Curls already have the movement and body that most bridal styles try to create with heat. Loose waves, bouncy ringlets and tight coils each need their own approach, though, and a style that looks soft in a photo can be a very different thing to wear for twelve hours. I’ve written each idea below the way I’d explain it to a bride in my chair: how it’s built, what it suits and what to watch for. Accessories come up a lot, because curls hold pearls, flowers and combs better than almost any other texture.
Stepping Into the Dress After Your Curls Are Pinned
Curly brides often do their hair first and then realize the dress has to go on over it. Pulling a gown over the head will crush the curls and can loosen pins. I plan the morning so the hair survives it.
- Wear a button-front or zip-front shirt while your hair is styled, so it comes off without touching your head.
- Step into the dress from the floor rather than pulling it over your head.
- If the dress must go over your head, cover the hair with a thin scarf or a silk pillowcase first.
- Put the veil in after the dress and jewelry, not before.
I also leave a few minutes after the dress is on to check the curls at the back, which is where the zip or buttons tend to catch.
For a gown with a high, buttoned collar, I sometimes leave the last few curls at the nape unpinned until the buttons are done, then finish them. It adds five minutes but saves the back of the style.
1. Curly Low Bun Wedding Updo
Low buns are the workhorse of curly bridal hair. I gather the ringlets into a loose, rounded shape at the nape and pin the outer curls individually so the texture stays visible. It sits neatly under a veil, and the pins hold for a full day of hugs and dancing. Leave a tendril or two at the face. Small pearls or flowers tucked into the bun are optional; the shape is already detailed enough.
2. Half Up Half Down Curly Wedding Hairstyle
Half-up suits brides who want curls on show but not in their face during the vows. The top section is pinned back and the rest cascades over the shoulders. I secure it with crossed pins rather than an elastic, then add a clip or twist the sides. It works for most necklines and holds up outdoors, though on a muggy day the loose half will grow, so I set it more firmly than I would for everyday wear.
3. Curly Side Swept Wedding Hairstyle
Draping every curl over one shoulder leaves the other side open for an off-the-shoulder gown or a dramatic earring. The look depends on what you can’t see: a flat line of pins behind the ear on the open side. Without it the curls slide back across within an hour. Loose waves and defined curls both work. It reads glamorous in a portrait and still suits a small, intimate wedding.
4. Curly Updo With Tendrils for Brides
The curls you leave out matter as much as the ones you pin. I build the updo first, then pull a few soft pieces at the temples and nape, setting each with a little gel. On naturally curly hair I don’t curl it again before pinning, as is often suggested for straight hair; I just refresh the definition. The open neck shows jewelry and the back of the gown. It pairs nicely with a vintage-style dress or a flower crown.
5. Voluminous Curly Bun Princess Updo
This princess-inspired updo is all about volume: a cloud of soft curls pinned at the back with height at the crown. I lift the roots gently with a pick before pinning, and I pin loosely so it reads airy rather than stiff. It sits well under a tiara or a jeweled headpiece, which I place last. Fine curls may need a small hidden padding piece to reach the same fullness.
6. Curly Hair With Flower Crown for Wedding
A flower crown sits on loose or half-up curls. Curls are springy and will push a crown up as the day goes on, so I pin it at both temples and behind with crossed bobby pins over the wire. Choose blooms that match your bouquet; baby’s breath and greenery last well, while soft-petaled pastel flowers can wilt in the sun. It suits a boho or outdoor wedding.
7. Curly Wedding Hairstyle With Pearls
Tiny pearl pins scattered through ringlets are one of the simplest bridal details. They work in an updo, a half-up or along a braid. I place them where pins already hold the shape, so they double as anchors. Pearls flatter vintage-style gowns and photograph with a soft glow instead of glare. Keep them to one area of the head; spread over all the curls they compete with the texture.
8. Curly Bridal Updo With Braids
One or two braids woven into gathered curls add detail without fuss. French or Dutch braids leading into a soft bun work best, because they lock the bun in place as well as decorating it. I braid with the curls slightly damp and a little cream, which keeps the sections neat; then I pull them wider once dry. It holds securely through long celebrations.
9. Loose Curly Waves for Wedding Day
Loose waves suit brides with naturally wavy or loosely curled hair, and they need very little work. Mousse on damp hair and air-drying give a soft, undone texture. I sweep the front back slightly or add a small clip so it doesn’t fall in your face while you sign the register. My one warning: waves are the texture most likely to drop in humid weather, so check the forecast.
10. Curly High Bun Wedding Hairstyle
A high bun at the crown gives height and shows off the neckline, the earrings and the back of the gown. On curly hair I pin it loosely so it looks airy, with a few tendrils at the face. It clears the neck completely, a relief at a summer wedding. Long, oval faces suit the height best. With a veil, the comb goes beneath the bun, not into it.
11. Curly Hair Half Up With Veil
Half-up is my preferred base for a veil on curly hair. The top section is pinned smooth, which gives the veil comb something to grip, and the curls flow below. After the veil comes off for the reception, the half-up stays intact. Cathedral and fingertip veils both work. For a long veil I add a couple of extra crossed pins over the comb, as the weight drags on it all through the ceremony.
12. Boho Curly Wedding Hairstyle
Boho curls combine loose texture with twists, braids and softly pinned sections. The trick is building the volume before styling, by diffusing upside down or lifting the roots with a pick. Secure the sides loosely and leave most of the curls flowing. Dried flowers, greenery or gold pins suit it. I’d pair it with a flowing lace gown at a beach or garden wedding.
13. Curly Updo With Hair Accessories
The right accessory turns a simple updo into the focal point. A jeweled comb, crystal pin or sparkling hairband goes where it catches the most light, usually just above and behind the ear. Match the metal to your jewelry and gown. Keep the curls loose so the piece stands out, and bring it to your trial; heavy pieces need extra pins hidden underneath.
14. Curly Ponytail Wedding Hairstyle
A ponytail can be properly bridal on curls. High or low, I smooth the crown, wrap a strand around the base to hide the elastic and leave face-framing pieces out. Heavy curly ponytails slide, so I anchor the band with two pins crossed underneath. It keeps hair off the shoulders for dancing and suits a modern dress.
15. Curly Chignon Wedding Updo
A curly chignon is the classic low knot with more texture. I coil the curls at the nape and pin the outer ones individually so they don’t flatten. Leave a few tendrils at the face. It suits a vintage-style gown and statement earrings and holds well in photographs taken late in the evening. Coily hair may need a light stretch first so the knot has enough length.
16. Short Curly Wedding Hairstyle
Short curls only need definition and a little lift at the crown to look bridal. I refine the shape with a cream, lift the roots with a pick and add a small clip, a headband or one flower. It suits pixie cuts and curly bobs equally. Have the cut done about three weeks before the wedding, so the shape has settled and the ends are soft. Short hair also keeps you cool at a summer wedding.
17. Curly Hair With Side Braid for Wedding
A side braid sweeps the hair to one side, with a loose plait running through your ringlets. I braid it loosely and pull a few pieces out to soften the edges. It pairs with an off-the-shoulder gown and suits an outdoor ceremony. Small flowers or pearls tucked along the braid add charm without much weight.
18. Curly Crown Braid Wedding Hairstyle
A crown braid sits around the top of the head like a halo, and the rest of the curls can fall free or be tucked into the braid for a full updo. Curly hair grips the braid well, so it rarely slips. I find it easier to braid two sides separately and join them at the back than to do one continuous braid. Tiny flowers or pearls set into the braid suit boho and classic weddings alike.
19. Curly Hair Down Wedding Hairstyle
Wearing curls completely down shows off their length and volume. Define the curls, add shine and sweep the front slightly back. A simple headpiece or a veil sits on top without competing. It works from beach to ballroom. I’d only steer you away from it on a very humid day, when the curls will expand and lose definition.
20. Curly Updo With Fresh Flowers
Fresh flowers in a curly updo need wiring, not just tucking. I trim each stem short, wrap it with floral wire and push it in with a U-pin so the curls hold it like a nest. Roses, baby’s breath and greenery last; delicate blooms wilt. Ask your florist for spare stems from the bouquet. I place them after the veil, so the comb doesn’t crush them.
21. Sleek Front Curly Wedding Hairstyle
A smooth front and curly back gives a modern contrast. I slick the front back with gel and a soft brush, then let the curls flow or pile behind. A sparkling clip at the transition hides where the smooth section ends. It works best on long curls. The sleek section is the part most likely to puff in humidity, so I seal it with a light anti-humidity spray.
22. Curly Hairstyle With Headband for Bride
A headband is the simplest accessory for curly hair. Pearl, crystal or floral, it slips over loose curls or marks the line of a half-up. Look for a band with small teeth or a lining underneath, because smooth bands slide on springy curls. Choose one that matches your gown and jewelry. It’s also a good choice for a bride who doesn’t want a veil.
23. Curly Twisted Updo Wedding Hairstyle
Twisting sections back before pinning gives a curly updo shape and depth. I twist each section toward the center and pin it where the twist naturally locks, which is where it holds best. It suits formal weddings and medium to long hair. Leave a few pieces loose at the face, and add pearls or a jeweled pin. It holds for a long day of dancing.
24. Curly Hair With Tiara for Wedding
A sparkling tiara sits well on curls, which hide the band and give it height. Wear the curls up in a full updo or down beneath the tiara. I pin a tiara through its side loops into a small hidden braid so it can’t tilt or slide back when you hug people. It suits a formal wedding. Bring it to your trial, since a heavier tiara changes where I put the volume.
25. Curly Messy Bun Wedding Hairstyle
A messy bun gathers the curls loosely at the back, with tendrils pulled out at the face. It looks undone, but it’s pinned firmly underneath, so it survives dancing. It suits a boho, garden or intimate wedding. A small floral pin or a few pearls add a bridal touch. It’s also the style I’d suggest to brides who don’t like the feel of a tightly pinned updo.
Golden Hour, Flash and the Halo of Frizz
Curly hair looks different in different light. With the sun behind you, every stray hair lights up, so a few flyaways you’d never notice indoors show as a bright halo around the head. Some brides like that soft glow; others don’t.
If you’d rather keep the outline clean, I smooth the surface with a light cream or a fine-tooth comb dipped in a little gel just before portraits. Flash photography shows shine and frizz more strongly, so a quick touch-up before the reception photos helps.
Talk to your photographer about it too. A photographer who knows you want a clean outline can position you with the light coming from the side rather than straight behind, which keeps the curls defined and still gives a warm glow on the skin. If you love the halo, tell them that instead, and skip the smoothing.
Switching to a reception look
Some curly brides change their hair after the ceremony. A half-up can drop into loose curls in minutes, or an updo can become a lower, softer bun. If you plan this, ask your stylist to show your maid of honor how at the trial, and keep a few pins and a small spray bottle of water in your kit.
Taking Your Favorite Curly Look to a Trial
Curls give you real choice on your wedding day, from a voluminous princess updo to flowing half-up hair or a boho style with flowers. Shortlist two or three looks you like, then test them with your stylist and your veil or headpiece. How the style suits your curl type and how it lasts through the day decide more than the photo does. Walk down the aisle with hair that still feels like your own.
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