Curly hair arrives at my chair with its own shape already in place, and the worst thing I can do is brush that away. A curly bridesmaid style should start from the pattern she actually has, whether that’s loose S-waves, springy ringlets or tight coils, and build on it. Done that way, curls hold a pinned shape better than straight hair and give photos texture without much effort. Below are twenty curly styles I’d put on a bridesmaid, from half up to full updos, with notes on prep, pinning and which curl types each one suits.
Two Days Out: A Curly Prep Schedule That Holds
Curly hair takes longer to dry and longer to settle than straight hair, so I plan backward from the wedding morning rather than starting on it.
- Deep condition two or three days before. Moisture done the night before can leave curls soft and floppy, and they won’t hold pins as well.
- Wash and style the day before for most curl types, or the night before if your curls are looser and drop quickly. Let the hair dry fully, by diffuser or air.
- Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase, or in a loose pineapple on top of the head, so the curls aren’t crushed.
- On the morning, refresh with water mist and a little curl cream rather than rewashing. Your stylist will work faster from defined, dry curls.
Arriving with damp roots is the most common problem I see with curly hair on wedding mornings. Damp hair stretches as it dries inside a style, and the shape changes by the ceremony.
Shrinkage is the other thing to plan for at your trial. Curls that reach your shoulder blades when stretched may sit at your chin once they’re defined, and that changes where a bun can sit and whether a braid reaches the back. Show your stylist your hair in its curly state, not blown out, so she plans the style around the length you’ll actually have.
1. Half Up Curly Bridesmaid Hair
Half up curly bridesmaid hair is the first thing I suggest when a curly bridesmaid isn’t sure. I gather the top section loosely with my fingers, not a brush, so the curls clump instead of frizzing, then pin it with crossed pins. The rest stays loose and full. Medium to long curls suit it because the volume moves back off the face. A light curl cream and flexible spray hold it; anything heavier leaves curls crunchy.
2. Curly Low Bun Bridesmaid Hair
For a curly low bun I gather the hair gently at the nape and wrap it loosely so the texture stays visible, which gives a softer, rounder bun than a sleek coil. It keeps hair off open backs and detailed straps. Leave curls at the face for a soft finish or tuck them away for formality. Curly hair actually holds pins better than straight hair, so this bun rarely moves. A humidity-resistant spray is worth using if the venue is outdoors.
3. Curly High Ponytail Bridesmaid Hair
A high curly ponytail suits thick curls because the height balances out the volume. I smooth or lightly texture the crown, then use two elastics, one to secure and one slightly above to lift, and hide both with a wrapped strand. Curls that are defined from root to end look best here. Refresh the ends with a curl product before setting the shape. The one caution: very dense curls make a heavy ponytail, and some people get a headache from the weight after a few hours.
4. Curly Side Ponytail Bridesmaid Hair
A side ponytail pulls the curls over one shoulder and shows length and texture from the front. One-shoulder dresses and plain necklines suit it. I keep it secure but not tight, with a covered elastic and a couple of pins underneath to stop it rotating toward the back of the neck through the day. A deep side part gives polish; a few loose tendrils relax it.
5. Curly Bridesmaid Hair With Braided Crown
A braided crown solves the curly bridesmaid’s main problem: curls falling forward into the face. The braid can wrap across the front, sit like a halo or start at one side and blend into the back. I braid on stretched curls, slightly damp with product, so the braid looks even, then let the rest dry or set into curls around it. Keep the braid soft. Loose curls, tighter curls and thick waves all work.
6. Curly Bridesmaid Hair With Side Braid
A side braid gives a secure anchor while the rest of the curls move freely. It can start at the part and sweep back, or run down one side into the length. Outdoor weddings are where I use this most, since the front stays put in wind. It works on soft waves through to springy ringlets, but on tight coils I braid a little more firmly, because the texture can push the braid apart as it dries.
7. Curly Bridesmaid Updo
A curly updo pins the curls into a full shape rather than hiding them. It’s my pick for humid days: hair that’s already up and secured has less to lose when the air gets heavy. It can sit low, centered or higher depending on the dress and face shape. I keep some curl separation and a little height at the crown, and I go light on spray so it moves when touched.
8. Curly Messy Bun Bridesmaid Hair
Curls make a messy bun easy, because they create fullness on their own. I define the curls first, then pin them loosely into shape with plenty of pins hidden inside the curls, where they grip well. The look reads relaxed while getting hair off the neck. A few face-framing curls soften it. If your curls are fine, I’d add a small donut or padding underneath so the bun doesn’t look sparse in photos.
9. Curly Chignon Bridesmaid Hair
A curly chignon is softer than a sleek bun but still formal enough for satin dresses and evening weddings. The hair is gathered low and tucked into shape, and the curls add texture. It suits medium-length curls well because curly hair packs more volume into less length. I keep it neat or slightly loose depending on the dress, and leave a couple of curls at the face.
10. Curly Bridesmaid Hair Down
Curls worn down can look as finished as any updo when they’re properly set. I define with cream, gel or both, diffuse until fully dry, then refine individual pieces by hand. A center part looks modern, a side part gives lift. Loose curls are exposed to the weather all day, so prep matters more here than with any updo: an anti-humidity product and a flexible spray, and ideally a little gel on the outer layer where frizz starts.
11. Short Curly Bridesmaid Hair
Short curly bridesmaid hair doesn’t need to be forced into an updo to look dressed. A curly bob, cropped curls or shoulder-length curls can be pinned on one side, lifted at the crown or finished with a small accessory. I’d rather define the curls well than pin tiny sections that will pop out by evening. Shine and curl separation are what make short curls look finished.
12. Curly Bob Bridesmaid Hair
Curly bob bridesmaid hair already has structure from the cut, so the styling stays simple. A side part, middle part or one side pinned behind the ear all work. The shape sits close to the face and neckline, which photographs neatly. I ask for defined ends and light root lift, and keep any accessory small, since a big piece makes a short cut look crowded. Get the bob trimmed a week or two ahead so the shape is fresh but settled.
13. Curly Bridesmaid Hair With Flowers
Flowers sit naturally inside curls because the texture holds the stems. Tiny blooms can go into a low bun, braided crown, half up style or loose curls. I pin each one through the stem into a curl, not just onto the surface, and put them where the photographer will see them. Keep them smaller than you’d think and matched to the bouquet. Outdoor and garden weddings suit this best.
14. Curly Bridesmaid Hair With Hair Clip
A single clip turns loose curls into a finished bridesmaid look. A pearl clip, gold barrette, crystal comb or floral pin can secure one side or hold a half up section. The grip matters more than the design: a small barrette snaps open on dense curls, while a heavy comb slides out of fine ones. I test the clip at the trial and anchor it with a pin underneath so it can’t slip.
15. Curly Bridesmaid Hair With Middle Part
A middle part gives symmetry and suits minimalist dresses. It works down, half up, in a low bun or a low ponytail. The front curls need to fall evenly on both sides, which takes some hand shaping, since curls rarely behave the same left and right. Use light products at the root so it stays smooth without looking flat.
16. Curly Bridesmaid Hair With Side Part
A side part adds lift at the crown, which helps curls that sit flat on top. The heavier side falls in defined curls; the smaller side can be tucked, pinned or braided back. It suits shorter curls because it creates shape quickly. To keep it neat through the day, define the front curls and lightly smooth flyaways, and hide the pins under a curl on the smaller side.
17. Curly Bridesmaid Hair With Twists
Twists are softer than braids and blend into curly texture without needing to be even. I twist small front sections back into a half up style, a bun or a ponytail, using the curl’s own grip to help them hold. It keeps hair away from the face and leaves plenty of curl showing. A few pins at the back, light edge smoothing if wanted and curl cream on the ends keep it neat.
18. Curly Bridesmaid Hair With Low Ponytail
A low curly ponytail sits near the nape with the curls falling down the back or over one shoulder. It’s comfortable and secure on a long day. A middle part looks clean; a side part adds volume. Wrapping hair around the elastic makes the ponytail look more formal than a plain band would. I smooth the roots with a little gel and brush only the top section, never the curls themselves, then finish with a touch of shine spray.
19. Natural Curly Bridesmaid Hair
Natural curly bridesmaid hair keeps the pattern as it is. It can be a wash-and-go shape, a pinned-back side, a half up look or a loose updo. Most of the work happens before the wedding: moisture in the week before, then definition and frizz control on the day. Heavy products can make curls shrink unevenly or feel sticky, so I’d avoid testing anything new that week. Ask any stylist you book to show you curly work she’s done herself.
20. Curly Bridesmaid Hair For Long Hair
Long curls give the most options and the most weight. They can go half up, to one side, braided at the crown or into a full low ponytail. The challenge is keeping them defined without dragging them flat, so I use lighter products on long curls than on short ones and concentrate them on the ends. Layers help long curls move. Clips, pins and flowers sit naturally inside this length.
Pins, Elastics and Tools That Won’t Snag Curls
Curly hair catches on everything. The wrong tool leaves frizz at the pin points and breaks strands on the way out.
What I use
- U-shaped hairpins for gathering curls into a bun. They hold volume without flattening it, where bobby pins crush the curl they grip.
- Bobby pins only for anchors, crossed in an X, hidden under a curl.
- Coated elastics or spiral elastics. Bare rubber bands snag and leave a dent.
- A wide-tooth comb or fingers. A brush only touches the smooth sections at the root.
Taking it out at night
Remove pins slowly, one by one, in the reverse order they went in if you can, and don’t brush the curls out dry. Rinse or soak the hair with conditioner to dissolve the spray and gel, then detangle with your fingers. Pulling a tight updo out quickly is how curly bridesmaids end up with breakage the morning after.
Let the Curl Pattern Make the Decision
Curly bridesmaid hair can be loose, pinned, braided, twisted or flowered, and there’s no single right length or pattern. Look at the curl first, then the neckline and the forecast. Tight coils hold updos and twists well; loose waves suit half up and down styles. Prep matters as much as the style, so plan the wash, the moisture and the definition, and book a stylist who doesn’t reach for a brush. Bring photos of curls like yours, not just styles you like.
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