Mothers of the groom often sit down in my chair and tell me, before anything else, that they don’t want to look overdone. That instinct is right. The best style for you is one that looks like your best everyday self, holds through the photos and the dancing, and doesn’t need fixing at the table. Below are 20 stunning mother-of-the-groom hairstyles across short, medium and long hair, with notes on what each one asks of your texture and which hair types it suits.
Silver, Fine or Thinning Hair Needs a Different Plan
Hair changes over the years, and most styles need small adjustments to match. These are the ones I make most often for mothers of the couple.
Silver and grey hair
Grey hair can be coarser and more wiry than it used to be, and it often reflects light differently. A smoothing cream before styling calms the texture, and a purple shampoo a few days before the wedding takes out any yellow tone that would show in photos. Keep heavy shine sprays light, since too much makes silver hair look greasy.
Fine hair
Fine hair slips out of pins and loses curl fast. I prep it with a mousse or volumizing spray at the roots and a light texture spray through the lengths, which gives the pins something to grip. Updos that use backcombing or braiding hold best.
Thinning at the crown or part
A slightly zigzag or side part hides the scalp better than a straight center part. Root-lift products and a tinted root spray in your hair color also help in photos, which are often taken from above. Avoid styles that pull tightly back from the hairline.
1. Low Chignon for Mother of the Groom
A low chignon is the style I recommend most to mothers of the groom, because it works with almost every neckline and keeps the focus on your face and earrings. Hair is gathered at the nape and twisted into a smooth bun. If your hair has thinned at the crown, I add a little backcombing there before smoothing, so the top doesn’t look flat next to the bun. A few soft strands at the face keep it from looking severe. It holds up through a long day of ceremony, photos and dancing.
2. Soft Messy Bun With Face-Framing Layers
Relaxed doesn’t mean unplanned. A soft messy bun sits loosely at the back of the head with tousled texture, and face-framing layers pulled out at the cheeks. I still pin the base firmly, because loose pinning is what makes a bun sag by the speeches. It suits garden and outdoor weddings and flowing dresses. On very fine or slippery hair, I’d add texture spray first; otherwise the tousled look just reads flat.
3. Sleek Blowout for Medium Hair
A good blowout is underrated for weddings. A round brush gives body, shape and shine, and on medium-length hair it looks polished while still feeling like you. The hold depends on drying every section completely and letting it cool on the brush before releasing; warm hair that’s let go too soon drops within an hour. If you have natural wave or curl, a blowout in humid weather will frizz, so plan an updo instead for an outdoor summer wedding.
4. Soft Loose Waves for Long Hair
Long hair worn in brushed-out waves looks modern and soft. I curl in large sections, let the curls cool, then brush them through gently so they settle into loose shapes instead of ringlets. Brushing too early pulls the curl out; too late and it looks separated. Sweep one side back with a decorative pin if you’d like a bit more polish. If your hair is long and very heavy, the waves will relax by evening, so start slightly tighter than you want the final look.
5. Classic French Twist
The French twist has lasted for decades because it suits so many faces and keeps hair off the neck, a real blessing at a warm-weather wedding. Hair is gathered and twisted vertically against the back of the head, then the ends are tucked into the roll. It works on medium and long hair. The secret is a hidden row of crossed pins down the center before the roll goes over it. Add a sparkly comb for formal events.
6. Half-Up Half-Down Glam
Pulling the top section back and letting the rest fall in waves gives you hair down with your face clear, which is useful when you’ll be hugging people all day. I add volume at the crown so the pinned part doesn’t flatten against the head. Pin the top section a bit lower if your hair is thin at the crown; a high half-up shows the scalp more. It suits most face shapes and hair types.
7. Braided Low Bun
Braids woven into a low bun add detail without making it look young or fussy, so long as the braids stay soft. The braiding also makes fine hair look fuller. I braid loosely and pull the edges out a little after pinning. Tendrils at the face soften it further. It sits well with classic and bohemian weddings.
8. Elegant Pixie Cut
Short hair can be every bit as dressed as long hair. An elegant pixie needs a little texture and volume on top, a side-swept fringe and a fresh trim about a week before so the shape is crisp but not just-cut. I use a small amount of paste worked in with the fingers, not spray, because a pixie should move. A sparkly pin near the temple adds a festive touch, and short hair shows off statement earrings better than any other length.
9. Vintage Finger Waves
Finger waves are sculpted, S-shaped waves pressed close to the head, and they’re a striking old-Hollywood choice. They’re shaped on wet hair with setting lotion and a comb, then left to dry completely. That means sitting under a dryer for a while, so book enough time. They suit short to medium hair with a smooth texture. Very curly or coarse hair resists the pattern, so I’d save this one for straighter hair.
10. Textured Updo With Curls
Soft curls pinned up loosely make a full, dimensional shape, and naturally curly or wavy hair suits this updo best. Your texture is already doing half the work. I pin curls in place rather than brushing them, which keeps the definition. Leave a few loose curls around your face. It holds well through the celebration and keeps you cool. If your curls are silver or grey, a light shine product helps them look glossy rather than dry in photos.
11. Sleek Low Ponytail
Smoothed back and gathered at the nape, a low ponytail is clean and modern and wedding-appropriate. It works on medium to long hair with a smooth texture. Wrap a small section around the elastic and pin it underneath to hide it. I’d skip it if you have very fine hair at the hairline or temples, since a pulled-back style shows that area. Otherwise it’s comfortable and easy to maintain all day.
12. Curled Bob for Mother of the Groom
Soft curls give a bob bounce and volume, and for shorter hair it’s one of the most flattering choices. On a chin-length bob I curl with a small barrel and alternate directions so the curls don’t all clump together. A little shine spray helps in photos. It’s light and easy to manage over a long celebration, and needs no updo at all.
13. Soft Updo With Side Bangs
Side-swept bangs soften the forehead and draw attention to the eyes, and they pair well with a loose updo. I set the bangs with a round brush first, then gather the rest. The updo should be soft, not tight, to match. It suits fine to medium hair. If you’re growing out your bangs, this is a good way to wear them at an awkward length, because the sweep hides the unevenness.
14. Voluminous Blowout for Short Hair
Short hair has plenty of drama with the right blow-dry. A voluminous blowout adds lift and body. Using a round brush, hair is dried for fullness at the crown and a sweeping shape around the face. I direct the roots against their natural fall first, then let them back; that gives lift without teasing. Finish with a light hairspray, and it stays in place from morning to evening.
15. Romantic Side Swept Curls
Gathering your waves over one shoulder gives a soft, glamorous shape. On medium to long hair, the curls frame the face and highlight the jawline. Secure the swept side with a decorative pin, and use several crossed bobby pins under it so the hair doesn’t slide back by evening. It works with off-the-shoulder and one-shoulder dresses. If you wear glasses, let the curls fall behind the arm of the frames on the swept side, not tucked under it, or they’ll pull loose every time you take them off.
16. Twisted Half-Up Style
Twisting a section from each side and pinning them at the back is subtle detail with very little effort. It suits medium to long hair, straight or wavy. I twist toward the back of the head, which tightens the twist as I pin. Curl the loose section for a more finished look. It keeps hair off your face while showing off your length, and it’s comfortable all day.
17. Classic Chignon With Accessories
Add some sparkle to a chignon with a decorative comb, pin or jeweled piece. The smooth bun sits low or at the middle of the back of the head. The accessory should match your jewelry, not compete with it: gold with gold, pearls with pearls. I place it to the side of the bun, where it’s visible in profile photos and from behind during the ceremony. It works on medium to long hair at any age.
18. Smooth Layered Lob
A long bob styled smooth with soft layers moves and holds its shape around the face. It’s a versatile, easy length for a busy day. I add a slight bend at the ends with a flat iron so the layers sit together instead of separating. If your lob is blunt, skip the layering and just smooth it. Very thick hair can look triangular in a lob, so ask your stylist to remove a little bulk from underneath at your next cut.
19. Loose Braided Crown
Braids wrapped around the head like a soft halo suit outdoor, garden and bohemian weddings. Keeping the braid loose and relaxed stops it from looking too youthful or tight, which is the common worry with braids for mothers. Soft tendrils at the face help. It keeps hair off the neck, which is comfortable on warm days. This needs hair at least past the shoulders; on shorter hair the braids won’t meet.
20. Polished Bun With Volume on Top
Teasing the crown for lift and smoothing the rest into a neat bun creates a balanced shape that lengthens the face. The volume helps fine hair look fuller. I tease in thin sections at the root only and smooth a top layer over it, so the backcombing never shows. It’s a refined look for classic and traditional weddings. A small accessory adds sparkle if you’d like it.
Glasses, Hats and the Getting-Ready Timetable
A few practical questions come up again and again for mothers of the groom. Here’s how I answer them.
Will my glasses ruin the style?
No, but bring them to the trial. The arms of your glasses rest above your ears, so I keep pins and volume clear of that line. Sleek styles tucked behind the ears can be pushed out of shape by the frames, so a soft wave over the ear usually works better.
What if I’m wearing a hat or fascinator?
Hats sit best with a low bun or chignon, which supports the brim at the back. A fascinator needs a firm base, like a small braid or a row of pins, to clip into. Bring your hat to the trial so the stylist can set the style around it.
Where do I get ready?
Mothers of the groom often get ready separately from the bride. Ask early whether the bride’s stylist has a spare slot, or book your own appointment for the morning. Schedule it so you’re ready at least an hour before family photos, which often start earlier than people expect.
A Style That Still Feels Like You at the Last Dance
The right hairstyle for the mother of the groom is the one you forget about once you’re dressed. Look for a style that suits your hair type and dress, and give comfort real weight, since you’ll be on your feet and in photos for hours. A timeless chignon, soft waves or a polished short cut can all work. Book a trial with your stylist, wear the style for a few hours afterward, and adjust anything that pulls or pinches. Then you can enjoy your son’s wedding without thinking about your hair.
You'll Like These Ideas:
Leave a Reply