Curly bridesmaids are often told, politely, that they’ll need a blowout for the photos. I disagree. Curls already have shape and volume, and the hardest part of most wedding styles, building texture so pins grip, is done before I start. What curls need instead is definition that lasts and a style that doesn’t make the wearer touch her hair all day. The looks below run from loose to fully up, and each one keeps the curl pattern visible, with notes on how I’d set, pin and protect it.
Curl Pattern Decides More Than the Inspiration Photo
Two bridesmaids can both say they have curly hair and need completely different approaches. At a trial, I look at three things before I suggest any style.
How tight the curl is
Loose waves and wide curls can be refreshed with a curling wand and look like their natural texture. Tight spirals and coils shouldn’t be re-curled with heat; I work with product and setting instead, and pin them into shapes that use their natural spring.
How much it shrinks
Curly hair can look shoulder length wet and sit at the chin when dry. If the inspiration photo shows long curls over the shoulders, I need to know whether her hair will actually reach there on the day.
How it reacts to humidity
Some curls stay defined in damp air; others puff up within an hour. For the second kind, I’d lean toward updos and braids for an outdoor ceremony, because loose curls will expand well beyond their morning shape.
1. Half Up Curly Bridesmaid Hair
Half up curly bridesmaid hair is where I begin with most curly bridal parties, because it moves curls out of the face without flattening them. I take the top section from the temples back, twist it loosely, and pin it with the curls fluffed back over the pins so nothing metal shows. Separate the curls with fingertips, never a brush. Medium to long hair suits it best. Curl cream underneath and a light spray on top keep the shape without crunch.
2. Curly Low Bun Bridesmaid Hair
Thick curls can feel heavy in a bun, so I don’t twist the whole lot into one knot. Instead I gather at the nape, then pin the curls in clusters around the base, letting each cluster keep its spring. It ends up looking fuller and weighs less on the head. Fine curls need a bit of fluffing at the root before gathering, or the bun looks small next to the others. Leave a couple of curls loose at the face. Satin dresses and off-shoulder necklines suit the clean neck.
3. Curly High Bun Bridesmaid Hair
Height at the crown comes for free with tight curls and coils, so a high bun on curly hair is quicker than people think. I gather it with a soft fabric tie rather than a rubber elastic, then shape it round with my palms and pin the edges under. It keeps hair off the neck on a hot day, which is half the reason to choose it. A few tendrils at the temples keep it from looking severe. Gold pins or small flowers on one side are plenty.
4. Curly Ponytail Bridesmaid Hair
A curly ponytail feels formal once the base is clean. I smooth from hairline to tie with a little gel and a soft brush, wrap a curl around the elastic and pin it underneath. Crown height reads modern; nape height reads classic. Halter and square necklines show the ponytail line best. If the curls at the end are much drier than the roots, as they often are, I’ll add a bit of leave-in to the ends only so they don’t look frizzy beside smooth roots.
5. Side Part Curly Bridesmaid Hair
Flipping a curly part from one side to the other gives an instant lift, because curls at the root resist lying flat on the side they’re not used to. I set the part while the hair is damp, then define with mousse or gel and leave it to dry before touching it. The heavier side falls forward; the lighter side can take a jeweled clip. It works on loose curls, spirals and waves. On tighter coils, a deep side part can look lopsided as the hair dries and shrinks, so I check at the trial.
6. Curly Hair With Floral Pins
Curls hold flowers better than straight hair ever does, because the curl wraps around the stem and keeps it in place. Small blooms are easier than large ones: baby’s breath, spray roses, wax flowers, dried flowers and sprigs of greenery. Large heads tip and drag curls down. I wire anything fresh and tuck it in after the hair is finished. For a group, decide on placement (behind the left ear, for instance) so the flowers line up across the row in photos.
7. Curly Hair With Pearl Pins
Pearl pins sit beautifully in curly bridesmaid hair because the curls hide the pin shaft and only the pearl shows. Thick curls need sturdier pins with a slight bend or they’ll get pushed back out by the density; loose curls take the delicate ones. I scatter them through a low bun or half up section, or line them along one side. Pearls catch light without glare, which is why they suit black-tie dresses and simple modern ones equally well.
8. Curly Crown Braid Bridesmaid Hair
A crown braid gives curls structure around the face, which helps on very voluminous hair that otherwise spreads outward in heat. Curly hair braids thicker than straight hair, so the braid looks full without much pancaking. It can run across the front, around one side, or all the way around the head. The leftover curls stay down or pin into a soft updo. Ask for a braid that’s full rather than tight, so it blends with the texture instead of looking like a separate piece.
9. Curly Low Ponytail Bridesmaid Hair
Gathered at the nape, a curly low ponytail looks neat but stays soft. The curls can fall down the back or be brought over one shoulder. Centre part for a modern line, side part for something softer. I wrap the base with hair, ribbon or a slim accessory, and keep the tie loose enough that it doesn’t pull after four hours. For long ceremonies and receptions, it’s one of the most comfortable styles on this list.
10. Curly Side Swept Bridesmaid Hair
Curls pinned to one side frame the neckline and shoulders in a way that suits one-shoulder dresses especially well. The key is defining the curls before pinning, because once they’re bunched to one side, any frizz shows twice as much. I hide pins on the heavier side underneath the curls, crossed in pairs. It holds through dancing and photos with an occasional fluff. The look reads formal even though most of the hair is still down.
11. Curly Updo Bridesmaid Hair
With a curly updo, I’m building with curl sections rather than smoothing them away. Each section gets pinned where it adds lift, so the shape ends up rounded and soft. Place it low for an elegant dress, mid-height for a romantic one, slightly higher to add length to a rounder face. Layered curls can have a few short pieces left out; long curls get folded up into the shape. A flexible spray at the end, then hands off.
12. Curly Chignon Bridesmaid Hair
A curly chignon tucks the curls into a soft bun at the nape but leaves the texture visible, so it reads softer than a sleek one. I roll the lengths under, pin along the fold, then pull a few curls loose around the edges. It’s the style I’d suggest to a curly bridesmaid who wants her hair fully up but dislikes looking severe. Middle part for modern, side part for softer. Pearl jewelry and clean makeup sit well alongside it.
13. Curly Bob Bridesmaid Hair
Curly bob bridesmaid hair doesn’t need extensions to keep up with longer styles. I lift the roots with a clip while the curls dry, which gives the bob a rounded outline rather than a flat top and wide ends. A deep side part or a pinned-back section adds polish. Chin to shoulder length works best. A small clip, pearl barrette or floral pin is enough. Moisturize the ends so they look bouncy rather than dry by the reception.
14. Short Curly Bridesmaid Hair
Short curls need styling with purpose, otherwise they can look like an everyday wash. Pixie curls, cropped curls and short rounded shapes all work when each curl is defined and the outline is shaped. I’d add a side part, smooth the edges, or slide in a few mini pins or a soft headband. Bold earrings suit short curly hair, since the ears are on show. Lightweight curl products keep it moving instead of crunchy.
15. Long Curly Bridesmaid Hair
Long curls look romantic, but they’re also the hardest to keep defined from morning to midnight. The weight pulls the curls longer through the day, and touching breaks them into frizz. I start with well-moisturized hair, use a curl gel with real hold, and ask the bridesmaid to resist touching it. Layers help avoid the triangle shape that long, one-length curly hair can take on. A simple accessory ties it into the bridal party look.
16. Natural Curly Bridesmaid Hair
Natural curly bridesmaid hair works best when I support the curl pattern she already has rather than stretching it into something else. A defined wash-and-go, a pinned side style, a puff or a soft updo can all look formal. Shrinkage is the thing to plan for: the hair may sit shorter on the day than it looked wet. A stylist experienced with curls will choose products for hold without stiffness. Healthy shine and shape matter more than every curl matching.
17. Curly Hair With Braided Sides
Small braids along each side keep the front tidy while the curls stay full behind. I braid them while the hair is still slightly damp from styling, so the braid and the curls dry with the same texture. They can lead into a ponytail, low bun, half up look or loose curls. For a reception with a lot of dancing, this is one I’d recommend, since the front can’t fall into the face. A couple of tiny pins or flowers at the braid ends finish it.
18. Curly Hair With Headband
Curly hair with a headband is the simplest way to coordinate bridesmaids with completely different curl lengths. The headband can be pearl, satin, metallic or floral. Thick curls push a tight band backward over a few hours, so I’d choose one with a little flex and slide two small pins under the ends behind the ears. Curls can stay down, go into a low bun or sit half up behind the band. The band is the matching detail; the hair underneath can vary.
19. Curly Hair With Face Framing Pieces
Leaving curls around the face softens any bun, ponytail or chignon. The skill is in choosing the number. I usually leave two to four, and define each one with a little gel twisted around a finger so they hold their shape. Too many and the style looks half-finished; too few and the hairline looks pulled. Layered curls and curtain-shaped pieces make the easiest face-framers. Check them in profile, since that’s how they’ll appear in processional photos.
20. Curly Hair Down Bridesmaid Hair
Curls worn down still need a plan. I define and hydrate them, then arrange them so they frame the face and shoulders evenly, sometimes lifting the roots with clips while they dry. Centre part looks modern, side part softer. Pin back one small section or add a delicate clip for a bit of polish. It’s my choice for beach, garden and boho weddings, and for any bridesmaid who feels most herself with her hair down. Controlled softness is the aim, not perfect uniformity.
Drying Time Is the Hidden Cost of a Curly Bridal Party
Straight-haired bridesmaids can arrive with dry hair and be curled in thirty minutes. Curly bridesmaids who want a fresh wash-and-go need hair that’s wet when the gel goes in, and then it has to dry before I can pin anything. Under a hooded dryer or with a diffuser, that can take a while; air-drying can take hours.
- Wash and set the night before, then sleep on a satin pillowcase or in a loose pineapple.
- In the morning, refresh with a water mist and a little curl cream rather than starting again.
- Book curly bridesmaids earlier in the hair schedule, so any drying happens while others are being styled.
- Bring a portable diffuser if the venue has no hood dryer.
Hands Off: How Curls Lose Definition at the Reception
Most curly styles don’t fail because of the weather. They fail because of fingers. Every time a bridesmaid runs a hand through her hair or twirls a curl, she breaks the gel cast and frizz starts. If something needs adjusting, I’d rather she flicks a curl back into place with a fingertip or pats a little water and cream on it.
A spray bottle of water with a few drops of leave-in, a mini curl cream and a few pins are the only touch-up kit a curly bridesmaid really needs.
Curls Left as Curls, Just Better Placed
Curly hair gives bridesmaids a head start: volume, texture and shape are already there. A low bun reads classic, a curly ponytail reads modern, and half up gives the best balance of polish and movement. Pearls, flowers, clips or headbands connect the bridal party without forcing everyone into one style. Match the look to the curl pattern, the length, the neckline and the venue, then protect the definition through the day. Curls that are respected stay curls all the way through the last dance.
You'll Like These Ideas:
Leave a Reply