From glossy blowouts to color refreshes, here’s how to get your hair holiday-ready—before the festivities begin. Once fall hits, the holiday season seems to happen overnight, which is why November is the perfect time to prep for the season ahead. And because the holidays are all about polish, here are our favorite ways to ensure light-catching shine, soft movement, and color that looks expensive without trying too hard.

Holiday 2025 Hair Tips

The Look: Statement Shine

The season’s biggest hair trend isn’t about over-the-top styling, it’s about the finish. From Sabrina Carpenter’s glowy blonde to high-gloss brunettes and warm dimensional reds, shine is having its moment—and you don’t need a full makeover to get it.

A Shades EQ glossing service is the simplest way to shift tone, enhance vibrancy, and revive dull color before the holidays. It delivers tonal refinement and depth without commitment, giving your stylist the freedom to customize shine, tone, and warmth for the weeks ahead.

Then, when it comes to at-home upkeep, Redken Acidic Color Gloss Gloss-In Mask extends that post-service glow between appointments. The formula adds hydration and reflective shine in just one minute, so hair keeps that freshly glazed look long after you leave the chair.

 

The Prep

Prepping your hair now means less stress later. Start by refreshing your color before appointments become hard to book. Then, layer in hydration because indoor heat, travel, and holiday styling can deplete moisture from your strands fast.

  • Two Weeks Out: Book a Shades EQ gloss or toning service to enhance shine and even out tone.
  • One Week Out: Add a deep-conditioning step to your routine—use the Gloss-In Mask 1–2 times a week for softness and light reflection.
  • Day Of: Protect with a lightweight heat protectant and finish with a shine serum to seal the look.

Holiday Trend Forecast: Blondes Go Warm, Brunettes Go Liquid

This season’s color palette leans toward soft blondes—like neutral champagne or buttery gold tones. Tones are shifting warmer, with a lived-in, candlelit finish while Brunettes are going “liquid,” with deep, reflective shine that look polished but still natural. Even red shades are more dimensional, layering copper and amber for movement and depth.

 

For Stylists: Your Holiday Readiness Checklist

The season can be the busiest (and most lucrative) stretch of the year, but it requires planning. A few quick moves help keep your chair booked and your clients glowing through the rush:

  • Pre-book Now: Encourage clients to schedule gloss and toning services before Thanksgiving to avoid December backlogs.
  • Bundle Services: Offer express Shades EQ + Acidic Color Gloss add-ons for quick refreshes between full color appointments.
  • Retail Reset: Stock high-shine essentials—like Acidic Color Gloss Gloss-In Mask—for clients to extend results at home.
  • Social Refresh: Post real client transformations—high-gloss brunettes, golden blondes, reflective reds—to inspire holiday bookings.