Medium length hair is the length I’d most like to do on a wedding guest, because it can go almost anywhere: up, half up, down. It’s also the length that gives guests the most trouble when they do it themselves, since the ends are just long enough to escape a bun and just short enough to flip against a collar. Every one of the wedding guest hairstyles below can be done at home with a curling wand, some pins and a bit of practice, and I’ve added what tends to go wrong with each and how I’d fix it.
What Makes Medium Length Tricky to Pin
Hair between the chin and just past the shoulders behaves differently from long hair, and most of the problems guests have with it come down to three things.
Short Ends That Escape
In a bun or twist, there isn’t much length to wrap around, so the ends poke out. Curl the hair first for grip, make the bun smaller than you’d like, and tuck the ends under before pinning.
Hair That Flips on the Shoulders
Hair that sits right on the shoulders gets pushed outward every time you move your head. When wearing it down, curl the ends away from your face and a little downward, then finish with hairspray on the ends only.
Layers
Layers add movement when the hair is down, but short layers escape from braids and updos. A texture spray or a little dry shampoo gives them grip. And accept that a few loose pieces are fine; they’re part of how these styles are meant to look.
1. Twisted Low Bun
Start this one with a loose wave through the lengths, even if the waves won’t show. Curled hair has grip and twists into a fuller bun than straight hair. Gather everything low at the nape, twist the length loosely, then wrap it around itself and pin. On medium hair the ends often stick out of the wrap; I tuck them under and cross two pins over them. A few face-framing pieces and a small pearl pin if you like. It keeps hair off the neck on a hot afternoon.
2. Soft Half-Up Half-Down
Half up is the answer when you want hair down but don’t want to keep pushing it out of your face during dinner. Twist the top section gently and pin it at the crown, then leave the rest in loose waves. The mistake I see on medium hair is taking too big a top section, which leaves the hair underneath looking thin. Take a section about the width of your temples. You can keep it sleek for a formal wedding or tousled for boho charm, with a small clip at the twist.
3. Low Chignon
A low chignon is my default for a formal wedding when someone tells me she can’t do hair. Make a low ponytail, twist the length, coil it into a round shape and pin it in place. If your hair is on the shorter side of medium, coil it smaller and tighter; a loose coil won’t have enough hair to hide the elastic. A little serum over the top smooths flyaways. With your neck bare, earrings do a lot of work here. Either a center or a side part suits it.
4. Brushed-Out Waves
Hair down only looks dressed up when it’s smoother and shinier than your everyday version. Curl the hair with a wand, let it cool, then brush the curls out gently into soft, glossy waves. A side part makes it feel dressier. Finish with a shine spray and a light hairspray. Medium hair that sits right on the shoulders tends to flip outward by evening, so I curl the ends away from the face and down rather than under.
5. Twisted Half Updo
Two front twists pinned together at the crown give you a half updo with zero braiding. Twist each section away from the face, cross them, and pin them in an X so they hold each other. Add more twists on each side if you want more detail. The rest stays down in waves. It works on straight, wavy and curly hair; on very fine hair, backcomb the crown slightly first so the twists have something to rest on. Loosen them gently with your fingertips at the end.
6. Messy Low Bun
Messy buns are the most forgiving style here and also the most likely to just look unfinished. Skip the brush; a bit of day-old texture actually helps. Gather the hair low, twist it loosely into a bun and pin it firmly at the base, then pull pieces loose only after it’s secure. I’d use more pins than you think you need, hidden under the twists. It suits boho and outdoor weddings, and if a strand slips out later, nobody can tell.
7. Braided Half Up
Braiding two small side sections and pinning them at the crown is a good option when you want detail but not a full updo. Keep the braids loose and pull gently at their edges to widen them once they’re pinned. Use a three-strand braid or a fishtail. Leave the rest of the hair in soft waves. Medium hair with lots of layers will have short pieces popping out of the braids, which looks fine with this style, so don’t fight them too hard. It suits a spring or summer wedding and a floaty dress.
8. Sleek Low Ponytail
A sleek low ponytail is the fastest style on this list, and it shows every bump. Brush everything back with a little gel, gather it at the nape and secure with an elastic. Wrap a small section of hair around the band, then push a bobby pin up through the wrap to hold the end. For extra polish, try a center part. The clean outline puts the attention on your earrings and neckline. On medium hair the ponytail is short, so I’d give the length a slight bend with a flat iron to make it look intentional.
9. Fishtail Half-Up
A fishtail half up has more texture than a regular braid and is easier than people assume once you’ve practised it twice. Weave the top section into a fishtail, pin it at the crown, then loosen the braid by pulling small pieces outward. The rest of your hair stays down. It suits outdoor and garden weddings. A tiny pearl pin near the braid adds detail. If your hair is slippery, spray a little dry shampoo or texture spray on the top section first; it holds the crosses in place.
10. Loose Side-Swept Waves
Side-swept waves need a hidden anchor. Curl your hair, then before sweeping it over, pin a criss-cross of bobby pins behind the ear on the side you’re sweeping away from. Lay the curls over to the other shoulder and the pins stay hidden. It has an old Hollywood feel and works with off-the-shoulder and one-shoulder dresses. Finish with a shine spray. At medium length, the curls may not reach far past the shoulder, so set them in big, soft shapes rather than tight ringlets.
11. Twisted Crown
This is a braided crown for people who can’t braid. Take a section from each side near the temples, twist each one back, and pin them along the crown so they meet at the back. Leave the rest down or put it into a low bun. On medium hair, the twists may not reach the back of the head; if they don’t, meet them a little higher and hide the join under a clip. A few small flowers suit a garden or boho wedding.
12. Half-Up Top Knot
A half-up top knot is the most modern-looking style here. Gather the top section, twist it into a small knot at the crown and pin it. Keep the knot small. On medium hair a large knot uses so much hair that the lengths underneath look thin. Wave the loose hair for movement. You can keep the knot sleek or tousle it. It suits casual and semi-formal weddings and is very easy to do on yourself.
13. Low Ponytail Twist
Splitting a low ponytail in two and twisting the halves around each other gives you a rope effect that dresses up the basic ponytail without any braiding. Twist each half in one direction, then wrap them around each other in the opposite direction, which is what stops a rope twist from unravelling. Secure the end with a small elastic. A decorative pin where the twist begins and a couple of loose face-framing pieces finish it. It’s comfortable for hours and suits day or evening.
14. Curled Bob Lob Look
Medium length hair often sits around lob length, which takes a soft curl very well. Add loose waves with a wand, leaving the last half inch straight so the ends don’t look like ringlets. Tousle them with your fingers and tuck one side behind your ear. A light hairspray to hold. The curls add volume without making the cut look shorter, but on very fine hair they’ll drop by evening, so set them with a light mousse before curling.
15. Braided Side Bun
A braided side bun is two styles in one: a braid along one side of the head, then all the hair gathered low on the other side and twisted into a bun. Tuck the end of the braid into the bun and pin. It sits off-center, so it suits a dress with an interesting neckline or a single statement earring. On medium hair the bun is small; to make it look fuller, curl the hair first. A few wispy pieces around the face finish it.
16. Glam Wavy Ponytail
A glam wavy ponytail is the style I’d suggest for anyone planning to dance all night. Gather the hair into a high or mid-height ponytail, then curl the length into big waves. Wrap a small section around the elastic to hide it. On medium hair a high ponytail can be short; a mid-height one gives a longer fall. If your ponytail tends to droop, put two pins into the base, crossed, pointing upward. Shine spray to finish.
17. Pinned Back Waves
This is the simplest dressed-up version of hair down, and the one I do most often on guests. Curl the hair into soft waves, then pin a small section from each side back behind the head. Your face stays open, and you don’t spend the night pushing hair away. Use decorative pins if you want sparkle. It works anywhere, from a barn to a ballroom. Use a pin slightly darker than your hair, which disappears better than one that matches exactly.
18. Messy Updo With Loose Pieces
A messy updo is pinned loosely and on purpose, so if a strand comes out later it still looks right. Wave the hair first for grip and softness. Then gather it up loosely, twisting and pinning sections without smoothing them perfectly, and let a few pieces fall around the face and neck. A small floral pin finishes it. On medium hair with short layers at the nape, the bottom row may not reach the twist; pin those pieces up separately first.
19. Center-Part Sleek Waves
Center-part sleek waves pair a smooth root with soft waves through the length. Part the hair straight down the middle, keep the top flat and glossy, and add loose waves from about the ears down. The contrast is what makes it modern. A shine spray finishes it. It suits a minimalist or contemporary wedding and looks good with bold earrings. A center part is unforgiving on a cowlick at the front, so check it in the mirror before committing.
20. Double French Braid Updo
A double French braid updo is the most secure style on this list. Braid two French braids from the hairline toward the back, then merge them or pin them into a low bun. Nothing moves, which makes it ideal for an outdoor wedding, a windy day, or a long day of dancing. Loosen the braids slightly so they look full. On medium hair, short layers may poke out of the braid; a light spray of hairspray on the brush before you smooth them helps.
A Wand, Twenty Pins and Half an Hour
Every style in this list can be done at home with a small kit. This is what I’d keep on the counter.
- A curling wand or iron around 25 to 32 millimetres, which suits most medium lengths.
- Bobby pins in your hair colour, plus a few longer U-shaped pins for buns.
- Small clear elastics.
- A texture spray or dry shampoo for grip, and a light flexible hairspray.
- A fine comb for parting and a soft brush for brushing out waves.
Allow more time than you think on the day, especially for a style you’ve only tried once. If it doesn’t come out right, a low bun or pinned-back waves are the quickest fallbacks.
One word on accessories: as a guest, keep to small pins and clips. Anything that looks like a veil, a bridal headband or a full flower crown can read as bridal in photos, and that’s the one place a guest shouldn’t overlap with the bride.
Practise It Once Before the Invitation Date
A good guest hairstyle suits the wedding’s dress code, stays out of your face while you eat and dance, and doesn’t need fixing every hour. Pick one or two styles from this list and practise each at least once before the wedding, ideally with the same pins and products you’ll use on the day. Bring a few spare pins and a small hairspray in your bag, and you’re set.
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