Long hair on a groom is a gift for photos, as long as it’s been prepared. When I do a groom’s hair, I’m aiming for him to look like himself on a good day, only neater: ends trimmed, flyaways controlled, and a shape that won’t fall forward during the vows. Most grooms with long hair already have a way they wear it, and the best wedding style is usually a cleaner version of that. Below are fifteen options for straight, wavy and curly hair, from shoulder length to well past the shoulder blades.
Collars, Elastics and the Back of the Jacket
Most of the groom hair problems I fix on the day happen at the back of the neck, not the front. Long hair meets a shirt collar and a jacket in a way short hair never does, and that changes a few small choices.
- Hair ties: cloth-covered elastics in your hair colour, or a spiral tie. Metal clasps snag strands and catch the light in photos.
- Hair worn down rubs against the collar all day, and oil or product transfers onto a white shirt. Keep product off the bottom few inches if your shirt is white.
- A long ponytail gets folded and flattened when you lean back in a chair or a car seat. Pull it over one shoulder when you sit.
- A bun resting right on the collar gets pushed out of shape every time you lean back. Place it just above the collar line instead.
Put on your actual shirt and jacket with the hairstyle at least once before the wedding. It takes five minutes and catches every one of these.
1. Long Hair Groom Low Bun
I recommend the low bun to grooms more than anything else. It sits at the nape, clears the collar, and stays put through hugs and dancing. I keep it slightly lower than a casual bun, because at the crown it reads more gym than wedding. For black tie, smooth the sides with a brush and a little cream; at a beach or garden, leave some natural texture in. Fine hair can look thin when pulled back tightly, so on finer hair I loosen the front a touch after securing it.
2. Long Hair Groom Half Up Half Down
A half up half down groom hairstyle shows the length and keeps hair off the face, which matters most when you’re looking down to read vows or slide on a ring. I take the top section from the temples back, narrow enough that the loose part still looks full. Use a small elastic in your own hair colour rather than a thick band; a bulky tie is the first thing people notice from behind. This is the one I suggest to grooms who never wear their hair fully up and would feel odd doing it for the first time now.
3. Long Hair Groom Man Bun
The man bun works at a wedding when it’s placed and finished with care. Mid-height reads modern; lower reads classic. I judge it from the side, since a bun that looks right head-on can sit awkwardly above a suit collar in profile shots. Thick hair gives the most convincing bun, and on thinner hair a lower placement hides the lack of volume. Brush the hairline clean, and use a flexible hold product so it doesn’t go stiff and crack by evening.
4. Long Hair Groom Loose Waves
Waves on a groom should look like his hair on its best day, not like curling-iron work. I often enhance the natural bend with a cream and a diffuser instead of using a hot tool at all. Fresh ends matter, since split, dry tips make waves look frizzy in close-ups, so a trim two or three weeks before helps. Sea-salt sprays add texture but dry the hair out, and I only use them on the mid-lengths of heavier, oilier hair. Outdoor ceremonies suit this best.
5. Long Hair Groom Sleek Ponytail
Sharp tailoring and a sleek ponytail go together naturally. Place it low or mid-low; a high ponytail on a groom tends to look athletic next to a suit. I smooth the hair with a paddle brush and a pea-sized drop of serum. Any more and it looks greasy under flash. Because this style shows the full length and condition of the hair, a trim before the wedding isn’t optional. Straight or barely wavy hair suits it best.
6. Long Hair Groom Curly Half Up
Half up on curly hair keeps the texture on show without curls falling forward into your face. I gather the top section with my fingers, not a brush, so the curl clumps stay intact. Curl cream plus a light gel gives definition, and once the gel cast is scrunched out the finish stays soft. Expect curls to expand through the day, especially outdoors, so I’d rather start a touch tighter than you’d like. Shaping the curls around the jaw and shoulders keeps it balanced in portraits.
7. Long Hair Groom Braided Ponytail
Thick hair, textured hair and windy venues all point to a braided ponytail, the most secure choice on this list. The braid holds every strand, so it looks the same at midnight as at the ceremony. Starting low reads classic, while starting nearer the crown adds detail. It also sits well with traditional and cultural outfits; if you’ll wear any headwear, try it on over the braid well before the day. A little shine cream keeps the braid from looking dry.
8. Long Hair Groom Low Ponytail
Simple and comfortable, and it looks more considered in photos than people expect. What separates a wedding low ponytail from an everyday one is the front: smoothed, parted on purpose, no stray bumps. A centre part, side part or brushed-back front all work, depending on your face. Leave texture through the length for a softer look, or brush it smooth for a formal suit. If it loosens, you can retie it yourself in two minutes.
9. Long Hair Groom Side Part
A side part gives long hair a tailored edge without putting it up, and it works with hair worn down, in a low ponytail or in a low bun. I set the part with a blow dryer while the hair is damp, pushing the roots against the part first and then back over, which gives lift that lasts. Longer and square faces get the most from it. If you have a cowlick at the front, check at a trial whether a part will sit on that side, because fighting a cowlick all day rarely works.
10. Long Hair Groom Slick Back
A slick back long hairstyle keeps the face open and shows off the collar. I steer away from the full wet look unless a groom really wants it, since heavy gel reads greasy under flash. Blow-drying the hair back first is what makes it hold; then a flexible pomade or cream goes through. Straight, wavy and medium-thick hair take it well. The back can hang loose, be tied low, or go into a bun for the reception. On very curly hair, a slick back tends to frizz at the hairline within a few hours.
11. Long Hair Groom Natural Curls
Natural curls give some of the most memorable groom wedding looks I see, provided they’re hydrated and shaped. A trim a few weeks before removes dry ends and gives the curls a clearer outline. On the day, leave-in conditioner and a defining cream go onto soaking-wet hair, then hands off until it’s dry, because touching curls while they set is what causes frizz. Wear them down, pin the sides lightly, or gather them half up. A tidy beard alongside keeps the whole look sharp.
12. Long Hair Groom Shoulder Length Hair
Shoulder length is the most flexible length a groom can have, and it’s also where the cut shows most. Worn loose, tucked behind the ears or tied into a small bun, it looks unfinished if the ends are blunt and dry, so book a shaping trim two to three weeks out. Light layers stop thick hair looking bulky, while fine hair is better kept fuller at the ends. One thing I always flag: hair this length flips outward where it hits a shirt collar, and a little cream through the ends helps it sit down.
13. Long Hair Groom Textured Bun
Wavy, curly and thick hair give a textured bun its shape without much help. It shouldn’t look rushed, though. I secure the base firmly, then loosen the surface with my fingers, so it’s structured underneath and relaxed on top. Leave a couple of pieces out at the hairline if you like them, but only a couple, because loose strands drift across the face in photos. Linen suits and garden or mountain venues are its natural setting.
14. Long Hair Groom Straight Hair
Straight long hair shows everything. Healthy, it looks sleek; damaged, it’s unforgiving. Trim the ends, use a heat protectant, and finish with a lightweight serum on the lengths only. A middle part feels minimal, and a side part adds structure. If straight hair goes limp by afternoon for you, a light root spray before blow-drying helps. It also ties neatly into a low ponytail or bun if you want more control later.
15. Long Hair Groom Wavy Hair
Wavy hair is the easiest to get wedding-ready, since the movement is already there. Ask for a trim that removes bulk while keeping the waves full at the ends; aggressive thinning makes waves frizz. A curl cream or light mousse on damp hair, then air-drying or a diffuser, defines the pattern without crunch. Wear it loose, half up or tied low depending on the venue. Outdoors it looks completely at home.
Nobody Books the Groom a Hair Slot Until It’s Too Late
Brides plan their hair months ahead. Grooms often realise the night before that they’ve never put their own hair into a neat bun. If a stylist is already coming for the wedding party, ask for a slot of your own. Long hair takes less time than a bridal style but a good deal more than a quick tidy, and squeezing it in at the end is how it gets rushed.
Doing it yourself is perfectly realistic with a little planning:
- Practise the exact style twice in the final week and time yourself.
- Work out when to wash. Curly hair usually looks best on wash day, while fine straight hair often holds better on the second day.
- Have your beard trimmed a few days out and just the edges tidied the day before, so hair and beard look groomed together rather than freshly shorn.
- Lay out a brush, elastics, a few bobby pins, your cream and a small hairspray the night before.
- Hand your best man a spare elastic and two pins for the reception.
Curly and coily hair needs extra drying time on the morning. Damp curls tucked under a collar can take hours to dry and will mark the shirt.
Your Usual Hair, Just Better Behaved
Comfort, personality and staying power should settle this. Match the style to your outfit, the venue, your texture and the way you normally wear your hair. A low bun or sleek ponytail is cleaner and more formal; loose waves, natural curls and textured buns feel relaxed; half up sits between them. Get the trim booked, test the exact products you’ll use, and do one full practice run. Done well, long hair adds more to a groom’s look than almost anything else he wears.
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