An updo is the style I trust most to last from the ceremony through the final song, because pinned hair has less room to drop than anything worn loose. It can be a sleek chignon, a braided crown or a low bun with soft tendrils at the face, and it adapts to most lengths and textures, in a ballroom or barefoot on sand. Below are twenty wedding updos. With each I’ve added what it needs from your hair and what to watch for, so you can see past the photo to how it will wear.
Getting Your Hair Ready in the Month Before
An updo is built on the hair you arrive with. Most of what makes one last happens in the weeks before, and none of it is complicated.
Cut and color
Get a trim about four to six weeks out so the ends are healthy but not freshly blunt. New layers right before the wedding are the worst thing for an updo, because short pieces escape from braids and buns. Color is best done two to three weeks ahead so the roots look fresh and the tone has settled.
No experiments
Avoid new treatments in the final weeks, especially anything that smooths or softens strongly. Very slippery hair doesn’t hold pins. Stick with products you know, and bring your usual ones to the trial if your hair reacts badly to certain formulas.
When to wash
- Straight or fine hair: usually washed the evening before, without conditioner at the roots, so it has grip by morning.
- Thick or wavy hair: washing a day earlier often helps, since a little natural oil makes it easier to shape.
- Curly and coily hair: wash and deep condition a day or two before, then protect the curl pattern overnight in satin.
- Ask your own stylist which she prefers. Some want clean hair, some want second-day hair, and the answer depends on the style.
1. Classic Low Chignon Updo
The low chignon sits smoothly at the nape, twisted into a neat bun, and it’s the updo I’d call the safest bet for nearly any face shape and dress. A veil comb slides in above it easily. Medium to long hair gives it enough body. Keep it sleek for a formal room or loosen a few pieces at the temples for softness. Pearl pins or a crystal comb personalize it, placed off to one side rather than dead center, where they tend to disappear in front-facing photos.
2. Sleek Ballerina Bun With Center Part
A center part splits the face down the middle, and with a sleek ballerina bun pulled high and tight behind it, there’s nowhere for anything to hide. That’s the appeal for minimal and contemporary weddings, and it shows off earrings and a strong neckline. The part has to be truly straight, so I map it with a tail comb against the nose bridge. A strong gel or pomade keeps the surface glassy. Be honest with yourself about the center part, though: if you never wear one, try it at the trial before committing.
3. French Twist Updo
Sweeping the hair to one side, then twisting it vertically and tucking it, gives the French twist its long line down the back of the head. Black tie suits it, and so do warm-weather weddings, since nothing touches the neck. A veil tucks neatly underneath the roll. The roll holds only if the hair has some grip, so I mist texture spray and lightly backcomb the inner section before closing it. Loose tendrils are optional. Crisp and structured is truer to the original.
4. Messy High Bun With Face-Framing Tendrils
A messy high bun works best with naturally wavy or textured hair, which already wants to sit in loose bends. The volume is gathered loosely on the crown and a few curled tendrils fall around the hairline. Rustic and bohemian outdoor weddings suit it. Dried flowers or a sprig of greenery hold up better here than fresh blooms, since they won’t wilt in the sun. My one warning: on very straight, silky hair this style needs a lot of product to stay messy on purpose, and it can collapse by evening.
5. Braided Crown Updo
Braids woven along the crown and tucked into a low bun or chignon at the back make a natural halo. The braid type changes the result: a fishtail gives fine, delicate texture, while a Dutch braid sits raised on the head and reads fuller in photos. Long, thick hair suits it best. With shorter layers, ends tend to poke out along the braid, which some brides like and some don’t. Tiny flowers or pearls tucked along the braid suit fairytale and vintage themes.
6. Textured Low Bun
Soft volume, waves and a few loose pieces give the textured low bun a modern feel while keeping its shape secure at the nape. It flatters most people. I tease lightly at the roots before pinning, which builds airiness from the inside so the outside can stay soft without collapsing. Face-framing strands soften it further. A hair vine or scattered pearl pins sit naturally in the texture, and the texture also hides where they’re pinned.
7. Low Bun With Delicate Face-Framing Tendrils
The tendrils are the focus here, with a neat bun at the nape and loose curled strands falling beside the cheeks. They frame the face in a soft, youthful way and suit veils and tiaras. Getting tendrils right is fussier than it looks. I cut nothing on the day, choose pieces that are long enough to reach the jaw, and curl them in alternating directions so they don’t clump together. If your hair falls straight within an hour of curling, ask for shorter tendrils, which hold a bend longer.
8. Loose French Braid Into Low Bun
A relaxed French braid starts at the crown, pulls hair away from the face, and flows down into a soft low bun at the nape. The braid adds pattern and grip, so the bun stays secure on a long day at a garden or barn wedding. Long, thick hair suits it best. I braid first, pin the bun, and only then loosen the braid gently with my fingers, because loosening before pinning makes the whole thing slip. Small floral accents along the braid finish it.
9. Half-Up Half-Down Bridal Updo
Pinning the top section back while curls or waves fall over the shoulders keeps your length on show and gives a little polish at the crown. It’s one of the most requested bridal styles, and it works for formal and casual weddings. The loose half is the weaker part over time, especially in humidity, so I set those curls more firmly than I would for an updo and sometimes add a few hidden pins under the top section for support. Pearl pins, a comb or fresh flowers decorate the pinned part.
10. Braided Chignon With Pearl Accents
A crown braid leads into a textured chignon at the nape, and pearl pins are placed through the braid. The pearls catch the light in close-ups and give the style a fine finish for classic or romantic weddings. Medium to long hair that holds a braid is ideal. I add the pearls after the final spray, since lacquer can dull them, and I push each pin in at an angle into the braid’s stitches rather than straight down, which keeps them from working loose during hugs.
11. Sleek Structured Bun
Clean lines and sharp geometry define this one, with every strand smoothed into a glossy, sculptural shape. Minimal and editorial weddings suit it, along with architectural gowns and statement jewelry. Smoothing products and patience create the finish. The difficulty is flyaways at the hairline, which a flash will light up, so I comb a firm gel through the front with a soft brush and leave it to set. Once it’s done, it barely moves. It also can’t be loosened later without washing.
12. Romantic Curly Updo
Natural curl patterns or added curls are pinned gently into a full, soft updo, and the result has a lot of volume and movement. Thick, curly hair carries it best and gives real depth in photos. I pin in clusters of curls rather than single strands so they hold their shape and don’t separate into frizz. A few curls left loose at the face keep it soft. Sparkling pins or fresh blooms tuck into the curls easily, since there’s plenty of hair to hold them.
13. Twisted Low Updo
Simple rope twists are the base of this low updo, pinned together at the nape into a soft, layered design. Braiding skill isn’t needed, which makes it a good option for a bridesmaid styled by a friend. It suits boho and garden weddings and most textures. Loosen the twists gently for fullness, and twist each one in the same direction, otherwise they unwind against each other. The pattern is most visible from behind, which is what guests see through the whole ceremony.
14. Vintage Finger Wave Updo
Inspired by old Hollywood, the vintage finger wave updo sculpts S-shaped waves at the face and leads into a polished low bun or roll. Vintage and art deco weddings suit it, along with statement earrings and a sleek gown. Real finger waves are set with setting lotion and clips while the hair is damp, then left to dry completely before the clips come out. That drying time is what makes them last, and it’s why this style needs a longer slot on the morning than most.
15. Bohemian Braided Updo
Several loose braids woven and pinned together give this updo its detailed, undone texture, with soft tendrils left around the face. It suits outdoor, festival and garden weddings and works best on longer hair with natural waves. Dried flowers, greenery or ribbons sit well in it. Because the braids are loose, they need hidden pins every few inches to keep the shape from sagging, and I’d avoid it on very fine hair, where loose braids can look thin.
16. Sleek Low Ponytail Updo
Hair smoothed back and gathered low at the nape, with a strand wrapped around the elastic, makes a ponytail formal enough for any wedding. It shows off statement earrings and a bold neckline and suits sleek, straight hair and contemporary gowns. I secure the wrap with a single pin pushed up into the base. For heavy hair, I use two elastics stacked, because one tends to slide down by the reception. It’s also the most comfortable style on this list for a long evening.
17. Floral Embellished Updo
Any updo can carry flowers, whether a bun, a chignon or a twist. Fresh or dried flowers tucked throughout add color and texture, especially at spring and summer weddings and garden ceremonies. Ask your florist for blooms that match your bouquet. Small ones such as baby’s breath, roses, or ranunculus are easy to place. Keep fresh flowers chilled until the last minute and add them after the hairspray, because spray can spot petals.
18. Side-Swept Updo
Gathering everything to one side creates a diagonal line from the opposite temple down to the shoulder, which draws the eye across the face. Soft curls or a low bun sitting over one shoulder both work. It shows off earrings on the open side and suits vintage and romantic themes on medium to long hair. Choose the side based on your dress and your best profile. On a one-shoulder gown, the hair should go to the bare side.
19. Knotted Bun Updo
The knotted bun updo loops and knots sections of hair into a sculptural shape that guests notice from behind during the ceremony. It holds well on medium to long hair because each knot locks itself. Tight knots look formal; loosened knots look more romantic. Very fine hair can look sparse between loops, so I sometimes add a small clip-in weft underneath. Pearl pins or a delicate comb finish it.
20. Crown Braid With Veil
A crown braid wraps the head like a tiara, and the veil comb tucks beneath it, which gives it a secure place to sit. It keeps hair completely off the face, so nothing tangles in the tulle. Long, thick hair makes the fullest braid. Small flowers or pearls along the braid suit a classic or vintage wedding. Test the veil with the braid at your trial; a heavy cathedral veil can pull the back of the braid down if it isn’t anchored to the bun.
Sea Wind, Summer Sweat and an Air-Conditioned Ballroom
Weather changes which of these updos is realistic. I always ask where the photos will be taken, not just where the ceremony is, because a terrace shoot in the wind is a different job from a chapel.
Humid or tropical
Curls relax fastest in humid air, so smooth styles such as the sleek bun, French twist and ponytail hold best. If you want texture, choose braids over loose curls. A braid keeps its shape when moisture makes curls drop. Anti-humidity spray on the finished style helps, but it can’t fight a heatwave by itself.
Wind
At the beach or on a hill, loose tendrils will cross your face in every photo. Keep framing pieces short or tuck them behind the ears for the outdoor part, and choose a low placement. A high messy bun and a long veil are both hard to manage in a strong breeze.
Hot indoors
A packed dance floor gets warm, and sweat at the nape loosens curls there first. Sleek or braided styles stay tidy longer. If you love a soft style, ask your stylist to set it a little firmer than she would for a cool day, and keep a few pins in a bridesmaid’s bag.
A Trial, a Weather Plan and Then the Aisle
The updo that works for you will match your gown, your theme and, more than anything, your hair’s length and texture. From sleek ballerina buns and French twists to braided crowns and floral designs, there’s something here for most hair types. Schedule a trial with your stylist, ideally in similar weather to your wedding, and wear the style for a few hours afterward. That tells you far more than a mirror will on the morning itself.
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