An updo is engineering as much as styling. Somewhere under every smooth roll or loose knot there’s a base, a set of anchor pins and a decision about how much hair goes where. The twenty styles below run from a sleek ballerina bun to braided chignons, finger waves and sculpted knots. For each, I’ve written what I’d actually do in the chair, what kind of hair makes it easy, and when I’d talk a bride out of it.
What an Inspiration Photo Doesn’t Show You
Most of the photos brides bring me were styled on a model with very thick hair, extensions or both. That’s not a problem, as long as we both know it.
When I look at an updo photo, I’m checking three things. How much hair is in the bun compared with yours? Is there padding or a filler inside it? And has the back view been shot at all, or only the side? A full chignon on a model with clip-ins may need extensions or a donut to look the same on you, and that changes your booking.
- Bring a front, side and back photo of the same style if you can find them.
- Say what you like about it: the height, the texture, the loose pieces. I can often keep that while adapting the rest.
- Bring your veil and any hair accessories to the trial, since their weight and placement change where the bun can sit.
- Mention if you’ll take the veil off for the reception, so the style is built to look finished without it.
1. Sleek Low Bun Wedding Updo
Smooth hair is unforgiving, so this style is really about prep. I blow-dry the whole head straight and flat at the root before gathering, because any kink from sleeping on it shows as a ripple across the back. The knot then sits at the nape with a centre or deep side part. It survives a long day better than almost anything else. Pearl pins or a thin headband add detail if the bun feels too bare.
2. Romantic Braided Chignon
I usually start this with a loose French or fishtail braid, then fold and pin it into a low knot so the braid pattern wraps around the outside. That’s where the texture comes from. Thick hair fills it out without help; finer hair often needs a small padded donut hidden inside. Flowers, baby’s breath or sparkly pins slot easily between the crossovers. The braided chignon can also be done on shoulder-length hair, though the knot comes out smaller.
3. Classic French Twist Updo
A French twist is one vertical roll up the back of the head, held by a hidden line of crossed pins inside the fold. Get that line wrong and it unrolls by the speeches. Slippery, freshly washed hair is the usual culprit, so I’d rather work on hair washed the day before. Keeping everything off the shoulders makes it cool to wear in summer. A jeweled comb at the top of the roll is also the strongest place to anchor a long veil.
4. Messy High Bun With Tendrils
The messy high bun looks careless and isn’t. I tease the hair at the base for grip, gather it high on the crown, and pin it loosely in a few sections so it holds volume. The tendrils come out last, chosen piece by piece at the temples. The height lengthens the neck, but it does mean a veil has to go underneath rather than on top. Small florals or pearls tucked into the bun stay put because the texture grips them.
5. Half-Up Half-Down Bridal Style
Half-up is a compromise that works. The top section is pinned back, so your face is clear, and the rest falls in waves. Round and heart-shaped faces benefit from the lift at the crown. The catch is that the lower half behaves like any worn-down style: it will relax as the day goes on, more quickly on fine hair and in humid weather. Braided accents or a hair vine along the pinned section give it detail.
6. Ballerina Bun With Center Part
Ballerina buns live or die by the centre part. If it’s even slightly off, the whole symmetrical look tilts, so I comb it in on damp hair and dry it in place. The bun itself is a tight round coil wound around an elastic, high or low. It shows off your face and leaves room for a sleek veil or bold earrings. On very fine hair I add a small filler to keep the coil round instead of flat.
7. Boho Braided Crown Updo
Here braids wrap across the top of the head like a halo, which channels ethereal goddess vibes without needing a crown. Shorter hair can still manage it with two Dutch braids that meet at the back. I loosen the braids slightly for softness and pin along their length so they don’t slide. Fresh flowers, greenery or tiny pearls can sit in the gaps. It suits outdoor weddings and festival themes well.
8. Twisted Low Chignon Updo
Twists give more grip than smooth sections, which is why I reach for this chignon on fine to medium hair. Each twisted rope adds a little bulk, and together they wrap into a fuller knot than the same hair would make on its own. A few soft pieces can be left loose at the face. Delicate hairpins, a jeweled comb or a sheer veil all anchor well into the twists.
9. Floral Adorned Updo
Blooms are added last and positioned from the side, not just the back, because guests mostly see you in profile at the ceremony. This updo works fresh or dried blooms into a soft bun or twist. I wire fresh stems or ask the florist to prep them for hair, since a bare stem slips straight out. Dried flowers are lighter and don’t wilt, which matters in summer. Baby’s breath, roses or wildflowers can tie the hair to your bouquet.
10. Sleek Wrapped Ponytail Updo
A wrapped ponytail is a quick modern alternative to an updo. Hair is pulled into a smooth ponytail set high on the head, with a strand wrapped around the base and pinned underneath to hide the elastic. Straight or softly waved, it adds height and length to your silhouette. The trade-off is tension: a high, heavy ponytail pulls at the scalp, and by late evening some brides want it gone. A jeweled cuff at the base adds sparkle.
11. Vintage Finger Wave Updo
Finger waves are sculpted with setting lotion and either fingers or clips, pressing ridges into damp hair and letting it dry in shape. A vintage finger wave updo then sweeps the lengths into a roll or bun at the back. It needs a stylist who’s done them before; the technique isn’t something to learn at the trial. Lace veils, vintage gowns and Art Deco jewelry suit it. Once set, the waves hold all day.
12. Loose Curly Updo
Curls that are already there do half my job. This loose updo is ideal for brides with naturally wavy or curly hair, because I gather the curls as they are into a relaxed bun and pin each cluster without brushing them out. Brushing turns definition into frizz. Tendrils fall around the face. Add a sparkling pin or a fresh flower if you want detail.
13. Pearl Embellished Bun
Pearls are heavier than they look. A bun with a full vine or a dozen pins can drag on fine hair, so I anchor each pin into the base of the bun rather than the surface. Scattered placement looks relaxed; a neat line looks formal. They catch light softly, which suits a classic or a modern dress. Matching pearl earrings or a delicate veil tie it together without competing.
14. Dutch Braid Updo
A Dutch braid is braided under rather than over, so it sits raised on top of the hair instead of lying flat. That 3D effect makes it the most visible braid on this list. I braid it tight to the scalp, then gently pull the edges looser so it reads from a distance, and gather the ends into a bun or twist. Thicker, longer hair gives the most dramatic result. Tiny flowers or delicate pins can sit along the plait.
15. Side Swept Low Updo
Sweeping the hair to one side shows off the opposite shoulder and ear, so it pairs naturally with statement earrings or an off-shoulder gown. I anchor the base securely behind the ear before twisting the lengths into a low bun on the side; without that anchor, the weight pulls the shape down. Loose tendrils can soften the front. A jeweled comb or fresh flowers finish it.
16. Textured Updo With Face Framing Pieces
Texture first, then shape. I backcomb and use a texturizing spray to give grip and volume before gathering a loose bun, then pull out wisps around the temples and ears. The finish is deliberately undone, so it’s forgiving if a strand falls out during the day. It sits naturally with boho and rustic themes. Delicate pins or small blooms add detail.
17. Crown Braid With Low Bun
A crown braid paired with a low bun gives you two points of interest: the halo across the top and the knot at the nape. The braid needs to travel far, so this suits longer hair best. I pin the braid along its length and secure the bun separately so neither pulls on the other. Pearls or tiny flowers along the braid work well. A fairytale or historic venue suits the style.
18. Sleek Bun With Hair Accessory
One standout piece needs a clean backdrop. That’s the idea here: a sleek bun, low or high, with a jeweled clip, tiara or decorative comb doing the talking. I place the accessory after the bun is finished and secure it into the base rather than the smooth surface, where it would slip. Choose a piece that matches the metal and sparkle of your jewelry. It suits formal and contemporary venues.
19. Bohemian Fishtail Braid Updo
A fishtail updo takes longer than a three-strand one, especially on thick hair, so budget time in the morning schedule. The braid is woven, then pinned into a low bun or twisted shape. I loosen it a little for a softer finish. Fresh flowers, greenery or pearls can be tucked into the pattern. Longer, thicker hair gives the best result; on short or thin hair the braid ends up small.
20. Modern Knotted Updo
Knotting sections of hair together creates an architectural shape that looks very different from a classic bun. Each section is tied, pinned and layered into the next, so it suits medium to long hair with some grip. I’d steer slippery or very fine hair toward a twisted chignon instead. Polished, it looks editorial for a formal wedding; softened, it sits well in a relaxed setting. Pair it with a modern gown and a minimalist venue.
Getting Every Pin Out at Midnight Without Breakage
Nobody talks about the end of the night, but an updo full of hairspray and pins can snap hair if it’s pulled out in a hurry. Here’s the order I tell brides to follow.
- Remove accessories and the veil comb first, slowly, holding the hair at the root.
- Find the pins by feel and slide them out in the direction they went in. Count them if your stylist told you roughly how many were used.
- Leave any elastics until last and cut them with small scissors rather than tugging them over a knot of backcombing.
- Work a little conditioner or oil into the backcombed areas and finger-comb from the ends up before touching a brush.
- Wash the next morning with a clarifying shampoo to lift the spray and gel, then condition well.
If you can, ask a bridesmaid to help with pins at the back of your head that you can’t see. It takes ten to fifteen minutes and saves a lot of breakage.
Wear Your Updo for an Afternoon Before the Wedding
Don’t take the trial updo down in the salon. Go for lunch in it, walk outside, sit in the car with your head against the rest. By evening you’ll know whether the pins at the nape ache, whether the braided chignon has dropped, or whether the sleek bun still looks sharp. That’s far more useful than any photo, and it leaves time to swap the pearls for something lighter or move the bun lower before the real morning.
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