Medium hair, somewhere between the collarbone and the top of the shoulder blades, is my favorite length to put up. There’s enough to twist, braid and pin, but not so much weight that the style drags by the evening. The awkward part is the layers: pieces cut shorter around the face and nape that won’t reach a bun on their own. Every updo here handles that a little differently, from soft romantic tendrils left out on purpose to sleek shapes where everything is tucked away. Below are twenty-five guest updos for this length, low buns to braided crowns, with how I’d build each one and where it can go wrong.
Doing Your Own Updo in a Hotel Room
Many guests style their own hair, often in a small bathroom with bad light. Here is the order I’d follow.
- Wash the night before, not the morning of. Day-old hair holds pins far better.
- Pack the right kit: a tail comb, a boar bristle brush, thirty or so bobby pins, a handful of U-pins, clear elastics, texture spray, light hairspray and a hand mirror.
- Practice the style twice at home in the week before. The second attempt is always quicker, and you’ll know how many pins you really need.
- Use two mirrors. Stand with your back to the bathroom mirror and hold the hand mirror in front of you, so you can see the back of your head.
- Leave yourself forty minutes. Most updos take fifteen once you’ve practiced, and the rest is for fixing what goes wrong.
If your hands get tired holding your arms up, rest them. A shaky pin goes in at the wrong angle and falls out by the speeches.
1. Low Chignon Bun for Medium Hair
If I could only teach one guest updo, it would be the low chignon. It sits at the nape, works with nearly every neckline, and suits almost every face. I gather a low ponytail, twist the length and wrap it around the base, pinning as I go with pins pushed through the bun and into the elastic, which is what holds it. Leave a few pieces out for softness or keep it sleek for black tie. With a high neckline and statement earrings, it’s hard to beat.
2. Twisted Low Bun With Face-Framing Tendrils
Two or three twisted sections coiled together at the nape look intricate, but each step is simple. The twists add texture, so medium hair looks fuller than it is. I pin loosely so the coils keep their roundness; pinned flat, they lose the twisted look. Leave tendrils by the cheekbones. It sits well with flowing dresses, indoors or out.
3. Messy Bun With Loose Strands
A messy bun looks easy and secretly isn’t, because there’s a fine line between relaxed and unfinished. I prep with texture spray, gather the hair without brushing, and build the bun in two parts: a firm anchor at the base, then looser loops pinned around it. That way, the loose part can shift without the whole thing falling. Pull two pieces from the front. It’s for casual, beach and boho weddings.
4. Braided Crown Updo
A braid along the hairline, pinned across the crown like a halo, with the rest tucked into a low bun or twist. At medium length the braid comfortably reaches over the head; at the shorter end, I start it behind the ear rather than at the nape so it can meet the other side. Gently pull the edges to widen the braid once it’s pinned. It goes with floral dresses and outdoor spring or summer weddings.
5. French Twist for Medium Hair
A French twist is the most formal style here and the trickiest on medium hair. I gather the hair to one side, pin a vertical line of crossed bobby pins up the center of the head as an anchor, then twist the hair up and over them and tuck the ends inside the roll. Those anchor pins are what keep it secure. If your hair is at the shorter end of medium, backcomb the length first so the roll has body. It suits structured gowns and black-tie weddings.
6. Side-Swept Low Bun
A low bun pinned at one side of the nape, with a few waves left over the shoulder, has an old Hollywood feel. The asymmetry draws attention to the jawline and suits one-shoulder and off-shoulder dresses. I position the bun just behind the ear on the side opposite the open shoulder, so the shape balances the neckline. Curl the loose front pieces. It’s an evening style that comes across well in profile photos.
7. Half-Up Half-Down With Curls
Pull the top section back, secure it, and let curls fall underneath. Medium hair suits this because the curls fill out the lower half rather than hanging thin. I always curl before sectioning, then secure the top with a small elastic hidden under a jeweled clip. If the lower half is layered, the curls on the shorter layers will need a bit more hairspray to hold. It suits spring and summer weddings.
8. Twisted Half-Up Updo
Two front sections twisted back and pinned at the crown, with more twists from each side if you want it fuller. The rest hangs in soft waves. It keeps hair out of your eyes during the ceremony and the dancing. I twist each section away from the face and pin it at a slight upward angle so the twists don’t sag. Finish with a sparkly pin where they meet.
9. Braided Side Bun
A braid on one side swept into a low bun over the shoulder. The braid takes up length, which helps medium hair look fuller at the bun. I braid with the hair pulled slightly toward the side where the bun will sit, otherwise the braid curves the wrong way. Loosen it once it’s pinned. It suits boho and garden weddings and dresses with delicate straps.
10. Low Ponytail With Twist
Who says a ponytail can’t be dressed up? An elevated low ponytail starts with a smooth low tail; then a small section is twisted or braided and wrapped around the base to cover the elastic. That one detail is what makes it look finished. Smooth the top or keep some texture. It goes with nearly any neckline and shows off statement earrings, and it’s the fastest style on this list to do yourself.
11. Pinned Curls Updo
Curl the hair in loose waves, then pin the curls up section by section toward the back of the head. The trick with pinned curls is to pin each one as a loop, not flattened, so it keeps its shape. I work from the nape upward, so each new curl covers the pins of the one below. Leave a few tendrils at the face. It suits romantic and vintage-themed weddings, and a medium-hold hairspray will keep it in place without stiffness.
12. Sleek Low Bun With Middle Part
A middle part, smoothed back into a tight low bun at the nape. I use a small amount of gel at the hairline and a smoothing cream through the length, then brush in one direction before tying. A wide-tooth comb leaves lines, so I use a boar bristle brush. It suits structured gowns and minimalist weddings, and small earrings keep the focus on the shape. The middle part does show any asymmetry in the hairline, which is worth knowing beforehand.
13. Rolled Updo for Medium Hair
Rolling sections under and pinning them creates rounded shapes around the head, in the spirit of victory rolls or a soft retro silhouette. Medium hair suits this because the rolls hold without too much length in the way. I roll each section around two fingers, slide it off, and pin through the roll into the scalp hair. Soften the edges with a few loose pieces. A vintage comb or pearl pin finishes it for a formal wedding.
14. Braided Bun Updo
Braid the hair first, then coil the braid into a bun and pin. The woven texture looks more complicated than it is. On medium hair I braid from a low ponytail rather than loose hair, so the braid starts tight at the base and the coil is neater. Loosen it gently for a softer look, and position it low or higher. It works for formal and boho weddings, and small flowers or pearl pins tuck easily into the braid.
15. Knotted Updo
The knotted updo uses two sections tied into knots, like a rope, and pinned into a soft bun shape. Medium hair has enough length for two or three knots. I mist each section with a little texture spray first so the knots hold and don’t slip apart. Pull a few pieces loose. It’s a good alternative to a standard bun at semi-formal and formal weddings.
16. Tousled Updo With Volume
A tousled updo is built on volume at the crown. I tease gently in small sections, smooth a top layer over it, then pin everything into a relaxed bun or twist. The goal is softness, not polish. It suits boho and outdoor weddings. Leave pieces around the face, and set with texture spray rather than a strong hairspray, which would flatten the airy shape.
17. Low Bun With Braided Headband
A thin braid across the top of the head like a headband, with the rest in a soft low bun. I take the braid from just behind one ear and pin it behind the other, which keeps the shorter front layers under control. Tug the edges gently to soften it. It suits garden and spring weddings.
18. Twisted Updo With Accessories
Twist sections of hair and pin them into a soft bun or roll, then decorate with sparkly pins, a pearl comb or small blooms tucked into the twists. Twists are good anchors for accessories because the pin or comb can slide through the twisted section and grip. I put the comb in at an angle, teeth pointing up, then turn it down into the hair so it locks. Keep a few pieces loose, and match the accessories to the wedding theme.
19. Chignon With Side Braid
A side braid swept back into a smooth low chignon. The braid breaks up the classic shape and uses some of the length. I braid along the side close to the scalp so it lies flat, then tie the end into the chignon so it doesn’t stick out. Loosen it a little, pull out a few face-framing pieces, and it’s ready for a formal or semi-formal wedding.
20. Curly Updo for Natural Texture
Natural curls make a fuller updo than straight hair can manage. I work with the hair as it is, defining the curls with cream, then gathering them gently into a soft bun with large pins rather than small ones, which would flatten the curls. Don’t brush through or over-smooth. Leave a few coils at the face, and add a decorative pin or small flowers if you like.
21. Sleek High Bun
A sleek high bun at the crown lengthens the neck and shows off the face and earrings. I tie a high ponytail on smoothed hair, then twist and wrap it into a tight bun, using a bun donut if the hair is thin. It’s a clean, modern style for high necklines and minimalist gowns. Keep accessories simple. If you’re wearing a fascinator or hat, choose a lower bun instead.
22. Low Bun With Twisted Sides
Twisting the sides back before gathering everything into a low bun frames the face and adds texture. I twist from the temple back and keep tension even on both sides, because uneven twists show from the front. Loosen them slightly, leave a few tendrils by the ears, and it works at formal and casual weddings alike.
23. Romantic Updo With Loose Waves
Curl the hair in loose waves first, then pin most of it up and leave a few waves loose around the face and neck. Medium hair suits this because the waves give the updo fullness. I pin the waves as loose curls rather than smoothing them, so the texture carries through to the back. It suits garden and spring weddings, finished with a light hairspray and a few pearl pins.
24. Braided Updo With Flowers
Braids pinned into a soft bun, with small blooms tucked throughout. Fresh flowers wilt on a hot day, so I suggest sturdy ones, wax flower, spray roses or baby’s breath, or good silk flowers. I add them last and wire short stems so they don’t fall out. Match the blooms to the wedding palette. It suits spring and summer garden weddings.
25. Vintage-Inspired Finger Wave Updo
A vintage finger wave updo has sculpted S-waves close to the head and the length swept into a soft bun or roll at the back. I set the waves at the front only, using setting gel on damp hair, then dry the back and pin it into the roll. Medium hair works because the length tucks neatly. It suits classic, formal and themed weddings, with a sparkly pin or vintage comb.
When the Bun Looks Too Small
At the shorter end of medium length, a bun can end up looking like a small knot. There are a few ways to add size without extensions. A bun donut or sock bun gives a round base to wrap the hair around; choose one close to your hair color. Backcombing the length before twisting adds body. Splitting the hair into two sections and twisting each separately before joining them makes the bun wider. A clip-in hair piece, matched in daylight, is the last resort for fine hair.
Taking It Down at the End of the Night
An updo that’s been in for ten hours needs care to remove. Take out every pin before you touch the hair, feeling for each one with your fingertips. Pulling hair down while pins are still in is how strands snap. Then brush out the hairspray and teasing slowly from the ends upward, using a wide-tooth comb or your fingers. A little leave-in conditioner or oil helps. Don’t sleep with an updo in; the pins dig in, and the tension on the scalp is uncomfortable after a long day.
Neckline First, Then the Updo
Medium hair can do almost everything on this list, so the easiest way to decide is to look at your dress. High necklines suit sleek buns and French twists, open shoulders suit side buns and loose waves, and a garden wedding gives you room for braids and flowers. Then be honest about how much time and skill you have on the morning. A simple low chignon done well looks better than an ambitious style done in a rush.
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