Barbara Palvin’s 2023 wedding to Dylan Sprouse is still one of the bridal looks I get shown most at consultations. The princess half-updo, soft brushed-out waves and sparkly barrettes look simple, and that’s exactly why they’re hard to copy: soft hair has nothing to hide behind. Below are twenty looks built from her style, from clipped-back waves to low buns and a reception bow, with what each one needs to hold up through a full wedding day.
Copying a Celebrity Wave on Your Own Hair Type
The waves in her wedding photos sit on long hair with plenty of body, which is the easiest starting point there is for a brushed-out set. If your hair is different, the same look needs a different method.
- Fine hair: set with a smaller barrel than you’d think and use a volumising mousse at the roots. The waves will relax as they’re brushed out, so start tighter.
- Very thick hair: curl in smaller sections, otherwise the inside of each curl stays straight and the waves look heavy.
- Coarse or curly hair: blow-dry smooth first, then set. Your waves will hold better than most.
- Layered cuts: short layers spring out of a half-updo, so add a few hidden pins along the back of the gathered section.
Bring a photo of the look from the front, the side and the back if you can find them. Most half-updos look different from behind, and your stylist needs to know which version you want.
1. Barbara Palvin Half-Updo Wedding Hair
The princess half-updo is the centre of her look: the top section smoothed back and clipped, soft waves falling down the back. It keeps hair out of your eyes during the vows and frames the face from the front. The part people don’t see is what holds the clips. Barrettes slide out of clean, silky hair, so I crisscross two bobby pins underneath where each barrette will sit and clip over them. Polished up top, loose below; it works on most lengths from collarbone down.
2. Soft Glam Waves for Brides
Loose, brushed-out waves are made with a large barrel, around two inches, then combed through for a soft, lived-in finish. That brushing is the step people skip at home and it’s the difference between bridal waves and prom curls. I curl, pin each curl up while it cools, and only brush once everything is fully cold; brushing warm curls flattens them by lunchtime. They suit medium to long hair and work with a veil or accessories. A texturising spray before curling gives the iron something to grip.
3. Classic Bridal Updo With Barrettes
Sweeping the waves back into a low updo and clipping two barrettes at the sides takes her accessory styling into a full updo. It shows your neckline and earrings, and the barrettes add a little shimmer without competing with the gown. Because the waves are set first, the updo has texture to pin into and holds well through dancing and toasts. I keep it low and slightly loose at the nape, so the barrettes look intentional rather than tacked onto a tight bun.
4. Low Bun Wedding Hairstyle
A sleek knot at the nape, with a few face-framing pieces left loose, is the quietest version of her style. It sits well under a veil because the comb has a solid base to grip just above it. For minimalist gowns and long necklines, it lets the earrings carry the look. On very straight hair, I put a slight wave in before gathering, which gives the pins more to hold and stops the bun slipping by the evening.
5. Romantic Waves With a White Bow
For the reception she added a simple white bow to the half-updo, and it’s one of the easiest outfit changes a bride can make. The waves stay; the bow replaces or covers the ceremony clip at the back. Choose a bow with a sturdy clip or a barrette backing, not a ribbon you have to tie in a hurry, and ask your stylist to pin it once at the trial so you know where it sits. Pair it with soft glam makeup to keep the whole look consistent.
6. Sleek Straight Wedding Hair
Not every bride wants waves. Smooth, glossy hair with a centre or side part keeps Barbara’s clean aesthetic in a modern way, tucked behind one ear with a small barrette. It suits straight gowns and contemporary venues. Straight hair has no texture to disguise flyaways or humidity, so I finish with a light serum on the lengths and a smoothing stick along the part. If your wedding is outdoors in summer, expect some lift at the ends and plan a quick touch-up.
7. Half-Up Half-Down With Soft Curls
The half-up, half-down with soft curls gathers the top section gently and secures it, while loose curls fall down the back. It gives structure and movement at once, frames the face and shows your length. A small clip or pearl pin finishes it. The gathered section should be backcombed lightly at the roots before it’s secured; otherwise it sits flat against the head and the shape looks thin in photos from the side.
8. Wedding Hair With Sparkly Hair Clips
Sparkle was a key part of her styling, with shimmering clips placed on each side of soft waves. The clips catch the light and pull face-framing pieces back so your face stays open. They work with updos and down styles. Choose crystal, pearl or rhinestone to match your jewellery. Heavy crystal clips drag on fine hair, so for finer hair I’d go for lighter, smaller clips or anchor each one over crossed pins.
9. Loose Wavy Bridal Hair Down
Hair worn down in loose, brushed-out waves is the most natural version of her look, and it’s suited to garden weddings, beach ceremonies and relaxed celebrations. Use a texturising spray and a large barrel iron, then brush out once cool. A delicate clip adds a bit of sparkle. The honest warning: hair worn fully down drops faster than any other style, especially in heat or humidity, so set it well and keep a mini hairspray handy.
10. Center-Part Wedding Waves
A centre part gives soft waves a balanced, more contemporary look. The waves fall evenly on both sides and frame the face symmetrically, which flatters oval and heart-shaped faces. It suits minimalist gowns and modern venues. Centre parts show any unevenness, so I check the part in the mirror from straight on and lay the first wave on each side away from the face so they match.
11. Side-Swept Wedding Hairstyle
Gathering all the waves to one side brings a touch of old Hollywood glamour with a softer finish. It shows off one shoulder and one earring, and suits off-shoulder necklines and gowns with shoulder detail. Hidden pins behind the ear on the swept side carry all the weight, so I build a small anchor braid there first and pin into it. A sparkly clip on the swept side adds shine.
12. Low Ponytail Wedding Hair
A low ponytail looks much more polished than it sounds. Soft waves are gathered at the nape, a strand is wrapped around the base to hide the elastic, and a few face-framing pieces stay loose. It suits sleek gowns and minimal accessories, and a sparkly clip or bow adds interest at the base. Pin the wrapped strand underneath with a bobby pin rather than tucking it in, or it unwinds when you hug people.
13. Wedding Hair With a Veil and Waves
A veil sits behind a half-updo or over waves worn down, with the curls falling beneath the sheer fabric. Place the comb low for a softer feel or higher for more presence. Comb placement matters more than people think: on waves worn fully down, a veil comb has little to grip, so I hide a small anchor of crossed pins or a mini braid beneath it. After the ceremony, the veil comes off and the waves are still in place for the reception.
14. Brushed-Out Bridal Curls
The brush-out is what made her waves look the way they did. Curls are set, cooled completely, then combed out into soft, full waves. It suits medium to long hair, either down or half-up. Use a wide-tooth comb or a soft boar-bristle brush, brushing from the ends up. If you brush too much, the waves turn into frizz, so stop once the curls join into waves.
15. Wedding Updo With Face-Framing Pieces
Leaving a few soft pieces loose around a polished low knot keeps an updo from looking severe. Your neckline is on display with some softness at the face. It holds well through dancing and works with statement earrings. The face-framing pieces should be curled separately and set with a light spray, since flat, straight pieces look unfinished in photos. A sparkly clip adds shine.
16. Boho Wedding Waves
Boho waves soften her classic set into more undone, textured waves for the free-spirited bride. A centre part and natural waves, with small clips or a delicate hair vine, suit garden, beach or outdoor weddings. Natural texture helps here. On very straight hair, I braid damp hair the night before or use a flat iron wave, which gives a looser, less polished bend than a curling iron.
17. Wedding Hair With a Deep Side Part
A deep side part creates volume at the root and a sweep across the forehead, which reads more glamorous than a centre part. It works down or half-up, and a sparkly clip on the heavier side adds shine. Deep parts tend to fall back to your natural part over the day, so I set the root in the new direction with a round brush and a few clips while the hair cools, and suggest a quick check before photos.
18. Twisted Half-Updo for Brides
Twisting the top sections and securing them at the back adds detail to her clipped-back styling, with loose waves below. The twists give texture without much complexity, and small pins or a sparkly clip finish it. Twists loosen more easily than braids, so I pin each twist as I go and keep the ends tucked under. It suits medium to long hair for both the ceremony and reception.
19. Wedding Hair With Pearl Accessories
Pearl pins or a pearl clip in soft waves or a half-updo give a quiet, vintage touch. Scatter a few through the waves or cluster them on one side. Choose ivory pearls to suit your gown’s tone, since bright white pearls can make an ivory dress look yellow. Pearl accessories elevate even simple waves into something bridal, and work for classic and romantic weddings.
20. Simple Elegant Wedding Hair
Simplicity was the core of her bridal style. Soft, brushed-out waves with a clean part and very few accessories let your face lead. It works for most brides, hair types and venues. Add one small clip or leave it bare. Simple hair still needs preparation, though: good waves, smooth roots and a finish that holds. Without that groundwork, a simple style looks undone rather than intentional.
Why Waves Fall Flat by Dinner and How to Prevent It
Waves drop because of heat, humidity, freshly washed hair and too little product. I’d wash the hair the day before rather than the morning of, since day-old hair holds a set better. Use a heat protectant and a light setting spray before curling, and let each curl cool completely while pinned before brushing.
Taking a veil out is another moment where waves get crushed. Ask someone to slide the comb out downward, the way it went in, while you hold the hair just above it. Pulling it straight back drags the pins and the half-updo with it, and you lose the shape you spent the morning building.
Expect some relaxation over the day and plan for it. A light mist of hairspray from a distance after the ceremony and a five-minute touch-up with a curling iron before the reception can bring the shape back. Avoid running your fingers through the waves; the oil from your hands makes them drop faster.
A small reception kit
Bobby pins in your hair colour, a travel hairspray, a wide-tooth comb and your reception bow or clip. Give it to a bridesmaid so you don’t have to carry it.
Soft Glam Needs Structure You Can’t See
Barbara Palvin’s bridal hair shows that soft and simple can look special. Her waves, half-updo, barrettes and reception bow felt classic and personal. The twenty looks above stretch from low buns to boho waves and pearl-accented updos, so there’s a Palvin-inspired look for most gowns and venues. Whatever you choose, ask for a trial, wear it for several hours, and check that the hidden pins and anchors hold before the day.
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