The mother of the bride has a longer day than almost anyone. She’s in the first photos of the morning, the family portraits, the receiving line and usually the dance floor, and she gets hugged more than the bride. So when I plan her hair, I care about two things before style: will it hold through all that contact, and will it suit hair that may have changed in texture over the years. Below are 20 mother of the bride hairstyles, from chignons and French twists to bobs, pixies and silver updos, with what I’d watch for in each.
Thinning Crowns, Gray Roots and Drier Ends
Hair often changes in the years before a daughter’s wedding. It may thin at the crown or temples, turn coarser or drier, or start to gray. None of that rules out any of the styles below, but it changes how I build them.
With thinning at the crown, I avoid styles pulled tight and flat against the head, since they show the scalp under photo flash. Soft volume at the crown, a side part rather than a center part, and some texture help. A little root powder in your color can fill in a part line.
If you color your hair, have it done one to two weeks before the wedding, so the color has settled and the roots are still fresh. A last-minute color can come out too dark and makes hair slippery for pins. Gray or silver hair that you’re keeping natural benefits from a gloss and a purple shampoo a few days before.
Dry ends don’t hold curl well. A trim two weeks before, a deep conditioning treatment a few days before, and a smoothing cream on the day give curls and waves a better chance.
1. Classic Low Chignon
A low chignon is the style I’m asked for most by mothers of the bride, and it rarely disappoints. The knot sits at the nape, out of the way of hugs, and it goes with a gown as easily as a tailored suit. On finer hair, I add a small padding inside the knot so it doesn’t look tiny. A few loose strands at the face soften it, and a pearl pin or comb adds a little shine. Once it’s pinned properly, it hardly moves.
2. Soft Hollywood Waves
Hollywood waves are smooth, defined curves brushed in one direction. They suit medium to long hair worn down or swept to one side. Hair that has become drier or coarser with age can look frizzy in this style, so I start with a smoothing cream and finish with a light shine serum rather than a heavy oil. The waves are set with a curling iron and clips, then brushed out. If the venue is humid, I’d suggest the swept version, pinned behind one ear, since it holds its shape better than hair worn fully loose.
3. Half-Up Half-Down With Curls
Half up with curls pulls the top section back and lets the rest fall in soft curls. It keeps hair away from the face without feeling stiff, and it works across most textures and lengths. Curls on thinning or fine hair can drop by the afternoon, so I use a volumizing mousse at the roots and pin the curls to cool before brushing. A sparkling clip or small flowers at the back cover the pins. It’s one of the more comfortable options for a long day.
4. Elegant French Twist
The French twist rolls the hair vertically up the back of the head. That vertical roll is flattering with statement earrings and a high or open neckline. It needs medium to long hair, and the hair has to be slightly textured or it slips. I prep with dry shampoo or texture spray, then pin along the seam with crossed bobby pins. Keep it sleek for a formal wedding, or loosen a few front pieces for a softer finish.
5. Romantic Low Bun With Loose Strands
A low bun with a few curled strands around the face is softer and less formal than a chignon. The loose pieces take attention off the hairline, which is useful if the temples have thinned. The bun sits comfortably at the neck, and it holds well outdoors. I’d suggest it for a garden wedding, with a few small blooms or a jeweled pin. Just keep the face-framing pieces short enough not to catch in your glasses, if you wear them.
6. Crown Braid Updo
A crown braid wraps around the head like a halo and keeps every strand in place. It’s a little unexpected for a mother of the bride, which is part of its appeal. The braid needs hair that reaches at least the shoulders. On fine hair, I braid it fairly firm and then gently pull the edges apart so it looks thicker than it is. It holds through a long day without touch-ups, and small flowers tuck right in.
7. Sleek Bob With Side Part
Short hair works very well at a wedding, and a sleek bob with a side part is a good example. It frames the face and suits most necklines. Straight reads modern, while a slight bend at the ends looks softer. Tuck one side behind the ear to show an earring. I’d book a trim about two weeks before, not the day before, so the lines settle and look natural in photos. A bob holds well through the day with just a quick comb-through.
8. Voluminous Blow-Dry
Some mothers just want their own hair, done well. A bouncy blow-dry gives lift and movement on short, medium or long hair. I use a round brush and set the ends in velcro rollers while finishing makeup, which gives more lasting volume than brushing alone. On thinning hair, the volume at the crown also hides the scalp. It feels light and natural, and it’s a good choice if updos have never felt like you.
9. Braided Low Bun
A braided low bun weaves a thick braid into the knot, adding texture to an otherwise simple shape. The braid makes the bun look larger, which helps if your hair is fine. It’s neat and secure. A few pearl pins along the braid add a bit of sparkle. It holds through hours of dancing and suits almost any setting.
10. Chic Pixie Cut With Texture
A pixie cut with soft texture and a side-swept fringe is a confident choice, and it needs very little on the day. I’d recommend a cut about ten days before the wedding so it has time to settle. On the day, a small amount of texture paste through the ends and a quick blow-dry finish it. Bold earrings or a delicate headband suit it well. A pixie is very flattering on oval or heart-shaped faces, and with a little volume at the crown, on round faces too.
11. Soft Side-Swept Waves
Side-swept waves with a gentle part are a good option for mothers who don’t want an updo. The waves frame the face and show the neckline and earrings on the open side. I pin the swept side behind the ear with crossed pins, which keeps it from falling back during hugs. It works on medium to long hair of most textures, and it stays comfortable all day.
12. Polished Silver Updo
Silver and gray hair can look very polished in a sleek updo, and there’s no need to dye it for the wedding. Silver hair can pick up a yellow tint from heat styling, hard water or hair products, so I’d use a purple shampoo a few days before, not on the morning. Gray hair is often coarser and drier, which means it holds an updo well but needs a smoothing cream for shine. Sparkling accessories show up especially well against silver. The clean lines suit formal attire.
13. Twisted Half-Up Style
A twisted half-up style twists the top section back and lets the rest fall in loose curls. It gives structure without losing your natural texture. I cross two pins where the twists meet, since a single pin loosens with movement. It keeps hair off the face while showing the curls below, and a small jeweled pin at the join finishes it. It moves easily from ceremony to reception.
14. Classic Bun With Pearl Accessories
Pearls lift a plain bun without much effort. A classic bun adorned with pearl pins, crystals or a few small flowers looks finished and personal. If you have a family hairpiece or a pearl pin from your own wedding, this is the style to wear it in. I place a few pearls first and step back before adding more. It suits formal and semi-formal weddings, and the smooth bun stays neat all day.
15. Layered Bob With Soft Curls
A layered bob with soft curls adds texture and volume to shorter hair. The layers give movement, and the curls add polish. I curl with a medium barrel and brush out lightly, so the curls look like waves rather than ringlets. A statement earring or a sparkling clip suits it. If your hair is fine or thinning, the layers help hide it, and the curl adds fullness at the crown.
16. Sleek High Bun
A sleek high bun pulls the hair up and away from the face, which lengthens the neck and shows earrings and a neckline. It suits a fashion-forward mother at a formal wedding. The catch is the hairline: a tight pull upward shows any thinning at the temples, so I’d do a softer high bun with some lift at the front if that’s a concern. A sparkling hairpin adds a touch of glamour. Once secured, it holds through a long evening.
17. Vintage Finger Waves
Finger waves are sculpted S-shaped waves that sit close to the head. They work on short to medium hair and need a setting gel and patience; I shape them with a fine comb and clips while the hair is damp, then let it dry fully. They’re a bold, artistic choice that suits classic, formal wedding attire. Add a jeweled comb for sparkle. I’d only suggest them if you’ve worn them before or try them at a trial, since they’re a strong look.
18. Loose Updo With Face-Framing Pieces
A loose updo pulls soft pieces back into a gentle shape and leaves a few strands at the face. It’s suited to garden weddings and outdoor ceremonies. The texture adds softness, and it stays comfortable through hours of celebrating. I build a firm base under the loose look so it doesn’t fall apart. Curl the face-framing pieces, and tuck in small blooms if you like.
19. Side Braid Into a Low Bun
A side braid that wraps into a low bun adds a bit of texture and flow. It’s a little different from a standard bun but still neat and secure. I start the braid behind one ear and wrap it around the base of the bun, pinning along the way. Small pearl pins along the braid add sparkle. It suits boho, garden and classic weddings, and holds well for a long day.
20. Smooth Shoulder-Length Blowout
A smooth shoulder-length blowout gives sleek, glossy hair with natural movement. It’s simple, and it suits almost any outfit and accessory. I use a round brush and a heat protectant, then finish with a light shine spray. It’s comfortable and easy to refresh with a brush. For mothers who prefer their hair down, this classic blowout is the least fussy option on this list, and it photographs cleanly.
Where Mom Sits in the Getting-Ready Line
On most wedding mornings, the mother of the bride’s hair is done in the same room as the bride’s and the bridesmaids’. I usually schedule her toward the middle, after the bridesmaids who need longer styles and before the bride. That leaves her free during the bride’s final touches, and her hair is still fresh for the family photos, which often happen before the ceremony.
- Wear a button-up top so you don’t pull anything over your finished hair.
- Arrive with clean, dry hair, washed the night before unless your hair gets oily quickly.
- Bring any hat, fascinator, comb or hairpiece to the trial and the day.
- Ask for a few spare pins to carry in your bag.
Planning around a hat or fascinator
A hat or fascinator changes the style. Volume at the crown will push a hat up, so I keep the top smooth and put any fullness at the nape, usually with a low bun or chignon. A fascinator needs a secure base to clip into, so I braid a small section where it will sit. If you’ll take the hat off for the reception, keep the style simple enough that it still looks finished without it.
Ready for the Hugs, the Tears and the Photos
The right style for your daughter’s wedding is the one that makes you feel like yourself and holds through every hug, photo and dance. Classic updos like the chignon and French twist, soft waves, bobs and braided styles all work, depending on your hair and outfit. Think about your hair’s texture and how it’s changed, the setting, and any hat or headpiece. Book a trial, and wear the style for the rest of the day to see how it feels.
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