Bridesmaid high bun updos give a wedding party lift, quite literally. Raising the hair to the crown opens the face, shows off earrings and necklines, and keeps hair out of the way through portraits, dinner and dancing. The bun itself can change from person to person, sleek on one and braided on another, and the group still looks like a set because the height is shared. I’ve grouped these twenty by finish, hair type, detail and setting, with notes on what I watch for in each.
How High Is High? Placing the Bun for Each Face
A high bun can sit anywhere from just above the curve at the back of the head to the very top, and that small move changes the whole effect. I find the spot by tracing an imaginary line from the chin, past the cheekbone and up to the back of the crown. A bun on that line lifts the face. Move it further forward toward the forehead and it becomes a top knot, which is fun but much more casual.
Sizing the Bun to the Person
- Petite frames: keep the bun compact, about the size of a fist or smaller, or it overwhelms the profile
- Long necks: a true crown placement looks graceful and balanced
- Shorter necks: high placement helps, since it draws the eye upward and keeps the nape clear
- Tall bridesmaids: a slightly lower or flatter bun stops her towering over the group in photos
I check placement in profile with a hand mirror before the final pins go in. A bun that looks centered from the front can sit lopsided from the side, and the side is what most ceremony photos catch.
1. Sleek High Bun Bridesmaid Updo
Sleek is the hardest high bun to do well, because every bump shows. I smooth the roots with a light gel or cream, brush upward with a boar bristle brush, and check the nape with a hand mirror before securing, since that’s where ridges hide. Flexible spray locks it. It suits satin, high necks and statement earrings. In warm weather it’s the most reliable option, as long as the hair was blown smooth first; air-dried hair puffs at the hairline within the hour.
2. Messy High Bun Bridesmaid Updo
A messy high bun bridesmaid updo is still a dressed-up style, just a looser one. I curl everything, backcomb lightly at the base for grip, then pin the bun in loose loops and pull a few pieces down around the hairline. Controlled is the word. If every strand is loose it reads as gym hair; if only a few are, it reads relaxed. Garden weddings and rustic venues suit it, and the pieces at the cheeks soften close-up photos.
3. Curly High Bun Bridesmaid Updo
Natural curl does the volume work here, so I rarely need padding. Pin the curls loosely on top of the head and let their texture show from every side. Curl-defining cream beforehand and a humidity-resistant spray afterwards hold the shape, and a curl or two left at the temples keeps it soft. One caution: curls expand in warm, damp air, so a curly high bun can grow taller than planned. I pin it a little smaller than the size I actually want.
4. Braided High Bun Bridesmaid Updo
Layered hair is the reason I braid into a high bun. Short layers slip out of a smooth bun once the bridesmaid starts moving, while a braid catches them and holds them in. The braid can wrap the base, run from the front hairline into the crown, or sit along one side, which lets each bridesmaid have her own detail inside a matching style. Loosen it a touch before pinning; tight braids look severe from a distance. Chiffon and outdoor ceremonies suit it.
5. High Bun Bridesmaid Updo With Face Framing Pieces
Most bridesmaids ask for this version once they see a fully slicked high bun in the mirror. The bun keeps the look lifted and formal, and the loose front pieces soften the cheekbones and jaw. I bend those pieces with a flat iron rather than a curling iron, because a flat bend lies closer to the face and doesn’t bounce into the eyes. Middle parts, side parts and curtain bangs all take it well, and candids are where it really pays off.
6. High Bun Bridesmaid Updo With Side Part
A side part gives a high bun direction. The hair sweeps across from the part, which breaks up a round or square face and adds a little drama without any accessories. Smooth it across the forehead and up into the bun, or wave it first for softness. I set the bun slightly toward the side opposite the part so the overall shape stays balanced. One-shoulder dresses and big earrings pair well, and light shine spray is all it needs.
7. High Bun Bridesmaid Updo With Middle Part
Symmetry is the whole appeal here. A crisp middle part with a high bun centered above it looks modern and very clean, especially with minimalist dresses and simple jewelry. I make the part with a tail comb, brush each side upward separately, and only then join them at the bun, so the two halves sit evenly. Soften the hairline slightly for a more wearable version. Because it’s so consistent, it’s an easy way to make a whole bridal party look unified in group shots.
8. High Bun Bridesmaid Updo With Curtain Bangs
Bangs and a high bun get along better than people think. Soft curtain bangs frame the face on their own, so the bun can stay lifted and full at the crown while the front stays soft. I blow-dry the bangs away from the center with a round brush before any updo work, since reaching them with a dryer is awkward once the rest of the hair is pinned. It’s also a kind option for someone growing out a fringe, because the in-between pieces suddenly look intentional.
9. High Bun Bridesmaid Updo For Long Hair
Long hair makes a big bun, and big means heavy. I build it in stages: a secure ponytail base first, then the length divided and twisted, wrapped, braided or curled into place around it, which spreads the load. Strong pins and a good elastic matter more here than any spray. It has real presence from every side and suits formal ceremonies. If the bridesmaid gets headaches easily, though, I’ll drop the bun an inch or two below the very top of the head.
10. High Bun Bridesmaid Updo For Medium Hair
Medium hair can make a full high bun, and it’s often lighter to wear than a long-hair version. Shoulder to collarbone length usually needs curling and a little teasing, or a small bun pad, to round the shape out. I gather it high, pin sections around the base, and let a few loose pieces hide layers that won’t reach. Extensions are rarely necessary. Check the nape, though: if the shortest layers there are much shorter than the rest, they’ll drop by mid-afternoon unless they’re pinned up separately.
11. High Bun Bridesmaid Updo For Thin Hair
With thin hair, the size of the bun is the worry I hear most. Mousse at the root, dry texture spray and gentle backcombing all add bulk. A small bun maker helps too, as long as the hair is wrapped smoothly around it and the maker matches the hair color so nothing peeks through. Curling before pinning makes the bun look denser. A side part or a few face-framing pieces add softness at the front, and a secure base keeps everything from sliding.
12. High Bun Bridesmaid Updo For Thick Hair
A high bun bridesmaid updo on thick hair looks rich and full, but it needs support. Gathering dense hair tightly into one knot creates a heavy lump that pulls at the scalp. Instead I divide the hair, pin the crown section first, then wrap the remaining length into the bun piece by piece, which keeps it stable and comfortable. Sleek, twisted or textured finishes all work. Expect it to take longer in the chair than other styles and build that into the morning schedule.
13. High Bun Bridesmaid Updo For Natural Hair
Natural hair makes a high bun with real volume, and the prep is mostly about moisture. I start with hydrated hair, stretched or defined depending on the finish she wants, because dry coils snap under the tension of an updo. The front can be smoothed, braided, twisted or finished with laid edges. Keep tension at the hairline gentle; edges pulled hard can ache within hours and stress the hair. The bun keeps the neck cool in warm venues and pairs well with bold earrings and open necklines.
14. High Bun Bridesmaid Updo With Twists
Twists sit somewhere between a plain bun and a braid. They can start at the sides and run toward the crown, or wrap around the bun for a sculpted finish. I use them a lot on hair with one solid color, because twisted sections create shadow and dimension that a smooth bun wouldn’t have. They tuck shorter layers away too. Smooth twists look right for a church ceremony; slightly loosened ones suit a garden.
15. High Bun Bridesmaid Updo With Braid Crown
A braid crown leading into a high bun keeps every front strand in place, which is why I suggest it for outdoor weddings and for anyone who hates hair in her face. The braid circles the head and feeds into the bun at the top or back. Keep the bun full enough to balance the braid, or it looks like an afterthought. A little texture worked through the crown stops the whole thing from looking too neat.
16. High Bun Bridesmaid Updo With Pearl Pins
Pearl pins are the easiest way to tie different buns together. Place them around the bun, along one side or scattered lightly. I put decorative pins in last and angle them into the anchor pins underneath; pushed straight into the bun alone, the weight of a pearl slowly tips them out over a few hours. Keep the count modest so the bun stays the focus.
17. High Bun Bridesmaid Updo With Floral Pins
Fresh flowers in a high bun need choosing with care. Small, sturdy blooms hold up out of water far better than soft petals, which wilt against warm hair by the reception, so I ask the florist to wire and tape them, or use good silk ones instead. Keep them small so they don’t weigh the bun down or compete with the bouquets. Ivory, blush or simple greenery tie the bridesmaids to the wedding palette, and loose texture sets them off best.
18. High Bun Bridesmaid Updo With Loose Curls
Here the curl is part of the bun rather than hidden inside it. I curl the hair, then pin it high while letting some of each curl’s shape show, which adds movement and makes the bun look fuller from behind. Curls around the face relax it. Hard spray is the enemy of this one: the curls need to stay touchable or they look plastic in close-ups.
19. High Bun Bridesmaid Updo For Black Tie Wedding
For black tie, I aim for a finish that still looks structured at midnight. That means a smooth surface, a clean hairline and a bun set high on the crown, rounded, wrapped or slightly oversized. Floor-length gowns and statement jewelry pair naturally. I use more pins than feel necessary and a shine spray instead of a stiff one, because evening light and flash show dullness. Check it from every angle in a hand mirror before she leaves the chair.
20. High Bun Bridesmaid Updo For Outdoor Wedding
Outdoors, wind is the real test. A textured high bun usually survives better than a perfectly sleek one, because a few stray hairs blend in instead of breaking a polished surface. Pin face-framing pieces lightly on a breezy day so they can be dropped later. Anti-humidity spray and strong pins do the heavy lifting. For garden, beach, vineyard, and backyard weddings I also set the bun slightly lower than I would indoors, since a tall bun catches more wind.
Doughnuts, Mesh Shapers and Padding, and When They Help
Bun shapers get a bad name because people only notice the badly hidden ones. Used well, they make a high bun round, consistent across a bridal party and lighter than backcombing alone.
- Doughnut rings: the quickest route to a perfectly round bun, but the hair needs enough length to wrap all the way around and cover it
- Soft mesh padding pieces: better for elongated or chignon-style buns, and they flex with the shape
- Backcombing alone: the most natural movement, and the most likely to deflate by evening on fine hair
Whatever goes in has to match the hair. Between two shades, I’d pick the slightly darker one, because darker fills in as shadow while lighter shows through as a patch. On very thick hair I skip shapers entirely; the hair is its own padding.
Pins That Disappear Under a Camera Flash
Close-up photography is unkind to hardware. Shiny pins catch the flash and show up as bright little lines in the bun, so I use matte pins in a shade close to the hair and slide them in with the ridged side toward the scalp, which grips better. Any elastic that shows gets covered with a wrapped strand. Before the photographer arrives, I look over each bun from behind with my phone flash on. Whatever glints there will glint in the portraits too.
A Shared Height Is What Makes Different Buns Match
High buns stay popular because they keep hair secure and suit almost any dress, season or venue. The right version for each bridesmaid comes down to her length, texture, face shape and comfort, plus the mood of the wedding. Sleek reads formal and modern, while curly, braided and messy versions read softer. Pearl pins, flowers and face-framing pieces personalize it without breaking the set. Wash the night before, anchor the base well, and the bun will hold all day.
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