Updos earn their place in a bridal party because they take hair out of the equation. Nothing sticks to lip gloss, nothing hides the neckline, and nothing frizzes against a warm neck during the first dance. The bridesmaid up hairstyles I’m asked for now are much softer than the lacquered shapes of a decade ago: loose low buns, textured chignons, braided crowns and pinned curls. Here are twenty I do regularly, what each one asks of the hair, and how to describe it once you’re in the chair.
Let the Back of the Dress Decide Where the Updo Sits
Before I suggest a single style, I ask to see the dress from behind. Updos are judged from the back far more than people expect, because that’s the view guests have through the entire ceremony.
- Open or low backs: a low bun or chignon, so the shape leads the eye down toward the cut-out
- High necks and collars: lift the bun to the crown or mid-height, or it will rest on the fabric and get crushed
- One shoulder: put a side bun or any off-center detail on the bare side
- Halters: keep the nape clear so the ties don’t tangle with pins or knot into the bun
Heavy beading or sequins at the shoulders matter too. Loose tendrils catch on them and get tugged out every time she turns her head.
Have These Ready When You Sit Down
- Hair washed the night before and fully dry, with no heavy oil or conditioner at the roots
- A top that buttons or zips at the front, so nothing gets pulled over a finished updo
- Your earrings and any hair accessory, because both change where the pins should go
- A photo of the dress from the back
- One reference photo you love and one you don’t; the second usually tells me more
1. Bridesmaid Low Bun Updo
If I had to put a whole bridal party in one style, it would be this. A low bun sits at the nape, so its weight runs down the neck instead of pulling at the crown, and nobody is rubbing her scalp by the speeches. It suits satin, off-the-shoulder and square necklines, and open backs. Tell your stylist whether you want it smooth and tucked or loosened with texture before pinning; that one choice changes the mood more than the bun itself.
2. Bridesmaid Messy Bun Updo
Nobody’s bridesmaid messy bun updo is actually messy. What looks thrown up is curled, cooled, broken apart and pinned in small pieces, with the pins hidden under loops of hair. The loose bits around the cheekbones and temples are placed one at a time, and that placement is what flatters the face. It belongs with flowy fabric and outdoor ceremonies. Light hold spray only, since a strong spray turns the airy pieces crisp.
3. Bridesmaid Chignon Updo
Chignons are for formal rooms. The hair is rolled or knotted low and smoothed so the shape reads clearly from across a ballroom, and it frames pearl earrings well. High necks, one-shoulder gowns and detailed backs all stay clear. On fine hair, I’ll ask if you’d be comfortable with a little backcombing at the base or a small padding piece hidden inside the roll, because without one the chignon can end up the size of a walnut.
4. Bridesmaid Braided Bun Updo
Thick hair is where a braided bun really pays off. Braiding compresses volume, so a full head of hair becomes a neat bun instead of a heavy ball, and the plait locks the sections so they don’t slip. The braid can wrap the bun, feed in from one side or cross the crown. Highlighted hair shows best here because the woven strands catch every tone. Ask for the braid to be pulled apart gently before it’s pinned; a tight braid looks younger and harsher in photos.
5. Bridesmaid Sleek Bun Updo
A sleek bun hides nothing, so the prep is the whole job. I smooth the hair with a light styling cream, blow it straight with a paddle or round brush, and brush it back without ridges before pinning a tight, neat bun. Flexible shine spray finishes it. It’s the best friend of statement earrings and a strong lip, and it copes with humidity better than curls because there’s nothing to drop. On curly hair that hasn’t been blown out first, expect the surface to fluff up as the day goes on.
6. Bridesmaid Curly Updo
A curly updo should look like your curls, only lifted. I define them first, then pin in sections so each curl keeps its spring instead of being flattened into a shape. It can sit low, high or off-center depending on the dress, and a few tendrils at the front look natural rather than styled. The one thing I never do is brush dry curls to smooth them. That breaks the pattern into frizz, and there’s no undoing it on the day.
7. Bridesmaid High Bun Updo
A bridesmaid high bun updo lengthens the neck and looks graceful from the side, especially with dramatic shoulders or higher necklines. It can be smooth and ballet-like or full and textured. The catch is weight. On long or thick hair, a high bun anchored in one spot drags on the scalp within a couple of hours, so I build a ponytail base first and pin the bun into it from several directions. Face-framing pieces soften it, and a clean hairline keeps it sharp.
8. Bridesmaid French Twist Updo
The French twist reads slightly vintage, in a good way. Hair is swept up and tucked into a vertical roll along the back of the head, a clean line that structured fabrics like mikado and heavy crepe echo nicely. It’s one of the few formal updos that works on medium-length hair, since the roll doesn’t need much length to close. Soft volume at the crown or a deep side part keeps it from looking severe. A small comb at the top of the seam hides the last pins.
9. Bridesmaid Twisted Low Bun Updo
Twists are how I make fine hair look thicker without anyone noticing. Instead of one plain bun, the hair is split into sections, each twisted back and pinned into a gathered shape, then loosened with fingertips so each twist widens. The side and back views become the interesting part. Middle parts, side parts and curtain bangs all suit it. Chiffon and crepe match its softness; next to stiff satin it can look underdressed.
10. Bridesmaid Side Bun Updo
A side bun is the one updo that’s fully visible from the front. It sits low near one side of the neck, which is why I pair it with one-shoulder dresses: put the bun on the bare side and the neckline balances. Sleek, curled, braided or textured versions all work. Keep it close to the neck and modest in size, because a side bun placed high or built too wide tips into costume very quickly.
11. Bridesmaid Fishtail Braid Updo
Fishtails bring a slightly boho texture to an updo, and they take longer than a regular braid because every pass picks up a tiny piece. That fineness is the point. On dimensional blonde, brunette, or balayage hair each little stitch catches a different tone. The braid can wrap into a bun, cross the back or blend into a low updo. Pull it apart gently so it looks soft, and use small pins that disappear into the pattern. Rustic venues and floral dresses suit it.
12. Bridesmaid Crown Braid Updo
Once a crown braid is pinned, it barely moves. The braid wraps around the head or across the top like a halo, and the remaining hair tucks into the back. Spring ceremonies and delicate necklines suit it well. The real decision is how neat it should be: a polished crown braid looks formal, while an airy one with pieces pulled loose at the hairline looks like a garden party. Tell your stylist which, because both start the same way and end very differently.
13. Bridesmaid Textured Updo
Textured updos rely on curl, not on perfection. The hair is curled, then pinned in loose sections into a soft lifted shape, so it holds up in natural light and in candids where nobody is posing. Layered cuts do well here because shorter pieces blend into the texture instead of escaping. Ask for volume balanced between the crown and sides, otherwise it tips into bulky at the back. A flexible spray keeps it touchable.
14. Bridesmaid Ponytail Updo
A bridesmaid ponytail updo is the answer for someone who wants her hair up but hates the feel of a bun. It can sit high, mid or low, with the base wrapped in a strand of hair so it still looks finished. Waves through the tail give movement; a sleek base keeps it crisp. Thick hair takes to it well because the tail carries the volume without hiding length. After I secure it, I always ask her to turn her head both ways, since an elastic that feels fine at rest can pinch once she moves.
15. Bridesmaid Low Ponytail Updo
Think of this as a low ponytail dressed for a wedding. It’s gathered at the nape, secured, then finished with soft waves or a smooth tail. Strapless dresses, square necklines and minimalist gowns suit it. A wrapped base makes it look grown-up, and a little lift at the crown keeps the head from looking flat in profile. For extra hold I pin the tail slightly upward against the head at the base, which stops it drooping lower as the night goes on.
16. Bridesmaid Bun With Face Framing Pieces
Some people feel too exposed with every strand pulled back, and this one is for them. The bun sits low or mid-height while a few pieces at the front soften the cheeks, jaw and forehead. Those pieces have to look placed, not escaped. I separate them from the front section before the bun is made, curl them lightly with a small iron, and clip them back until the last minute so they keep their shape. Most textures and dress styles can carry it.
17. Bridesmaid Updo For Short Hair
A bridesmaid updo for short hair is really an illusion. Bob and lob lengths are waved for grip, then twisted, tucked, braided or pinned into a low shape that reads as an updo from the front. Mini braids or a tucked nape detail make it feel complete. The shortest layers at the nape are the trouble spot, so I criss-cross pins there or use a small comb to keep them from dropping out by dinner. A few soft front pieces stop it from looking forced.
18. Bridesmaid Updo For Long Hair
Long hair gives you every option, and the job becomes managing weight. Low buns, braided updos and twisted chignons spread the hair evenly instead of piling it in one spot. Curl or prep the lengths first so the pins have something to grip; long, silky hair is the most slippery of all. If the dress has a detailed back, a lifted updo keeps it visible. Ask for support pins hidden underneath and a shape that looks finished from the front, side and back, since guests see all three.
19. Bridesmaid Updo For Thin Hair
Fine hair needs air, not tension. Curling, light backcombing at the root and pinning in loose sections all make a little hair look like more, and low textured buns, twisted updos and soft chignons create that illusion best. Pulling it tight does the opposite and shows the scalp under bright lights. Dry texture spray, some root lift and a small hidden padding piece make the biggest difference while still looking natural.
20. Bridesmaid Updo For Thick Hair
Thick hair makes a very full updo, but it gets heavy fast, and I plan for that before pinning anything. Braids, twists and sectioned buns control the bulk while still showing it off. Low or mid placement is kinder than a high bun on a long day. I’ll often braid the hidden inner section flat and pin it as a base, then build the visible shape over it, so the weight stays close to the head. A smooth surface and a well-anchored base do the rest.
Ten Hours in an Updo Without a Headache
An updo that hurts is an updo that gets pulled out before the cake. The pain almost always comes from one of three places: a pin pressed straight into the scalp, an elastic set too tight, or all the weight hanging from a single anchor. Stay in the chair a few minutes after it’s finished, turn your head and look down at your phone. If anything pinches, say so right then, while it’s a two-minute fix.
If someone in the party has very long, thick hair and a sensitive scalp, I’d steer her toward a low bun or a ponytail updo rather than a high bun, whatever the mood board says. She’ll still match the group, and she won’t spend the reception quietly pulling pins out.
At the End of the Night
Take pins out slowly, starting at the bun and working toward the front, and don’t touch a brush until every pin is out. Work a little conditioner or oil through the lengths to loosen the hairspray, then comb from the ends upward. Backcombed hair snaps if it’s yanked, and nobody wants a wedding to cost them a trim.
An Updo for Each Bridesmaid, Not One Updo for All
Updos stay popular because they solve real problems: necklines stay visible, hair stays off a hot neck, and nobody fights the wind in portraits. A low bun is the safe bet, a textured updo the soft one, a sleek bun the modern one, and a braid adds detail. Let the dress, the weather and how each person feels with her neck bare make the call, then let the stylist adjust placement for her hair. Good prep and secure pinning carry any of these from the first photo to the final dance.
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