There's nothing worse than spending hours styling your hair into gorgeous curls only to have them fall flat halfway through the night. So for a party look with staying power, we've put together the best hairstyling tips that you'll need to create, keep and rock any curly party look this holiday season.

Before You Curl...

To achieve the best curls, wash your locks the day before the party. Curls will form and hold better in day old hair.

If you can't handle not having freshly washed curls then use a curl enhancing shampoo and conditioner, or spray some dry shampoo in your hair to freshen your locks and add grip and texture.

Before curling, divide your hair into sections and pin or clip your hair away with hair pins so that you can work with one section at a time.

Ensure you hair is dry before curling. Any moisture in your hair could affect the finished curl or cause hair frizz and fly-aways.

Spray a heat protection product into your locks while your hair curling tool heats up.

Curling Your Hair...

Curls can be created with a curling iron, curling wand or hot hair rollers.

A hair curling wand doesn't have the holding clip that curling irons do and will create loose, natural curls or tight spiral curls without leaving any clip marks in your curls.

When curling, smooth hair mousse through the first section you're going to work with and then curl the section using your curling iron, or add a hot roller.

For loose curls, divide and curl your hair in big sections

For tight, small curls, divide and curl your hair in small sections.

To get lots of voluminous curls, backcomb your hair and work with plenty of hairspray. If using a curling iron, curl your hair outwards and away from your face.

Keeping Your Curls...

Before removing your curling iron or hot roller, spritz your section of hair with hairspray to help set and keep the curl.

If you're using hot rollers allow them to cool in your hair for as long as possible.

Heat is required to curl your hair but cool air will set and keep the curl, so once you've removed your curl from your curling iron or hot roller, let the curl settle and cool, and avoid touching it.

To finish, use spray in hair styling products which will lightly mist over and settle on your hair so that you don’t have to disturb your curls with your hands.

These curly hairstyling tips should allow you to add some great curls to your hair. After that, let your curls loose or pull them into a great half up half down hairstyle, pin one side up, or side style your hair (as pictured above) for a fabulous party look.

To see how you'd look with any of the curly hairstyles pictured in this article, click on the images for a link to try the virtual hairstyle on your own photo or our model.