Carolyn J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
The Chicest Party Bun Hairstyle That Started with My Christmas Tree
This cute party bun hairstyle looks polished and party-ready—but the secret is a festive hack straight from my Christmas tree. Using garland as a hair accessory, this bun is way easier than it looks and perfect for holiday parties, New Year’s Eve, or any festive night out. Follow this simple, beginner-friendly hairstyle tutorial to create a glittery, soft, chic party bun using items you already have at home.
It’s easy but oh so glam!
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The Creative Hairstyle Inspiration
If you’ve ever wanted a party hairstyle that looks extra but secretly takes almost no effort, this is it. After seeing one Pinterest image with a complicated garland hairstyle, I knew I could recreate something simpler and something that anyone with medium to long length hair or a variety of textures could recreate at home.
I will celebrate any day, with my pups by my side!
Create with What You Have
This cute party bun hairstyle is polished, festive, and guaranteed to get compliments—yet the best part is the unexpected hack: I literally grabbed garland off my Christmas tree and found more in my craft closet to make it happen. This is one of those influencer hair moments where people think you planned or worked on for hours… but really, you just got creative with what you had at home and happened to be on day three of not washing my hair (the best for updo’s!).
You can wear it with a tiara or without
Why This Party Bun Works So Well
Looks fancy and styled (without salon skills)
Takes 5–10 minutes max
Beginner-friendly—no special tools needed
Perfect for holiday parties, New Year’s Eve, or weddings or even proms
You can match the garland to your outfit!
Garland adds instant texture, sparkle, and volume
If you can twist your hair into a bun, you can do this hairstyle.
Check out my 1-minute video tutorial for this hairstyle on my TikTok now or coming soon here and to my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden!
How to Style This Festive Hairstyle
Pair with statement earrings or a bold lip
Works with cozy knits or party dresses (my dress seen in this post is an older Grace Karin from Amazon, but this is a similar shimmery dress that I LOVE!)
Perfect for casual gatherings and dressy events
This bun is proof that you don’t need expensive accessories to look put-together—just a little creativity (and a Christmas tree or craft closet like mine nearby).
Wear it with just the garland
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What You’ll Need
Bobby pins or I LOVE these $7 hair pins (comfortable and hold hair so well!)
Light-hold hairspray (optional, I like Kristin Ess)
Dry shampoo (optional, I LOVE Viori, use code CAROLYNBRADEN or this link to get 10% off your Viori order…I keep ordering this and their shampoo and conditioner bars..may hair loves this brand!)
A piece of Christmas tree garland (thinner, flexible works best, I used iridescent garland and gold)
Boar Bristle Brush (smooths the lumps and bumps out of updo’s)
Optional: Curling iron or I used my GLAMUP Air Styler (use my link or code CAROLYNBRADEN for $20 off)
Optional: Disco Ball cup (for photo fun, seen here in my photos)
✨ Tip: Tinsel, beaded garland, ribbon, or faux greenery all work beautifully.
Loved matching my drink to my hair!
Other Bun Tutorials
I have created many bun hairstyles over the years. Get my bun hairstyle using a donut (similar to what I created for this party bun hairstyle) here on my website OR in my 1-minute video below via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
Step-by-Step: The Garland Party Bun Hairstyle
Here’s how I easily created this cute and easy hairstyle. I added some tiara’s, but you don’t have to.
Adding dry shampoo absorbs hair oils
Step 1: Add Grip and Start with a Loose Ponytail
I put a bit of dry shampoo at my oily roots and brushed it out. This absorbs oil and gives your hair (especially if it’s clean) some grip, necessary for updos.
Gather your hair into a mid or high ponytail—no need for perfection. A little messiness actually makes this bun look softer and more expensive. I smoothed lumps and bumps using my boar bristle brush and pulled out some face framing layers for a softer look.
Love using hair pins in up do’s!
Step 2: Tease and Twist into a Bun
Twist the ponytail around itself to form a bun and secure with bobby pins or hair pins. As I said earlier, you can use a hair donut if you need more volume for your bun. Keep it loose.
Adding the finishing touches
Step 3: Steal the Garland 🎄
Yes, really—snip or gently pull off a strand of garland from your Christmas tree. Wrap it loosely around the bun. I used both gold and iridescent garland for extra glitter, color and volume. You could use whatever colors you need to match your outfit AND double up for more fluff like I did!
It’s super cute and easy!
Step 4: Secure + Adjust
Use bobby pins or hair pins (like I used) to anchor the garland where needed. Pull out a few face-framing pieces for that effortless, party-ready vibe. I used my GLAMUP air curler to curl the pieces around my face. See my GLAMUP tutorials here.
The back view of the bun hairstyle
Step 5: Finish
Lightly mist with hairspray if needed, and admire your “How did you do that?” bun.
Final Thoughts
This festive party bun hairstyle is one of my favorite holiday or party beauty hacks because it’s fun, easy, and totally unexpected. I once had someone look at one of my updo’s I created for a simple house party and asked why I did it because it was so fancy. I said “why not?”, lol!
If you try it, don’t be surprised when people assume you spent way more time on your hair than you actually did or wonder why you got so fancy. Fancy is for anytime you want!
Sometimes the best beauty tricks are hiding in plain sight… right next to the ornaments.
Cheers to a new year full of fun parties!
Take Action
If you try any of my ideas, let me know how it turned out—or tag me when you try them because I LOVE seeing your posts💚 If you tag me using @carolynsbloomingcreations or @carolynjbraden, I’ll see it! Or tell me about it in the comments below.
If you loved this article, then we know you’ll love this one too: How to Make a Present Headband that Instantly Steals the Show
Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.