An updo is the safest bet I can offer a bridesmaid who has to stand in the sun for photos, hold a bouquet through a long ceremony and then dance. Hair pinned off the neck doesn’t stick to sunscreen, doesn’t tangle in a dress strap, and looks the same in the last frame as in the first. What keeps it simple rather than stiff is how well the pins are hidden and how much texture goes in before anything is pinned at all. These 20 simple bridesmaid hair updo looks run from classic buns to braided and curly shapes, each with a note on the hair it suits.
Where the Bun Sits Matters More Than Its Shape
Before I settle on a style, I look at the neckline and ask where the hair will rest against the dress. A bun’s height decides where the eye goes, and the wrong height can cover the very detail a bridesmaid chose the dress for.
- High neck or halter: a high or mid bun, so the collar and the line of the neck stay clean.
- Strapless or sweetheart: a low chignon or side bun, which fills the space above bare shoulders.
- Open or low back: crown or mid height, keeping the back of the dress in view.
- One shoulder: a side bun on the bare side to balance the strap.
- Square or off-the-shoulder: a low, smooth bun that echoes the straight lines.
Height affects comfort too. A crown bun gets squashed against a car headrest or a high-backed chair, so when there’s a long drive between ceremony and reception I keep it low.
1. Classic Low Chignon Bridesmaid Updo
The low chignon sits among the easiest bridesmaid updos for one reason: I can do it on almost any length past the shoulder. I gather the hair at the nape, twist it into a soft coil and pin it close to the head, sliding each pin against the direction of the twist so it locks. It sits under satin, square necklines and off-the-shoulder gowns without fighting any of them. A few light pieces pulled loose at the front soften it. In heat it keeps the neck bare and still looks finished.
2. Messy Low Bun Bridesmaid Updo
Messy is the hardest effect to make last. The bun has to look loose, yet survive hugs and a dance floor, so I build it in two stages: a hidden, firmly pinned base first, then the soft pieces pulled out over the top. Waves set beforehand give those pieces body. Face-framing tendrils soften the jaw on round, heart and square faces alike, as long as they’re curled rather than left poker straight. Gardens, beaches and chiffon dresses suit this more casual finish.
3. Sleek Low Bun Bridesmaid Updo
Humidity is the reason I reach for a sleek low bun. Curls drop in damp air, but hair smoothed back from the start has nothing to lose. I blow it straight with a paddle brush, take a center or deep side part, and set the bun at the nape with a smoothing cream applied to the brush rather than the hair, which stops it looking greasy. Earrings and necklines stay completely clear. It’s also the easiest updo to make identical across a whole group.
4. Twisted Low Bun Bridesmaid Updo
Two small twists from each side, pinned into the bun, give a plain low bun some detail and solve a problem at the same time: they catch the shorter layers around the face that would otherwise fall out. I twist away from the face so the sections open up, which shows off balayage or highlights through the rope. Medium to long hair holds it. Finish with a couple of pearl pins, a small floral comb, or nothing at all.
5. Braided Low Bun Bridesmaid Updo
A braid inside a bun is mostly a security device. Front pieces that keep escaping from a plain bun get locked into the plait. I either wrap one loose braid around the base or run two side braids to meet at the back before pinning low. Once it’s in, the braid needs gently pulling apart, because a tight plait on a wedding day looks like school hair. Lace, chiffon and rustic settings are a natural match.
6. Braided Crown Bridesmaid Updo
A full crown braid needs a fair amount of hair. On fine or shoulder-length hair I braid partway across the front and tuck the rest into a pinned roll at the back, and from the front nobody can tell. Everything is lifted off the shoulders. I leave a few wisps at the temples, or the shape can look severe. Boho dresses, flower accessories and outdoor ceremonies suit it, and it stays romantic without looking like the bride’s hair.
7. French Twist Bridesmaid Updo
For evening and formal weddings, the French twist is the updo I recommend most, because it looks structured without curls or decoration. I tease lightly at the crown, sweep the hair to one side, and pin a hidden criss-cross line of bobby pins up the back of the head; then I fold the hair over that line and pin into it. That anchor is what stops the twist sliding. On fine hair the teasing adds visible fullness. Medium to long hair works best, and the clean neck leaves room for statement earrings.
8. Soft French Roll Bridesmaid Updo
The soft roll is the French twist with the tension taken out. Instead of rolling the hair tightly upward, I fold it loosely and pin it in place, so it reads relaxed and suits anyone who finds a structured twist too formal. Volume at the crown keeps it from lying flat against the head, and a few loose front pieces soften the face. Older bridesmaids and mothers of the couple often find it the most comfortable shape for a long day. Floral dresses and delicate pins go well with it.
9. Textured High Bun Bridesmaid Updo
Height changes the whole outline. A high bun lifts the hair right off the shoulders, so halters, high necks and dresses with detailed backs aren’t hidden. I curl the hair first for grip, make a secure ponytail base at the crown, then wrap and pin the lengths around it before pulling out texture. Fine and medium hair need that curl underneath, or the bun ends up small. Keep a couple of soft pieces at the front, because a scraped-back high bun can look harsh in close-ups.
10. Sleek High Bun Bridesmaid Updo
This is the updo least likely to move all day, which makes it my pick for bridesmaids who don’t want to think about their hair again. The hair is brushed up, smoothed with a bristle brush and wrapped into a neat bun near the crown. A center part feels fashion-forward; no part gives a classic dancer’s finish. I set it with a strong but flexible spray, since a crisp, hard-set bun shows every flyaway that breaks through later. Black-tie and modern weddings suit it best.
11. Low Bun With Face Framing Pieces Bridesmaid Updo
Face pieces are where many updos go wrong. Too many, or too thick, and they look like the hair has fallen down. I take two fine sections at each temple, no wider than a finger, and curl them away from the face with a small bend at the end. The bun behind can be smooth, twisted or textured. This version helps bridesmaids who feel exposed with everything pulled back, and it softens a strong neckline.
12. Side Bun Bridesmaid Updo
A side bun sits slightly off-centre, usually just behind the jawline, so it actually shows from the front in photos instead of hiding behind the head. I part on the opposite side, sweep everything across and pin it into a soft bun or twist near the nape. With a one-shoulder dress I put the bun on the bare side, so the hair and the strap balance each other. Waves set beforehand make it fuller. A small comb finishes it neatly.
13. Curly Low Bun Bridesmaid Updo
Curly and coily hair should never be brushed flat for a wedding updo. I define the curls with a cream or light gel while the hair is damp, let them dry fully, then gather them with my hands and pin them into a soft bun at the nape. Ordinary bobby pins tend to disappear in thick curls without holding, so I use U-shaped pins pushed in against the curl. A few curls left around the face add softness, and the wearer’s own texture stays the main feature.
14. Curly High Bun Bridesmaid Updo
Piled high, natural curls give real lift without any teasing. I gather them at the crown with a soft fabric band rather than a tight elastic, which can snap fragile coils, then pin the curls into a rounded shape. The base can be sleek or softly pulled back. Brushing breaks up curl definition, so I work with fingers only. With an open back and warm weather it keeps hair off the skin, and a few curls at the hairline frame the face.
15. Short Hair Bridesmaid Updo
Short hair can’t make a real bun, but it can fake one. For bob or lob lengths, I wave the hair first, then twist the sides back and pin them low into each other so it reads as a tucked bun from behind. Pieces that don’t reach get hidden pins or are styled as face-framing layers. Shoulder length is roughly the minimum; a chin-length bob gives a tucked effect, not a true updo, and it’s better to say so at the trial. A decorative comb or a few pearl pins cover the joins.
16. Medium Hair Bridesmaid Updo
Shoulder to collarbone length is the easiest to pin, because there’s enough hair to grip and not enough weight to drag the style down. A low twisted bun, tucked roll or soft chignon all hold. Freshly washed or very silky hair needs texture spray first, or the pins slide straight out. I won’t force medium hair into a big bun; it ends up small and stretched. Pick a shape the length can carry, and leave a few front pieces out.
17. Long Hair Bridesmaid Updo
Long hair brings a different problem: weight. One huge twist drags on its pins and starts to ache at the back of the head after a few hours. With very thick hair I build the bun in three or four sections, each pinned to its own anchor, so the load is spread. A low bun, braided bun or twisted chignon all work, and curling the hair first helps the sections blend together. Highlights and dimension show through the pinned shape. Aim for secure, never bulky.
18. Half Updo Bridesmaid Hair
Strictly speaking this isn’t an updo, but I include it for bridesmaids who feel exposed with everything pinned up. The top and sides are twisted, braided or pinned back and the lengths are curled. Strapless, sweetheart and V-neck dresses all suit it. What makes it look styled rather than casual is real volume in the pinned section; a small clip at the back of flat hair looks like an afterthought. On a hot outdoor day, though, loose lengths stick to the neck, so I’d steer people toward a full updo then.
19. Ponytail Updo Bridesmaid Hair
A ponytail gets dressed up by hiding the elastic. I wrap a small strand from underneath around the base and pin it through, which instantly makes it look deliberate. Low reads classic and high reads modern, and the lengths can be curled or softly pinned for more structure. Long hair, layered cuts and textured waves hold it well. One honest caveat: a heavy high ponytail can give a headache by the evening, so on very thick hair I set it a little lower.
20. Pearl Pin Bridesmaid Updo
Pearl pins are small enough to stay out of the bride’s territory. The base can be a chignon, messy bun, braided bun or tucked roll; the pearls go in last. I place them in a loose line up one side or dotted around the bun, never all over the head, because a full scatter looks busy in photos. They stand out well against warm brunette tones and soft waves, while on very pale blonde hair I choose champagne pearls over bright white so they don’t disappear. It’s the simplest way to make different updos read as one set.
Six Bridesmaids, One Mirror and a Fixed Photo Time
A simple updo takes me roughly thirty to forty-five minutes, longer on very thick or curly hair. Across a full bridal party that adds up quickly, so the order of the chair matters almost as much as the styles themselves.
- Thick, long and curly hair goes first, since it needs the most drying and pinning time.
- Soft, textured buns go in the middle; they settle and look better after an hour anyway.
- Sleek styles go last, so they’re freshly smooth when the photographer arrives.
- The maid of honor sits before the bride, which frees the bride’s chair near the end.
For a large party I’d rather add a second stylist than squeeze the timings. Rushed pinning is the first thing to fall.
Forty Pins Come Out at Midnight
An updo that held all day can still damage hair if it comes down roughly. I tell bridesmaids to find each pin with their fingertips and slide it out along the line it went in, rather than tugging the bun loose. Then work a little conditioner or oil through the sprayed lengths before any brush touches them, starting at the ends. Dry, teased, lacquered hair snaps if it’s brushed from the crown down. A proper wash the next morning lifts out the rest.
Same Direction, Different Updos
A good bridesmaid updo is one the wearer forgets about after the first hour. That’s why I don’t try to make everyone identical. A fine-haired bridesmaid in a sleek high bun and a curly-haired one in a low curl bun can still create a cohesive wedding-party feel if they share a direction, sleek or soft or braided, and perhaps one accessory. Settle that direction first, then let each person adapt it to her length, texture and comfort. The photos come out better, and the morning is far calmer.
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