An updo is the safest bet for a long wedding day. It stays out of your face for the vows, shows the neckline and back of the dress, and survives hugging far better than hair worn down. But updos are not interchangeable. Some are built on braids and barely move, some lean on a few pins and need careful anchoring, and a couple can leave you with a sore scalp by dinner. Below are 20 updos with notes from the chair on how each is built and who it suits best.
Why Some Updos Hurt by Dinner, and How I Prevent It
A sore scalp is the complaint I hear most about updos, and it’s almost always avoidable. The pain comes from weight and tension concentrated in a small area: a high bun pulling on the crown, an elastic tied too tight, or a pin pressing straight into the scalp instead of lying flat.
- Low buns spread weight across the nape and are the most comfortable for long days.
- Two elastics instead of one split the tension in a ponytail-based bun.
- Pins should slide along the scalp, not stab into it; a pin that pinches at the trial will hurt on the day.
- Heavy hair can be divided into two pinned sections rather than one large bun.
At the trial, I’d wear the updo for at least three hours. If something aches, say so; it’s a two-minute fix at the trial and a miserable evening at the wedding.
Layers That Won’t Reach the Bun
Heavily layered hair is the other common worry. The short layers at the nape and around the face are the first to escape, so I deal with them separately instead of forcing them into the main shape. Nape layers get pinned flat in a row of crossed grips before the bun goes on top; face layers get curled and left out on purpose so they look intended. Twisted and braided updos hide layers best, while sleek buns show every stray end. If you’re growing out a cut before the wedding, skip the last layer trim and ask only for the ends to be dusted.
1. Classic Low Chignon Updo
If you can’t decide, start with a low chignon. It sits at the nape, finished with a soft twist or wrap, and leaves an open-back gown completely visible. I brush the hair through with a small amount of cream before twisting so no bumps show from the side. A veil comb slots in just above it without strain. Keep it sleek for a ballroom or pull out a couple of front pieces for a softer face. It works on medium to long hair and almost never needs a touch-up.
2. Sleek Ballerina Bun
A ballerina bun is high, tight and sharply parted, and it’s the updo that shows every flaw. I smooth flyaways with serum and a boar bristle brush, wrap the ponytail around a padding donut and pin the edges underneath so the shape stays perfectly round. Because it’s pulled completely off the face, it’s comfortable in heat and on a busy dance floor. A single pearl comb or one small pin is enough decoration. Fair warning: a high, tight bun puts weight on a small patch of scalp, so tell your stylist if you’re prone to headaches.
3. Messy High Bun With Tendrils
The messy high bun is undone on purpose, which makes it harder to keep tidy than it looks. I curl a few sections first, secure a hidden ponytail high on the crown and pin the curls around it in loose loops, then pull tendrils free at the face. Baby’s breath or small wildflowers tuck neatly into the loops. It belongs at bohemian and rustic weddings, and looks best in soft outdoor light. If your hair is very slippery, ask for texture spray at the roots before anything else.
4. French Twist Updo
For a French twist, the hair is swept to one side and rolled vertically into a smooth column at the back, closed with pins along the seam. It suits formal weddings, sits well under a cathedral veil and holds a vintage headpiece securely. The modern version adds volume at the crown with light backcombing, plus a few soft pieces at the face. It needs medium to long hair. On very thick hair the roll can look bulky, so I pin the underneath section flat before twisting.
5. Braided Crown Updo
A braided crown is one of the most secure updos you can choose, because the braids themselves hold the hair. I either run a halo braid above a low bun or build a full crown from several intertwined plaits, pinning each one as I go. Fresh flowers, ribbons or a veil all fit around it. Thick or long hair gives the fullest result; on finer hair I pull the edges of each braid outward to make it look fuller. I lean on it for outdoor garden weddings, where wind ruins looser styles.
6. Half-Up Half-Down Bridal Style
Half-up, half-down isn’t a full updo, but it keeps the face clear while showing off your length. The top section is gathered and secured at the crown, with soft waves below. I add a small twist or braid at the back to hide the pins, or a decorative clip. It suits most hair types, though on very fine, long hair the down section can drag the top flat by evening, so I pin it a little higher and tighter than it looks in photos.
7. Twisted Low Bun
A twisted low bun suits fine hair better than almost any other updo. Twisting each section before wrapping it gives the appearance of more hair, and the twists catch the light in back-angle photos taken during the ceremony. I wrap them together at the nape and pin each one separately, which keeps it secure. A few loose strands soften the face. It pairs especially well with an open-back gown. Finish with a jeweled pin or a couple of fresh blooms.
8. Loose Curly Updo
A loose curly updo is all volume and softness. I curl the hair in loose sections, then gather and pin the curls into a textured arrangement at the back, letting a few escape around the face. Naturally wavy or curly hair is ideal, because it already has grip and texture. It suits garden, vineyard and beach weddings. A comb or scattered floral pins add a final touch. If your hair is very straight and silky, expect the curls to loosen faster; I’d use extra setting spray and more pins.
9. Sleek Low Bun With Center Part
The sleek low bun with a center part is the most minimal updo on this list. The part has to be perfectly straight, and the hair pulled smoothly into a tight bun at the nape. With everything pulled back, earrings, necklace and neckline take all the attention. A shine spray gives the mirror-like finish. It suits straight or smoothed hair best; naturally textured hair can do it, but needs a blow-dry first, and humidity will raise little flyaways along the part by evening.
10. Bohemian Braided Updo
A bohemian braided updo combines loose braids, soft twists and waves into a deliberately undone arrangement. Greenery, baby’s breath or dried flowers tuck into it naturally. I pull wispy pieces out around the face after pinning, never before, or they get trapped under the braids. It suits medium to long hair with some natural texture, flowing gowns and outdoor or festival-style weddings. Despite the loose look, the braids underneath keep it secure all day.
11. Vintage Pin Curl Updo
Pin curls are a proper vintage technique: each curl is wound flat, pinned while it sets, then released and arranged into a structured shape. That’s what gives the defined, glossy texture of classic film-era hair. It suits vintage-themed weddings, a birdcage veil and art deco pins. Medium-length hair that holds a curl works best. Very fine or freshly washed hair loses the set quickly, so I’d wash the night before and use a setting lotion.
12. Twisted Halo Updo
A twisted halo updo creates a soft ring of twisted hair around the crown without the time a braid takes. I twist sections from the front around the head and pin them, so they frame the face. It works on various lengths and suits garden and spring weddings. Leave a few tendrils loose. Fresh flowers tucked into the twists fit naturally. Twists are a little less secure than braids, so I use more pins and finish with a firm-hold spray.
13. Low Bun With Braided Detail
A low bun with braided detail is my favorite way to add interest without fuss. A small braid wraps around the bun or leads into it from one side, putting all the detail at the back of the head, where an open-back gown is already drawing the eye. I start the braid behind the ear so it doesn’t pull on the hairline. Soft pieces at the face keep it from looking severe. It suits both formal and rustic weddings.
14. Curly Afro Updo
For natural curls and coils, an afro updo celebrates volume and texture instead of smoothing it away. I gather the curls into a sculpted shape, high and dramatic or soft and rounded, and keep the edges defined with a light gel. A jeweled headband, fresh flowers or a decorative comb sits well against the volume. The main thing I check at the trial is weight and tension; a large updo should be secured with wide pins and soft ties rather than pulled tight at the hairline.
15. Wrapped Bun With Tendrils
A wrapped bun is twisted and wrapped into a smooth shape, with loose tendrils left at the face and neck. Those tendrils are what most people get wrong: cut too short or curled too tightly, they look stringy in photos. I leave them at least chin length and curl them loosely away from the face. It suits formal and semi-formal weddings and medium to long hair. A sparkling pin or small floral accent finishes it.
16. Side Swept Updo
A side swept updo gathers the hair toward one side, drawing the eye to the jaw and shoulder. It suits one-shoulder and off-shoulder gowns, especially when the hair sits on the opposite side to the strap. I add curls, twists or braids for texture, and secure everything with a hidden row of pins behind the opposite ear so the weight doesn’t drag. A flower or jeweled clip on the swept side completes it.
17. Knotted Low Updo
A knotted low updo uses interlocking knots at the nape to build a sculptural shape. I tie the hair in two or three loose knots and pin each one in place, which gives a lot of detail with very little hair. It looks distinctive in back-facing photos and suits open-back gowns. Keep it sleek for a formal event or loosen it for a softer feel. On very thick hair the knots get bulky, so I thin the sections before tying.
18. Romantic Updo With Baby’s Breath
An updo adorned with baby’s breath uses tiny white sprigs tucked throughout a soft, loose base. Baby’s breath holds up well out of water, which makes it one of the more practical fresh flowers for hair. I ask the florist for small clusters, wired or with short stems, so I can pin them securely. It suits spring and summer weddings, outdoor ceremonies and flowing gowns. A textured bun or loose curly updo makes the best base.
19. Elegant Updo With Hair Accessories
An updo with hair accessories starts with a classic bun or twist and adds sparkling pins, a jeweled comb or a delicate hair vine. Placement matters more than the piece itself: I set accessories at the side of the bun or just behind the ear, where they show from the front and in profile. Crystal, pearl and gold all create different moods. Match the metal to your jewelry for a cohesive finish, and anchor heavier combs with a crossed bobby pin.
20. Textured Updo With Face-Framing Pieces
Textured updos work with the hair’s natural pattern instead of fighting it, leaving soft pieces to frame the face. I set waves or curls first, then gather and pin them loosely so the texture shows. It suits almost every hair type and wedding theme. A few flowers or a simple pin are enough decoration. It’s forgiving, too; if a piece slips during the day, it simply blends into the texture.
Taking It All Down at the End of the Night
A wedding updo can hold dozens of pins and a lot of hairspray, and pulling them out in a hurry snaps hair. I give every bride the same routine.
- Remove accessories and the veil first, then find pins by feel and slide them out in the direction they went in.
- Undo braids and twists gently with your fingers before using any brush.
- Work a little conditioner or detangling oil through the lengths while dry; it loosens hairspray.
- Brush from the ends upward with a wide-tooth comb, never from the root down.
- Wash the next morning, not that night, if you’re exhausted. Sleeping on loosened hair is fine.
Expect some shedding; hair that would normally fall out over the day was held in place. A bowl on the dresser for the pins saves you finding them in the bed.
An Updo Should Feel as Good at Midnight as It Looks at Noon
Bring the two or three updos you like most to your trial, along with a photo of the back of your dress and your veil. Wear the winning one for the rest of the day and pay attention to how your scalp feels after a few hours. An updo should look polished from the first kiss to the last dance and feel comfortable while it does.
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