Styling the mother of the bride is a different brief from styling the bride. She’s usually up as early as anyone, hugging guests from the first photo to the last song, often wearing glasses for part of the day, and she rarely wants a look that feels like a costume. I aim for hair that looks like her on a very good day and holds through all of that. Below are 20 mother of the bride hairstyles across short, medium and long lengths, with notes from the chair on texture, grey hair and how each one lasts.
Grey, Silver and Thinning Hair Need a Different Plan
Most of the mothers I style have hair that has changed texture over the last decade, and that changes which styles will work. Grey and silver hair is often coarser and drier than the person’s original colour, while the hair around the crown can thin. Neither is a problem, but both deserve planning.
Silver hair can photograph slightly yellow under warm indoor lighting. A purple or silver shampoo used once or twice in the week before the wedding brightens it, and a shine spray stops it looking flat. Don’t overdo the toner; leave it on for too long and it can tint very light hair lavender.
If the crown is thinning, I avoid tight sleek styles and center parts. Soft curls, a textured updo or a slightly off-center part hide it far better. Root-lift powder or a small hidden clip-in at the crown can also add volume, and nobody will know it’s there. Mention it at your trial; your stylist won’t be surprised.
1. Low Chignon for Mother of the Bride
A low chignon is my default suggestion when a mother isn’t sure what she wants. It sits at the nape, stays clear of a collar or a wrap, and leaves room for a hat or fascinator if she’s wearing one. I loosen two small pieces at the temples, because a chignon pulled completely tight can look severe in close-up photos. A pearl comb or a single sparkly pin is enough. Medium to long hair works best; on shoulder-length hair I add a small bun filler so the knot has some size.
2. Romantic Cascading Curls
Cascading curls worn down give movement and soften the face. The catch is that curls drop, and a mother of the bride is hugging people all day, so I set them with hot rollers or a large barrel, let them cool fully and finish with a flexible hairspray. Sweeping one side back with a decorative clip keeps hair out of the way during the ceremony. Medium to long hair suits it, and it pairs naturally with a strapless or off-the-shoulder dress. If your hair is fine and heavily coloured, I’d test this one first; processed hair can lose a curl faster.
3. Classic French Twist
The French twist is gathered and twisted upward along the back of the head, then pinned in a neat vertical seam. It holds extremely well. I place the pins inside the fold so none show, and on fine hair I backcomb the underside lightly first so the twist has something to grip. A few soft tendrils keep it from looking stiff. It flatters a high or elegant neckline and statement earrings, and it works on medium and long hair.
4. Half-Up Half-Down with Soft Waves
The half-up half-down style keeps the face clear while showing off length. I secure the top section with a small twist and crossed pins, then wave the lengths. This is a good choice for mothers who feel exposed with all their hair pulled back. Leave a few loose strands to frame the face and add a delicate accessory at the back if you like. It works on medium to long hair.
5. Hollywood Glamour Waves
Hollywood waves are polished, glossy and very much an evening look. They take time to set: every curl goes in the same direction, cools pinned, and gets brushed into one smooth wave. A deep side part frames the face. I’d suggest this for an upscale venue or a black-tie wedding, paired with a bold lip and elegant jewellery. Medium to long hair with plenty of shine shows the pattern most clearly. Fine, grey hair can still wear it, but it needs a shine spray to keep the wave visible in photographs.
6. Elegant Low Bun with Loose Strands
A low bun with loose strands sits between polished and relaxed. The bun is low at the back, and a few curled pieces frame the face. I like this one for mature faces because those soft pieces at the temple break up a strong hairline and soften the jaw. It’s comfortable through a long day and can take floral pins. Medium to long hair works best.
7. Sleek Bob for Mother of the Bride
A sleek bob makes a short cut look deliberate and polished for the day. I smooth it with a round brush and a quick pass of the flat iron at the ends, so it swings rather than sitting flat. A deep side part adds height and draws attention to the eyes. Book your trim about two weeks out, so the line is sharp but not freshly cut. A light shine spray finishes it, and it needs almost no touch-ups.
8. Soft Braided Updo
A soft braided updo weaves plaits through gathered hair, perhaps a side braid wrapping into a low bun or several small braids pinned together. Braids are excellent for holding fine hair, because each braid grips its own pins. I’d suggest this for a garden or outdoor ceremony. Leave a few wisps loose so it doesn’t look too tight, and it’ll stay intact through every hug and dance. Medium to long hair is ideal.
9. Voluminous Blowout for Medium Hair
A voluminous blowout gives medium-length hair lift, bounce and shine without a single pin. The lift comes from a round brush at the roots and a gentle bend through the ends. It flatters round and oval faces well. The honest drawback is that a blowout is the first style to lose body in humidity or rain, so I’d only recommend it for an indoor venue, and I’d pack a small round brush for later.
10. Side-Swept Curls
Side-swept curls draped over one shoulder show off a statement earring and frame the neckline. I anchor the curls with a few crossed pins behind the opposite ear and cover them with a decorative clip, otherwise the curls drift back toward the center within an hour. It works for both day and evening weddings. Medium to long hair with good volume is best.
11. Chic Pixie Cut for Mother of the Bride
A pixie cut leaves very little to style, and that’s its strength. I add a bit of texture on top with a light paste for movement, or smooth it close for a sleek finish; both take about ten minutes. The cropped shape puts the attention on the cheekbones and eyes, which suits statement earrings. If you’re thinking of getting the pixie for the wedding, do it at least a month before, so you can learn how to style it at home first.
12. Textured Updo with Curls
A textured updo of soft, pinned curls looks full and relaxed. It’s one of the most flattering choices for fine or thinning hair, because the curls create volume that a sleek bun can’t. I curl the hair first, then pin each curl individually, which spreads the weight across many pins. Small tendrils around the face keep it soft. It suits a boho or outdoor wedding, and it holds well.
13. Sleek Straight Hair with Center Part
Sleek straight hair with a center part is clean and modern, letting the dress and face take center stage. I flat-iron in small sections and finish with a shine serum. It flatters a long face and suits healthy, smooth medium to long hair. I’ll be honest, a center part can emphasise thinning at the part line, so if that’s a concern, a slightly off-center part looks fuller and photographs better.
14. Twisted Side Updo
A twisted side updo gathers the hair to one side into a low knot or bun, which shows off the neckline and suits a drop earring. The off-center placement is a little unexpected. I twist each section separately before pinning, so the texture shows. Leave a few face-framing pieces loose. It holds securely through hours of celebration and works on medium to long hair.
15. Curly Bob with Volume
A voluminous curly bob works with natural texture rather than against it. I define curls with a styling cream, scrunch them and leave them to air-dry or diffuse on low heat, because brushing would turn them to frizz. A sparkling clip on one side adds a dressy touch. It flatters round and heart-shaped faces. Ask your stylist to cut it a couple of weeks before, since curly hair can spring up shorter than expected.
16. Vintage-Inspired Finger Waves
For a nod to the 1920s, vintage finger waves are sculpted S-shaped waves that lie close to the head. They suit short to medium hair especially well. I set them with a strong setting lotion and clips, then leave them to dry fully before removing anything, which is why they take longer than most styles. The result holds all day. Pair them with statement jewellery and a bold lip at a classic or themed wedding.
17. Loose Low Ponytail
A loose low ponytail is my go-to suggestion for a mother who wants comfort above everything. I curl the lengths first, gather them low and wrap a small strand around the elastic to hide it. A few loose pieces soften the face. It sits comfortably against a chair, a coat collar or a hat brim. Medium to long hair works best.
18. Layered Shoulder-Length Cut
A layered shoulder-length cut gives body and movement for the day. Layers add volume around the face and make fine hair look thicker. Style it with soft waves, or keep it smooth; both take less time than an updo. I’d caution against fresh layers just before the wedding if you plan to wear your hair up, because short layers escape a bun. A layered lob is practical and easy to manage.
19. Elegant Updo with Hair Accessory
Sometimes one accessory is all a simple updo needs. Choose a jeweled comb, pearl pins or a delicate hairpiece that echoes your dress or jewellery, and place it where people will see it in photos, usually on the side facing the aisle. I gather the hair into a smooth bun or twist first, then position the accessory so it’s anchored into the base, not just the surface hair. It works on medium to long hair.
20. Soft Curls with Side Part
Soft curls with a deep side part add movement and draw attention to the eyes and cheekbones. I sweep the heavier side back with a clip for the ceremony, then let it fall naturally for the reception. Medium to long hair works best. It suits day and evening weddings, and it photographs well from the angle most guests see during the vows.
Your Slot in the Getting-Ready Schedule
The bride’s hair is the anchor of the morning, and everyone else is scheduled around it. Most stylists put the mother of the bride near the end, just before the bride, so her style is fresh for the first photos. That also means you’ll be dressed and ready while the bride gets her finishing touches, which is exactly when the photographer wants you.
Ask your stylist how long your look will take. A blowout or a bob might need thirty minutes; an updo with curls can take closer to an hour. Wash your hair the day before, unless you’re told otherwise, and wear a top that buttons down the front.
Glasses, Hugs and Hats Can Undo a Style
- Glasses: wear them at the trial. Arms slide under curls above the ear and can flatten them, so the style may need adjusting around them.
- Hats and fascinators: bring them to the trial too. A fascinator clips into a low chignon or side updo well; a wide brim needs a low style underneath.
- Hugs: guests will press against the side of your head all day. Updos and braids handle that far better than loose curls.
- Touch-ups: carry a few bobby pins in your bag, plus a travel hairspray and a small comb.
A Look That Still Looks Like You in Twenty Years of Photos
A mother of the bride’s hairstyle should match her dress and the wedding’s formality, but most of all, it has to survive her day: early start, hugs, glasses on and off, and maybe a hat. Book a trial with your dress or at least the neckline and jewellery you’ll wear. The best choice is one that still looks like you in the photos years from now. Here’s to celebrating your daughter with hair you don’t have to think about.
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