Most brides arrive at a trial with a folder of curl photos and no idea which ones their hair can actually hold. Curls stretch a long way: beachy and relaxed for an outdoor ceremony, polished and structured for a ballroom, worn down, half up or swept into a soft updo. These 20 ideas cover brides, bridesmaids and guests across different lengths and textures. I’ve added the technique behind each one, so you know what you’re asking your stylist for, or what you’re taking on if you curl it yourself.
Iron, Wand or Hot Rollers Each Make a Different Curl
Many of the ideas below name a barrel size, and it’s worth knowing why. The tool shapes the curl long before any product does.
Barrel size, roughly
- Three-quarter inch: tight, defined curls for pixies, short bobs and vintage sets.
- One inch: the everyday bridal curl. It holds well and brushes out into soft movement.
- One and a quarter to one and a half inch: big, loose curls and Hollywood waves on medium to long hair.
- Two inches and wider: bends more than curls, mostly for volume and beachy waves.
Clamp, wand or rollers
A clamp iron grips the end and gives a smoother, more uniform curl. A wand has no clamp, so the ends stay a touch straighter and the result looks more relaxed. Hot rollers set a lot of hair at once with gentler heat, which is why I use them for root volume on fine hair.
Heat settings
Fine or colour-treated hair rarely needs more than about 300 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, while thick or coarse hair may need closer to 400. Hotter doesn’t mean longer-lasting. Use a heat protectant every time, and never curl hair that’s even slightly damp; it damages the strand and gives a frizzy curl.
1. Loose Curls With Half-Up Style
Curl everything with a one-inch barrel, then pull the top section back and secure it with a decorative pin or small clip. The order matters. Pin first and curl afterwards, and the iron disturbs the pinned section so you lose the smooth top. Face-framing pieces left loose at the front soften the result. It sits comfortably under a veil, holds through the ceremony and dancing, and suits round, oval and heart-shaped faces alike.
2. Hollywood Glamour Waves
Deep, sculpted S-shaped ripples falling along one side of the face. A large barrel sets the curls, and a brush-out joins them into one polished wave. The step people skip is pinning each curl flat to cool before brushing; without it the waves come out soft and won’t hold their ripple. A side part adds drama, and a fitted gown with statement earrings completes it. Medium to long hair suits it best, since short layers break the line of the wave.
3. Curly Low Bun With Tendrils
Curls gathered at the nape, twisted into a loose textured knot and pinned, with a few tendrils left at the face. On tight natural curls this is my first choice for a humid day, because the bun contains most of the texture while still showing its shape. Use more pins than seems necessary. Springy curls slowly push pins back out over a few hours. It works in a formal ballroom or an outdoor garden, and a sparkly comb or a few small flowers adds charm.
4. Beachy Waves for Outdoor Wedding
Seaside and garden ceremonies call for waves that look as if you barely tried. Use a wide-barrel wand, skip the brush entirely and finish with a light sea salt spray for grip. Salt spray is drying, so go easy on bleached or already-dry ends, which can look like straw in close-up photos. The style moves with the breeze rather than fighting it. Wear it down or pin one side back with a delicate clip. Long and medium lengths, floral crowns and flowing gowns all suit it.
5. Curly Updo With Flower Accents
Fresh flowers tucked into a voluminous curly updo give a garden feel. Baby’s breath, roses or wildflowers all work, ideally echoing your bouquet. Wildflowers are the riskiest of the three, since many wilt within an hour or two out of water, so ask your florist which stems will hold up and keep them somewhere cool until the last minute. The curls give the updo its volume, so it never looks flat. Leave a few face-framing pieces out. Spring and summer weddings suit it best.
6. Side Swept Curls Over One Shoulder
Every curl draped over one shoulder, showing off texture, shine, the neckline and your earrings. Strapless and one-shoulder gowns suit it most. Pin the opposite side back with a jewelled clip, and treat that clip as structural: I set it into a small teased section so it can’t slide down smooth hair as the day goes on. The asymmetry reads modern. Long and medium curly hair carries it best.
7. Curly Ponytail With Volume
High or mid placement, secured tightly, with the tail left full rather than smoothed flat. Wrap a small section of hair around the base to hide the elastic. Tightly really is the key word, because a ponytail that’s slightly loose at noon is sagging by the first dance. I use a strong elastic and pin the wrap underneath. It keeps hair off the neck at a summer ceremony while the curls give it movement. A sparkly pin at the base adds shine.
8. Half-Up Curly Crown Braid
Take a section from each side, braid them, then join the two across the back of the head like a crown, with the rest of the curls loose below. It keeps hair off the face and still shows length. The braids need to meet at centre back. If one section is thicker, the crown looks lopsided, so I compare the two sections against each other before I start braiding. Boho and outdoor weddings, medium to long curly hair and flower accents all suit it.
9. Voluminous Curls for Long Hair
Long hair can carry full, bouncy curls from roots to ends. Curl the whole length in sections with a medium barrel, then separate the curls gently with your fingers. A deep side part adds fullness at the crown. Very long hair is heavy and its bottom curls loosen first, so I curl the ends in slightly smaller sections than the top. It works under a veil, and against a detailed gown back the curls frame the design rather than hiding it.
10. Curly Bun With Braided Detail
A braid woven into a simple curly bun gives it a handmade detail. Braid a section near the crown or along the hairline first, then gather the curls into a soft bun at the back and pin. Leave a couple of curly tendrils loose at the face. Because everything is contained, it’s a strong choice for formal weddings and humid weather. Hair vines and pearl pins sit well along the braid. On very fine hair I add a small clip-in behind the braid, otherwise the plait is too thin to see from the guests’ seats.
11. Tousled Curls With Hair Vine
Loose curls broken up with the fingers, then a vine threaded through the waves to catch the light. Down or half up both work. Threading a vine through loose hair is fiddlier than through an updo, since there’s nothing firm to hold it, so I anchor each end to a small pinned section hidden underneath. Boho and modern brides both wear it well, and it shows best in natural outdoor light late in the day.
12. Curly Pixie for Short Hair
A pixie takes curls well. Use a small barrel or wand to define each piece, then tousle for a modern finish. Short hair heats through quickly, so turn the iron down and hold it for only a few seconds per section; a long hold leaves the ends crisp and dry-looking. A sparkly clip or small flower above one ear adds the bridal note. It stays cool through a long celebration and leaves the neckline and statement earrings on full display.
13. Curly Updo With Pearl Pins
Curls swept up into a soft bun or twist, then pearl pins scattered through to catch the light. Pearls read classic and echo pearl jewellery. I place them with the ceremony in mind: guests mostly see the back and one side of your head at the altar, so that’s where more of the pearls go. Formal and traditional weddings suit it. Leave a few face-framing pieces out, and it will hold from the ceremony to the last dance.
14. Mermaid Waves for Boho Bride
Long, defined waves cascading down the back. A wide wand sets them, and loosening them with the fingers gives a natural finish. On extra-long hair, mermaid waves are often more realistic than tight curls, because the weight drags a tight curl into a wave by afternoon anyway. Beach and garden ceremonies suit them. A flower crown or delicate headband adds a boho touch.
15. Half-Up Curls With Bouffant
Tease the crown gently for height, smooth the top layer over, then pull the sides back and secure them, leaving the curls loose below. Tease only at the root, in small sections, with a fine-tooth comb. Teasing the lengths creates knots you’ll be fighting long after the wedding. The height lengthens a round face, and a veil comb slides neatly into the back of the bouffant. Formal weddings and classic gowns suit it. Leave a few tendrils loose at the face.
16. Curly Side Bun With Loose Curls
Curls gathered toward one side and twisted into a loose, low bun behind the ear, with a few curls falling at the face and neck. The off-centre placement feels modern and pairs with a side-draped veil and a statement earring on the open side. That bun sits exactly where shoulders and arms land during hugs and slow dances, so I pin it a little tighter than I would a centred bun. Formal and boho weddings both suit it.
17. Defined Curls With Deep Side Part
Part dramatically to one side and let the curls fall in shiny, structured waves, building volume at the crown to frame the face. Down or pinned to one side both work. A deep part can show a strip of scalp where the hair flips over, so I lift the root on that side with a little dry texturiser before curling. Medium to long hair and chandelier earrings suit it, and it keeps its glamour well into the reception.
18. Curly Bob for Modern Bride
Soft curls or waves through a chin- or shoulder-length bob add texture and bounce. Define with a small wand, then tousle. On a bob I curl the front sections away from the face and alternate direction through the rest, otherwise every curl clumps together into one heavy wave. Tuck one side behind your ear with a sparkly pin. It needs little upkeep on the day, shows off the neckline and suits modern and classic dresses alike.
19. Romantic Curls With Veil
Curls worn down or half up, with the veil at the crown or tucked below an updo. Tulle drags on curls through the processional, so the lengths directly under the veil soften more than the rest. I curl those sections slightly tighter to make up for it. When the veil comes off for the reception, a few minutes of finger-styling brings them back to match. It suits traditional and formal weddings and any hair length.
20. Curly Updo With Face Framing Pieces
Most of the curls are swept into a loose bun or twist, with a few curly pieces pulled out to frame the face. Pull those pieces out before you spray the updo, not after, or they come out stiff and separated. It keeps hair off the neck in summer heat, and hair vines or small flowers suit it. Moving where the loose pieces fall adapts it to almost any face shape.
Curling Your Own Hair on the Morning Itself
Plenty of brides and guests do their own curls, and it can go well with some preparation. This is what I tell people who want to try:
- Practise the exact style at least twice in the weeks before, timing yourself. Then add half that time again for the day, because nerves and a crowded room slow everyone down.
- Get someone to do the back, or choose a style where the back matters less, like a half-up or a low bun.
- Curl, pin each curl to cool, and only brush out once you’re dressed.
- Have a fallback ready. If the curls fall flat or the iron fails, a sleek low bun takes ten minutes and works with any dress.
If you notice you’re dreading the hair part of the morning, take that as a sign to book a stylist, even if it’s only for the bride. Guests and bridesmaids with steady hands often manage beautifully; for a bride, it’s frequently one job too many on a day that’s already full.
A Trial Is Where the Right Curl Shows Itself
Start with three things: your gown, your venue and the weather. A fitted gown in a ballroom suits structured curls or Hollywood waves, while a flowing dress outdoors suits beachy or mermaid waves. Humidity and long hours of dancing favour updos and half-up styles. Book a trial, wear a top with a neckline like your dress, and ask for photos from the back as well as the front. Then you’ll walk in on the day knowing your curls will last.
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