3 Easy Hairstyles Anyone With Short Hair Can Do

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We don't mean to brag, but our holiday celebration calendar is packed! Which means we're already hyperventilating over what makeup and hairstyle to wear to each function (every look has to be unique, of course, for the Instagram feed). So we enlisted the help of celebrity stylist and L'Anza ambassador Ammon Carver to create three distinct holiday options for ladies with shoulder-length hair, since that awkward in-between length seems to be the hardest to coif.

The first is a casual undercut style that's perfect for an impromptu holiday high school reunion with a white elephant gift exchange. The second chic updo could work equally well for a black-tie gala event or dinner with your boyfriend's parents. The final, embellished metallic look is sure to be a conversation starter on New Year's Eve. Keep reading to get step-by-step breakdowns of each style. And if you have long hair, make sure to check out our braided party ponytail inspired by Blake Lively.

Step 1: Smooth
Benjamin Stone

Step 1: Smooth

Apply mousse to dry hair to tame flyaways and give your hair grip, which you'll need for braiding. Only put the product along the right side, where the plait will sit. Then, set the mousse by blow-drying the area flat and back with a bristle brush.

Step 2: Braid
Benjamin Stone

Step 2: Braid

Create a deep side part starting at the temples just above the right eyebrow arch. The part should stretch from the front to the left corner of the nape, at a diagonal slant. Clip the rest of the hair on the left side out of the way.

Braid hair close to the scalp to create a faux-undercut look. The plait should be at a diagonal slant so that the end sits near the left side of the neck. Finish it off with a rubber band or bobby pins.

Step 3: Curl
Benjamin Stone

Step 3: Curl

Wrap the remaining hair around a medium, one-inch curling iron, keeping the clamp open. To finish, spritz the ends with L'Anza Dry Texture Spray ($28) to create separation and get a sexy, second-day texture. The curls will fall over the end of the braid, hiding the ends.

The Finished Look
Benjamin Stone

The Finished Look

Step 1: Foundation
Benjamin Stone

Step 1: Foundation

First, create a hidden foundation for the updo. Section off a round portion of hair just behind the ears and an inch below the crown. Pull the hair back into a low ponytail at the nape, twist it, and form a miniature chignon.

Step 2: Mold
Benjamin Stone

Step 2: Mold

Curl the remaining hair on the sides using a curling iron. "You need a little bit of that soft texture so it keeps the casual elegance . . . so it doesn't look like a harsh, severe updo — more romantic, girlie, and feminine," Carver said.

Working from a deep side part, begin molding the hair back over the foundation — a side mirror helps you see the style from all angles. Gently drape and stretch the waves, and hold everything in place with oversize hairpins (you'll go back later and secure with bobby pins). Carver likes to use bright pins as placeholders, since they stand out from the hair.

Step 4: Gloss
Benjamin Stone

Step 4: Gloss

Once all the curls are perfectly placed, gather the ends and pin them underneath the knot. Then, go back and remove the open hairpins, replacing each one with a bobby pin. As a final touch, pinch and spray curls with L'Anza Keratin Healing Oil Lustrous Finishing Spray ($28). This small detail gives the finished style a glossy, piecey look.

The Finished Look
Benjamin Stone

The Finished Look

The Finished Look
Benjamin Stone

The Finished Look

Step 1: Bang Blowback
Benjamin Stone

Step 1: Bang Blowback

If want your bangs to disappear for a night, Carver has the perfect trick. "The roots are trained to go down, but beat them into submission," he said. Mist your hairline with water, and slick bangs back away from the face. Next, apply mousse to a fine-tooth comb, and sweep it through the hair (fingers can get too messy). Use a blow-dryer to dry the product and lift hair at the roots. The heat helps make the hair malleable.

Step 2: Clip and Cool
Benjamin Stone

Step 2: Clip and Cool

Smooth down short bangs by placing clips across the hair while it cools. This will disguise the ends, blending them with the rest of your hair. At home, you can use regular duck clips with playing cards to get sleek without the crease. The bangs will mold flat once they cool.

Step 3: Decorate
Benjamin Stone

Step 3: Decorate

Place decorative bobby pins in a crisscross pattern at the occipital bone (where the skull meets the neck). These metallic gold pins from the Sephora Do It Up Holiday Hair Kit ($20) work best with brown hair, but blondes might prefer to use black ones similar to Kate Mara's red carpet look. Give the entire style an extra layer of gloss with the L'Anza Healing Style Shine F/X ($21).

The Finished Look
Benjamin Stone

The Finished Look