant and most importantly very comfortable to wear. My favorite thing in this variation is that the front pieces are smooth and the ends are curled in a smooth manner creating an ideal balance of the silhouette.
My base is smoothed with Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil Primer and then the loose waves are straightened using a large-barrel curling iron. The result? An endlessly, Parisian-style finish that will look just as good in a blazer as it will in a slip dress.
It is classy and yet not too fancy–ideal when at dinner in the winter months, at office functions or even a little more fancy than usual during the working week.
Twisted Low Updo with Loose Curls
To be more upscale, this twisted low updo is equally providing that polished-yet-casual vibe that will just work on winter hairstyles 2025-2026. The added dimension and volume is achieved through the twist and the soft curls on the ends are what add a romantic flow to it. It is formal enough to be worn on a special occasion yet casual enough to be worn on a daily basis.
In order to maintain such appearance in a well-organized, yet skin-like touch, I can attest to Kerastase Laque Couture Hair Spray, which stays in place without a specific stiff texture. And when you are dressing to go out, a little pin of pearl or a simple clip can do wonders.
This is a hairstyle that is silent confidence- feminine, soft and just the appropriate degree of sophistication. It is the ideal ending to a winter glance that is easily beautiful.
Polished Low Ponytail with Wrapped Detail
One of the hairstyles that should be used to represent quiet luxury this season is the sleek low ponytail that is wrapped with its own strand of hair. It is sophisticated and simple at the same time, the type of appearance that can be worn during official meetings and then during candlelit dinners without taking time to change. The soft, modern aesthetic created by the smooth finish and little twist is what I love about it.
To achieve the glass-like look, I cannot live without Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, which makes hair waterproof and solves flyaways within a second. Some serum on the ends makes the waves wet and feelable.
It is a glance that is almost whispering rather than yelling, chic, old fashioned and everything winter perfect.
Layered Blowout with Curtain Bangs
The resurrection of the layered blowout cannot be discussed as winter 2025-2026 hair trends. It is reviving 90s in the most optimal sense of the word, bouncy, voluminous, and mobile. The curtain bangs provide a nice frame to the face and bring out some softness which suits all shapes of face.
Celebrity hairdresser Chris Appleton advises applying a large round brush when blow drying parts of the hair and Velcro rollers to fix the lift at the top. I have experimented with it–and it wonders. Finish off with Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray to the bounce of the salon.
It is audacious, seductive and casually glamourous – the type of hair that changes the way you feel about yourself immediately, turning you into the lead character in your own winter rom comedy.
Textured Braided Half-Up with Loose Curls
The casualness of a loose and textured braid, put in soft curls, is so naturally feminine. This style achieves that boho-meets-glamour equilibrium that is homey at the time of the holiday. It is organised and yet casual – the type of appearance that is both deliberate yet natural.
I apply Ouai Wave Spray to create a texture and a hold when I am about to braid my hair. It only takes a little tugging in each piece of the braids to make it appear thicker and softer– an imperfection is what makes it complete.
This hairstyle is as though you were attending a wedding in winter or on a warm Christmas evening – a romantic, easy, and charming hairstyle.
High Voluminous Ponytail with Glam Waves
When you are in need of a big and easy-going ponytail, the high voluminous one is undergoing a serious ruling. Just imagine that it is the winter version of your basic pony, shiny and the touch of velvety, bouncy hair, and too flirtatious to resist. It is the ideal mixture of drama and sophistication.
To achieve that signature pulled-up look, apply a teasing brush to the top and pull the ends of the hair at the top and hold the base secure and then use a 125 inch barrel iron to curl the ends of the hair. Apply Redken Shine Flash Spray to ensure that the light is reflecting well.
It is bold, theatrical and unquestionably beautiful, the type of hairstyle that makes you stand a little higher the more you do it.
Soft Twisted Half-Up for Long Blonde Hair
Something airy about this perverted half-up on long, honey-blonde hair. The twist behind is very soft and places structure without removing the natural flow of the hair. It is a raised daily appearance – minimum effort and maximum sophistication.
In order to get that silky smooth look I prefer to apply Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Cream first and then my large curling wand to create those soft bends. Maying to have some of it fall around the face, the appearance becomes fresh and romantic.
It is the last song in this winter series it is cozy, natural, slightly glamorous, as winter itself is.
