It’s a Tuesday in mid-December. The party invites are stacking up, the office do is on Friday and you’ve finally sat down to book a festive mani. But hold on, every salon near you is fully booked. We know the feeling, and it’s not a very merry one.
Looking and feeling your best this Christmas isn’t about squeezing everything into the final week. It’s about knowing which treatments need a head start, which ones should wait until the last few days, and which will glow all the way to New Year’s Eve.
All you need is our countdown to Christmas. Week by week we’ll walk you through what to book, how long each treatment lasts, and what to ask for. Plus a simple plan for getting NYE-ready without starting from scratch.
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Four weeks before: get everything in the calendar
Four weeks out is the moment to book, even though most of your appointments will happen much later. The most popular slots (Friday afternoons, Saturday mornings, the days before Christmas Eve) are usually the first to go, so now’s your time to claim them. If you like to see the same stylist, nail tech or lash artist every time, this matters even more. Your favourite person will have a waiting list in December (trust us on this one).
Start by writing down your dates: the work party, your friends’ Christmas drinks, Christmas Day itself and New Year’s Eve. Then count back from each one using the weeks below. It takes ten minutes, and it will save your future self from a last-minute panic.
On Treatwell you can see which salons near you still have slots on the days you need and book them in a few taps. So efficient.
Leave time for patch tests
If your plan includes a lash or brow tint, a lash lift or a hair colour, your salon may ask you to pop in for a quick patch test first. This should be 24 to 48 hours beforehand, so find a spot in your calendar a couple of days ahead of the appointment. Ask about it when you book, and if you’re seeing a new salon or haven’t had colour for a while, assume you’ll need one (it takes minutes, we promise).
Planning anything with downtime?
Advanced skin treatments such as chemical peels, microneedling or anti-wrinkle injections need a much longer run-up than a regular facial. A peel can leave skin red and flaky for a few days. Anti-wrinkle injections take up to two weeks to show their full result, so clinics suggest booking them at least four weeks before your event, leaving time for a review appointment.
These are the treatments where a consultation comes first. And if you’ve never had one before, the run-up to Christmas probably isn’t the time to jump in. (Save the experiment for January when there’s no party photo on the line).
Three weeks before: haircut and hair smoothing treatments
The cut
Book your trim for about two to three weeks before your first big event. That gives the ends time to settle, so your hair looks like the best version of itself rather than freshly snipped. A sharp new bob can look a tad severe on day one, and by week two it’s simply your hair, only better.
Planning a bigger change, like a fringe or a dramatic chop? Do it earlier, ideally a couple of months ahead, so you’ve had time to get used to it and your stylist can fine-tune the shape at a follow-up trim. Ask for a cut that will still look good at New Year too, so you’re not booking another trim between the two.
Keratin or Brazilian blow dry
If frizz is your festive nemesis (damp coats, steamy kitchens, an hour on the dance floor), a smoothing treatment is your secret weapon. A Brazilian blow dry can last up to three months, so one appointment covers the Christmas party, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, and keeps going well into January.
Aftercare advice depends on the formula. Some let you wash your hair straight away, while others ask you to wait a few days, so check the aftercare before you book it in the same week as a big night. Having colour done too? Tell your stylist, and they’ll advise which treatment should go first.
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Two weeks before: hair colour, facial and brow lamination
Hair colour
Book your colour for one to two weeks before your event. Freshly coloured hair can look slightly more intense at first, and a week or two gives the shade time to soften into place. It also leaves room for a quick fix if anything isn’t quite right (better a tweak a week out than a panic the day before).
A root touch-up or a refresh of your usual shade is perfect for this slot. A brand-new colour, a big balayage or going several shades lighter is a different story. Do that well before party season, so you’ve had time to live with it.
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A facial that won’t upset your skin
Aim for a facial about ten days to two weeks before your event. Between indoor heating, cold walks to the station and the odd late night, December is tough on skin. A facial at this point gives it time to look its best. Ask for one that’s hydrating and brightening, with no downtime.
Here’s the bit people often don’t expect: a deep-cleansing facial with extractions can leave skin a little red or bumpy for a few days afterwards. That’s nothing to worry about, but it’s not what you want the night before a party. Tell your therapist the date of your event, and they’ll tailor the treatment around it. If you’d like an extra glow closer to the day, gentler options such as an LED facial or a hydrating facial are usually fine nearer to the big event. Dermaplaning works best about a week before.
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Brow lamination
Brow lamination usually lasts six to eight weeks, so book two weeks out and that’s your brows sorted for Christmas and New Year in one go. This plan also leaves time for a quick tidy-up nearer the day if any stray hairs sneak back in.
You’ll need to keep your brows away from water, steam and sweat for the first 24 hours (so maybe skip the hot yoga that evening).
One week before: lashes, brows and hair removal
Lash lift and tint
A lash lift lasts around four to six weeks, so one booked the week before Christmas will still be curling when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. Remember you’ll need to keep your lashes dry and mascara-free for 24 to 48 hours afterwards, while the lift sets. That’s another good reason not to leave it until the day of your party.
The bonus? Lifted, tinted lashes look done without a scrap of mascara. Perfect for a Christmas Day morning when you’re up early with family and the last thing you want is a full face of makeup.
Lash extensions
For lash extensions, book your full set in the final week before your main event. A full set usually needs an infill after two to three weeks, as your natural lashes shed and take their extensions with them. So if you want them looking full on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, plan an infill in between.
Never had extensions before? Don’t make the day before your party your first try. Give yourself a few days to get used to the feel of them and a chance to go back to your lash artist if anything needs adjusting.
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Brow tint and shape
A brow shape and tint is best done around a week before your event. Any pinkness from shaping has long gone by then, and the tint has had a few washes to look natural rather than freshly coloured. If your brows grow quickly, a quick tidy-up a few days before New Year’s Eve keeps them looking sharp.
Waxing or threading
For body waxing, aim for two to three days before. Skin can look a little pink or feel sensitive for a day or two afterwards, so it’s not one for the morning of a party where your legs will be on show. Exfoliate gently the day before your wax and moisturise in the days afterwards.
Threading is quicker and easy to fit in, so it’s a great one for your lunch break the same week. If a spray tan is on your Christmas beauty list, plan your hair removal at least 24 hours before it.
A few days before: nails, barber and tan
Gel or BIAB manicure
Book your gel manicure two to four days before your festive event. A gel manicure usually lasts two to three weeks without chipping, and builder gel (BIAB) can last three to four weeks. Either one will see you through Christmas and still look fresh on New Year’s Eve.
This is also your moment for festive nail art. Deep reds, glitter tips and little snowflakes all shine in party season, so save those screenshots of looks you love and your nail tech will take it from there. Want one look that works for both Christmas and NYE? A classic red or a sheer shimmer is a safe bet.
Get your gel nails sorted, today
Pedicure
Party shoes deserve a party pedicure. Book it the same week as your manicure (or together, as a mani-pedi, to save yourself a trip). If you’re spending an evening in heels and then the whole of Second Christmas Day in slippers, your feet will thank you for it.
Barber: haircut and beard trim
A few days before your big night is the sweet spot for a fade or a short cut. The lines are crisp, but the cut has had a moment to settle so it doesn’t look freshly shaved. Barbers get just as busy as salons in December, so book ahead. Add a beard trim or a hot towel shave to the same appointment and you’re done in one visit.
Book a beard trim on Treatwell
Spray tan
Book your spray tan for a couple of days before your event. A tan often looks its best once it has softened, and a well-applied tan lasts around a week, depending on the shade and how you look after it.
Say it with us: prep is key. Here’s how to set your tan up for success:
- Exfoliate the day before to give the tan a smooth base.
- Do any waxing or shaving at least 24 hours before your appointment.
- Skip creams, oils, deodorant and makeup on the day, as they can stop the solution from absorbing evenly.
- Wear loose, dark clothes to head home in.
Tanning for a Christmas party in mid-December? You’ll need a second tan for New Year’s Eve, as one won’t last the full stretch (sadly, nothing glows forever).
On the day: blow dry, hair up and makeup
Blow dry or hair up
A blow dry belongs on the day of your event, or the day before at a stretch. Bring a photo of the look you want and mention what you’re wearing: a high neckline or statement earrings can impact what works best. If you’re going for an updo, take any hair accessories with you to build into the style.
Makeup
Having your makeup done professionally takes the pressure off getting ready, especially if you’re heading straight out afterwards. Show your artist photos for inspiration and mention how long your night will be, so they can choose products that will outlive the last song.
With your brows, lashes and skin already taken care of earlier in the countdown, there’s far less to do on the day. Perfect!
Straight from the office?
If the office Christmas party starts the minute you log off, a few smart bookings make getting ready much easier:
- Get your lashes lifted or extended earlier in the week. You can skip the mascara and the wand-in-the-loo-mirror moment.
- Book an express blow dry on your way out. No wrangling with the barrel brush before you dash to the office that morning.
- Choose gel or BIAB nails. You’ll be chip-free even after a week of typing.
Getting ready for New Year’s Eve
There are just six days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and the good news is that plenty of what you booked for Christmas is still going strong. Plan your Christmas treatments with NYE in mind and you’ll only need a few top-ups, not a whole new countdown.
What lasts from Christmas to New Year’s Eve
Here’s how long each treatment usually lasts, so you can see what one appointment covers:
- Brazilian blow dry: up to three months
- Brow lamination: six to eight weeks
- Lash lift and tint: four to six weeks
- BIAB: three to four weeks
- Gel manicure: two to three weeks
- Lash extensions: two to three weeks
- Spray tan: around a week
Results vary from person to person, and your aftercare plays a big part, so follow the advice your salon gives you.
What to top up before NYE
The treatments that need a refresh are the ones that only last days, or that work best on the night itself:
- A spray tan a couple of days before
- A lash infill if you had a full set in mid-December
- A quick brow tidy if your brows grow fast
- A nail fix if a gel nail has lifted or chipped
- A blow dry or hair up on New Year’s Eve or the day before
The in-between days
The days between Christmas and New Year are when the family visits wind down and your calendar finally has a gap. They’re perfect for a treatment that’s purely about switching off. Perhaps a massage after all that cooking and hosting (or being horizontal on the sofa), or a gentle facial to bring back some glow after a week of festive treats and late nights (no judgement). Arrive at New Year’s Eve feeling rested, not just looking it.
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Christmas beauty mistakes to avoid
A little planning goes a long way, and so does knowing what to steer clear of in the final week:
- Trying a brand-new treatment. A first-ever facial, a new brow shape or your first set of lash extensions the day before a party leaves no time to adjust. Stick to what you know close to the day.
- Booking anything with downtime too late. Peels, deep-cleansing facials and anti-wrinkle injections all need their run-up. Check the timings above before you book.
- Waxing and tanning on the same day. Do hair removal at least 24 hours before a spray tan.
- Skipping the patch test. No patch test, no tint, so build it into your plan.
- Reaching for a box dye in a panic. We get it: it’s late, your roots are showing and every salon looks booked. But home colour can go wrong fast, and a colour correction is much harder to find a slot for in December than a root touch-up. Check Treatwell for last-minute availability instead.
- Waiting until December to book. Book early, sit pretty. You know the drill by now.
Get your Christmas treatments booked
Christmas is busy enough without a last-minute scramble for a blow dry. Now you know what to book and when. Write down your dates, count back with this countdown, and book everything in one go. You’ll spend the run-up to Christmas enjoying the parties instead of refreshing booking pages. And if there’s a name on your list that’s impossible to buy for, a Treatwell gift card lets them plan their own countdown.
Book your Christmas beauty treatments on Treatwell
FAQs
How long does gel polish last?
Gel polish usually lasts two to three weeks without chipping. How long yours lasts depends on how well your nails are prepped, how thinly the gel is applied and how much your hands are in water. Builder gel (BIAB) can last three to four weeks.
How far in advance should I book Christmas beauty appointments?
Book as early as you can, ideally four weeks or more before your first event. The appointment itself can still be close to the day: it’s the slots that go fast, not the treatments that need to happen early.
When should I get a facial before Christmas?
Around ten days to two weeks before your event. That gives your skin time to settle after any extractions or redness, so it’s glowing (not blotchy) on the day. Gentle, hydrating facials can go a little closer.
Can I have dermaplaning before a party?
Yes. Dermaplaning has little to no downtime, but it’s sensible to book it about a week before your event, in case your skin shows any redness. Wear a good SPF afterwards.
How long before Christmas should I get a spray tan?
A couple of days before your event. That’s long enough for the colour to settle and still look fresh on the night. A tan usually lasts around a week, so book another one before New Year’s Eve.
Will my Christmas treatments last until New Year’s Eve?
Many of them will. Brow lamination, lash lifts, Brazilian blow dries and gel or BIAB nails all usually last longer than the six days between Christmas and New Year. Spray tans, blow dries and lash extension infills are the ones to top up.
What’s the best last-minute treatment before a party?
A blow dry, a manicure or a gentle hydrating facial. All three give you an instant lift with no downtime, so they’re safe to book even a day or two before.