Big curls are the look brides show me most often, and the one I’m most careful to set expectations about. Curls loosen. Heat, humidity and the weight of your own hair all pull them open over a long day, so the curl you see in the mirror at noon will be softer and wider by the reception. That’s fine as long as we plan for it. Below are twenty curl styles, from cascading Hollywood glamour to curly updos and half-up looks under a veil. With each one I’ve noted how I’d build it, how it tends to age through the day and which hair types it suits.
Will Your Hair Actually Hold a Curl?
Some hair takes a curl and keeps it all day. Some drops within an hour no matter what. It helps to know which you have before you fall for a style.
Signs your hair resists curl: curls you make yourself are gone by lunchtime, your hair is very fine and straight, or you’ve had a keratin or smoothing treatment in the last few months. Smoothing treatments are designed to keep hair straight, so they work against curling.
What I do with curl-resistant hair
- Wash the day before, not the morning, and skip heavy conditioner on the lengths.
- Apply a setting mousse on damp hair and blow-dry it in fully.
- Curl in smaller sections than the finished look, and pin each curl up to cool before touching it.
- Use hot rollers if the curling iron alone isn’t holding.
- Choose an updo or half-up style over an all-down look, so the curls are supported.
1. Hollywood Glam Big Curls Wedding Hair
Old-Hollywood waves start as tight curls and end as one smooth, sculpted wave. I curl every section away from the face in the same direction, pin each curl to cool, then brush the whole head out until the curls link into deep S-shapes. A deep side part sweeps them over one shoulder. A drop of lightweight serum on the brush stops frizz without weighing the wave down. It suits a sleek satin gown and statement earrings, and it photographs especially well in black and white because the ridges catch light and shadow.
2. Half Up Half Down Big Curls With Veil
The half-up version is the most practical way to wear big curls with a veil. The crown section is gathered back and secured, which gives the veil comb something solid to grip, and the curls fall freely below. I slide the comb in just under the pinned section so the curls hide it. Loose face-framing pieces soften things. Most necklines work with it, from sweetheart to off-the-shoulder. A clip or a few small flowers at the pinned point finishes the back.
3. Voluminous Curly Low Bun Wedding Hair
Curly low buns hold better than smooth ones. The texture of the curls gives pins something to grab, so I can keep the bun loose and airy without it sliding. I curl the whole head first, add a little volume at the crown, then gather the curls at the nape and pin them individually. Tendrils at the face soften the shape. A long veil or a small hairpiece tucks neatly into the bun. It shows the neckline clearly, which suits a high-neck or backless gown.
4. Cascading Big Curls With Side Part
All-down curls with a side part show off length better than anything else. I keep the roots smooth and curl from mid-length to the ends with a large barrel, which gives loose curls with lots of movement. The side part frames the face. Down styles lose their curl first, so I set each one with a firm mousse beforehand and pin it while it cools. A shine spray adds gleam. A flower crown or nothing at all gives it a naturally romantic, fairytale vibe.
5. Big Curls Bridal Updo With Loose Tendrils
Loosely pinned curls make an updo that’s soft rather than stiff. I pin large curls toward the back of the head in clusters, so the shape stays textured, and let wispy tendrils fall around the face and neck. The volume sits high enough to hold a tiara or jeweled comb. Because the texture locks the curls together, this holds well through a long evening. It’s the one I’d suggest to someone who loves updos but finds sleek ones too severe.
6. Curly Side Swept Wedding Hair
Sweeping all the curls to one side leaves the other shoulder bare, which suits a one-shoulder gown or a pair of statement earrings. To keep the curls from drifting back, I make a small flat braid behind the ear on the bare side and pin the curls to it. It’s invisible and much stronger than pins alone. A few rhinestone pins along the pinned side catch the light. It works in a ballroom or a garden.
7. Big Bouncy Curls With Tiara
A tiara needs volume underneath to sit properly, and big curls give it that. I backcomb a section at the crown, set the sparkling tiara into it, and pin the combs or the loops at each end. Then the curls fall around it, worn down or half up. Keep the curls smooth and glossy so the tiara stands out. One tip: try the tiara on at your trial for a few hours, because a heavy piece can press behind the ears.
8. Romantic Curly Half Updo With Flowers
Fresh flowers tucked into a curly half updo suit a spring or summer wedding. I gather the crown back, then pin small blooms like baby’s breath or spray roses into the pinned section with bobby pins. Small, sturdy flowers last out of water much better than large soft ones, which droop within hours. The loose curls below keep it soft. It suits a flowy gown and an outdoor venue.
9. Big Curls Ponytail Wedding Hair
A curly ponytail keeps the hair off the neck, which is a real help for dancing in summer. I set it high or at mid-height with two elastics so it doesn’t sag, wrap a curl around the base to hide them and leave a few pieces loose at the face. A decorative pin or small bow at the base adds a detail. Heavy curls pull a ponytail down over a day, so if your hair is long and thick, mid-height is safer than high.
10. Curly Updo With Braided Detail
Adding a braid to a curly updo gives it texture and makes it more secure. I gather and pin the curls first, then weave a soft braid around or through the style. The braid can also run across the front like a headband for a goddess-inspired look. Loose tendrils at the face soften it. It suits a boho or rustic wedding. On layered hair, short pieces may poke out of the braid, so a little wax helps.
11. Big Curls With Deep Side Part Wedding Hair
A deep side part pushes extra volume onto one side, which creates a sweeping shape and can make a round face look slimmer. The curls are worn down and move freely. It’s simple to wear, and it suits a sleek modern gown or a classic lace dress. A little shine spray keeps everything polished. The heavy side does tend to fall forward over the face during the day, so I pin it lightly behind the ear where it won’t show.
12. Curly Bridal Bun With Face Framing Curls
Face-framing curls turn a curly bun into something softer. I sweep most of the hair into a full, textured bun and leave a few defined curls at the temples and cheeks. Those pieces need to be curled separately, and set a little tighter, because they hang loose and drop first. The bun stays full rather than slick. It suits an indoor wedding and dramatic earrings, and looks good in close-up portraits.
13. Long Voluminous Curls Wedding Hair
If your hair is very long, wearing it all down shows the full length. I curl it in big sections with voluminous curls cascading well past the shoulders, and use either a center or side part. Long hair is heavy, so the curls relax faster than on shoulder-length hair; I set them tighter than the finished look and let them loosen through the day. Extensions can add length and fullness. A lightweight oil keeps the ends smooth.
14. Curly Crown Braid Wedding Hair
A crown braid wrapped around the head with curls below gives a halo shape. The braid can sit above loose curls or the curls can be pinned up for fullness. Small flowers or pearls tucked into the braid add detail. It suits an outdoor or garden ceremony, and it keeps hair off the face in the wind. On shorter hair, the crown braid may need a separate braided piece.
15. Big Curls With Pearl Hair Accessories
Pearls look good against curls because they catch light softly. This look has curls down or half up, adorned with scattered pearl pins or a pearl comb. I place the pins where curls cluster, so the pins have something to grip. Scattered pins can slide out of loose curls, so I use pins with a small grip or slide each one under a curl. Pearls go with nearly every dress, from minimalist to heavily beaded.
16. Boho Big Curls With Loose Waves
Boho curls are brushed out into loose waves with a center part and minimal pinning. The volume stays soft. I curl with a wand and leave the ends out, then break them up with my fingers and finish with a texture spray. Small braids, dried flowers or a delicate headpiece add a bohemian touch. It suits an outdoor, beach or festival-style wedding. Because it’s so loose, it relaxes quickly; expect waves rather than curls by evening.
17. Vintage Finger Wave Big Curls Wedding Hair
Finger waves near the crown flowing into big curls give a retro look. The waves are set with gel and combs while the hair is wet or with a flat iron, and the curls below are set separately. It takes practice: uneven waves are obvious. A jeweled clip or vintage comb completes it. It suits a vintage-themed wedding, a sleek satin gown and black-and-white photos. Make sure your stylist has done it before.
18. Curly Updo With Birdcage Veil
A birdcage veil with a curly updo gives a chic, retro look. The curls are gathered into a soft updo, and the short netted veil sits across the face. Because a birdcage veil is short, the updo has to be full enough to balance it. I pin the veil’s comb into the side of the updo, not the top. A few curls left loose at the face soften the netting. It suits a retro or intimate wedding, and anyone who wants something other than a long veil.
19. Big Curls Wedding Hair With Center Part
A center part with curls falling evenly on both sides looks modern and balanced. It suits oval and heart-shaped faces best. The symmetry is unforgiving, though: if one side drops faster than the other, it shows. I curl both sides in mirrored directions, away from the face, so they fall evenly. A light serum keeps frizz down. It goes with a sleek minimalist gown or a boho lace dress.
20. Curly Bridal Hair With Floral Crown
Big curls under a floral crown give a garden look. The curls are worn down or half up, and the crown sits on top, pinned at the sides so it doesn’t slide. Fresh flowers wilt over a long day; silk flowers last and can be kept. I set the curls before the crown goes on, so the crown doesn’t crush them. It suits an outdoor, spring or festival-style wedding.
Natural Curls Count as Big Curls Too
If your hair is naturally curly or coily, you don’t need to straighten it and curl it again with an iron. I’d rather work with your own pattern. I define the curls with a cream or gel on wet hair, diffuse on low heat without touching them too much, and add volume at the root with a pick once they’re dry.
Plan your wash day around the wedding the same way you would normally, so your curls are at their best on the morning. Don’t brush dry curls, which turns them into frizz. If you sleep on them the night before, loosely gather them on top of your head and use a satin pillowcase or bonnet.
At your trial, tell your stylist the products you already use. A routine that works for your curls is a better starting point than something new on the wedding morning.
Which Curl Will Still Be There at the Last Dance?
Curls change through a wedding day, and the best style for you is one that still looks right once they’ve softened. Sweeping Hollywood waves, curly updos, floral crowns and ponytails can all work, but the ones built on a good set and the right barrel for your hair last longest. Updos and half-up styles hold curl better than all-down looks, especially in humidity. Bring your favorite photos to a trial and wear the result for several hours. Then ask your stylist to adjust the set so the curl you love is the one you have at the reception.
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