A maid of honor has a busier day than anyone except the bride. She’s lacing the dress, holding the bouquet, fixing the train and probably giving a speech, so her hair has to cope with a lot of bending and hugging. Short hair is a real advantage there. A pixie, bob or small updo stays out of the way, shows off the jaw and earrings, and needs far less rescuing than long curls. The maid of honor hairstyles below are ones I’d happily put on a short-haired client, with honest notes on how each one behaves over a long day, indoors or out.
Where the Maid of Honor Sits in the Hair Schedule
When I build a morning timeline, the maid of honor never goes last. She’s needed to help the bride into her dress, she’s in most of the getting-ready photos, and she’s often the person answering vendor calls. I put her early to middle in the order, after any bridesmaids who need longer styles.
Short hair takes about 20 to 35 minutes for most styles here. Finger waves and pin curls take longer because of setting time, so if you’re choosing one of those, ask for an earlier slot and sit with clips in while others are styled.
- Wear a button-up shirt so you don’t pull anything over your finished hair.
- Bring your accessories to the chair, not to the venue.
- Have makeup done after hair if you’re setting curls, so the setting spray doesn’t settle on fresh foundation.
1. Textured Pixie Cut With Hairpins
I start a dressed up pixie cut with a little mousse at the roots while the hair is damp, blow dry it with my fingers, then tousle the pieces once dry. The decorative pins go along one side only, in a short row above the ear. Pearl or crystal pins pick up the light in photos. On very short pixies the pins can’t grip, so I slide them in against the direction of growth, where there’s more hair to hold. Your face stays open and the earrings do some of the work.
2. Sleek Bob With Soft Waves
The bob here is smoothed first and waved second, which is the order that matters. A round brush blow dry gives the shine; then a wand adds loose bends only through the mid lengths and ends, so the roots stay sleek. Leave a few pieces around the face. Heat protectant goes on before any of it. The waves move without falling out, which means the style still looks deliberate during the late speeches.
3. Twisted Chignon for Short Hair
Who says you need long hair for a graceful updo? Not me, but I do need hair that reaches the nape when gathered. Twist the back sections inward and pin them into a small, sculpted knot, using more pins than you’d think, because short ends spring out as they dry. Loose pieces around the ears soften it. It suits church ceremonies and formal weddings, and keeps your neck cool in summer. A small sparkle pin finishes this sophisticated maid of honor look.
4. Pearl-Accented Twist
A pearl twist is the style I suggest when the bride wants every bridesmaid to have the same accent but the lengths are all different. Make a side part, twist the front sections back from the face, and pin each twist with a pearl pin pushed into the twist itself. Straight or slightly wavy hair holds it. With white florals and a classic palette, the pearls quietly tie you to the bride without copying her. Earrings and the jawline stay visible.
5. Slicked-Back Wet Look
Strong gel, a wide tooth comb and a few minutes: that’s all the slicked-back look takes, and it doesn’t move until you wash it out. Apply the gel to damp hair, comb everything straight back, and smooth the surface with your palms. It suits modern and city weddings with sleek, structured dresses and bold lipstick. My honest caution for a maid of honor: if you’re likely to cry during the vows, it puts all the attention on your face, so plan waterproof makeup.
6. Tousled Beachy Waves
Beachy waves get better as the day goes on, which is exactly why they’re a good fit for outdoor weddings. Mist a texturizing spray through the hair, wave it loosely with a wand, then scrunch. Short strands gain volume this way. It suits flowing dresses and natural settings, and golden hour light catches the texture. The one thing that ruins it is brushing. Use your fingers only, all day.
7. Side-Swept Finger Waves
Side-swept finger waves are a gel set, so they need time. I comb each S shape into damp, gelled hair and hold it with flat clips while it dries, then remove the clips and add a drop of oil for shine. Swept to one side, the waves open up the opposite cheekbone, so put your statement earring on that side. It suits formal and glamour-themed weddings. I’d only suggest it to a maid of honor who has time booked with a stylist, since it’s difficult to do on yourself.
8. Half-Up Twisted Crown
This is my everyday answer for a lob. Take two front sections, twist them back and join them at the crown with a pin or clip; the rest stays loose and waved. It’s polished without being formal, which suits rustic and classic weddings alike. Small flowers can go into the twist. The practical bonus: when you lean over the bride to fix her veil, nothing falls forward into her face.
9. Curly Pixie With Volume
A curly pixie needs very little from me apart from definition. Curl cream goes on soaking wet hair, then I scrunch and diffuse with the heat low. Volume at the top gives it a sculptural shape. A jeweled clip on one side adds something festive. Curly pixies hold their shape all day, formal or casual. Avoid brushing them once dry.
10. Low Bun With Wispy Tendrils
Short hair needs a compact low bun, not a big one. Gather at the nape, twist into a small knot and pin firmly. Wispy tendrils around the face and ears soften the shape. A barn, a garden and an estate wedding all suit it. It keeps your neck cool, and a small floral pin with a touch of shine spray finishes it without stealing the bride’s attention.
11. Blunt Bob With Center Part
The blunt bob with a center part is all about precision, and the part has to be perfectly straight, which I check in the mirror from the front, not from above. Blow dry it sleek with a paddle brush and finish with a smoothing serum on the ends. It’s symmetrical, so it suits faces that are fairly balanced; if one side of the face is noticeably fuller, I’d move the part a fraction off center. Modern, minimalist weddings and structured gowns suit it best.
12. Braided Crown for Short Hair
Two thin braids are easier than one big crown on short hair. I braid a small section along each side of the front, cross them over the top and pin. Short layers tend to poke out, so prep with a texture spray. The braids keep everything secured. Baby’s breath tucked into them suits boho, garden and rustic weddings. It works on bobs and longer pixies.
13. Glamorous Side Part With Curls
A deep side part with glossy curls is pure Hollywood. Curl with a wand all in one direction, then brush them out into a single, smooth wave. The deep part adds height and drama on its own. Shine spray finishes it. It flatters most face shapes and suits formal and evening receptions. One practical point I always raise with a maid of honor: if you’re giving a speech, sweep the hair away from the side you’ll hold the microphone on.
14. Pinned-Back Bob With Accessories
Pinning back one or both sides of a bob takes five minutes and still looks dressed up. Decorative pins, jeweled clips, or sparkly barrettes all work, as long as they match the wedding palette and the other bridesmaids. I always set two crossed bobby pins underneath first, then slide the decorative clip over them, because barrettes slip out of smooth bobs. It keeps your face clear and suits almost any theme or dress.
15. Voluminous Blowout Bob
A bouncy, voluminous blowout is mostly round brush technique. Lift the roots as you dry, then roll the ends under and let each section cool on the brush for a few seconds before releasing it. That cooling step is what makes the bounce last. Finish with shine spray. It suits formal and semi-formal weddings, and any neckline. Humid weather is its weakness, so I’d skip it for a beach wedding.
16. Faux Bob Updo
If your hair sits just past the shoulders, a faux bob gives you the short look without the cut. I curl the ends under, roll them up toward the nape and pin them underneath so the length disappears. Smooth the top or add soft waves. Very thick, long hair can be too bulky to hide, so this works best on fine to medium hair just below the shoulders. It’s modern and refined with elegant earrings.
17. Romantic Curls With Floral Pins
Fresh flowers in short curls are pretty but delicate, because they’re out of water for hours. I use sturdy blooms (spray roses, wax flower, small orchids) and add them at the last moment. Curl the hair into loose waves, then tuck the flowers or floral pins in where they’ll be held by the curl. Match them to the bouquet or centerpieces. It suits outdoor and spring weddings, and silk floral pins are a smart backup if the day is hot.
18. Sleek Asymmetrical Bob
An asymmetrical bob already has a shape, so it doesn’t need any accessory. I blow dry it straight and smooth, and add serum to the ends for gloss. The angled line draws attention to the jaw and cheekbones. Modern, city and minimalist weddings suit it with sleek dresses and statement earrings. Make sure the longer side is trimmed within two weeks of the wedding, or it starts to look uneven.
19. Textured Crop With Headband
A textured crop is the shortest length here, and a headband is the easiest way to dress it. Use a small amount of styling product to define the texture, then slide on a delicate jeweled or pearl headband. Push it back slightly so it doesn’t press on the forehead. It suits both casual and formal weddings and keeps hair off your face while adding detail. Choose a headband that suits the color scheme.
20. Vintage Pin Curls
Vintage pin curls need setting lotion and patience. Roll each section around your finger, pin it flat against the head, and let it set fully before brushing out gently into structured waves. The result has more shape and volume than a wand gives short hair. A deep side part and bold lipstick finish the vintage look. It suits formal and themed weddings and holds its shape for the whole day.
Echo the Bride Without Copying Her
You stand closest to her in nearly every photo, so your hair is read alongside hers. I like the maid of honor to share one detail with the bride, such as the same metal in her pins or the same side part, and to differ in everything else. If the bride wears pearls in her hair, I would put you in a plain gold clip rather than more pearls.
Ask her before you settle on anything. Some brides want the maid of honor to stand out slightly from the other bridesmaids; others want the whole group to match. A quick photo of your trial sent to her a few weeks ahead avoids an awkward conversation on the morning.
A Speech, a Bouquet and Hours of Hugs
Think through what you’ll be doing that day. You’ll be fluffing the train, kneeling for photos, holding two bouquets during the vows and maybe raising a glass with a microphone in one hand. Styles that rely on pins or gel (twists, chignons, slick backs) cope best with all that movement. Loose waves are fine, but expect them to relax by evening.
Pack the kit for both of you
As maid of honor, you usually carry the emergency bag. For hair, I’d put in bobby pins in your color and the bride’s, a small comb, travel hairspray, a few clear elastics and blotting papers. If the bride’s veil starts pulling, a pin slid crosswise under the comb usually fixes it. Your short hair needs less than hers, which leaves you free to help.
Stand Beside Her With Hair That Stays Put
Short hair works hard for a maid of honor. Sleek bobs, textured pixies, curls, chignons and pin curls each suit a different setting, and an accessory such as a pearl pin, a jeweled clip, a headband or a fresh flower can turn a simple look formal. Think about the venue, your dress and how much you’ll be moving before you decide. Then go with the look that you’ll feel comfortable in while standing beside your best friend.
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