Every wedding season has its favourite shapes, and 2024 leaned toward softness: brushed-out waves instead of tight curls, low buns that look a little lived-in, braids loosened by hand, and small accessories like pearls and bows. Most of these looks sit comfortably between trend and classic, which is why I still recommend them. Below are twenty styles from that year, from ballroom glamour to garden boho, each with what it takes to build, what it asks of your hair and where I’d be careful.
Trend or Classic? Sorting These Looks Before You Commit
When a bride brings me a year’s trend list, I sort it into two piles. The first pile is shapes that have been around for decades in some form: chignons, low buns, Hollywood waves, braided crowns, half up with volume. These will look right in your photos for a long time. The second pile is what made that particular season distinctive: balletcore bows, very messy texture, and the big 90s blow-dry.
There’s nothing wrong with the second pile. It just carries more of the year it came from. If you love a trend look, consider using it for part of the day, say a bow added at the reception, or a looser texture after the veil comes off. That way your ceremony photos lean classic and the party photos feel current.
1. Hollywood Glam Waves
The 2024 version of Hollywood waves is looser than the true vintage set. I curl in one direction, pin each curl to cool, then brush through with a wide paddle brush so the waves merge into soft ridges rather than separate ringlets. That brushing step decides everything: stop too early and it looks like curls, go too far and it frizzes. A deep side part suits it, and it sits best with strapless gowns, where nothing competes at the shoulders. One sparkly clip at the parting is plenty.
2. Effortless Low Bun
The trick with a relaxed low bun is that it has to look undone while being pinned firmly. I gather it at the nape, pin the core tightly, then loosen the surface with my fingers and pull a few pieces free around the face. Leave it sleek for a modern wedding or tousle it for a softer one. It’s one of the easiest bases for a veil, since the comb slides in just above the bun. A single pearl pin is usually all it needs.
3. Half-Up Half-Down With Volume
Half up with volume lives or dies on the crown. I backcomb a section at the root, smooth the top layer over it, and pin the lift from underneath so it doesn’t collapse by the speeches. Below that, the cascading curls are set with a larger barrel so they fall past the shoulders without bouncing up. Natural waves and curls carry this best, because they already have body. Very fine straight hair can do it too, but expect the curls to relax by evening and plan photos accordingly.
4. Braided Crown
A braided crown is one of the most secure styles I do, which is why I suggest it for outdoor and destination weddings. The braid wraps around the head like a halo, pinned every couple of inches so it doesn’t slide down at the back. It needs hair long enough to reach around, roughly shoulder length or more; shorter hair can be braided in two halves that meet at the back. Baby’s breath tucks into the plait easily. Wear it with loose waves below or tucked up, depending on the dress.
5. Sleek Low Ponytail
Sleek ponytails show every bump, so this is a job for patience. I blow-dry the hair completely smooth, brush it back with a fine bristle brush, secure it with a strong elastic, then wrap a strand around to hide the band and pin it underneath. A little gel along the hairline keeps flyaways down for the day. Extensions can add a few inches of length if you want drama. It pairs best with structured gowns and statement earrings. If you have a sensitive scalp, keep it low, because a tight high pony can ache after a few hours.
6. Messy Textured Updo
This is the relaxed updo that Hailey Bieber made popular, and I build it the same way as any secure updo before messing it up on purpose. The texture comes from a dry texture spray and from pulling small pieces loose once everything is pinned. Low reads elegant, mid-height feels more casual. Clean, silky hair fights this style, so I’d rather you wash it the day before. It suits intimate weddings and big ones alike, as long as the pinned core is solid.
7. Romantic Loose Curls
Loose curls worn fully down are the style most likely to change across the day, and I’d rather say so plainly. Hair worn down has nothing holding it except the set, so I curl in larger sections, pin each to cool, and use a flexible hairspray rather than a stiff one. In damp air, fine hair can lose most of its curl by the reception. Thicker hair holds well. A floral crown or a few simple pins add detail without fighting the length.
8. Fishtail Braid
A fishtail looks complicated, but it’s simply two sections with small pieces crossed over from the outside, and the finer you take those pieces, the more detailed it looks. Over one shoulder, it shows off length; worked into an updo, it reads more formal. I loosen it by pulling the outer edges gently after tying off, which softens the pattern and makes it look fuller. It holds hair well at outdoor and rustic weddings. Tiny blooms slip into the weave without extra pins.
9. Sleek High Bun
A sleek high bun lengthens the neck and frames the face, and it gives a long veil a natural place to sit underneath. I build it on a firm ponytail base, smooth the hairline with a light gel, and wrap the bun in sections so it’s dense rather than hollow. It’s a fashion-forward look that suits clean, structured gowns. My warning: on fine hair a high bun can look small, so a donut or padding piece is worth asking about at the trial.
10. 90s-Inspired Waves
The 90s trend brought back the big, bouncy blow-dry: lots of root lift, loose bends through the lengths, and ends that flip out a little. It’s done mainly with a round brush and a hairdryer, with hot rollers for staying power, so it has more body than a tonged wave. Minimal accessories suit it best, since the volume is the point. It suits medium to long hair with some thickness; very fine hair struggles to hold the lift for a full day.
11. Floral Crown With Waves
Fresh flowers and waves look simple, but the crown needs planning with your florist. Real blooms wired onto a light frame sit better than heavy stems, and they need to be made close to the day so they don’t wilt. Silk flowers are a sensible swap for a long summer day outside. Worn over loose waves cascading down, the crown replaces a veil completely. I pin it through the hair at four points so it doesn’t tilt as you move.
12. Twisted Updo
Twisted updos are built from individual twists pinned into a shape, which gives them depth and makes them very secure. Medium to long hair is ideal; shorter layers can be twisted too, though more ends will show. I leave a couple of face-framing pieces so the front isn’t severe. Sparkly pins sit well in the grooves between twists, and a delicate tiara fits at the front without crushing anything. It’s formal enough for a ballroom and soft enough for a classic church.
13. Boho Braided Half-Up
A boho braided half-up takes small braids from the top section and joins them at the back, leaving the rest in waves. It keeps hair off your face while you’re greeting people, which matters more than brides expect. Garden, beach and rustic weddings suit it. The braids should be loose and slightly pulled apart, so they blend with the waves instead of sitting on top like stripes. Tiny flowers can be tucked into the join at the back.
14. Classic Chignon
The chignon is a smooth roll or knot at the nape, and the reason it has lasted so long is that it works with nearly every veil, tiara and neckline. I set the hair first so it’s soft and pliable, then roll and pin it in sections so the shape stays full. Keep it sleek for formal weddings or loosen tendrils for a softer finish. On very thick hair, a chignon can get heavy at the back by evening, so I thin it out by working some lengths into the base rather than all into the knot.
15. Balletcore Bow
Bows came from the balletcore trend, and they’re easy to wear on a wedding day. A satin ribbon bow at the back of a low bun or ponytail is the most practical version; a bow made from your own hair is cleverer but fragile and best for shorter days. I pin the ribbon through the knot so it doesn’t slide, and trim the tails at an angle so they don’t fray. It suits romantic gowns and younger, playful styling. If your dress is very formal, a small bow often looks better than a big one.
16. Side-Swept Curls
Side-swept curls hide a secret: a row of crossed pins behind one ear, holding all the hair over the other shoulder. Without that row, the hair drifts back to the center by mid-afternoon. It suits off-shoulder and one-shoulder gowns, and it shows a statement earring on the open side. I’d place a sparkly clip at that pinned side to disguise the hardware. Very thick hair can get warm on one shoulder, which is worth knowing for a summer outdoor wedding.
17. Slicked-Back Bridal Look
A slicked-back look relies on product and tension. I smooth damp hair back with a gel or styling cream, comb it into place, and either dry it in position or set it with a little heat. It can finish in a low bun, a ponytail, or simply tucked behind the ears on short hair. It suits structured, minimalist gowns and editorial makeup. It’s unforgiving of a weak hairline or thinning at the temples, so I’d soften the edges if either is a worry.
18. Tousled Boho Waves
These tousled boho waves are the closest a bridal style gets to beach hair, but they’re built with a flat iron and a texture spray rather than salt water. I wave in random directions and leave the ends straight, which keeps it from looking curled. Worn down or half up, they suit outdoor and beach celebrations where perfect shine would look odd. They’re forgiving in wind too, since any movement just adds to the texture.
19. Pearl-Accented Updo
Pearls were everywhere in 2024 bridal styling, and they’re easy to scatter through an updo. I use pearl pins with spiral or U-shaped bases, which grip better than straight pins and don’t slide out when you turn your head. A sleek bun, twisted updo or soft chignon all take them well. Scatter them unevenly, a few large and more small, or the pattern looks mechanical. Real pearls and imitation ones look almost identical in photos, so the choice comes down to budget and whether you’ll wear them again.
20. Veil With Soft Waves
A veil over soft waves is the most traditional look here and the one with the most practical questions. The comb needs a base to grip, so I backcomb a small patch at the crown or tuck a few crossed pins underneath before sliding it in. Worn high on the crown, it lifts the hair; tucked under an updo, it frames the back. Waves underneath a veil flatten slightly from the tulle’s weight, so I set them a little firmer than I would for hair worn without one.
What a Pinterest Photo Hides From You
Many of the hairstyle photos brides save were styled for a shoot, not a wedding. The hair only had to look right for ten minutes under good lighting. That doesn’t make them useless, but I look at them differently than you might.
- Extensions: volume and length in editorial photos often come from clip-ins. If your hair is fine, ask whether the look needs them.
- Angle: the photo shows one view. I’ll always ask what you want the back and sides to look like, since guests see those during the ceremony.
- Texture: a style shot on thick, wavy hair will behave differently on fine straight hair. Bring a photo of someone whose hair resembles yours if you can.
- Filters: some images are edited for shine or color. Real hair under natural light reads softer.
Wash Day, Prep and the Morning Itself
For most updos, I prefer hair washed the evening before. One day of natural oil gives grip that freshly washed hair doesn’t have. Sleek styles are the exception; ponytails and slicked-back looks often go better on clean hair. Skip heavy conditioners and oils on the last wash, since they make hair slippery. And arrive with dry hair, unless your stylist has asked otherwise, because drying adds time to a morning that’s already tight.
Which 2024 Look Fits Your Hair, Not Just Your Board
2024 bridal hair was mostly about softness: natural texture, relaxed updos, and small accessories like pearls and bows. Those ideas age well, which is a good sign. To decide between Hollywood waves, a braided crown or a sleek bun, look first at your hair’s real texture and length, then at your dress neckline and the venue’s weather. Book a trial, wear the look for a few hours afterward, and pay attention to how it feels by dinner time. That tells you more than any photo.
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