A bow is the one accessory brides keep bringing to trials right now, usually with a photo of a soft satin bow nestled into a low bun. I like the trend because a bow does something a clip can’t: it gives the back of your head a shape that reads from the last row of the ceremony. It also has more ways to go wrong than a pin, since fabric droops, crushes and tilts. The 20 styles below pair bows with buns, waves, ponytails and braids, from oversized tulle to small pearl-dotted ribbons, and each comes with notes on how I’d secure it and who it suits.
Satin, Velvet, Tulle or Ribbon: How Each Fabric Behaves in Hair
The fabric decides more than the color. Before a bride picks a style, I ask what her bow is made of, because each one sits, holds and photographs differently.
- Satin has a structured shape and a sheen, but it shows creases. Steam it before the day and transport it flat.
- Velvet is heavier and holds its shape well in cooler weather. It needs a firm base or it slides.
- Tulle is light and airy but crushes easily. Add it last and keep it out from under a veil.
- Silk drapes softly and slips more than satin, so it needs pinning at the loops as well as the knot.
- Ribbon with long tails looks lovely in motion and can tangle in a veil. Cut ends at an angle so they don’t fray.
Size matters too. A large bow on a small, loose bun tips backward over a few hours. As a rough rule, the base underneath should be at least as wide as the knot of the bow.
1. Low Bun With Satin Bow
This is the pairing I’d start with if you’re unsure about bows at all. The hair is twisted into a clean knot low at the nape, and a satin bow sits just above it, where it frames the bun rather than hiding it. Satin has a sheen that shows every crease, so steam it the day before and carry it flat, never folded into a bag. Ivory or champagne satin sits more naturally against most gowns than bright white. Formal ceremonies and black-tie receptions suit the clean lines best.
2. Half-Up Waves With Champagne Bow
Half-up waves give a bow the best possible stage, because the gathered section creates a natural spot for it at the back of the crown. Curl the hair, pull the top section back and secure it with crossed bobby pins first; the champagne bow then clips over that anchor rather than holding the hair itself. A bow asked to hold hair slides down by mid-afternoon. Champagne is forgiving against both ivory and warmer gown shades, and in outdoor light it reads softer than white.
3. Sleek Low Ponytail With Ribbon Bow
Smooth the hair into a tight, glossy ponytail at the nape, then wrap a long ribbon around the base and tie it into a flowing ribbon bow with tails that hang down the back. Pale blue makes it a quiet something blue. The tails move as you walk, which looks great on the aisle, but long tails can tangle in a veil or catch on a bouquet, so I usually trim them to just past the ponytail’s end. Cut the ribbon ends at an angle to stop them fraying. Sleek, straight hair shows the line best.
4. Braided Half-Up With Pale Blue Bow
Braids are the most secure place in the whole head to fix a bow, because the plaits give pins something to grip. Here a braid runs across the crown into loose waves, and a pale blue bow is pinned into the braid itself. I slide two bobby pins through the bow’s back loop and straight into the braid at opposing angles. That way it can’t spin. Fine-art and bohemian settings suit the softness of it, and the braid hides any short layers that would otherwise escape.
5. Sleek Bun With Oversized Tulle Bow
An oversized tulle bow on a sleek low bun is the bold version of this trend, and it’s built for aisle photos taken from behind. The weight is what I watch: a large bow pulls backward over a long day, so it needs a firm base underneath, usually a bun pinned over a tight ponytail. Tulle crushes easily, so it goes on last, after the hairspray, and never under a heavy veil. If your gown already has a big bow at the back, choose one or the other; two large bows compete.
6. Low Chignon With Bow Veil
A bow veil attaches at the bun and gives you both traditions at once: a veil for the ceremony and a sweet detail from behind. The chignon underneath needs to be shiny and tight, since everything hangs from it. Ask for the veil on a comb you can slide out, and practice removing it at the trial, because pulling it out in a hurry can drag the chignon loose. Once it’s off for the reception, the polished knot stays as it was.
7. Long Loose Waves With Velvet Bow
Velvet has more weight and depth than satin, and it holds its shape without wilting, which makes it the most reliable bow fabric for fall and winter weddings. Long loose waves suit it, with the bow at the crown or over a small half-up section. The drawback is weight: on fine, silky hair a velvet bow slips unless it’s pinned into a small hidden braid or a section that’s been backcombed. Velvet also marks if crushed, so keep it boxed until the morning.
8. Pearl Bow With Sleek Straight Hair
Straight, glossy hair worn down is a clean backdrop for a pearl bow. The bow is usually tulle scattered with pearls, pinned half-up to keep the face clear. The problem with sleek hair is grip: there’s no texture to hold the pins, so I make a very small, flat ponytail at the back first and fix the bow over it. Pearl earrings repeat the detail. Naturally straight hair needs the least work here.
9. Messy Bun With Delicate Bow
A messy low bun hides pins well, which makes it one of the easiest styles to add a bow to. Tuck a small, dainty bow into the side of the bun, where loose texture holds it naturally. Leave face-framing pieces out before pinning. It holds through dancing and suits boho dresses and outdoor settings. With a bow this small, choose a fabric that keeps its shape on its own; a limp ribbon disappears into textured hair.
10. Crown Braid With Bow Accent
A crown braid wrapped around the head gives a regal, ethereal effect, and a small bow tucked into the braid where the ends meet hides the join neatly. It keeps every strand off your face, which I appreciate on a hot day. It needs long hair to wrap all the way around; on shoulder-length hair I’d build it from two Dutch braids. Keep the bow small. A large one fights the circular line of the braid.
11. High Ponytail With Statement Bow
A high ponytail with a large bow at the base lifts the whole silhouette and shows off the neck. It’s also the style that pulls hardest on the scalp, so if you’re prone to tension headaches, try it for a few hours at your trial. Smooth the hair up with gel, secure it with a strong elastic, then attach the bow over a second elastic so its weight doesn’t drag the ponytail down. Sleek ends or soft curls both work. It suits an editorial dress and a bride who wants something modern.
12. Twisted Updo With Silk Bow
Twists pinned into a sculpted shape at the back give a silk bow a structured setting. Silk is lighter than satin and has a softer drape, so it looks more fluid against the twists. It also slides more. I pin it at both the knot and each loop’s underside so it holds its shape. Formal weddings and detailed updos suit this pairing, and the twists hold layers in well through a long celebration.
13. Half-Up Bun With Bow
A small bun at the top of the head with the rest of the hair down gives you an updo’s structure with loose hair’s movement. The bow sits right at the bun, ideally slightly below it so it doesn’t add height. This works with waves or straight hair. Satin, velvet and tulle all suit it; I’d match the fabric to your dress texture. Pin the bun firmly, because a heavy bow on a loose top knot will tip forward.
14. Boho Waves With Trailing Ribbon Bow
Boho waves with a long ribbon bow are at home on a beach or in a field, where some movement is welcome. The ribbon can be woven through a few strands and tied at the back, with tails trailing down. Choose a ribbon with a little body, such as grosgrain or velvet ribbon; thin silk ribbon twists in wind. Seal the ends at an angle. It looks best with a flowing gown and loose florals.
15. Sleek Bun With Bow And Pearls
A sleek bun with both a bow and pearls is one of the more detailed looks here, and the risk is crowding. Place the bow first, then add three to five pearl pins around it, spaced unevenly so they look placed by hand. Push each pin in at an angle under a small section so it grips. Satin or tulle both work. Formal and traditional weddings suit it, and it reads well with simple earrings.
16. Side-Swept Curls With Bow
Glossy curls swept to one shoulder have an old-Hollywood feel, and a bow near the part or behind the ear gives them a sweet detail. The curls stay to one side because of a hidden row of crossed bobby pins down the back of the head, which also gives the bow something solid to pin into. Velvet suits the vintage mood; satin looks brighter. Brush the curls out gently once they’re cool so they merge into soft waves.
17. Dutch Braid With Bow
A Dutch braid sits on top of the hair rather than under it, so the raised braid is visible from a distance. Finish it with a bow tied at the end or tucked partway along. It’s casual, sporty and very secure, which makes it a good fit for an outdoor celebration with lots of movement. Longer hair gives a fuller braid. If you add a bow at the end, tie it over a clear elastic, not instead of one.
18. Low Knot With Black Velvet Bow
Black velvet against light hair and an ivory gown is the most dramatic contrast on this list. Smooth the hair into a sleek low knot at the nape, then set the velvet bow above it. Black shows dust and lint quickly, so pack a lint roller in the touch-up kit. It works best at black-tie or evening weddings and for a bride comfortable with an editorial look. Darker hair makes the contrast quieter; a deep navy or burgundy can be an alternative if black feels too stark.
19. Romantic Updo With Tulle Bow
A loose, textured updo with a tulle bow at the back reads soft and light. The tulle bow is often dotted with pearls, which gives it that modern bridal aesthetic. Leave face-framing pieces loose. It suits garden, vineyard and romantic indoor venues. Since tulle crushes easily, it should be the last thing added, after spraying, and kept away from the back of a chair during dinner.
20. Loose Low Bun With Floral Bow
Florals and a bow can share one spot if you keep both small. The bun sits low at the nape with wispy strands loose, and a bow with fresh or fabric flowers tucks into its side. Fresh flowers wilt in summer heat, so ask your florist for sturdy blooms or use fabric ones. Spring and summer weddings suit it, as do flowing gowns. If you love both flowers and bows, this is the compromise.
Securing a Bow So It Still Sits Straight at Midnight
Most bows come on a barrette or an alligator clip. Those are fine for holding the bow, but they’re not meant to hold your hair. The method I use is simple: build the hairstyle so it holds on its own, then attach the bow over it.
- Make a small anchor first: a mini ponytail, a hidden braid or a cross of bobby pins where the bow will sit.
- Clip the bow onto that anchor, not onto loose hair.
- Slide one or two bobby pins through the bow’s back loop and into the anchor at opposite angles to stop it rotating.
- Shake your head gently and turn around. If it moves, add another pin before you leave the chair.
Ivory, Champagne or Bright White?
Most gowns are not pure white, and a bright white bow can make an ivory dress look yellow in photos. Hold the bow against your gown in daylight before you buy it, or ask your bridal shop for a fabric swatch. If you can’t match exactly, go a shade darker rather than lighter; champagne or blush reads as an intentional choice, while a slightly off white looks like a mistake.
If you’re also wearing a veil, decide where each one goes. A bow above the bun and a veil comb below it is the most common arrangement, and it lets the veil come out without disturbing the bow.
Start With the Bow, Then Build the Hair Around It
A bow is simple to love and harder to wear than it looks, mostly because fabric behaves differently from hair. Pick the fabric first, think about weight and how it sits with your veil, and pin it over a secure base rather than using it to hold hair. From sleek buns to braids and tulle statements, any of these styles can carry a bow if it’s attached properly. Bring the actual bow to your trial, try it with your veil, and wear it for a few hours to see whether it stays straight.
You'll Like These Ideas:
Leave a Reply