Celebrity Hairstylist Elthon Lopez Shares His Top Holiday Hair Trends
From twinkling hair accessories and cozy winter updos, the holidays are the perfect excuse to experiment with hair styles that are as fun and fabulous as the season itself. To help you get the most out of your holiday hair, we chatted with celebrity hairstylist Elthon Lopez of Ltin Hair. Based in Chicago, Lopez has been making waves on social media with his jaw-dropping transformations and is one of our absolute favorite sources for hair inspiration. He’s been in the industry since the age of 19 and his keen eye and talent developed way before that.
Elthon’s journey into beauty began at a young age, with a passion for makeup and a deep connection to the beauty world, thanks to his mother, a hairstylist herself. As he transitioned from working at major beauty counters at the likes Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus to becoming a full-time freelancer, his love for hair grew. Today, he’s known for transforming his clients’ looks with his expert styling and specialized techniques, particularly with K-tip and weft extensions. Whether it’s on photoshoots for brands like Akira or in the salon at Mercedes Brow Bar or traveling with artist Chencho Corleone, Elthon’s work is all about making women feel confident and empowered. With a dedicated social media following, he constantly stays ahead of the latest trends, drawing inspiration from both fashion and the ever-evolving beauty world. Check out his favorite looks (and how to create them) below!
Hair tips and trends according to Lopez:
1. The Soft Curl Side Part
Grab a 1.25-inch curling iron, texture spray, and a brush.
Begin by curling your hair in various directions, then part it on your desired side. Once the curls have cooled, use your fingers to gently comb through and break them up, creating a soft, fluffy texture. Finish by applying a generous amount of texture spray for a more effortless look—the more product you use, the more natural the style will appear.
2. Half-Up, Half-Down Hairstyle with a Bow
Begin by parting your hair down the middle. Curl the left side away from your face, then curl the right side away as well. Next, section the hair you want to pull back, smooth the top with hairspray, and secure it into a small ponytail. Gently brush through the curls to blend them together and finish off the look by adding a bow.
4. The Updated Bun
Begin by smoothing your hair back with gel into a mid ponytail. Divide the ponytail into two sections. Take one section, apply gel, twist it into a bun, and secure it with bobby pins. Repeat with the second section. For a more edgy look, leave the ends out, or tuck them neatly into the bun for a polished finish. Complete the style with a spritz of hairspray.
5. The Soft Curl
To make your curls blend seamlessly, curl in the same direction. Start by parting your hair down the middle into two sections. Using a 1-inch or 1.25-inch curling iron, curl both the right and left sides away from your face.
Once the curls have cooled, gently brush them out with a wide-tooth comb. You'll notice the curls begin to melt into each other. The more you brush, the more they’ll blend. Finally, set the look with a strong-hold hairspray.
6. The Not So Side-Side Part
For those who want to stay trendy but are short on time, this one's for you!
Create a sleek mid bun with a middle part, but tuck just one side back while leaving the other side out. This gives the illusion of a side part, while still keeping the middle part intact.
Shop the products to recreate the looks:
Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission. We will not recommend or feature anything that we are not passionate about ourselves. Every product is independently selected (and loved) by our team.
Images courtesy of Elthon Lopez and Ltin Hair
