<p>Ospina says this look required clean sections and straight half. There was a lot of hair to work with, so she decided to cut half the work by creating a bun under the waves. After, she then created the volume and some texture on the top. Finally it was time for waves.</p>

Ospina says this look required clean sections and straight half. There was a lot of hair to work with, so she decided to cut half the work by creating a bun under the waves. After, she then created the volume and some texture on the top. Finally it was time for waves.

Photo courtesy of

Vanessa Ospina @_vanessaospina_
<p>Ortega says to be begin, straighten the entire head and curl the tips in. Part and apply working wax to the first sections you’ll be twisting. Spray working spray to add grip to that section, twist and pull. Hold each pull with a hair pin and apply finishing spray to help dry in place. Repeat this where desired and pin at the occipital. To create the chignon, form a straight line across the lower occipital with bobby pins. Apply Puff.Me on most of the remaining hair and tease. Leave a bottom layer for later. Once you’ve teased wrap hair upward and shape chignon with bobby pins. Use the last layer of hair left behind to hide the teasing. Apply shine spray and comb upward and tuck and pin in place.</p>

Ortega says to be begin, straighten the entire head and curl the tips in. Part and apply working wax to the first sections you’ll be twisting. Spray working spray to add grip to that section, twist and pull. Hold each pull with a hair pin and apply finishing spray to help dry in place. Repeat this where desired and pin at the occipital. To create the chignon, form a straight line across the lower occipital with bobby pins. Apply Puff.Me on most of the remaining hair and tease. Leave a bottom layer for later. Once you’ve teased wrap hair upward and shape chignon with bobby pins. Use the last layer of hair left behind to hide the teasing. Apply shine spray and comb upward and tuck and pin in place.

Photo courtesy of

Sara Ortega @hairspray_studio
<p>Powell began by putting a halo hairband in the hair from Hairtalk and used serum from Scruples throughout the hair before curling with a large barrel curling iron. She then made mini ponytails scattered throughout the hair and created bubble braids securing them with gold braid jewelry. She added a foam hair insert at the bottom of the head to create volume in the curls then pinned them in place and added small glitter holiday ornaments as accents.</p>

Powell began by putting a halo hairband in the hair from Hairtalk and used serum from Scruples throughout the hair before curling with a large barrel curling iron. She then made mini ponytails scattered throughout the hair and created bubble braids securing them with gold braid jewelry. She added a foam hair insert at the bottom of the head to create volume in the curls then pinned them in place and added small glitter holiday ornaments as accents.

Photo courtesy of

Casey Powell @updoguru
<p>To create this look Garcia took a triangle section at the top of the head to create an infiniti braid, incorporating the braid and the remaining of the hair into a low pony. She then added a silver shiny hair jewelry into a three strand braid and expanded the braid giving it texture and separation.</p>

To create this look Garcia took a triangle section at the top of the head to create an infiniti braid, incorporating the braid and the remaining of the hair into a low pony. She then added a silver shiny hair jewelry into a three strand braid and expanded the braid giving it texture and separation.

Photo courtesy of

Breann Garcia @hairbybreanngarcia
<p>First Marelli glossed her client’s color with Paul Mitchell Liquid Demi using equal parts- 6RB, 6OR, 9RO, 9OR. She then prepped the hair using Kenra’s Blow Dry Spray for ultimate shine, and PuffMe volumizing powder at the root for lift. She made five fishtail braids from hairline to crown, isolating a horizontal section in a ponytail. She created a polished chignon using Kenra Platinum Finishing Spray. And finally, sealed the deal with a beautiful bow using the isolated ponytail, and shiny holiday decoration! </p>

First Marelli glossed her client’s color with Paul Mitchell Liquid Demi using equal parts- 6RB, 6OR, 9RO, 9OR. She then prepped the hair using Kenra’s Blow Dry Spray for ultimate shine, and PuffMe volumizing powder at the root for lift. She made five fishtail braids from hairline to crown, isolating a horizontal section in a ponytail. She created a polished chignon using Kenra Platinum Finishing Spray. And finally, sealed the deal with a beautiful bow using the isolated ponytail, and shiny holiday decoration! 

Photo courtesy of

Anna Marelli @annaeleine
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<p>Ospina says this look required clean sections and straight half. There was a lot of hair to work with, so she decided to cut half the work by creating a bun under the waves. After, she then created the volume and some texture on the top. Finally it was time for waves.</p>
1/5
 
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Ospina says this look required clean sections and straight half. There was a lot of hair to work with, so she decided to cut half the work by creating a bun under the waves. After, she then created the volume and some texture on the top. Finally it was time for waves.


Photo courtesy of

Vanessa Ospina @_vanessaospina_
<p>Ortega says to be begin, straighten the entire head and curl the tips in. Part and apply working wax to the first sections you’ll be twisting. Spray working spray to add grip to that section, twist and pull. Hold each pull with a hair pin and apply finishing spray to help dry in place. Repeat this where desired and pin at the occipital. To create the chignon, form a straight line across the lower occipital with bobby pins. Apply Puff.Me on most of the remaining hair and tease. Leave a bottom layer for later. Once you’ve teased wrap hair upward and shape chignon with bobby pins. Use the last layer of hair left behind to hide the teasing. Apply shine spray and comb upward and tuck and pin in place.</p>
2/5
 
Slider

Ortega says to be begin, straighten the entire head and curl the tips in. Part and apply working wax to the first sections you’ll be twisting. Spray working spray to add grip to that section, twist and pull. Hold each pull with a hair pin and apply finishing spray to help dry in place. Repeat this where desired and pin at the occipital. To create the chignon, form a straight line across the lower occipital with bobby pins. Apply Puff.Me on most of the remaining hair and tease. Leave a bottom layer for later. Once you’ve teased wrap hair upward and shape chignon with bobby pins. Use the last layer of hair left behind to hide the teasing. Apply shine spray and comb upward and tuck and pin in place.


Photo courtesy of

Sara Ortega @hairspray_studio
<p>Powell began by putting a halo hairband in the hair from Hairtalk and used serum from Scruples throughout the hair before curling with a large barrel curling iron. She then made mini ponytails scattered throughout the hair and created bubble braids securing them with gold braid jewelry. She added a foam hair insert at the bottom of the head to create volume in the curls then pinned them in place and added small glitter holiday ornaments as accents.</p>
3/5
 
Slider

Powell began by putting a halo hairband in the hair from Hairtalk and used serum from Scruples throughout the hair before curling with a large barrel curling iron. She then made mini ponytails scattered throughout the hair and created bubble braids securing them with gold braid jewelry. She added a foam hair insert at the bottom of the head to create volume in the curls then pinned them in place and added small glitter holiday ornaments as accents.


Photo courtesy of

Casey Powell @updoguru
<p>To create this look Garcia took a triangle section at the top of the head to create an infiniti braid, incorporating the braid and the remaining of the hair into a low pony. She then added a silver shiny hair jewelry into a three strand braid and expanded the braid giving it texture and separation.</p>
4/5
 
Slider

To create this look Garcia took a triangle section at the top of the head to create an infiniti braid, incorporating the braid and the remaining of the hair into a low pony. She then added a silver shiny hair jewelry into a three strand braid and expanded the braid giving it texture and separation.


Photo courtesy of

Breann Garcia @hairbybreanngarcia
<p>First Marelli glossed her client’s color with Paul Mitchell Liquid Demi using equal parts- 6RB, 6OR, 9RO, 9OR. She then prepped the hair using Kenra’s Blow Dry Spray for ultimate shine, and PuffMe volumizing powder at the root for lift. She made five fishtail braids from hairline to crown, isolating a horizontal section in a ponytail. She created a polished chignon using Kenra Platinum Finishing Spray. And finally, sealed the deal with a beautiful bow using the isolated ponytail, and shiny holiday decoration! </p>
5/5
 
Slider

First Marelli glossed her client’s color with Paul Mitchell Liquid Demi using equal parts- 6RB, 6OR, 9RO, 9OR. She then prepped the hair using Kenra’s Blow Dry Spray for ultimate shine, and PuffMe volumizing powder at the root for lift. She made five fishtail braids from hairline to crown, isolating a horizontal section in a ponytail. She created a polished chignon using Kenra Platinum Finishing Spray. And finally, sealed the deal with a beautiful bow using the isolated ponytail, and shiny holiday decoration! 


Photo courtesy of

Anna Marelli @annaeleine

After narrowing countless entries to the Slay Belles contest down to 10 semifinalists, we asked the 10 talented stylists to create holiday-party-prepped hair. Our panel of judges and editors picked their five favorites!

The five finalists not only earn major bragging rights, but they also receive our sponsor challenge box packed with top-notch products and tools from some of our favorites—Hot ToolsHairUWear Professional, and Scruples. These pro beauty brands pulled out all the stops to gift this group with the goodies to help up their styling business and create polished, picture-perfect finishes.

Congrats to our five finalists:

Vanessa Ospina @_vanessaospina_

Casey Powell @updoguru

Sara Ortega @hairspray_studio

Anna Marelli @annaeleine

Breann Garcia @hairbybreanngarcia

The finalists have ONE MORE challenge before one of them is named the grand-prize winner—and they have to use at least TWO products from the Challenge Box we're sending their way, and major bonus points will be rewarded for using at least one product from each brand included in the box.

See the finalists' entries from the second challenge, and stay tuned as our they submit their next challenge for a chance at the grand prize. On October 30, public voting opens for the final five contestants! Vote for your favorite looks by 11:59 p.m. CST on November 5. Our grand-prize winner will be announced November 7!

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL!  You can still hang with these guys AND get the chance to win some of the amazing prizes they’re snagging by entering our Slay Belles Giveaway—the winners go home with jaw-dropping loot.

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