A high updo changes posture. Brides sit taller in my chair the moment the hair goes up, and that lift carries into every photo afterward. It clears the neckline, shows off earrings and keeps hair off your skin through a long, warm day. The range runs from a glassy ballerina bun to braided crowns and loose, textured knots. Below are twenty I build regularly, with notes on how each one is made and who it suits, so you can bring your stylist something more specific than a pretty picture.
Second-Day Hair and Other Updo Groundwork
An updo is only as good as the hair it starts with. Freshly washed, conditioned hair is slippery, and pins slide straight out of it. This is what I ask brides to do before a high style.
- Wash the night before, with shampoo at the roots and conditioner only on the ends.
- Skip oils, leave-in masks and shine sprays for that wash. They make hair too soft to hold a shape.
- Dry your hair completely. Roots that are even slightly damp won’t take a curl or hold teasing.
- Book any trim two or three weeks ahead, so short new layers have time to soften.
- Wear a button-front shirt on the morning so nothing has to come off over your head.
How Tall a High Bun Makes You Next to Your Partner
A bun on top of the head adds visible height, and couples sometimes only notice it in the photos. If you’re already taller than your partner, or wearing heels, a top knot or bouffant can make the difference look bigger. Setting the bun slightly lower at the crown keeps the lift with less height. For a petite bride with a tall partner, the opposite works in her favor.
Height also changes how headpieces sit. A tall bun pushes a veil comb upward, and a tiara has to sit in front of the bun rather than on it. Bring every accessory to the trial so your stylist can build the bun around them.
1. Sleek High Bun
Not one strand out of place is the brief here, and it takes more work than it looks. I smooth the hair back with a firm brush and a little cream, secure it with a strong elastic at the crown, then wind the length into a flat coil and pin around its edge with U-pins. It sits well with strapless gowns and statement earrings, since nothing competes with either. Serum goes on last, sparingly. The trade-off is that a bun this tight shows every uneven patch at the hairline, and sensitive scalps start to feel it after a few hours.
2. High Ballerina Bun
The ballerina bun sits higher and rounder than the sleek knot, right on top of the head. Its strength is security: once it’s pinned, it barely moves. On fine hair I often build it around a small donut or padding to get the round shape, covering the padding completely with the hair. Structured gowns suit it. Keep it fully smooth for a formal wedding, or loosen the edges slightly for warmth, and a small crystal comb at one side catches the light without breaking the outline.
3. High Messy Bun
This one looks careless and isn’t. A good messy bun is built: I curl the hair first so it has texture to grip, gather it loosely high on the crown, then pin it in loops so the soft texture, loose tendrils and tousled finish are placed rather than accidental. The face-framing pieces come out before pinning starts. Garden weddings and flowing dresses suit it, and baby’s breath tucks in easily. On very silky hair it can slide apart by evening without texture spray at the roots.
4. High Twisted Bun
Twisting each section before it’s wrapped into the bun gives dimension a plain bun lacks, and the twists catch light in photos. I twist everything in the same direction; mixed directions look messy rather than designed. Keep them tight and structured for a formal wedding or loosen them for a softer one. Drop earrings suit it. Twists relax in humidity, so I pin each one exactly where it meets the bun.
5. Voluminous High Bun
Volume this big is built in layers: teased roots at the crown, a padded base on finer hair and a smooth surface laid over the top. It sits tall and full, which suits ballrooms and formal receptions. It’s also the best base for a tiara, because the volume gives the band something to rest against. Off-the-shoulder gowns balance the height. I’d steer a petite bride with a narrow face away from it, since the size can overwhelm her features.
6. High Braided Bun
A braid adds detail without any accessories. I either wrap it around the base of the bun or bring it up from the side or the nape and feed it in. Pulled-apart braids feel relaxed; tighter ones look polished. Spring and summer ceremonies outdoors suit it, and small flowers or pearl pins sit neatly along the plait. The braid also holds the shorter layers that would escape a plain bun.
7. High Bun With Hair Vine
A delicate hair vine is the light alternative to a heavy headpiece. I weave its wire through the bun and secure it with small pins at both ends and a few points in between, so it lies flat against the hair. Crystals, pearls or metal leaves catch the light as you move. It can drape across the front, circle the bun or trail down one side. Bend the wire to your head at the trial, not on the morning, because every head shape is different.
8. High Top Knot
A top knot is the bold, minimal option. Everything is gathered into a clean knot at the very top of the head, which lengthens the face and shows off sculptural earrings and architectural gowns. Keep it sleek for an editorial edge or add a little texture to soften it. Long, thick hair can feel heavy perched that high, so I split it into two sections and pin them separately to spread the weight.
9. High French Twist
The French twist is back, and this version sits higher than the classic for extra drama. The hair is gathered at the nape, twisted upward and folded in on itself, then closed with a row of hidden pins along the seam. It’s formal, traditional and very secure, and a little volume on top softens it. A jeweled pin or a veil tucked under the fold both work. It needs at least shoulder-length hair; shorter layers poke out along the seam.
10. High Curly Updo
Curly hair arrives with the volume other updos have to fake. I gather the curls high on the crown using only my fingers and a wide-tooth comb, then pin each cluster where it naturally falls, so the pattern never gets brushed out. A few curls left loose around the face soften the shape. It suits everything from garden ceremonies to formal receptions, and a sparkling clip or a few flowers sit well in the curls. Ask any stylist you’re considering whether she regularly works with your curl type.
11. High Bun With Pearl Pins
Pearls feel classic in a bun, and placement is everything. I either cluster a few on one side or space them evenly around the base. Scatter too many across a bun and it starts to look spotty. Smooth and lightly textured buns both carry them, and pearl jewelry with a lace gown is the natural pairing. Every pin should sit in the base or along a seam where it can grip, since pins pushed into smooth hair slide out.
12. High Fishtail Braided Bun
A fishtail has a finer weave than a three-strand braid, so it adds more texture. I braid it first, then wrap it around the bun or work it into the shape, gently pulling the edges for an airy finish. Outdoor spring ceremonies suit it. Small flowers are easy to secure in the weave because it grips the stems tightly. It does take longer than a standard braid, so let your stylist plan the extra minutes.
13. High Bun With Headband Crown
Pairing the bun with a decorative headband gives a crown effect without a tiara. The band sits across the top of the head and the bun rises behind it. Crystal, pearl or floral bands suit different themes. I place the headband before the bun is finished, so I can shape the bun around it. Headbands press behind the ears, so wear yours for an hour at the trial to see whether it starts to ache.
14. High Bun With Face-Framing Pieces
Loose strands around the face soften a high bun and suit most face shapes. The bun stays polished while wispy pieces fall at the cheeks and forehead, straight or lightly curled. These pieces are the first thing to lose shape in humidity. I curl them with a small iron and pin them flat in a coil until just before the ceremony, then release them.
15. High Bun With Veil
A high bun gives a veil a solid anchor and shows it off from behind. I slide the comb under the bun, angled toward the crown, and add crossed pins underneath for long veils so the weight doesn’t pull the bun backward. Cathedral and short veils both work. Once the veil comes off after the ceremony, the bun keeps its shape. Classic and formal weddings are its natural setting.
16. High Bun With Fresh Flowers
Tucking fresh flowers into a high bun brings the garden into your hair. I use sturdy blooms like spray roses, waxflower and baby’s breath that hold up without water, and wire them before placing them around or through the bun. Soft garden roses and hydrangeas wilt quickly out of water. Match them to the bouquet, and add them as late on the morning as possible. Spring and summer garden weddings suit them best.
17. High Bouffant Updo
A bouffant brings height and old-Hollywood flair. I tease the crown in small sections, smooth the top layer over it, then sweep the rest into a bun or twist. Formal weddings with a vintage mood suit it, and the height lengthens round faces. A sparkling comb or a small tiara completes it. Teased hair needs careful handling at the end of the night: brush it out from the ends upward, never from the root.
18. High Bun With Loose Curls
Here most of the hair goes into a high bun while a few curls stay loose around the face and neck, balancing the structure above. Formal and boho weddings both suit it, and a delicate pin or a few small flowers add detail. The loose curls are the weak point. On fine hair they drop within a few hours, so I set them with a firm spray and ask a bridesmaid to carry a travel-size can.
19. High Crown Braid Bun
A crown braid wraps the head like a halo before the rest goes into a high bun. Tight and polished or loose and airy, it suits boho and fairytale-themed weddings, and flowers or pearls tuck into the braid easily. It keeps hair secure all day because the braid locks the hairline in place. You need enough length for the braid to travel around the head; shorter hair may need a clip-in braid.
20. High Bun for Natural Curly Hair
Curly and coily hair makes a full bun that holds its shape well. I gather the curls high on the crown and secure them with a soft scrunchie or a fabric-covered band, which is gentler on coils than a tight elastic. A few coils left loose at the face soften it, and gold pins, pearls or flowers complement the texture. Moisturize and stretch the hair the day before, and lay the edges with a soft brush and gel on the morning.
Getting the Pins Out at the End of the Night
A secure updo can hold dozens of pins, and pulling them out in a rush tears hair. Give it five calm minutes before bed.
- Feel for the pins before pulling. They usually sit around the base and along any seams or folds.
- Slide each pin out the way it went in and drop it into a cup, so you know when you’ve found them all.
- Never brush teased hair from the root. Work conditioner or a detangling spray through first, then comb from the ends upward.
- Rinse out the hairspray if you can, or at least brush out the set. Sleeping on a teased crown turns small knots into big ones.
If you’re leaving for a honeymoon flight early the next morning, ask your stylist which pins she used and how many. Knowing what you’re looking for makes the take-down much quicker.
Give the Updo a Full Afternoon at Your Trial
A high updo adds height and structure and keeps hair out of your way through the whole day. From a sleek ballerina bun to fresh flowers and loose curls, each style can be adjusted with vines, pearls, braids or a veil. Bring your stylist two or three photos, a picture of your dress and the accessories you’ll wear. After the trial, keep the updo in for the rest of the afternoon. How it feels at hour five tells you more than how it looks in the mirror.
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