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New Year’s Eve is the night for big hair, sparkle and a little drama. You want a style that looks amazing at the countdown and still holds after midnight.
This year, the biggest looks are soft, bouncy blowouts and old Hollywood waves, according to Cosmopolitan, plus deep side parts and glitzy hair jewelry, according to Cosmopolitan’s New Year’s Eve roundup. Here are 21 New Year’s Eve hairstyles, including silver and gray looks for women over 50.
How to Pick a New Year’s Eve Hairstyle
VOLUME
Set While You Get Ready
self-grip rollers or jumbo hot rollers give lasting lift while you do your makeup.
WAVES
Let Curls Cool
Clip curls with creaseless clips until cool, then brush through for smooth waves.
SPARKLE
Pick One Statement
A rhinestone beaded headbands or silver rhinestone hair clips is enough sparkle for most outfits.
HOLD
Prep With Texture
a volume and texture spray gives hair grip so waves and buns last past midnight.
Shop the Key Pieces
- A 1.25-inch curling iron for Hollywood waves
- Self-grip rollers for blowout volume
- A hot air brush for an easy blowout
- Rhinestone beaded headbands for instant sparkle
- Silver rhinestone hair clips for half-up styles
- Creaseless clips for setting curls
- A volume and texture spray for hold
- A purple shampoo for bright silver
1. Silver Old Hollywood Waves
PinLook formula: Same-direction curls + cooled set + brushed into waves
Platinum silver hair set in sculpted old Hollywood waves is pure countdown glamour. The waves run in one smooth S-shape from the crown to the ends, so the hair catches the light as you move.
How to do it: Curl every section in the same direction with a 1.25-inch curling iron, clip each curl to cool, then brush through with a boar bristle brush.
Silver tip: Wash with a purple shampoo a day or two before so silver looks bright, not yellow.
Shop the look: a 1.25-inch curling iron, creaseless clips, a boar bristle brush
It is a stunning New Year’s Eve hairstyle for women with silver or platinum hair.
2. Voluminous Silver Bob
PinA voluminous white-silver bob with lift at the crown looks bright and polished with a pink dress. Short hair can be just as glam as long hair when it has volume and shine.
How to do it: Blow dry with a round blowout brush, lifting at the roots, then set the crown with self-grip rollers while you do your makeup.
Hair type note: Fine silver hair holds lift better with a volumizing foam at the roots.
Shop the look: a round blowout brush, self-grip rollers, a volumizing foam
It is a great choice for women over 60 with short silver hair.
3. Big Silver Blowout
PinLook formula: Root lift + flipped ends + face-framing layers
A big, bouncy blowout on shoulder-length silver gray hair is easy to wear and looks fresh. Cosmopolitan reports that soft, bouncy blowouts finished with rollers are one of the biggest looks for 2026.
How to do it: Use a hot air brush to lift the roots and flip the ends out, then mist a volume and texture spray for hold.
Shine tip: A drop of an argan hair oil on the ends keeps gray hair smooth, not frizzy.
Shop the look: a hot air brush, a volume and texture spray, an argan hair oil
It is one of the easiest New Year’s Eve hairstyles for women over 50 who are embracing gray.
4. Tousled Silver Curls
PinLong silver gray hair worn in big tousled curls looks natural and glamorous at the same time. The mix of white and darker strands gives the curls depth.
How to do it: Curl large sections with a 1.5-inch curling iron and break them up with your fingers.
Hold tip: Scrunch in a curl defining cream on naturally wavy hair before curling.
Shop the look: a 1.5-inch curling iron, a curl defining cream, a heat protectant spray
5. Glossy Black Hollywood Waves
PinLong black hair in glossy, deep side-parted Hollywood waves is a classic for a black-tie countdown. The deep part adds instant drama.
How to do it: Make a deep side part, curl with a 1.25-inch curling iron and set each curl in a creaseless clip to cool.
Shine tip: Smooth with an anti-humidity smoothing spray on the lengths only.
Shop the look: a 1.25-inch curling iron, creaseless clips, an anti-humidity smoothing spray
Cosmopolitan’s New Year’s Eve roundup calls the deep side part one of the biggest hair revivals of the year.
6. Side-Swept Hollywood Curls
PinVoluminous side-swept curls on long black hair look dramatic and romantic. All the hair falls over one shoulder, which shows off the neckline.
How to do it: Curl with a 1.5-inch curling iron, sweep everything to one side and pin behind the ear with brunette bobby pins.
Hold tip: Prep with a heat protectant spray and a volume and texture spray.
Shop the look: a 1.5-inch curling iron, brunette bobby pins, a volume and texture spray
7. Vintage Finger Waves
PinVintage finger waves on auburn hair are a striking choice for a Great Gatsby-style party. The sculpted S-shapes look polished and very elegant.
How to do it: Set damp hair with a comb and creaseless clips in S-shapes, then let it dry completely.
Try it for: Themed parties and women who love a vintage look.
Shop the look: creaseless clips, a volumizing foam, a teasing comb
8. Short Vintage Curls
PinShort vintage curls with volume at the crown look glamorous with a little black dress. It is a great way to dress up short hair for New Year’s Eve.
How to do it: Set hair on jumbo hot rollers, let them cool and brush out gently.
Hair type note: Works on short to chin-length hair.
Shop the look: jumbo hot rollers, a boar bristle brush, a volume and texture spray
9. Side Part Waves With a Crystal Hair Chain
PinLong, dark side-parted waves with a crystal hair chain along the part add sparkle right where it shows most. It looks bridal-level glam without an updo.
How to do it: Make waves with a 1-inch curling wand, then pin a sparkly accessory along the part with brunette bobby pins.
Swap idea: No hair chain? Line up silver rhinestone hair clips along one side.
Shop the look: a 1-inch curling wand, silver rhinestone hair clips, brunette bobby pins
10. Crystal Headband With Sleek Hair
PinSleek blonde hair with an embellished crystal headband and statement earrings is an easy, high-impact look. The headband does all the work.
How to do it: Smooth hair with a 1-inch flat iron and push rhinestone beaded headbands back from the hairline.
Styling note: With a statement headband, keep the rest of the hair simple.
Shop the look: rhinestone beaded headbands, a 1-inch flat iron, an anti-humidity smoothing spray
11. Pearl Headband With Long Waves
PinLong dark waves with a thin pearl headband feel soft and elegant. Pearls look lovely with black dresses and sequins alike.
How to do it: Curl hair loosely with a 1-inch curling wand and add a slim pearl headband or pearl hair pins.
Hold tip: Mist a volume and texture spray so waves last past midnight.
Shop the look: a 1-inch curling wand, pearl hair pins, a volume and texture spray
12. Half-Up With Sparkly Hair Pins
PinLong auburn-to-blonde waves pulled half up and decorated with sparkly gold hair pins is one of the prettiest ways to add sparkle. The pins sit along the twist at the back.
How to do it: Twist two front sections back, secure with clear mini elastics and slide in sparkly pins over the elastic.
Swap idea: Use silver rhinestone hair clips for a silver finish.
Shop the look: clear mini elastics, silver rhinestone hair clips, a 1-inch curling wand
13. Star Clips Down a Low Ponytail
PinColorful star clips running down a low ponytail are fun and playful for a casual New Year’s party. It is a cute, easy look for any age.
How to do it: Tie a low ponytail and clip small clips down the length.
Swap idea: Use a rhinestone snowflake clip for a winter sparkle.
Shop the look: a rhinestone snowflake clip, clear mini elastics, an anti-humidity smoothing spray
14. Sleek Ponytail With Flipped Ends
PinA sleek blonde ponytail with flipped ends and gold earrings looks clean and modern. It is secure, so it holds up while you dance.
How to do it: Brush hair back with a boar bristle brush, tie with clear mini elastics and curl the ends with a 1.25-inch curling iron.
Shine tip: Finish with an anti-humidity smoothing spray to tame flyaways.
Shop the look: a boar bristle brush, clear mini elastics, an anti-humidity smoothing spray
15. Messy 90s Updo
A loose, messy blonde updo with face-framing pieces has a 90s feel. The volume and texture make it look relaxed but still dressed up.
How to do it: Gather hair loosely at the crown, twist and pin with U-shaped hair pins, then pull out face-framing pieces.
Grip tip: Use dry shampoo at the roots for hold.
Shop the look: U-shaped hair pins, dry shampoo, a volume and texture spray
16. Bouncy Blonde Blowout
PinLong blonde hair in a bouncy, voluminous blowout is the easiest way to feel glam. The curled ends move beautifully as you celebrate.
How to do it: Blow dry with a round blowout brush, then set the top sections on self-grip rollers while you get ready.
Hold tip: Brush out once the rollers cool completely.
Shop the look: a round blowout brush, self-grip rollers, a heat protectant spray
17. Big Brunette Blowout
Long dark brunette hair in a big blowout with curled ends looks rich and glossy. The volume at the roots adds instant glamour.
How to do it: Use a hot air brush to lift roots, then curl the ends with a 1.5-inch curling iron.
Hold tip: Mist a volume and texture spray at the roots.
Shop the look: a hot air brush, a 1.5-inch curling iron, a volume and texture spray
18. Face-Framing Glam Blowout
PinA glam layered blowout with face-framing curls flatters every face shape. The curls around the face brighten your features.
How to do it: Curl the front pieces away from the face with a 1.25-inch curling iron and brush through.
Ask for: Long face-framing layers starting at the cheekbones.
Shop the look: a 1.25-inch curling iron, a boar bristle brush, a heat protectant spray
19. Silver Tinsel Waves
PinSilver and pastel tinsel strands woven into soft blonde waves give a subtle sparkle that catches the light at every angle.
Good to know: Hair tinsel is usually tied in by a stylist and can last a few weeks.
Styling note: Waves made with a 1-inch curling wand show the tinsel best.
Shop the look: a 1-inch curling wand, a heat protectant spray, an argan hair oil
20. Glitter Braids Into Space Buns
PinBraids leading into two space buns with silver glitter along the part are fun and festive. It is a playful look for a big New Year’s party.
How to do it: Dutch braid two sections, wrap the ends into buns and pin with brunette bobby pins.
Hold tip: Use clear mini elastics at the ends before you wrap.
Shop the look: brunette bobby pins, clear mini elastics, a hair wax stick
21. Glitter Space Buns With Hair Rings
PinDark braided space buns with glitter on the part and silver hair rings are bold and playful. It is all about the sparkle.
How to do it: Braid two sections, twist into buns, secure with U-shaped hair pins and add small hair rings along the braids.
Smooth tip: Use a hair wax stick to tame flyaways.
Shop the look: U-shaped hair pins, a hair wax stick, clear mini elastics
Pick a style that fits your dress, your hair length and how much time you have. Pack a few bobby pins for a touch-up before midnight. Happy New Year!
