Flower girls are my quickest and least predictable clients. A six-year-old will give me about fifteen good minutes in the chair, then she wants to see the cake. So the styles I recommend for children have to go in fast, sit comfortably on a small head and survive running, hugging and a nap in the car. Long hair, short hair and tight curls all have options here, from flower crowns and low buns to braids that won’t budge. Most of them can carry a ribbon, a few petals or small clips in your wedding colors. Below are 25 I’d happily do on a little one, with notes on who each suits and where they tend to fall apart.
A Trial Run With a Child Who Won’t Sit Still
I always suggest a short practice run at home a week or two before. Not a full salon trial; just enough to see whether the style sits comfortably and whether she’ll tolerate it. A few things I’ve learned to plan around:
- Do her hair after she’s eaten and before she’s tired. A hungry child and a hot iron is a bad mix.
- Keep the session under twenty minutes. If a style takes longer than that, choose a simpler one.
- Let her watch in a mirror or hold a tablet. Children sit much longer when they can see what’s happening.
- Use soft, snag-free elastics and as few pins as possible. Every pin is one more thing that can scratch.
- Wash her hair the night before, not the morning of. Freshly washed hair on a child is slippery and won’t hold.
On the wedding morning, I schedule the flower girl near the end of the hair timeline, so her style is as fresh as possible and she’s not waiting in a dress for hours.
Age changes my choices more than hair length does. Under five, I stick to pigtails, half-up styles and headbands that go in fast and can’t hurt. Older girls can usually manage a crown braid or a small updo, and they often want a say in it, which helps them sit still.
1. Flower Crown With Loose Curls
Loose curls under a flower crown is the look most parents picture first. It is also the one that changes most during the day, because children’s hair is usually finer and silkier than an adult’s and curls drop quickly. I set the curls with foam rollers or a cool barrel and a light mist rather than a heavy spray. The crown should be light, with a soft wire base, and pinned in with two crossed bobby pins on each side so it doesn’t slide forward when she runs. Garden and rustic weddings suit it best.
2. Braided Halo Crown
A halo braid wraps right around the head and keeps every strand off her face, which is why I reach for it with the busiest children. It needs hair at least to the shoulders. I braid it a little looser than I would on a bride, since a child will tell you in no uncertain terms if it pulls, and tight braiding on young scalps is uncomfortable for hours. Tiny pearl pins or flowers along the braid finish it, and a couple of loose wisps by the ears soften the shape.
3. Half-Up Half-Down With Bow
Half-up with a bow is my safe pick for children who don’t like their hair fully tied back. The top section comes back off the face, the rest stays in soft waves, and a satin bow covers the elastic. Matching the bow to the bridesmaid dresses ties her into the bridal party photos. It takes five minutes on any length, and if the waves fall flat by evening, the bow still makes it look finished. Clip-on bows are easier to re-fix than ones tied in.
4. Classic Low Bun With Flowers
A low bun is the most secure option on a child with long hair, and it stays put through the whole reception. The trick is size. I keep it small and low at the nape, because a big bun on a small head looks like a borrowed hairstyle. Small blooms or a floral pin go around it, and a few wisps loose at the front keep it from looking severe. It sits comfortably under a flower crown or a tiny veil, and there are no pins near the top of the head to dig in when she leans back in a chair.
5. Double Dutch Braids
Double Dutch braids are the style I trust most for an energetic child. Two raised braids run back along each side of the head and lock everything in place. They hold through hours of dancing and still look neat for the last photos. They suit most textures and lengths from chin-length upward. I finish the ends with ribbon in the wedding colors, or slide tiny flowers between the plaits. On very fine hair, braiding slightly damp hair with a little leave-in helps the braids grip.
6. Curly Ponytail With Ribbon
A curly ponytail is simple, and simple is often right for a flower girl. High or low, the length gets curled for bounce and a ribbon wraps the base to hide the elastic. I use a snag-free elastic and never pull it tight; a heavy ponytail pulled hard against a young scalp gives headaches by mid-afternoon. A small flower clip at the base adds a little more. It takes minutes on medium or long hair.
7. Flower Girl Updo With Baby’s Breath
An updo with baby’s breath looks airy, but I only suggest it for slightly older flower girls who can sit still for twenty minutes. Younger children rarely tolerate the pinning. Gathering the hair up keeps her cool in summer, and loose tendrils at the face keep it soft. One thing to know about baby’s breath: fresh gypsophila has a noticeable smell up close and sheds tiny bits, so I sometimes use silk sprigs instead. It sits well alongside a bride wearing an updo.
8. Twisted Side Braid
A twisted side braid lies over one shoulder and suits long or medium hair. I pancake it a little, pulling the edges loose, for a softer garden look, or leave it neat for formal ceremonies. Small flowers can be tucked along its length, and a ribbon finishes the end. The braid is secure through both ceremony and reception. Watch which shoulder it sits on: put it on the side that faces the guests as she walks, so it shows in aisle photos.
9. Top Knot With Floral Accent
Top knots are fast and almost indestructible, which is why I like them for younger girls. Gathering the hair high keeps it out of her face, and a small floral accent or clip beside the knot makes it a wedding style rather than a school one. On a casual day it can look playful; with pearls it dresses up. I leave a few soft strands at the hairline and keep the elastic gentle, so it never feels tight. Medium to long hair of most textures works.
10. Natural Curls With Flower Clips
Natural curls need very little from me, and that’s the point. I refresh them with water and a leave-in conditioner, define a few around her face, and tuck small flower clips along one side or scattered throughout. No heat, no tight pins, nothing to tug. This is my first suggestion for a curly child who hates having her hair done. It suits boho, casual and garden weddings, and the curls hold their own shape all day without help.
11. Braided Crown With Trailing Curls
A braided crown with curls trailing down the back gives the polish of an updo with the softness of hair worn down. The braid secures the front; the curls move. Tiny blossoms tucked along the braid add a fairy-tale finish. This needs long hair to wrap fully, and I set the curls before braiding so I’m not reaching around a finished crown with a hot tool. It suits boho and outdoor weddings, with a few loose tendrils at the face.
12. Bubble Ponytail
The bubble ponytail is a ponytail sectioned with small elastics down its length, each section gently pulled out into a round bubble. Children love it because it looks like a game. It’s quick, neat and holds all day on medium to long hair. Tiny ribbons or flowers at each elastic dress it up. I use clear elastics so the bubbles read cleanly, and pull each section out only a little; overdone bubbles look frizzy by the evening.
13. Low Side Bun With Flowers
A low side bun is one of the gentlest updos for a child. I twist the hair to one side and pin it below the ear, then tuck small fresh flowers around it. Because it sits low, it doesn’t press against the back of a chair or car seat. Leave a few strands at the face. It suits formal and garden weddings and medium to long hair. Put the bun on the side that faces the camera as she comes down the aisle.
14. French Braid Pigtails
French braid pigtails are neat, familiar and nearly impossible to ruin, which matters a lot with a toddler. Two braids run along each side, the ends finished with ribbon or tucked flowers. They hold through hours of play and suit many lengths and textures. On the youngest flower girls, I braid while they watch a short video, because a toddler who can see what’s happening sits still much longer.
15. Soft Waves With Headband
Soft waves with a headband is quick and needs no pins, so it’s my go-to for a child who struggles with long styling. The headband keeps hair off her face while the waves add movement. I choose one with soft padding or rubber grip inside; hard plastic bands with teeth give little ones headaches within an hour. Floral, beaded or ribbon versions all work. On fine hair, braiding it damp the night before gives waves without heat.
16. Twist-Out Puff Bun
A twist-out puff bun shows off natural curls while keeping them gathered and neat. I do the twist-out the night before, then gently gather the curls into a soft puff in the morning, using a wide band rather than a tight elastic to protect the edges. Small flowers or beads around the puff tie in the wedding colors. It keeps hair off the face for active children and suits formal and casual weddings alike. Low-maintenance and easy on the scalp.
17. Crown Braid With Ribbon Weave
Weaving ribbon through a crown braid adds color without any accessories that can fall out. I feed a narrow satin ribbon through as I braid, which takes practice; trying it on the morning of the wedding is a mistake. The braid keeps hair completely secure. It suits long and medium hair, and the ribbon can match the sashes or the bridesmaids. Soft tendrils at the face keep it gentle.
18. Messy Bun With Floral Pins
A messy bun on a child has to be messy on purpose. I build it neat first, pin it securely, then pull a few pieces loose, because a truly loose bun on slippery young hair just falls down. Small floral pins tucked through it add color. It suits boho, garden and rustic weddings, and medium to long hair. It goes up in minutes and doesn’t need much maintenance.
19. Long Curls With Side Braid Accent
Long curls with a single side braid is a nice middle ground for an older flower girl who wants her hair down but can’t have it in her eyes. The small braid runs along one side above the ear; the rest stays curled and loose. Tiny flowers tucked into the braid finish it. Curls on long hair drop faster because of their weight, so I curl in smaller sections and let each one cool before brushing it out.
20. Topsy Tail Ponytail
The topsy tail is a ponytail flipped through a gap above its elastic, which twists the hair at the base into a woven-looking detail. It turns a plain pony into a wedding style in under a minute. I add a ribbon or a small flower at the base. It’s secure and keeps hair off the face. It suits medium to long hair, and I’d use it for casual and semi-formal weddings.
21. Flower Crown With Straight Hair
Straight hair with a flower crown is clean and modern, and it lets the flowers do the work. The hair stays smooth and down, so it’s comfortable for active children. My main concern here is the crown, not the hair: straight, silky hair gives a crown nothing to grip. I put two small, hidden bobby-pin anchors in first and pin the crown to those. Flowers in the wedding palette keep it cohesive in both formal and boho settings.
22. Twisted Updo With Pearls
Twists gathered into an updo with a few pearl pins is a grown-up look, and I’d save it for older flower girls at formal weddings. The twists hold well and give a textured shape that matches pearl accessories on the bride. Loose tendrils soften it. Pearl pins can scratch if pushed in hard, so I slide them in flat along the twists. It suits medium to long hair and stays comfortable through the reception.
23. Mini Braids With Beads
Mini braids with beads are a protective style, and many families already have them done for the wedding. They keep hair neat for days, and beads in the wedding colors make them festive. If they’re being installed for the occasion, I’d suggest doing it a few days before so any tightness at the scalp has eased by the ceremony. They suit many lengths and stay comfortable through hours of play. Beads also make a lovely little sound when she walks, which children adore.
24. Waterfall Braid With Curls
A waterfall braid runs across the head and drops strands through as it goes, so the curls below spill out between the plaits. I braid it on hair that’s already curled, then tuck tiny flowers along the line. It keeps the front secure while the curls move. It suits long and medium hair, for garden or formal weddings. On very fine hair, the dropped strands can get lost, so I take slightly thicker sections.
25. Simple Half-Up With Flower Crown
Half-up with a flower crown is a quick combination. The top section comes back so hair stays out of her eyes, and the crown sits over that pinned section, which gives it something firm to hold onto. The rest falls in soft waves. It suits boho and outdoor weddings and medium to long hair. It is my favorite fix for a crown that keeps slipping on loose hair.
When the Crown Slips at Hour Three
Something will move. That’s normal with children, and the fix is usually small if a parent has a little kit in a bag. I hand one over before I leave.
- Six or eight bobby pins matching her hair color, for re-pinning a crown or bun.
- A few spare elastics and a small brush or wide-tooth comb.
- A travel-size light hairspray, used from arm’s length so it doesn’t sting her eyes.
- Two or three extra flowers or a spare clip, in case one falls off on the dance floor.
Fresh flowers in a child’s hair wilt faster than a bride’s, because they sit in a warm crown on a warm head and get handled. Keep the crown in the fridge until just before she puts it on, and check with the family about pollen allergies before choosing blooms. If she has a sensitive nose, silk flowers look just as sweet in photos and never droop.
Her Comfort Comes Before the Photo
A flower girl who is comfortable will smile in photos; one who has a headache from a tight elastic won’t. Start from what her hair already does and how long she’ll sit, then pick from the crowns, halo braids, buns and ponytails above. Ribbons, fresh blooms and small clips in your colors make even the simplest style belong to the wedding. Keep it gentle, keep it secure, and let her twirl.
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