Every maid of honor I’ve styled has wanted the same two things: to look like she made an effort, and to not have to think about her hair once she leaves the chair. That means a style that survives the getting-ready photos, the ceremony, the hugs, a speech and a crowded dance floor, and one that works with your neckline, the season and the hair you actually have. The looks bridal parties ask for most at the moment are soft updos, half up styles, loose waves, sleek buns, ponytails, braids and natural curls. Here are 15 maid of honor wedding hairstyles, each with the practical detail I’d give you at a trial.
Questions for the Bride Before Anything Is Booked
The maid of honor’s hair is rarely only her decision. Before you save a single photo, I’d have a short conversation with the bride. It saves a lot of awkwardness in the chair on the morning.
- Is she wearing her hair up or down? Most brides like the bridal party to contrast with them rather than copy them.
- Does she want the bridesmaids matching, coordinated or free to choose?
- Is she happy for you to wear a hair accessory, and does she want to see it first?
- Is the hair booked as part of the bridal package, or are you arranging your own?
- Will she wear a veil, and will you be the one taking it out later?
That last question matters more than people expect, and I’ve given it its own section further down. If the answers come back as “wear what you like”, aim for a style that sits slightly simpler than the bride’s. You’ll still look finished in every photo where you’re standing beside her.
1. Maid Of Honor Low Bun
Strapless, square, halter and high necklines all stay clear with a low bun, because there’s no volume sitting on your shoulders. I texture it slightly for a garden or coastal wedding and smooth it right down for a ballroom. The part people get wrong is face-framing pieces. Curled too heavily, they go limp before the reception, so I curl them lightly and spray them at the root, not the ends. Pearl pins or a tiny floral accent finish it.
2. Maid Of Honor Half Up Half Down Hair
Half up half down hair gives you the movement of loose hair with an anchor at the crown that keeps it out of your face. It suits medium and long lengths, where the pinned crown gives lift and the bottom shows off waves or natural texture. Keep the top section polished; a messy crown next to a groomed bridal party looks like it fell out. I set the top on a small hidden elastic first, then pin over it, which holds far longer than pins alone. A small comb or a slim bow in the dress colour works, as long as it’s quieter than the bride’s accessories.
3. Maid Of Honor Hollywood Waves
Hollywood waves need control. They suit formal and evening weddings, and satin or velvet dresses, where the shine of the hair matches the fabric. A clean side part is standard. You can wear them all down, tuck one side behind the ear, or add a small clip on the lighter side. Hair that holds curl well is the best candidate, so straight or wavy hair usually does better than very fine or very heavy hair. I finish with a flexible hold, never a crunchy spray, because the waves should still swing when you turn your head.
4. Maid Of Honor Textured Updo
Outdoor, rustic and boho weddings suit a textured updo, which moves more than a sleek bun but stays lifted. Soft twists, pinned curls and a loose shape at the nape make it up. It should look planned. On thick hair, texture actually helps, since breaking the hair into twists spreads the weight across more pins. Fine hair needs some padding or light teasing underneath for fullness. I keep accessories small here, a few pearls or gold pins, because a big piece pulls a soft updo out of shape.
5. Maid Of Honor Sleek Bun
Nothing moves in a sleek bun, which is exactly why I recommend it for humid weather. Sharp-lined, one-shoulder and minimalist dresses suit it. A centre part feels fashion-led, a side part more classic; the bun can sit at the nape or a little higher. I smooth the hair with a fine bristle brush and a light gel, then build the bun around a small doughnut on thinner hair so it doesn’t shrink to the size of a walnut. Simple earrings are all you need with it.
6. Maid Of Honor Braided Updo
Detail without drama is what a braided updo gives you, along with a lot of grip. The braid can wrap into a low bun, cross the crown or blend into pinned curls at the back. Medium to long hair is needed, and it adapts to most textures. For a formal wedding I keep the braid neat and flat to the head; for a garden or beach, I loosen it for softness. Braiding slightly damp hair is a mistake, as it dries kinked in odd places. Let it dry fully first.
7. Maid Of Honor Loose Curls
Loose curls are the safe pick when the bridesmaids are wearing different necklines, since they suit nearly all of them. What makes them wedding hair rather than everyday hair is the finish: curls brushed out a little, shaped around the face and set with a light hold. Outdoors, I’d pin one side back so the wind doesn’t blow hair across your lip gloss. If you normally wear your hair down, this will feel the most like you. The honest drawback is longevity. Loose curls on fine hair can be half gone by the toasts.
8. Maid Of Honor Low Ponytail
Comfortable all day and cleaner than it sounds, the low ponytail needs three things: lift at the crown, waves or polish through the length, and the elastic wrapped in a strip of hair. City venues, modern weddings and open-back dresses all suit it, because the neckline stays visible. It’s also cool in hot weather. Face-framing pieces make it softer; leaving them out gives a sharper minimal look. I check it in profile before I let anyone leave, since that’s the angle the photographer catches most.
9. Maid Of Honor Side Swept Curls
Gathered over one shoulder, side swept curls work for asymmetrical, strapless and sweetheart dresses, and they make medium to long hair look fuller than it is. The hidden side does all the work. I pin it firmly in a small twist behind the ear and use a setting spray that keeps the curls soft to the touch. A decorative comb or a cluster of pins can sit over the anchor point. In ceremony photos, the curls frame your face while you face the couple.
10. Maid Of Honor French Twist
Church weddings, estate venues and evening receptions all suit a French twist. It can be smooth and structured or loosened slightly for a softer look. Shoulder-length to long hair works best, but a skilled stylist can manage shorter lengths with pins and texture spray. It keeps the hair off your neck in warm weather and sits well with high necklines. I’d pair it with pearl studs and leave a few soft pieces around the face. A very tight twist can look a bit stern on younger faces.
11. Maid Of Honor Curly Updo
With a curly updo, your pattern stays visible instead of being brushed away. It can be pinned low, gathered at the crown or shaped into a rounded bun, with curls placed around the face. For a maid of honor with curly hair, I think it’s the most reliable option here, since curls pinned up hold their shape better than curls left loose. Prep is everything: curl cream or mousse on wet hair, then hands off until it’s dry. Small pins or gold accents tuck neatly between the curls.
12. Maid Of Honor Short Bob Hair
Short bob hair photographs as formally as long hair when it’s styled with care. A smooth bob with a deep side part looks polished; soft bends feel more romantic. For a modern feel, I tuck one side behind the ear and slide in a sleek clip. For softer, I add crown volume and gentle movement at the jaw. No extensions, no heavy pins. The cut is the whole style, so book your trim a week or two ahead so the ends look fresh but not freshly chopped.
13. Maid Of Honor High Bun
A high bun lifts the face and works well with statement earrings, high necklines and formal gowns. Sleek reads modern, textured reads romantic. In warm weather it’s the coolest choice, as nothing touches your neck or shoulders. Placement matters: sitting too far forward or too tight, it starts to look like a ballet bun, which is great if that’s what you want. I build it on a secure base and add a few soft pieces at the temples, which suits most faces better than a fully scraped hairline.
14. Maid Of Honor Fishtail Braid
Boho, beach and barn weddings suit a fishtail braid, which adds detail while keeping hair gathered and easy to manage. For a maid of honor, I keep the crown smooth and the braid controlled enough for photos. It can hang down the back, sit to one side or blend into a half up style. Fishtails use many small sections, so they hide layers well, and gently pancaking the edges makes fine hair look thicker. Tiny flowers, pearl pins or a soft ribbon make it feel like wedding hair without looking bridal.
15. Maid Of Honor Natural Hair Updo
A natural hair updo can be a puff, pinned curls, flat twists, a low bun or a sculpted crown, depending on length and texture. It keeps your curl pattern front and centre and stays secure all day, and it’s protective for the hair as well. Moisture is the first thing I check, especially for outdoor weddings, because dry coils frizz and shrink within hours. A soft part, smooth edges and a few small gold pins finish it. It sits well with simple and formal bridesmaid dresses alike.
Removing the Bride’s Veil Without Wrecking Her Hair
In many bridal parties, the maid of honor takes the veil out between the ceremony photos and the reception. Done badly, it pulls half the bride’s style loose. The comb is usually anchored with bobby pins woven through its teeth, so it won’t lift out the way it looks like it should.
How I teach maids of honor to do it
- Ask the stylist that morning to show you where the comb sits and how many pins hold it.
- Wait until the photographer has finished all the veil shots.
- Gather the veil fabric over one arm so its weight isn’t hanging from the comb.
- Slide out the securing pins first, one at a time, following the direction they went in.
- Ease the comb out by tipping it back toward the direction its teeth were inserted, never pulling straight down.
- Run your fingertips over the spot and smooth any lifted hair back into the style.
Have two or three spare bobby pins in your bag. Sometimes the comb was holding a section of the updo too, and it needs re-pinning once the veil is gone. Then fold the veil loosely, never tightly, and hand it to whoever is looking after the dress bag.
Polish the Hair You Already Wear
Start from how you normally wear your hair and make that version more polished. That’s my honest advice to almost every maid of honor who can’t decide. Buns, half up hair, Hollywood waves, ponytails, braids and natural updos all work when they suit the dress, venue, weather and your real texture. Bring photos to your stylist, book a trial if you can, and wear it for a few hours afterwards to see how it holds. The right style supports the bride’s vision and still looks like you.
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