Low updos fill most of my wedding bookings, for brides and for the guests and mothers who sit in the chair after them. The reason is practical: a knot at the nape holds its weight close to the neck, so it stays comfortable for ten hours, it leaves room for a veil comb, and it works under almost any neckline. The 20 below cover sleek, braided, curly and boho versions. For each, I’ve noted the hair it suits and what usually goes wrong, so you can bring a realistic shortlist to your stylist.
A Guest’s Low Bun Should Stay Quieter Than the Bride’s
Many of these updos suit guests as well as brides, but as a guest you want to scale them down. Skip pearls and veil-style accessories, keep flowers small, and avoid a white or ivory hair piece. A plain sleek bun, a twisted knot or a messy bun with no decoration all work well for guests.
If you’re doing your own hair, this is the method I teach guests for a simple low bun that lasts:
- Start with hair washed the day before. Freshly washed hair is too slippery to hold pins.
- Spray texture or dry shampoo through the lengths and brush it in.
- Make a low ponytail at the nape with a small elastic, tight enough to hold but not pulling.
- Twist the length and wrap it around the base, then pin it with U-pins around the edge.
- Add bobby pins crossed in pairs where the bun feels loose.
- Loosen a little at the crown with your fingertips and finish with flexible hairspray.
Practise once or twice before the wedding. The first attempt always takes longer than you expect.
1. Sleek Low Bun Wedding Updo
A sleek bun is the simplest style on this list and the least forgiving. Every bump and flyaway shows, so I blow-dry the hair completely smooth before gathering it, then set the base with a hidden elastic and wrap the length into a tight knot. A deep side part adds drama; a center part looks more modern. Smoothing serum on the surface keeps the shine. I’d hesitate with very fine hair at the temples, since the slicked-back look can show scalp. Statement earrings and a clean modern gown suit it best.
2. Messy Low Bun With Loose Tendrils
The messy bun is the one I recommend for a windy outdoor ceremony, because the wind can’t really ruin it. I prep with texture spray, twist the hair loosely at the nape, pin it, then pull pieces out around the crown and face. The trick is pinning the loose bits too, so they look soft at the first dance rather than straggly. A flowing dress and fine jewelry match its relaxed feel.
3. Low Side Bun With Soft Waves
Shifting the bun toward one shoulder gives a soft asymmetric outline, and waves set before gathering give it texture. The diagonal line flatters round faces. I check where the natural part falls before choosing the side, since that’s where the hair wants to go anyway. It pairs well with off-shoulder gowns and a statement earring on the open side. Tuck a pearl pin or a single flower in at the end.
4. Braided Low Bun Wedding Updo
A braid running into a low bun is my first suggestion for outdoor weddings, because the plait locks in short layers the wind would otherwise pull loose. It can start near the crown and wrap into the bun. A classic three-strand braid, a fishtail or a soft Dutch braid all work; the Dutch version sits on top of the hair and shows up best in photos. Small flowers or pearl pins slot easily between the plaits.
5. Twisted Low Chignon
A twisted chignon folds soft twists of hair into a smooth knot at the nape. The twisting gives texture without looking busy, which is why it suits formal weddings. I pin every twist in two places, crossed, because twists unwind as hair warms up through the day. Keep it sleek for a modern look or loosen it slightly for softness. A sleek veil or a sparkling comb finishes it.
6. Low Bun With Face-Framing Pieces
Face-framing pieces are the most requested detail I do, and the most often done badly. The pieces need to be chosen and sectioned before the bun goes in. Strands pulled out afterward come from deep in the hairline and look stringy. I take thin sections at the temples, curl them away from the face, and leave them alone until the end. Curled, they look soft; left straight, sleeker. They work with veils and floral crowns.
7. Boho Low Bun With Flowers
A boho bun mixes loose, textured hair with fresh or dried flowers tucked throughout. You can use baby’s breath, roses, or wildflowers. On a warm day, dried flowers or sturdy stems like baby’s breath last much longer than soft petals, which wilt within hours out of water. Ask your florist for small wired pieces. Soft tendrils frame the face, and a flowing bohemian gown completes it.
8. Low Knotted Bun Updo
A knotted bun is tied rather than coiled, which gives it a slightly sculpted, modern shape at the nape. It suits straight and wavy hair; very silky hair needs some texture spray first or the knot slips loose. Tight for a minimal look, looser for softness. It pairs with statement earrings and structured gowns, and it’s compact enough not to compete with the dress.
9. Low Bun With Pearl Hair Pins
Pearl pins give a smooth bun a soft vintage glow. Scatter them or cluster them on one side for a more noticeable accent. Remember that decorative pins don’t hold much, so I secure the bun fully first. Hold the pearls against your dress in daylight before buying: bright white pearls can make an ivory gown look yellow. They pair naturally with pearl earrings and a clean neckline.
10. Low Curly Bun for Curly Hair
For curly and coily hair, I gather the curls softly at the nape and keep their bounce rather than forcing them straight. The bride should come with her curls styled her usual way, with a curl cream for definition; brushing them out the morning of creates frizz I can’t undo. Leave a few curls loose at the face. Pins go in gently so they don’t press on the scalp for hours. A comb or fresh flowers can be added.
11. Low Bun With Braided Crown
A braided crown connecting to a low bun creates a romantic halo effect. The braid needs to reach around the head before pinning, so this works best on long hair. Once pinned, the crown keeps hair off the face all day and gives the bun a firm anchor. I pull the braid gently for fullness. Fresh flowers tucked into the crown suit outdoor weddings and flowing gowns.
12. Low Bun With Side Swept Bangs
Side-swept bangs draped across the forehead soften a smooth bun from the front. They work best on brides who already have a fringe; I’d avoid cutting new bangs in the month before the wedding, because they take time to settle into a shape. I blow them out with a round brush and curl them slightly. Fine earrings and a clean neckline keep the focus on the face.
13. Vintage Low Bun With Finger Waves
Finger waves with a sleek low bun bring a 1920s and old Hollywood look. The elegant finger waves are set with a firm setting lotion and shaped with fingers and a comb, then left to dry with clips in place, so plan a longer appointment and a full trial for this one. They look sharp in black and white. A birdcage veil or an Art Deco comb completes the period feel, along with a vintage gown.
14. Low Bun With Veil Underneath
Tucking the veil comb beneath the bun lets the fabric fall straight down your back while the knot stays visible. I anchor the comb into a small hidden braid under the bun, because a heavy veil will drag a bun loose if it’s only pinned into the coil. The veil can then come out after the ceremony without disturbing the style. It works with cathedral and fingertip veils alike.
15. Low Textured Bun for Fine Hair
Fine hair can look full in a bun with the right prep. I tease gently at the crown and through the base, then pull the bun apart loosely so it reads wider. When fine hair is also short, a small bun pad or a clip-in piece under the knot adds bulk without anyone noticing. Thinness hides well under texture. Small pins or flowers are better than a heavy comb, which can drag fine hair down.
16. Low Bun With Half Up Detail
Combining a half-up section with a low bun keeps hair off the face and gives a layered shape. The top is pulled back smoothly and pinned, while the rest gathers into a soft bun underneath. A small braid or twist in the top section adds detail. This structure helps when you plan to wear a veil, because the half-up section gives the comb a solid place to sit.
17. Romantic Low Bun With Curls
Loosely curled hair gathered into a voluminous low knot gives the fullest outline of any version here. The curls must be set and cooled before pinning; I curl, clip each curl in place and let it cool, because warm curls drop within the hour. Leaving a few loose at the face softens it. Pearl pins, a comb or fresh flowers all work, with a flowing gown.
18. Sleek Low Ponytail Updo
A sleek low ponytail is the most modern option and the fastest to do. Gather the hair into a smooth tail at the nape, then wrap a section around the base to hide the elastic. I set the base with two elastics, one on top of the other, so it doesn’t sag during the evening. Smoothing serum keeps the shine. It suits elegant necklines and statement earrings.
19. Low Bun With Twisted Sides
Twisted sections at the sides gather into the knot at the nape and keep hair off the face. Tight twists look polished; looser ones softer. I twist away from the face, so the hairline stays clean, and pin each twist where it meets the bun. Sparkling pins or fresh flowers can sit along the twists. It’s good for anyone with face-framing layers, which the twists catch and hold.
20. Low Bun With Greenery Accents
Greenery like eucalyptus, ferns or delicate vines woven through a low bun gives a garden look with less risk than flowers, since foliage holds up much better out of water. Eucalyptus has a strong scent, so check it doesn’t bother you before it sits near your face all day. The relaxed bun is a good base for trailing leaves and sprigs. Keep the hair loose and textured. It suits rustic and outdoor weddings with a flowing gown.
When a Pin Gives Way at the Reception
Even a well-built updo can need a quick fix late in the evening. Give a bridesmaid a small pouch with matching bobby pins, a few U-pins, a mini hairspray and a tail comb, and she can handle most of these problems in a couple of minutes.
The bun has slipped lower
Don’t take it down. Push it back up into place with one hand and slide two bobby pins in from opposite sides so they cross underneath it.
Face pieces have gone flat
Twist each piece around a finger, spray lightly, and hold it for a few seconds. It won’t be as neat as the morning, but the shape returns.
A headache after the veil comes off
Usually one pin is pressing too hard. Find it, remove it and replace it at a slightly different angle. If the whole style feels tight, I’d rather you loosen the bun a little than suffer through the dancing.
Test-Drive the Updo Until Evening Before You Book It
Low updos are comfortable, they last, and they work with almost any veil or neckline. Take two or three of these ideas to your trial along with a photo of your dress, and if you’re wearing a veil, bring it. After the trial, wear the style for the rest of the day. If it still feels secure by evening, you can book it with confidence.
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