Bridesmaid hair has a harder job than most people expect. It has to survive getting dressed, a ceremony, a few hundred photos and a dance floor, usually on someone who never had a trial. The best bridesmaid hairstyles I send down the aisle are built on structure rather than a lot of spray, and they don’t have to match to look like a set. Below are twenty I do often, with the steps I actually follow and the place each one tends to fail, so you can match a style to each person’s hair and neckline.
Setting Up Hair the Evening Before So These Styles Hold
Most of the bridesmaid hair I end up rescuing on a wedding morning was washed that same morning. Freshly conditioned hair is slippery, and pins and twists slide straight off it. I ask the party to wash the evening before, keep heavy conditioner off the roots, and blow-dry smooth, so I’m starting with even hair instead of air-dried kinks that every curl has to fight.
What I Keep Within Reach
- Bobby pins in two shades close to the party’s hair colors, plus U-shaped pins for buns and twists, which hold volume without flattening it
- Clear elastics in two sizes: small ones for bubbles and braid ends, larger ones for ponytail bases
- A curling iron with a 1 to 1.25 inch barrel for most lengths and a smaller one for bobs
- Dry texture spray for grip, a flexible hairspray to finish, and a light serum for ends
- A tail comb, a soft bristle brush and a few duckbill clips to hold curls while they cool
If you’re doing a friend’s hair yourself, run through the full style at least once with the real accessories and a timer. A crown braid that takes twenty minutes on your own head can take forty on someone else’s, and that gap matters when five people need to be ready before the photographer walks in.
1. Bridesmaid Low Chignon Tutorial
A low chignon is my default when a bridesmaid tells me she just wants something that won’t move. Start with smooth hair that has a light bend in it, because a bun built on dead-straight hair looks flat by the second hour. Part in the middle or just off-center, gather a low ponytail at the nape, then twist it into a coil and pin it tight against the head. I anchor the elastic with two crossed bobby pins first and pin the coil into those, which is why it holds. Face-framing pieces only make sense if the wedding is soft and garden-like, and a flexible spray beats a crunchy one every time.
2. Bridesmaid Messy Low Bun Tutorial
Messy only looks easy. On fine or very silky hair the bun slides out within an hour unless you build grip first, so I curl everything with a medium barrel, let it cool, then rake it apart with my fingers and add a dry texture spray. Gather it low and pin it in pieces rather than forcing one tight shape; small sections stacked and pinned hold better than one big twist. Leave a few strands at the temples and the nape. I like it with chiffon and loose flowers, and I’d skip it for very thick hair, which tends to turn bulky rather than undone.
3. Bridesmaid Sleek Low Bun Tutorial
This one lives or dies on the part. I work smoothing cream through damp hair, blow it straight, then cut a sharp middle part with a tail comb before brushing everything firmly to the nape and securing it with an elastic. Twist the tail into a neat bun and pin it flat so it looks sculpted from the side. An old toothbrush with a little gel handles the flyaways. It suits straight or stretched hair, satin and square necklines. Curly hair that hasn’t been stretched will fight the sleekness all day, especially in humidity.
4. Bridesmaid Twisted Updo Tutorial
A twisted updo looks complicated in photos, but it’s really only three sections. Curl the hair for grip, then split it into left, right and back. Roll the back into a low bun and pin it. Twist each side loosely away from the face, wrap it over the bun, and pin the ends underneath where they won’t show. The step people skip is loosening the twists with your fingertips afterwards, since tight twists read as stiff on camera. You need at least shoulder-length hair; short layers will poke out of the side twists.
5. Bridesmaid French Twist Tutorial
The French twist is the style I pull out for black-tie venues. Texture spray at the roots and through the lengths is not optional here, because freshly washed hair just slides off the pins. Brush everything back as if for a low ponytail, sweep it to one side, and place a vertical row of crossed pins up the center of the head. That row is the spine of the whole style. Roll the hair back over it, tuck the ends inside, and pin along the seam until nothing shifts when she shakes her head. Keep the crown smooth or give it a little lift, depending on the dress.
6. Bridesmaid Half Up Half Down Tutorial
A half up half down hairstyle is my compromise for the bridesmaid who refuses an updo but hates hair in her face. Curl in sections and let every curl cool in its shape before you touch it; brushing warm curls is why they fall flat by the speeches. Twist two front pieces back and secure them at the crown with pins or a small clear elastic, then lift the crown gently with the end of a comb. The pinned section is where something personal can go, a ribbon or a couple of pearl pins, without competing with the bride.
7. Bridesmaid Braided Half Up Tutorial
Braids add detail here without hiding any length. I start with loose waves, take a small section at each temple and braid it loosely toward the back, then pull the edges of each braid outward so it looks twice as thick. Pin the two braids together at the crown and let the rest fall. Keep those sections small: a braid taken too deep pulls the hair flat across the top of the head. It’s a smart pick when the party wants similar hair rather than identical, since everyone can wear it on her own texture.
8. Bridesmaid Hollywood Waves Tutorial
Hollywood waves are the evening option, and they need more discipline than anything else on this list. Make a deep side part, then curl every section in the same direction; one curl going the wrong way breaks the ripple. Let them cool completely before brushing through with a soft bristle brush, then push the bends into shape with your fingers and clip each crest for a few minutes if you want a sculpted finish. Shine spray on top, one side tucked behind the ear. They sit well with one-shoulder and satin dresses. On naturally curly hair, warn the bridesmaid that humidity will slowly turn the waves back into frizz.
9. Bridesmaid Loose Waves Tutorial
Loose waves suit nearly everyone, which is exactly why they’re so often done badly. Prep with heat protectant and a light mousse at the root, curl away from the face, and leave the last inch or so straighter so it looks current rather than prom. Once cooled, comb through with your fingers instead of a brush to keep the separation, and use a drop of serum on the ends for frizz. Hair that refuses to hold a curl needs a stronger setting product and pin curls left to cool, or the waves will be gone before the vows.
10. Bridesmaid Side Swept Curls Tutorial
Side swept curls do the most with strapless and off-the-shoulder dresses, because the bare shoulder balances the volume on the other side. Curl in medium sections, brush through gently, then set a deep side part and sweep the heavier side forward over one shoulder. On the lighter side, pin behind the ear with two bobby pins crossed in an X. A single pin slides out the moment she starts hugging people. A decorative comb can cover the pins if the theme allows it. Keep the ends soft, not tight, or the whole thing looks dated.
11. Bridesmaid Low Ponytail Tutorial
A low ponytail only looks chic when every part of it looks deliberate. Smooth the roots, wave the lengths, part the hair and gather it at the nape with an elastic. Then wrap a small section around the band to hide it and pin the end underneath. At this point I ask whether the bride wants volume at the crown or a sleek finish, since pulling a few strands loose changes the whole mood. In summer heat this is the one I suggest most: nothing touches the neck and it barely needs a touch-up.
12. Bridesmaid High Ponytail Tutorial
High ponytails bring energy to a bridal party, but they put the most strain on the hairline, so I check comfort before anything else. Curl first for bounce, brush the top smooth, gather at the crown and secure with a strong elastic, then hide the band with a wrapped strand. Lightly backcomb the underside of the tail if it needs body. On long, thick hair the weight alone can cause a headache by the reception. Splitting the tail into two stacked ponytails, one just above the other, spreads that weight and makes it look fuller.
13. Bridesmaid Bubble Ponytail Tutorial
A bubble ponytail needs long hair and patience. Start with smooth hair in a mid or low ponytail, then add clear elastics every few inches down the length, pulling each section outward after it’s secured to round the bubble. I measure the gaps with my fingers so the bubbles stay even; uneven spacing is what makes it look homemade. Wrapping a thin piece of hair over each elastic dresses it up. Outdoors it earns its place, because the hair stays contained in wind but still moves.
14. Bridesmaid Side Braid Tutorial
I reach for a side braid when the forecast says humid and the bridesmaid has long hair. Wave the hair first, sweep it over one shoulder, and braid loosely in three strands or a fishtail. The fishtail takes longer but hides frizz better because each piece is smaller. Secure the end with a clear elastic and pull the braid apart gently to widen it, leaving a few pieces around the face. Small pins or fresh flowers can sit in the braid for a natural theme, as long as the flowers are sturdy ones that won’t wilt against warm skin.
15. Bridesmaid Crown Braid Tutorial
A crown braid keeps hair off the neck and face all day, which is why I like it for summer ceremonies. Part where the hair naturally falls, start braiding at one temple and work around the head, adding hair as you go, until you reach the other side. Tuck the end under the braid and pin it hard; that tucked end is where crown braids usually come undone. Pull the braid wider for softness. It needs no accessories and leaves a detailed neckline completely clear. Hair shorter than the shoulder generally won’t reach all the way round without a hidden extension.
16. Bridesmaid Curly Half Up Tutorial
For curly half up, the real work happens before the styling. Define clean curls with a curl cream or gel and let them dry fully, because styling damp curls is how frizz starts. Take small sections from each side and pin them at the back of the crown, and don’t brush anything once the curls are set. Lift the roots with your fingers for height. I keep a small spray bottle of water and a dab of the same cream in my kit, since a curl crushed in a hug can usually be reshaped with both.
17. Bridesmaid Natural Curls Updo Tutorial
A natural curls updo should show off volume without flattening definition. Start with moisturized curls that are completely dry, then gather the hair loosely toward the crown or the back of the head, depending on how tall she wants it. Pin in sections rather than dragging everything into one tight bun; tension at the hairline hurts and pulls curls apart. Let a few fall at the face and neck, and use edge control only where it’s needed. Curly and coily hair holds this shape well through a long day because the texture itself grips the pins.
18. Bridesmaid Short Bob Waves Tutorial
Short bob waves look as finished as any long style once the tool is the right size. Heat protectant first, then curl small sections away from the face with a small barrel iron or a flat iron, leaving the ends relaxed so the bob doesn’t turn round. Texture spray at the roots, separate the waves with your fingers, and tuck one side behind the ear with a pearl pin or small clip. A large barrel on chin-length hair barely makes a bend, and that’s the most common mistake I see on short cuts.
19. Bridesmaid Pixie Hair Tutorial
A pixie cut takes ten minutes and still looks dressed up when the texture is right. Work a lightweight styling cream through damp or dry hair, then direct the top layers with your fingers or a small brush into a side sweep, a lifted texture or a sleek shape. Keep the sides close to the head for contrast. Flexible hairspray holds it without turning it hard or shiny. If a pixie is due a trim, book it about a week before the wedding so the freshly cut edges have time to soften.
20. Bridesmaid Locs Updo Tutorial
A locs updo starts with one question: where should the weight sit? Low, high or slightly to one side all change how comfortable it feels by midnight, and locs are heavier than loose hair. Gather them gently, keeping tension off the hairline, then wrap and pin sections into a bun, a roll or a tucked crown. I use larger, sturdier pins than I would on loose hair, because standard bobby pins open up under that weight. A few locs left loose at the face soften it, and cuffs only belong if they suit the rest of the party.
Different Styles That Still Read as One Bridal Party
Brides often ask me whether everyone should match. I rarely recommend identical hair, because the low bun that suits thick waves looks sparse on fine, straight hair. Instead I pick one shared thread and let the shape change from person to person.
- Shared height: everyone low at the nape, or everyone lifted at the crown
- Shared finish: all sleek, or all soft and textured
- Shared accessory: the same pearl pin or ribbon, worn in whatever style suits each person
Short hair, locs and natural curls all fit inside any of those threads, so nobody gets pushed into a style that fights her hair.
When a Style Starts Slipping Halfway Through the Day
Something always loosens. Buns sag after the hugs at the ceremony, curls drop in a warm marquee, and front pieces end up stuck in lip gloss. A quick fix before the reception photos beats restyling, so I hand one bridesmaid a small pouch to carry for the group.
Inside it: a dozen bobby pins, two clear elastics, a travel hairspray and some blotting papers. A sagging chignon can usually be saved by pushing two fresh pins in at an angle through the base so they catch the anchor pins underneath. Fallen waves come back with a twist around a finger and a short hold of spray, no hot tool needed. For curls and locs, a little water and the product used that morning work better than spray.
Twenty Styles, Many Hair Types, One Coordinated Party
The right style is the one that suits the bridesmaid wearing it, not the one with the most saves. A party can look coordinated with buns, waves, ponytails, braids, curls, short cuts and textured updos in the same photo. Try each style with the real dress and accessories before the day, be honest about the weather and how long it has to last, and pack spare pins. Hidden structure, soft-hold products and a ten-minute check before the reception do more than any amount of hairspray.
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