Home / Gift guide
Gift guideHoliday Party Glam Kit + Hair Tool Gift Guide (Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2026)
About these links: the product links on this page are regular links to each store. We do not earn anything from them. We have not tested these products ourselves; we picked them by category, using the advice in our guides. Prices and deals change often, so check the store for current pricing.
Holiday season means office parties, weddings, New Year's Eve and a lot of photos. This guide gathers the tools and products our guides keep coming back to: a good hot tool, protection for the hair underneath it, and makeup that stays put through a long night. Use it to shop for someone else, or to build your own party glam kit before the calendar fills up.
Hot tools worth gifting
Iron, wand or flat iron? If you are not sure which one the person on your list needs, our iron vs. wand vs. flat iron guide walks through it.
ghd Platinum+ Flat Iron (1 inch)
At ghd US
A 1-inch smart flat iron with a single fixed styling temperature (365 °F per ghd), so there is no dial to over-crank. The rounded body also makes it a flat-iron-wave tool, which suits anyone who wants one tool for sleek and soft waves.
ghd Platinum+ Festive Gift Set
At ghd US
ghd's limited-edition holiday set pairs the same Platinum+ styler with a paddle brush and a heat-resistant bag. The bag matters more than it sounds: it lets a still-warm iron go straight into a suitcase or venue kit.
T3 SinglePass Curl X (1 inch, extra-long barrel)
At Ulta Beauty
A clamp curling iron with a 1-inch ceramic barrel and an extra-long barrel for longer hair. A 1-inch barrel is the classic all-rounder for event curls and loose waves on shoulder-length and longer hair.
Air-wrap-style alternatives
Air stylers dry and shape at the same time. These two cover a mid-range and a budget option.
Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System (HD430)
At Amazon
The best-known alternative to air-wrap stylers: a dryer that twists into a styling wand with auto-wrap curlers, an oval brush, a paddle brush and a concentrator. Good for someone who wants blow-dry and curls from one tool.
Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus
At Amazon
A round-brush dryer for a smooth, bouncy blow-out. The budget-friendly pick for a teen getting ready for prom or a stocking-stuffer-plus gift.
Hair care that protects the look
Every hot tool is kinder with protectant first. See heat styling, minus the damage.
ghd Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray
At ghd US
A lightweight heat protectant spray. Pair it with any hot tool on this list; protectant before heat is the single easiest habit from our heat-styling guide.
OLAPLEX No.3PLUS Complete Bond Repair
At Ulta Beauty
A pre-shampoo treatment (the reformulated successor to No.3 Hair Perfector). A thoughtful gift for anyone who heat-styles or colours often.
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
At Amazon
Dry shampoo is how a second-day blow-out survives a holiday weekend of parties. It also adds grip, which helps updos and pins hold.
Party makeup that lasts until the last song
Setting products are the backbone of our makeup that lasts all night guide.
Urban Decay All Nighter Waterproof Setting Spray
At Ulta Beauty
A long-standing setting spray that comes in several sizes, including a 1 oz travel size that fits an event-day kit.
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
At Amazon
A classic translucent setting powder for the T-zone. It helps makeup through a long evening, and a light hand keeps it from showing in flash photos.
How to choose, quickly
| If they want… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Sleek hair and flat-iron waves from one tool | A 1-inch flat iron |
| Defined, long-lasting curls | A 1-inch clamp curling iron |
| A blow-out and curls without a separate iron | An air styler |
| A smooth, bouncy blow-out on a budget | A round-brush dryer |
| Makeup that survives dancing | Setting powder on the T-zone plus setting spray |
Build a party emergency kit
A few minis go a long way on the night: a travel setting spray, dry shampoo, a mini heat protectant if you will restyle, bobby pins and blotting papers. Our event-day emergency kit checklist has the full list.
Frequently asked questions
Do you earn money from these links?
No. They are regular links to each store.
Did you test these products?
No. We chose them by category and how well they fit the routines in our guides. Read the retailer's details and reviews before you buy.
Which hot tool is the safest choice for damaged hair?
Any tool used at the lowest effective temperature, with a heat protectant and fewer passes. See our heat-styling guide for the details.
When do Black Friday prices start?
Retailers set their own dates and many start early. Check each retailer's page for current offers.
General information only. Patch-test new products, follow each tool's instructions and your stylist's advice for your own hair and skin.