Soft curls are the request I hear most often in a trial chair, and they mean something slightly different to every bride. For one it’s a loose bend from the cheekbone down; for another it’s defined, glossy curls that bounce when she turns. Both sit happily under a veil, a pearl pin, a floral comb or a tiara, and both can go formal or relaxed depending on the shape around them. Below are fifteen ways to wear them, half up, pinned, down and short, with notes on what the curl needs from your hair to last until the last photo.
Barrel Size, Direction and the Brush-Out
Three decisions turn a curling iron into a particular kind of curl. Knowing them makes it much easier to explain what you want at a trial than pointing at a picture.
Barrel size
A larger barrel makes a looser bend, a smaller one a tighter curl that lasts longer. On long, heavy hair a large barrel’s curl can relax to almost straight by the evening, so I often curl tighter than the finished look and let it drop into shape over the day. Short hair is the reverse; a big barrel barely marks it.
Direction
Curls all turned away from the face open it up and read glamorous. Alternating directions looks more natural and undone. Curls turned toward the face soften the cheekbones but can close in a round face.
When to brush
Brushing curls while they’re warm pulls them straight. I let them cool completely, often pinned in a coil, then brush with a wide paddle or my fingers depending on how much definition you want. Fingers keep more curl; a brush blends them into waves.
If you curl your own hair at home, try it at your trial with the stylist’s tools. It’s easy to see then whether the iron you own gives the result in the photo.
1. Soft Curls Half Up Bridal Hair
Half up gives you loose curls with an anchor. The top section is twisted, braided or smoothed back, and the curls below stay full. I always twist or braid that top section rather than simply pinning it, because a plain pinned section loosens with every hug. Medium to long hair shows it best, and a veil, pearl pins, small floral clips or a comb all sit in the secured part. I start the curls around the cheekbone or mid-lengths; curls right from the root make the whole head look rounder.
2. Soft Curls Low Bun Bridal Hair
Curling the hair before pinning is what makes a low bun look full instead of flat. The curls give the bun texture and dimension from behind, and a couple of loose pieces at the front soften the hairline in close-ups. Detailed necklines, open backs, lace sleeves and statement earrings all benefit from hair that’s off the shoulders. It holds through vows, photos and dancing. A veil can go above or below; below tends to look lighter with a curly bun, because the texture stays visible over the tulle.
3. Soft Curls Down Bridal Hair
Wearing your curls down is the closest most brides get to looking like themselves on the day, only more finished. The secret is brushing them out. Fresh curls look like tight ringlets; once they’ve cooled and been brushed with a wide brush they relax into movement. A center part looks current, a side part more glamorous. Strapless, off-the-shoulder and simple satin all suit loose hair. Down styles fall fastest, so I often pin each curl while it cools, add a light setting spray, or blend in a few hidden extensions for weight and longevity.
4. Soft Curls With Veil Bridal Hair
Curls and a veil were made for each other: the curls soften the shoulders, the tulle moves around them, and the texture shows through sheer fabric. The style can be fully down, half up or have only a small crown section pinned. That small section matters. A veil comb pushed into loose curled hair slides out within the hour, so I build a secure anchor under the top layers, a tiny braid or a crossed pair of pins, for the comb to grip. Long or heavy veils need it most.
5. Soft Curls Side Swept Bridal Hair
Sweeping all the curls over one shoulder gives drama without an updo. I curl the whole head, brush it into soft waves and pin the far side flat behind the ear with pins hidden under the top layer, so the weight can’t drag it back. One-shoulder gowns and sweetheart necklines suit it, and the open side leaves room for an earring. Pearls, crystals or small flowers can dress the pinned side. Be aware that hair swept to one side pulls against those pins all day, so I place more than you’d think.
6. Soft Curls High Bun Bridal Hair
A curly high bun looks airy because the curls fill the shape rather than a tight wrap. It lifts the crown and shows off a long neck or detailed neckline. Soft tendrils around the face keep it from feeling formal. In warm weather it’s practical, since nothing touches the shoulders. A tiara, pearl pins or a veil set underneath all work. On very fine hair the curls can look sparse when piled high, so I’d add a little padding inside the bun.
7. Soft Curls Ponytail Bridal Hair
A curled ponytail keeps your face clear without going all the way to a bun. Low reads classic, higher gives more lift and swing. Curls through the length give it body, and a wrapped section hides the elastic. Minimalist and sleek gowns suit it best. The weak point is the elastic itself, which carries the whole weight of the curls, so I use two bands and pin the wrap through both. A bow, pearl pins or a delicate comb at the base can turn it bridal.
8. Soft Curls With Curtain Bangs Bridal Hair
Pairing curls with curtain bangs bridal hair frames the face without a lot of loose pieces. The bangs blend into the curled layers and move around the cheekbones and jaw. I blow-dry them with a round brush first, then shape them into the curls so there’s no line where the fringe ends. It works down, half up or with a loose bun. Freshly cut bangs are the problem: have them trimmed a week or two ahead, because a new fringe is often too short and too blunt to blend.
9. Soft Curls With Pearl Pins Bridal Hair
Pearls catch light beautifully against curls, because the texture gives them shadows to sit in. They can be scattered through a half up style, tucked into a low bun or lined along one side. A few pins chosen carefully look more refined than a whole packet. Lace, satin and classic veils all pair well. I place them after the final spray, sliding each in along a curl rather than across it, so they hold without flattening the bend.
10. Soft Curls With Floral Comb Bridal Hair
Floral combs belong with garden weddings, spring ceremonies and outdoor venues, and curls make them look natural. The comb can sit above a low bun, behind one ear or at the back of a half up style. A small comb is subtle, while a larger one balances a very plain dress. Keep the curls loose rather than sculpted, so the flowers look tucked in rather than displayed. I set the comb into a pinned section rather than loose curls; otherwise its weight pulls it down as the day goes on.
11. Soft Curls With Middle Part Bridal Hair
A middle part keeps curls balanced and symmetrical. Long layers and face-framing pieces suit it, as do sleek gowns, square necklines and modern veils. Depending on your texture, I brush the curls into waves or leave them more defined. The part has to be smooth at the crown for the symmetry to read, so I blow-dry the roots flat before curling. A middle part shows the face evenly from the front, but it also shows any unevenness, so I’ll find where your hair naturally splits before committing.
12. Soft Curls With Side Part Bridal Hair
The deeper side part adds volume at the crown and a sweep across the forehead, which lifts the front without backcombing. Curls can fall over both shoulders or lean to one side. Vintage-inspired gowns, satin and glamorous makeup suit it. A comb or crystal clip on the lighter side of the part balances the volume on the heavier side. If you have a cowlick at the front, it often decides which side the part can go, and that’s something to find out at the trial rather than on the morning.
13. Soft Curls Short Bridal Hair
Short hair curls more easily than long, because there’s less weight pulling the bend out. A curled bob, lob or chin-length cut takes soft bends through the middle while the ends stay light. I use a smaller barrel than I would on long hair, since a short curl relaxes quickly. Side parts, pearl clips, mini combs and short veils suit this length. Keep the curls soft around the face, and have any cut done a week or so before so the ends aren’t freshly blunt.
14. Soft Curls Natural Bridal Hair
Natural curls need shaping, not replacing. Defined curls, soft coils or a curly half up style with gentle volume all work. I start with hydration, use a curl cream and light gel on wet hair, then diffuse with low heat so the pattern dries intact, and only then place pins. Floral pins, pearl details, veils and simple gowns all sit well against real texture. Touching the curls too much after they dry is the quickest way to frizz, so the shaping is done before the veil goes on.
15. Soft Curls Vintage Bridal Hair
Vintage curls borrow old Hollywood structure and wear it softer. The curls are smooth and shiny, brushed into gentle waves, with a side part and the ends tucked or swept to one shoulder. Satin gowns, red lips, pearl earrings and simple veils are its natural company, and it looks most at home at evening weddings and formal venues. Every curl needs to be set in the same direction for the waves to join up. I ask for structure without stiffness, so the waves still move when you turn your head.
Planning a Second Look for the Dance Floor
Curls worn down are the style most often changed halfway through a wedding. By the time dinner ends, the hair has been hugged, warmed and leaned on, and loose curls on a hot dance floor stick to the neck. A quick switch can make the evening far more comfortable.
- Ask at the trial for a pinned version of your look, and have the stylist show your maid of honor or a friend how to do it in five minutes.
- A low loose bun or a twisted half up works best, because the curls you already have do most of the work.
- Keep a claw clip, a small brush, eight or ten bobby pins and a small travel hairspray in someone’s bag.
- If your stylist is staying for the reception, book the change with them in advance and allow ten to fifteen minutes.
A clip or a decorative comb that matches your earrings makes a simple twist look intentional in the evening photos, and it’s much easier than trying to revive drooping curls with a hand dryer in a venue bathroom.
Curls That Are Still Curls by the Reception
Soft curls adapt to almost any bride, dress, venue and length. Down keeps them romantic, a bun keeps them secure, and half up sits between the two. Veils, pearls, flowers and combs personalize them. What matters most is how the curl behaves in your hair, so bring photos to your trial but let your stylist adjust the barrel size, direction and placement to your texture, face shape and the weather forecast. The right curl is the one you aren’t thinking about by the second dance.
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