A curly updo is the compromise I steer most curly-haired brides toward. You keep the movement and texture that make your hair yours, but the weight comes off your neck, the shape survives the first hug and the photographer gets a clean profile. Brides, bridesmaids, mothers of the bride and guests can all wear one. Which version suits you comes down to your curl pattern, your neckline, where the veil sits, the forecast and how much volume you like near your face. Below are 15 of them, from low buns and braided crowns to high, full curls, each one worth saving and bringing to your trial.
Ringlets, Coils or Waves Each Hold an Updo Differently
Two brides can show me the same photo and leave with very different results, simply because one has loose S-shaped waves and the other has tight coils. Before you fall for a picture, check whose hair is in it.
- Wavy and loosely curled hair, the kind that straightens a little when wet and heavy: this hair slips. Messy buns and chignons hold better when I add texture spray first and pin over small braids or twists hidden underneath.
- Springy, defined ringlets: almost every style here suits you. The risk is over-handling, so I pin the curls in clusters rather than separating them strand by strand, which would turn them to frizz.
- Tight coils and kinky textures: high puffs, sculpted buns and braided crowns show this hair off and hold for hours. Shrinkage is the thing to plan for, so judge length on dry, stretched hair, not wet.
If your hair is a mix, which is common, show your stylist the curliest and the straightest sections. Those two spots are where an updo usually comes loose first.
1. Low Curly Updo For Wedding
The low curly updo is the one I reach for first when a bride can’t decide. I gather the curls near the nape and pin them in loose sections, so the shape stays full instead of collapsing into one tight knot. Medium to long curls give the bun real dimension; shorter curls can do it, but the bun sits smaller. I usually leave two or three curls out at the cheekbones and keep the crown softly lifted, because a flat crown makes a low bun look heavy from the side. Veils, pearl pins, floral combs and off-the-shoulder dresses all sit comfortably with it.
2. Messy Curly Updo For Wedding
Messy is the hardest updo to get right, oddly enough. It has to look loose and touchable but be pinned carefully enough to last through photos, hugs and the dance floor. I define the curl pattern first with cream, gel, or mousse, let it set, and only then shape the hair into an airy bun. A few curls can fall at the temples or the neckline. What I’m avoiding is frizz pretending to be texture; once a curl is broken up by fingers it reads as fuzz in close-ups. Garden, beach and rustic weddings suit this one best.
3. High Curly Updo For Wedding
A high curly updo brings height and drama, and it pairs best with statement earrings or a plain, clean neckline. The curls gather high on the head into a full crown shape. Because it pulls the eye upward, it tends to flatter round, oval and heart-shaped faces. Sides can be sleek or left soft at the hairline. The mistake I see most is winding everything into one tight bun; with curls, that bun gets heavy and starts to tilt. I pin in small sections instead, building up, and the weight spreads across the head. Save this one for ballrooms and formal portraits.
4. Curly Chignon For Wedding
A curly chignon trades the smooth, glassy finish of the classic version for curls that form the shape themselves, which gives the bun depth. It sits low at the nape or slightly to one side, leaving room above for a veil, a hair vine or a few delicate pins. In humid weather I like it more than loose styles, because the curls are tucked and secured and have less room to puff. Ask for a clean, tight base at the nape and looser curl detail through the bun itself. Lace and satin both suit it.
5. Curly Bun Updo For Wedding
Simple, and very adaptable. A curly bun can be polished with pearl pins for a bride or worn softer by bridesmaids, and it can sit low, mid-height or high depending on the dress. Curly texture makes the bun look thicker than a smooth one, which is good news if your curls shrink a lot, because the shape doesn’t need much length to look finished. I leave a few loose tendrils around the face and use proper U-pins rather than bobby pins in the bun itself; U-pins slide into curls without crushing them.
6. Side Curly Updo For Wedding
An off-center bun gives you a profile, and profiles are what photographers shoot during the vows. With a side curly updo, the pinned curls sit just behind one ear, so your guests see them from the aisle. I place it on the side your part naturally falls to, which keeps the front from fighting the back. It suits one-shoulder gowns and a statement clip above the bun. Keep the opposite side smooth or softly twisted; if both sides are equally full, the shape loses its point.
7. Braided Curly Updo For Wedding
Braids are my secret structure in curly updos. A braid can wrap around the crown, feed into a low bun or frame one side before blending into the pinned curls, and it gives every pin something solid to lock into. That matters for shorter layers and front pieces that would otherwise escape by the reception. On curly hair I keep the braid relaxed unless the look is meant to be sleek, then loosen it gently with my fingers once it’s pinned. Outdoor ceremonies are where this one earns its keep.
8. Curly Updo With Bangs For Wedding
Curly bangs soften an updo instantly, especially when the bun sits low or mid-height. The order matters: I style the bangs first so the curl pattern lands exactly where you want it, and only then pin the rest. If you do it the other way round, the fringe gets disturbed by all the handling and never quite sits right again. Full curly bangs, a curtain-style fringe or shorter tendrils near the forehead all work. With so much happening at the front, I keep the veil and accessories simple.
9. Curly Updo With Veil For Wedding
Veils and curly updos need to be planned together. Low buns usually take the veil just above the updo; high buns often look better with the veil tucked underneath. Either way, I want curls visible rather than buried under tulle. Thick curls are slippery under a comb, so I build a little anchor of crossed pins where the comb will go before the veil arrives. Bring your veil, or one with the same comb, to the trial. A cathedral veil and a short fingertip veil pull on the hair very differently.
10. Curly Updo With Flowers For Wedding
Flowers in curls look fresh, but weight is the problem I’m always watching. Small blooms can be tucked into a low bun, scattered through a braided updo or grouped on one side. Tiny blooms, baby’s breath, small orchids and good silk flowers sit well; heavy stems drag on the pins over the day. Glossy, defined curls show flowers off best, so I finish the curls before anything goes in. Ask your florist for stems wired or cut short for hair, and keep the arrangement light enough that the updo still reads as hair, not as a headpiece.
11. Curly Updo For Short Hair Wedding
On short curls, I’m not building a real bun, I’m building the impression of one. I pin sections upward, twist the sides and tuck the ends in so the shape reads as gathered. Chin-length curls, curly bobs and shoulder-grazing cuts can all do it, and curl texture helps because it fills in the volume that straight short hair can’t. Soft tendrils at the face and a mini comb or small pins finish it. A firm setting spray holds the shape, but I keep it off the front curls so they stay soft.
12. Curly Updo For Long Hair Wedding
Long curly hair gives an updo fullness, and weight. I section the hair and pin the curls in layers, working from the nape upward, so no single spot carries the whole load. That gives you a soft, dimensional bun rather than one bulky shape hanging off the back of the head. There’s enough volume to balance a veil, a tiara or long earrings. If your hair is very thick, tell your stylist about any headaches you get from ponytails; that tells me to spread the anchor points wider and keep the bun lower.
13. Natural Curly Updo For Wedding
A natural curly updo celebrates the texture you already have instead of stretching or smoothing it. I define the curls first, then pin in a way that keeps their spring, which might mean a high puff, a soft curly bun or a pinned shape with tendrils around the face. Prep starts days earlier than most brides expect: well-hydrated curls hold a cleaner shape, so a deep condition two or three days before is worth more than any product on the morning. A lightweight gel or foam then holds the curls without leaving them hard.
14. Half Up Curly Updo For Wedding
Half up curls give you lift at the crown and loose movement everywhere else. The top section is pinned, twisted, braided or wound into a small bun, while the rest falls freely. I’d suggest it to any bride who loves wearing her curls down but hates hair in her face. The loose lengths are the vulnerable part outdoors, so I define them well and set the crown section firmly with crossed pins. Veils, small clips and floral pins sit well on top. It translates easily to bridesmaids, guests, and brides alike, which helps if you want the party to match.
15. Elegant Curly Updo For Wedding
This is the most polished version on the list: curl texture still visible, but a cleaner shape than a messy or boho updo. I smooth the sides softly, lift the crown gently and pin the curls into a neat low or mid bun. It belongs with formal ceremonies, black-tie weddings and classic gowns, and it suits mothers of the bride or groom who want something refined that isn’t frozen. Shine spray goes on at the end, a light mist from a distance, because heavy shine on curls can look greasy under flash.
Heavy Buns, Sore Scalps and Pins That Dig In
Thick curly hair packed into a bun weighs more than it looks. By hour six, a style that felt fine at the trial can start pulling at the nape or pressing one pin into the same spot, and that discomfort shows on your face in candid shots.
I ask brides to keep the trial updo in for at least three or four hours. Run errands in it, sit in a car with a headrest, eat a meal. Notice any single point that aches. I can spread the weight across more pins, drop the bun a little or swap a tight elastic for a softer base, but only if I hear about it at the trial. There’s no time to rebuild on the morning.
Unpinning at Midnight Without Tearing Your Curls
Pulling pins out in a hurry is how curly hair ends up knotted and snapped the morning after. Go slowly, ideally with a friend counting pins against the number your stylist told you she used.
- Remove accessories and the veil comb first, holding the hair at the base so nothing yanks.
- Take pins out from the outer layer inward, feeling for each one rather than raking through with your fingers.
- Mist the hair with water and plenty of conditioner or leave-in, then finger-detangle before any comb comes near it.
- Sleep on a satin pillowcase or in a loose bonnet, and save the full wash for the next day.
Your Curls Already Did Half the Work
Curly updos can be romantic, classic, modern or relaxed, and the difference is almost entirely in how the curls are shaped and pinned. Start from your natural texture and you’re most of the way there. Collect photos of people whose curls actually look like yours, then add your neckline, your veil and the venue. I always say the trial matters more for curls than for straight hair, because humidity, product and drying time all change the result. A low chignon, a high bun, a braid or a half up style can all work. The right one is the one you forget you’re wearing by the last dance.
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