A curly updo is one of the most secure things a bride can wear. Texture grips pins, it hides them, and it gives a bun natural volume that straight hair only gets from padding and teasing. Loose waves, spirals and tight coils all go up well; what changes is how I build the base and how much I let the curls show on the surface. Below are 25 bridal updos, each with the notes I’d share at a trial about how it’s put together and who it suits.
Bringing Your Curls to the Bridal Trial in Wedding Day Condition
A trial only tells us something useful if your hair arrives the way it will on the wedding morning. I’d rather see your curls on the day you’d normally wear them, washed on your usual schedule and styled with your usual products, than freshly washed and still damp.
- Arrive with dry, defined curls on the wash day you plan to use for the wedding.
- Bring photos of your own curls styled, not just inspiration from other textures.
- Bring the veil, comb or headpiece, plus a photo of the dress neckline and back.
- Wear a top with a similar neckline so we can see the proportion.
- Mention how your curls react to heat and humidity, and whether you have sensitive scalp spots.
At the trial I’ll check density, shrinkage and how the curls hold pins. I also take photos from the back and sides, because that’s what guests see during the ceremony. Wear it for a few hours afterward and note anything that pulls or slips.
1. Voluminous Curly Bun for Wedding
Height and softness come from the roots here, not the bun. I tease gently at the crown underneath the top layer, then gather the spirals loosely into a voluminous curly bun and pin each curl as it falls instead of forcing them into a neat shape. Leave a few pieces at the face. With a strapless or sweetheart neckline, the volume up top balances the open shoulders well.
2. Low Curly Bun with Face-Framing Tendrils
The low bun is the updo I’d suggest to most brides wearing a long veil. A comb slides in just above the knot and the weight hangs straight down. I add root lift at the crown first so the top doesn’t sit flat, and I define the tendrils separately so they match the curl pattern instead of looking pulled out at the end. Indoors or out, it holds.
3. Messy Curly Updo for Wedding
Messy updos are harder to get right than neat ones, because there’s a line between undone and unfinished. I build a secure base first with hidden pins, then pull curls loose in a few places only. On a long outdoor day the loose pieces will relax, so I start them a little tighter than the final look. Boho brides and garden venues suit it best.
4. Curly Half-Up Half-Down Wedding Style
Half up, half down isn’t strictly an updo, but it’s a frequent choice for curly brides who want to keep their length visible. I twist or pin the top section to create a little crown, then let the bottom curls hang free. The thing to know: loose curls on the back get crushed against a chair and flattened by a long veil, so I set them a bit firmer than the top and bring a diffuser for touch-ups.
5. Princess Curly Updo with Pinned Curls
A princess-inspired curly updo is built curl by curl. I pin each spiral individually at the nape, layering them into a sculpted shape so the pins hold each one at its base. It takes longer than a bun but holds through a ballgown day in a grand venue. A tiara needs to be anchored into a firm section toward the front, so I plan where it sits before I pin anything.
6. Curly Faux Hawk Wedding Updo
The faux hawk is for the bride who’d rather wear a jumpsuit than a ballgown. I sweep and pin the sides tight to the head, then stack the curls in a ridge from the forehead down to the nape. Crossed bobby pins along each side keep it symmetrical. Pair it with a sleek modern gown or jumpsuit; it fights with lace veils and soft tulle.
7. Loose Curl Updo for Wedding
Loose curls gathered gently rather than pinned tight give a lighter, airier shape. I enhance each curl’s definition before I start, because once they’re up, there’s no chance to redefine them without taking the style down. Tendrils at the face add softness. This one depends on good hold product; without it the curls will fall long before the reception.
8. Curly Updo with Braided Crown
A braid running around the head frames the face and holds everything securely, then the remaining curls go into a soft bun or twist. I braid with damp curls and a little cream so the braid doesn’t frizz. Tuck small flowers or baby’s breath into the braid; their stems slide in between the plaits and stay put. It suits garden and boho weddings.
9. High Curly Bun for Wedding
A high bun lengthens the neck and gives the most presence of any updo here. I tease underneath at the crown, gather the curls into a full knot and pin it with large pins angled down into the base. The weight of curly hair high on the head can cause a headache by evening, so if you’re sensitive I’d lower it slightly. Statement earrings and open necklines suit it.
10. Curly Updo with Flowers
Flowers in a curly updo hold well because the texture grips the stems. I ask the florist for hardy blooms, spray roses, wax flower and baby’s breath rather than delicate petals that wilt against warm hair, and I wire them before they go in. Gather the curls into a loose bun or twist first and add the flowers last, so you can place them where the light hits. Spring and outdoor weddings suit it.
11. Curly Chignon for Wedding
Curls give a chignon volume it wouldn’t have with straight hair. I loop the hair into a low knot at the back and pin it in a horseshoe pattern so the weight sits evenly. For formal ceremonies and long veils, it’s a dependable choice. Leave a few curls loose around the face to soften it.
12. Curly Updo with Side Swept Curls
A side-swept updo gathers curls into a soft cluster behind one ear. I place it slightly behind the ear rather than right on it, so it doesn’t crush against the shoulder as you turn your head. It draws attention to the opposite earring and the neckline. It suits off-shoulder and vintage-inspired gowns.
13. Curly Top Knot for Wedding
A top knot is clean, modern and keeps the neck completely clear on a hot day. Gather everything at the crown and twist it into a knot, pinning with jumbo pins because of the weight. Pull a few curls out at the face so it doesn’t look severe. Minimalist gowns suit it. I’d steer away from it with a cathedral veil, which needs a lower anchor point.
14. Curly Updo with Pearl Pins
Pearl pins add a soft shine without competing with the bride’s jewelry. I place them after the bun is finished, sliding each one in against the curl direction so it grips. A loose bun or twist works as the base. Five to seven pins is usually enough; more than that starts to look like a pattern instead of an accent. Matching pearl earrings tie it together.
15. Curly Updo with Curtain Bangs
A curly updo paired with curtain bangs frames the face with soft pieces on each side. Curly bangs shrink when they dry, so if you’re cutting them for the wedding, do it two to three weeks before and cut them dry, longer than you think. On the day I curl the bangs gently to blend with the rest of the texture.
16. Curly Updo with Twisted Sides
Twisting the sides back gives this updo clean lines that lead to the curls at the back. I twist each side in the curl direction and pin underneath the twist, not through it. Small pins or flowers along the twist add detail. It holds through formal and semi-formal weddings and stays neat even when the bun at the back relaxes a little.
17. Curly Updo for Black Brides
For Black brides with tightly coiled hair, an updo can show off texture exactly as it is. I define coils with a cream and gel, then gather them into a full, sculpted shape: a high bun, a twisted crown, pinned curls. Gold pins, beads or flowers add personal detail. Stretching the hair with a twist-out or braid-out the day before helps it go up more easily and shows more length.
18. Curly Updo with Headband
A decorative band across the crown with a soft bun behind it is a neat, secure option. The band holds any frizz at the hairline in place. I pin the band at both ends behind the ears so it doesn’t slide back during the day. Pearl, crystal and floral bands all suit it.
19. Vintage Curly Updo for Wedding
Vintage updos draw on classic Hollywood and Edwardian beauty: sculpted curls arranged into a structured shape. I set pin curls or finger waves first, then gather them into the updo. It takes longer at a trial and on the day, so I’d allow extra time. A jeweled comb or birdcage veil completes it, and it suits retro themes and classic venues.
20. Curly Bun with Wisps for Wedding
Wisps should be planned, not pulled. I separate the face and neck pieces before gathering the bun, then define each with a small iron or a twist of cream. That way they match the curl pattern instead of looking like stray hair. Simple earrings keep the attention on the curls.
21. Curly Updo with Gold Accessories
Gold pins, cuffs and leaf accessories look warm against curly hair and suit warm skin tones and rich color palettes. I add them after the updo is finished, placing them where the light catches. Don’t overdo it; three or four pieces are plenty. Match the metal to your jewelry.
22. Curly Updo for Short Hair Wedding
Short curls can go up too, as long as there’s enough length at the nape to pin. I gather the back and sides upward and pin from underneath, letting curls peek out on top. Bobby pins work better than large pins on short hair. Add a sparkly clip or flowers. If it’s very short at the nape, a half-up style is more secure.
23. Curly Updo with Veil for Wedding
A veil needs a firm base, so I always plan the veil placement before I finish the updo. The comb goes in either just above or just below the bun, depending on how you want it to fall. Curls around the veil comb help hide it. When the veil comes off for the reception, the updo underneath should still hold, because I’ve pinned the comb into its own section rather than the bun itself.
24. Curly Updo with Loose Tendrils
Tendrils around the face, ears and neck soften a structured updo. I define them separately with an iron or cream so they match the curls in the bun. The contrast between polished shape and loose pieces suits almost every wedding theme. Statement earrings sit well against them.
25. Curly Updo with Twisted Bun
Twisting sections before gathering them into a bun adds texture and keeps the style secure. I twist in the curl direction and pin each twist at the base. The twists spread the weight across many pins, so it holds through a long day. Pearl pins or small flowers finish it, and it suits formal and semi-formal weddings.
Where the Veil Comb Goes in a Curly Updo
Veil placement changes depending on the updo. A comb above the bun lets the veil fall over it and frame the shape; below the bun, the veil hangs straight and the updo stays fully visible. A heavy cathedral veil needs a solid anchor, so I pin a small section into a flat base before the comb goes in.
Taking the veil out without wrecking the style
Ask whoever helps you to remove the pins holding the comb first, then slide the comb out in the direction it went in. Pulling it straight back drags curls loose. I leave a few spare pins with the maid of honor so anything that loosens can be pinned back in a minute.
How a Curly Updo Changes Between the Vows and the Last Dance
Curls keep moving after they’re pinned. Body heat and humidity loosen the pattern, so a bun that looked tight at noon will be softer and wider by the first dance. I plan for that by setting the surface curls a little tighter than the finished look and by pinning the base firmly enough that the shape can relax without collapsing.
For touch-ups, a small kit covers almost everything: a few matching bobby pins, a travel can of flexible hairspray and a tiny pot of curl cream for frizzy tendrils. Avoid brushing anything during the day. Twist a frizzy piece around your finger with a little cream and let it spring back.
Build the Base, Then Let the Curls Show
Curly hair makes some of the most secure and textured bridal updos there are. Voluminous buns, twisted crowns, soft tendrils and faux hawks all work, as long as the base is built firmly and the curls are defined before they go up. A ballroom or a garden suits different shapes, so let the venue and your dress guide you. Define the curls, plan the veil, add a few face-framing pieces, and wear it like your own hair.
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