How to Use Social Media to Showcase Your Holiday Looks
The holiday season is one of the best times of year to build your beauty brand, elevate your styling portfolio, and connect with new clients.
Whether you’re a beauty student building your reputation or a stylist in the industry looking to showcase your seasonal creativity, social media offers a powerful stage.
Moreover, since the way people are finding brands and tips online, with “zero click search” making finding tips harder than ever, social media might be your best friend to make a mark!
Here’s your full guide to posting holiday looks that shine thoughtfully, strategically, and on‑brand.
1. Plan Your Holiday Content Ahead
Start by blocking out time as early as possible to plan your content calendar.
As one social media platform found, holiday conversations and searches start early: “44% of social users say they are more likely to buy from brands that launch ‘fall and winter’ campaigns as early as August.”
While summer is long behind us, it’s not too late to map out key dates: holiday parties, office events, New Year’s Eve, family gatherings.
Decide ahead what looks you’ll capture (hair, makeup, nails) and what format you’ll use (Reels, Stories, posts, carousel).
Next, batch create your content so during the busy season you’re ready to post!
2. Choose the Right Platforms & Formats
Different platforms favour different styles of content.
For instance:
- Instagram Reels/Stories perform best for visual beauty content and engagement.
- TikTok is ideal for trending formats and discoverability among younger audiences.
- Carousels and Stories are great for step‑bys or transformations.
For each holiday look you shoot, aim for one hero image, one short video (e.g., “3‑step holiday glam”), and at least one behind‑the‑scenes or prep post to show your process and get your viewers really engaged in your creative thinking.
3. Create Scroll‑Stopping Visuals
Beauty is inherently visual. This means it’s more than worth it to invest in good lighting, composition, and styling.
You don’t need to splurge. Use your holiday elements subtly and make use of what’s already available: cosy backdrops like your living room, subdued sparkle of the decorations, warm lighting from the Christmas tree.
As one digital‑marketing site advises: “Visual content is king on social media, and the holidays offer creative visuals like winter colours and festive backgrounds.”
Tips to up your visual game:
- Use natural window light or a ring light for clarity.
- Have your subject pose both looking at the camera and off‑angle for variety.
- Show before/after or process shots (this builds trust and engagement).
- Keep your background tidy: your styling work should be the focus.
4. Write Descriptions That Tell a Story & Invite Engagement
A great look is only half the battle. Getting your videos tip top is the other half.
One of the things you’ll need to focus on is your description. Your descriptions should add context, value, or personality.
Be sure to include:
- What you did (“Created a soft berry‑glam look for a holiday dinner”).
- Why (“Because the client wanted something festive but wearable”).
- A call to action: “Double‑tap if you love festive gloss!”, or “Which holiday look should I demo next, soft curls or sleek pony?”
Engagement triggers like this help your post get seen. Plus, the holiday season is a time people are more likely to comment or share personal posts.
5. Use Hashtags & Tagging Strategically
While they might seem overused, hashtags can help your posts get noticed.
Use ones that can increase your discoverability and relevance. Combine:
- Broad hashtags (#HolidayMakeup, #HairForHoliday)
- Niche or local hashtags (#SudburyHairstylist, #OntarioBeautyStudent)
- Branded or campaign‑specific hashtags (#ModernCollegeHolidayGlam)
Tag your location too, especially if you’re in a salon or campus studio, and any relevant brands or product lines you used for added exposure!
6. Show Behind‑the‑Scenes & Human Moments
People engage with authenticity.
This means it’s often worth it to show your prep: your styling tools, your client consultation, the messy cord of your curling wand,a quick selfie mid‑look.
According to one analysis: “Sharing behind‑the‑scenes content builds authenticity and loyalty.”
This also gives students or emerging beauty pros a chance to showcase their process, which is a valuable portfolio piece and makes you relatable.
7. Offer Value Beyond the Look
Your holiday posts can be a great opportunity to teach, inspire, or help your audience with their own questions.
Some ideas:
- “3 Holiday Makeup Mistakes to Avoid”
- “How to Make Your Hair Gloss Last Through the Party Night”
- “Quick Touch‑Up Tips Between Courses”
By pairing your look with a tip or insight, you position yourself as someone who not only creates beauty, but understands it, which builds trust and authority in your channel or personal brand.
8. Post Consistently But Don’t Oversell
The holidays are busy and filled with opportunity. If you’re a self-starter, you’ll want to post frequently, but remember guidelines like these:
- Be on‑brand and consistent in voice and visuals.
- Resist turning every post into a hard sell. Provide inspiration and value.
- Stick to a manageable schedule: 3–4 posts per week might be more than enough.
Focus on building your personal brand or student portfolio during this time, but be strategic – there’s no point in burning out by the time the New Year comes around!
9. Use Analytics to Optimize
After you post, always review which formats, captions or times got the most engagement. You can then use this data to adjust your strategy for new posts.
For instance, one study suggests planners should: “Look at key metrics such as engagement rate, click‑throughs, and conversions” to refine content.
You might find: Reels of hair styling get more views than photo posts, or posts after 7 pm local time get more comments. Leverage those insights.
10. Prepare for After the Holidays
The content you create now doesn’t expire after New Year’s.
Be sure to save highlights, create a “Holiday Looks” portfolio section, and save images/videos for future use: social media, website gallery, student portfolio.
And don’t forget! Ask clients for permission to repost their images, tag them and show‑off your styling work over the season.
Final Thoughts
Holiday content isn’t about flashy gimmicks—it’s about telling your beauty‑story, building your brand, and connecting with an audience in a season of joy and celebration. For beauty students and professionals alike, the holidays are the perfect stage to shine.
Ready to showcase your holiday looks and build your portfolio? At Modern College of Hairstyling and Esthetics, our beauty programs equip you with the skills, creativity and confidence to create scroll‑worthy, client‑ready beauty looks, and post them like a pro.