Curly hair gives a wedding guest a head start. Those coils, ringlets, and waves carry volume that a straight-haired guest spends an hour with a curling iron chasing. What decides whether a curly style lasts until the last song is mostly the pinning and the weather, and that’s what I talk through for each look below. Some are best done by a stylist; plenty you can manage on your own in twenty minutes.
Going to a Salon That Mostly Does Blow-Dries
If you book an appointment for a wedding, ask when you call whether the stylist regularly works with curly hair. Many salon updos start with a blow-dry and a curling iron, which will undo your natural pattern and leave you with a different texture by the end of the night.
Arrive with your curls washed, defined and fully dry, styled the way you’d wear them normally. Ask the stylist to pin the hair as it is, without brushing it out. A stylist who knows curls will use more pins and less heat, and will set loose pieces with gel instead of a curling iron.
- Bring a photo of the style and a photo of your own hair styled at its best.
- Say clearly whether you want your natural curl kept or a smoother, heat-styled finish.
- Ask for the style to be built a little tighter than you’d like; curls loosen through the day.
- Bring your own gel if your hair reacts to unfamiliar products.
Give yourself more time than a straight-haired friend booked for the same style. Pinning curls without disturbing them is slower work, and I would rather you sat in the chair an extra fifteen minutes than rushed out with pins that will loosen by the first toast.
1. Curly Low Bun With Face-Framing Tendrils
I start almost every curly guest with this one, because it’s forgiving. Twist the curls loosely at the nape and pin the coils over the twist so you see texture, not a smooth roll. Pull a few tendrils loose at the temples and define them with a finger and some gel. It clears the neck on a warm day and leaves the ears free for earrings.
2. Curly Half-Up Half-Down With Twists
Take a section from each side of the face, twist it loosely toward the back and pin the two twists where they meet. The lower half stays down. Twisting rather than braiding is quicker and kinder to fine curls, which can look thin in a braid. A small jeweled clip hides the meeting point. If your curls are short around the face, start the twist a little further back so the ends don’t spring out.
3. Voluminous Curly Updo
This is the dramatic option. The curls are gathered toward the crown for height, with the roots gently teased first so the shape doesn’t collapse under its own weight. Thick, dense curls hold it best; fine curls will look sparse at the crown without padding. It suits a formal evening wedding and a sleek dress. Plan on a stylist for this one, as building even height at the back is hard to judge in a mirror.
4. Curly Dutch Braid Into A Bun
A Dutch braid sits on top of the hair rather than lying flat, which suits curls because the texture fills it out. Braid from the hairline back, then wrap the tail into a low bun and pin it. The braid takes the strain off the bun, so the whole thing stays put through hours of dancing. I’d braid with slightly damp curls and a little cream so the sections stay neat, then mist lightly with hairspray at the end.
5. Defined Curls Worn Down
Defined curls worn down only need product and drying time. Use a curl cream or gel on wet hair to clump the pattern, let it dry completely and leave it alone. My honest caution: humidity softens definition fast, so this is a dry-weather style. A thin headband or one side tucked behind the ear with a sparkly pin adds polish.
6. Curly Side-Swept Style
Old Hollywood, with your own texture. Sweep the curls over one shoulder and pin the opposite side flat with a short row of crossed pins behind the ear. It shows off the jaw and an earring on the bare side, and sits nicely with an off-the-shoulder dress. Medium to long curls are needed to reach the shoulder. Keep the curls loose for a garden party, or define them more tightly for a black-tie evening.
7. Curly Ballerina Bun Half-Up
A half-up ballerina bun puts a small, rounded bun at the crown and leaves the rest of the curls down. I gather only the top section, twist it into a bun and pin it in a circle so it doesn’t wobble. It adds height without a full updo. A small bow or a few pearl pins around the base keep it dressy, and round faces get a little length from the height.
8. Romantic Braided Curly Bun
For a big anniversary or a formal family wedding, a braided bun has real presence. A loose braid wraps around a curly bun, holding it while adding woven detail. The curls stop it from looking tight. I’d pin the braid to the bun every inch or so; skipping pins is where the braid starts to sag by the speeches. Tiny flowers or pearls make it festive. It looks bridal, so keep accents simple.
9. Curly Hair With A Flower Crown
Wear the curls down or in a soft low bun and rest a flower crown around the head. It’s garden-party hair, made for outdoor and beach weddings. I’d pin the crown at both temples and behind, since curls push it upward. Silk flowers hold up better than fresh ones on a hot day. Check with the couple first; some ask guests to keep flowers to the bridal party.
10. Sleek Curly Ponytail
Smooth the hair around the crown with a strong-hold gel, gather it high and let the voluminous tail burst out below the band. The sleek top and big tail make a sharp contrast. Wrap a strand around the elastic to hide it. On very thick curls I use two elastics, one on top of the other, as one alone often slips under the weight by evening.
11. Curly Low Side Bun
A low side bun sits at the nape just off to one side, with the curls twisted loosely so the texture stays relaxed. A few tendrils escape near the face. It works with chandelier earrings on the opposite side and suits an evening wedding. Medium and long curls manage it. A jeweled comb tucked on the far side balances the shape.
12. Curly Hair With A Headband
A headband turns loose curls into a finished look in a minute. Slide a pearl, crystal or fabric band over the hair and let the curls fall. I’d look for one with small teeth or a velvet lining underneath; curls are springy and will walk a smooth band forward over the evening. Match it to the color of your outfit and keep the jewelry delicate.
13. Curly Messy Updo
The trick to a messy updo is that it’s only messy on the outside. I tease the curls lightly for volume, then pin the core of the updo firmly before loosening wisps around the face and neck. Built that way, it softens as the night goes on without collapsing. A few pearl-tipped pins catch the light. Works for boho and modern weddings equally.
14. Curly Crown Braid
Braid the curls around the head like a halo, keeping the face and neck clear. Curly texture gives the braid body, so it never looks thin. It’s my pick for a hot daytime ceremony outdoors. Medium to long hair is needed to go all the way round; shorter curls can do a half crown and pin the ends behind one ear. Tuck in small flowers or leave it plain.
15. Curly Hair With Pearl Pins
Pearl pins are the easiest way to dress up curls. Wear your hair down, half-up or in a loose bun and push the pins in where they’ll catch light. Clustering them on one side reads modern; spacing them evenly reads classic. Use pins with a ridged grip, as smooth ones slide out of springy curls. Keep the rest of your jewelry simple so the pearls stay the focus.
16. Curly Top Knot
A high top knot puts all the curls at the crown in a full, rounded twist. It lengthens the neck and leaves the face completely clear, so earrings and a strong lip both stand out. It keeps hair off the shoulders in summer heat and on a busy dance floor. Leave a few curls loose at the front for balance. I’d pin it in a full circle around the base, not just from two sides, or it leans.
17. Curly Half-Up With A Bow
Bows are everywhere at the moment, and they suit curls better than straight hair because the curls fill in around the knot. Pull the top section back and secure it with an elastic first, then tie or clip the bow over it; the bow alone won’t hold curly hair. Choose satin for daytime and velvet for an evening or winter wedding. Fluff the curls under the bow so they frame it.
18. Curly Hair With A Deep Side Part
Moving your part is the smallest change on this list. Sweep the hair deeply to one side and let the curls tumble over that shoulder. It draws attention to the eyes and cheekbones and suits a formal evening wedding. Curls resist a new part, so I wet the roots, set the new line with gel and clip it flat for ten minutes while it dries.
19. Curly Updo With Loose Tendrils
Pin the curls up into a bun or a twisted shape, then pull a few coils loose around the face and neck. The tendrils keep an updo from looking stiff and move as you dance. Twist each loose coil around a finger with a little gel; untreated tendrils turn frizzy first. A light hairspray at the end holds the shape without making the curls crunchy.
20. Curly Hair With A Hair Vine
A hair vine is a bendable wire threaded with crystals or pearls. Its strength is flexibility: it follows the line of a braid, wraps around a bun or sits along loose curls. I thread it through the hair and secure it with small pins every few inches, because curls push it out of place otherwise. Position it where it shows clearly against the curls, usually the side or back of the head.
21. Curly Pinned-Back Style
Twist small pieces from each side of the face and pin them at the back, leaving the rest of the curls down. That’s the whole style. It keeps hair out of your eyes, takes minutes and suits a casual or semi-formal wedding. A decorative pin or clip adds a little sparkle. It’s also the easiest style in this list to fix on the go if a piece comes loose.
22. Curly Hair With A Bandana Or Scarf
A silk scarf or bandana gives curly hair color and a retro feel. Tie it as a headband or wrap it through a bun. Silk is gentle on curls and helps shield them from wind on a beach or boat. Pick a print that picks up a color from your outfit. It suits relaxed and destination weddings; at a formal church ceremony it can look too casual.
23. Curly Fishtail Braid
A fishtail looks more complicated than it is. Gather the curls to one side, split them into two sections and cross small pieces from the outside of each section to the other. Pull it wider once it’s done. It drapes over one shoulder and frames the face and neckline. Curls give it body, so it never looks flat. Small flowers or pearl pins along the braid finish it.
24. Curly Bob Styled For A Wedding
Short curls are quick to style for a wedding and look sharp with good definition. Use a styling cream, lift the roots slightly with a pick and pin one side back with a sparkly clip. A curly bob shows the neck and face, which makes statement earrings worthwhile. If you’re planning a trim, have it done a couple of weeks before the wedding so the curls have time to settle into their new shape.
25. Curly High Half-Up With Volume
The last look is a fun one. Pull the top section up and back, secure it with a clip or elastic and let the rest of the curls fall. Tease the crown gently for height. The lift at the top lengthens the face and makes the style look more finished than a plain half-up. A decorative clip or pearl pins on the join complete it.
Matching the Style to Your Neckline
The dress usually decides more than the venue. I look at the neckline first, because curls worn down hide a lot of what’s going on at the shoulders.
- High neck or halter: go up. Curls resting on a high neckline hide the detail and can look heavy.
- One shoulder: sweep the curls to the bare side or pin a side bun on the covered side, depending on which shows more.
- Strapless or off-the-shoulder: nearly anything works; a top knot shows the collarbones, loose curls soften them.
- Low back: a low bun or a pinned updo keeps the back visible; long curls cover it completely.
Busy prints and lots of beading look better with a calmer style. A plain silk slip dress can carry a big, voluminous updo. When in doubt, take a photo of yourself in the dress with your hair down and then up, and compare.
Your Curls, the Dress Code and How Long You’ll Be Dancing
Natural curls give you a lot to work with at a wedding. Start with the dress code and the weather, then think about how many hours you’ll be on your feet. A low bun or a half-up bow suits a long day; defined curls worn down suit a dry evening. Add one accessory, such as pearl pins, a flower or a hair vine, and choose a style that feels comfortable enough to forget about once the music starts.
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