Doing hair for the little ones in a wedding party is a different job from doing the bride. A child’s hair is finer and slipperier, her scalp is more sensitive, and she has no intention of sitting still. So when I style a flower girl, a junior bridesmaid or a small guest, comfort and grip come before anything else. A style that pinches will be pulled out by the cake cutting. The thirty below are ones I’d actually do on a child, from curls and braids to buns and flower crowns, with notes on which hair types they suit and how long they’ll realistically last.
Why Children’s Hair Won’t Hold Like an Adult’s
Most styles that fall apart on flower girls fail for the same reason: the hair is too clean and too fine. Children’s strands are thinner and smoother than an adult’s, so pins slide and curls drop within an hour. I’d wash her hair the day before rather than the morning of, and spray a little texture spray or dry shampoo at the roots before styling to give the pins something to grip.
- Skip strong hot tools. A child’s hair curls at low heat; foam rollers or overnight braids are kinder and often hold better.
- Use snag-free elastics and small bobby pins crossed in an X. Regular rubber bands tear fine hair when they’re removed.
- Spray lightly with a child-safe hairspray and keep it away from the face; heavy lacquer makes soft hair crunchy and itchy.
Do a trial at home a week or two before. It tells you how long she’ll sit, whether anything pinches, and whether the style is still there after an afternoon of play.
1. Half-Up Curls With Flower Crown
This is the classic flower girl look: the top section drawn back, the rest falling in soft curls, a small crown on top. On children I set the curls with foam rollers or a wand on its lowest heat, because their hair takes a curl fast and doesn’t need much heat at all. The top half gets secured with a small clip hidden under the crown, which also gives the crown something to anchor to. Match the flowers to the bouquet. It needs medium to long hair, and it keeps strands off her face.
2. French Braid Crown
A braided crown is the most secure style on this list, which is why I suggest it for children who will run. Part down the middle, French braid each side toward the back, then wrap both braids over the top like a halo and pin them where they cross. I place pins in an X so they lock rather than slide. Baby’s breath or pearl pins can be tucked into the plaits. It survives from the aisle to the last dance without a touch-up, and it suits most lengths.
3. Low Bun With Ribbon
Plain doesn’t mean dull. A low bun at the nape looks polished and is one of the most comfortable updos for a child, since there’s nothing at the crown to press on when she leans back in a chair. I make a low ponytail, twist it into a bun and pin it, then tie a satin ribbon round the base in a wedding colour. On a hot day it keeps hair off her neck. Leave a couple of face-framing pieces so it looks young rather than severe.
4. Fishtail Braid With Loose Waves
A fishtail looks intricate but is just two strands crossing over and over, and on longer hair it holds well. I start it to one side so it drapes over the shoulder, then leave the ends in loose waves. Small flowers can be tucked into the weave. Children’s hair is so smooth that the braid tends to slide down, so I start with a little texture spray before braiding. A light mist of child-safe hairspray at the end is enough. Beach and garden weddings suit it.
5. Top Knot With Baby’s Breath
A high top knot keeps every strand off a toddler’s face, which is half the battle with small children. I gather everything into a high ponytail, twist it into a neat bun and pin it, then tuck sprigs of baby’s breath around the base. Use a soft elastic: a tight one at the crown gives some children a headache after an hour, and they’ll pull the whole thing out. A few wisps left at the hairline soften it. It’s quick and lasts all day.
6. Waterfall Braid With Curls
The waterfall braid lets pieces drop through as you braid across the head from the temple, so it looks like strands falling through the plait. Below it, I curl the loose hair into soft spirals. Each dropped piece has to be the same size or the effect looks uneven, so this is one I’d practise at home first. A single flower clip where the braid finishes hides the end. It suits longer hair and spring or summer weddings.
7. Double Dutch Braids
Two neat Dutch braids from the forehead to the back are practical and very hard to undo. Unlike French braids, Dutch braids cross under, so they sit raised on the head. Bows or ribbons in the wedding colours tie off the ends. They’re ideal for energetic children and suit rustic or outdoor weddings. On thick or curly hair they look especially good and hold for days, which makes them a sensible choice for a weekend of events.
8. Curly Half-Up With Bow
Leave the curls mostly down, pull the top section back and finish with a big satin bow: it’s the classic look, and it really suits natural curls. I don’t add heat to naturally curly hair. A leave-in conditioner and a little gel, scrunched in, defines what’s already there. The bow can be oversized or dainty. It keeps the front out of her eyes while the curls do the rest, and it pairs well with vintage or traditional weddings.
9. Braided Headband With Loose Hair
A braid running across the head like a headband keeps the front back while the rest stays loose. I take a small section near one ear, braid it across the top and pin it behind the other ear, crossing two pins so it doesn’t drift. The rest stays down, waved or natural. Small flowers or pearl pins along the braid add detail. It’s simple enough for the squirmiest child and suits casual or outdoor weddings.
10. Sleek High Ponytail With Curls
Smooth the top, gather it high and curl the length into ringlets: a high ponytail is easy and surprisingly dressy. I wrap a small section round the base to hide the elastic. The common problem with high ponies on children is weight; a long, curled tail can pull at the scalp, so I’d keep it a little lower on younger kids. A ribbon or flower clip at the base ties it to the theme. It suits active girls and modern weddings.
11. Twisted Half-Up Style
Twist a section from each temple, bring them together at the back and clip them: it takes about two minutes. The rest falls in natural waves or gentle curls. Twists unravel faster than braids on slippery hair, so I twist toward the back of the head, not away, and secure with a small clear elastic under the decoration. A flower or pearl pin covers the join. It suits spring and garden weddings.
12. Messy Bun With Loose Tendrils
A loose, slightly undone bun forgives everything a child does to it, which is why I like it for long days. I gather the hair into a soft bun, pull a few pieces out and leave wisps round the face. It works best on textured or wavy hair; on very straight, fine hair it can look flat rather than tousled, so I add texture spray first. A few small blooms tucked in finish it for boho, outdoor and rustic weddings. When it loosens during play, it still looks intentional.
13. Side Braid With Flowers
A single braid over one shoulder is romantic and easy to wear. I start from one side and bring the plait forward, weaving small flowers through it. Pancaking the braid, gently pulling the edges wider, makes it look fuller on thin hair. Tie the end with a ribbon in the wedding palette. It suits medium to long hair at boho, garden or beach weddings, and it stays neat all day.
14. Curled Updo With Pearls
For a formal or vintage wedding, a curled updo looks grown-up in the nicest way. I curl the hair, then pin each curl up and around the head for volume, with tiny pearl pins scattered through. It suits junior bridesmaids and older flower girls, not toddlers; it takes time and needs a child who’ll sit through pinning. Too many pins on a small head can ache, so I use fewer, well-placed ones. It keeps hair off the face and neck.
15. Pigtail Braids With Bows
Classic pigtail braids are still one of my favourites for the youngest flower girls. Part down the middle, braid each side and finish with a bow or ribbon. A crisp parting makes them look deliberate, so I take my time with a tail comb there. Tiny flowers can be woven in. They stay tidy for hours and suit casual, country or rustic weddings, and even small toddlers tolerate them.
16. Flower Crown With Loose Waves
Hair down in soft waves with a full flower crown is about as simple as it gets. I make the waves by braiding damp hair the night before, which needs no heat, or with a wand on low. The crown does the work, so match its blooms to the bridal flowers. The thing to test is comfort: wire crowns can scratch behind the ears, so I wrap the ends with ribbon and let her wear it round the house beforehand. It suits garden, beach and boho weddings.
17. Braided Bun Updo
Braids wrapped into a bun give a polished updo with built-in texture, no accessories needed. I braid two or three sections, then wrap and pin them into a bun at the back. It’s secure and formal, and better suited to older girls who can sit still for it. Small flowers or pearls can be tucked into the plaits. Once pinned, it doesn’t move for the whole day.
18. Bubble Ponytail
The bubble ponytail is a ponytail with small elastics placed down its length, with each section gently puffed out between them. Children find it fun, and it keeps hair completely contained. I use clear or colour-matched elastics and space them evenly; uneven bubbles are the giveaway of a rushed job. It works high or low and holds up well through play. It suits casual and modern weddings.
19. Twisted Crown Braid
Twists give the halo shape of a crown braid in half the time. I twist two sections from each side and pin them around the head. They’re less secure than a braid on fine hair, so I’d choose the braided version for a very active child and this one for an older girl. Tiny flowers along the twist add a whimsical touch. It works on most lengths and suits garden, vintage and boho weddings.
20. Half-Up Top Knot
A small knot on the crown with the rest left down is quick and cheerful. I pull just the top section into a little bun, so the front stays secured while the length and texture show below. On very fine hair the knot can look tiny, so I tease the base lightly before twisting. A small bow or flower clip at the knot finishes it. It works on straight, wavy and curly hair alike.
21. Cornrow Updo With Beads
For textured or coily hair, a cornrow updo is beautiful and protective at once. Neat cornrows along the scalp are gathered into an updo at the back and finished with beads in the wedding colours. The one rule I never break with children: the rows must not be tight. Pulling at the hairline can cause pain and, over time, hair loss, so gentle tension and a well-moisturised scalp come first. Done properly, this stays neat through play and dancing, and can be done a day or two ahead.
22. Loose Curls With Side Part
Loose curls with a deep side part feel a little glamorous without being too old for a child. I curl the hair into loose spirals, part it to one side and tuck one side behind the ear with a decorative pin or flower clip. Curls on young hair drop within hours, especially in humidity, so I let each curl cool in my hand before releasing it and use a light mist of child-safe hairspray. It suits medium to long hair and almost any theme.
23. Braided Pigtails With Curls
Braid the top part of each pigtail and leave the ends curled: you get the security of braids and the bounce of curls. It’s a good middle ground for younger flower girls at casual or rustic weddings. Finish each with a small bow. Because the braids hold the front, the curls can fall out a bit and it still looks tidy, which is useful by evening.
24. Twisted Side Updo
Gathering an updo to one side gives a soft, romantic shape. I twist sections and pin them toward one shoulder into an asymmetrical bun, leaving a few face-framing pieces. It suits formal and vintage weddings, and it keeps hair off the neck in warm weather. Pinning takes a while, so it’s for junior bridesmaids and older flower girls rather than little ones. Small flowers or pearls tucked into the twists finish it.
25. Space Buns With Curls
Space buns are two small buns, one either side of a middle parting, with a few curled tendrils left loose. Younger flower girls love them. They keep hair completely off the face and stay put through running around. I make them slightly smaller on a toddler than you’d think, because big buns on a small head look top-heavy. Tiny flowers or pearl pins in each bun make them wedding-ready for casual or whimsical celebrations.
26. French Braid Into Ponytail
Start a French braid at the crown, gather hair as you go, then stop partway and secure it in a ponytail. Curl the loose tail. The braid keeps the front tidy, the ponytail keeps it playful. I wrap a small strand round the elastic to hide it and pin it underneath. It’s secure, comfortable for a long day, and suits casual or outdoor weddings for girls with medium to long hair.
27. Boho Braided Half-Up
Small braids from each side, pulled back and joined, with the rest left down in loose waves, give a relaxed half-up. I tuck tiny flowers or beads along the braids. The braids should be small, no wider than a pencil at the start, or they look heavy against a child’s face. It keeps the front secured while showing off length, and suits garden, beach and rustic weddings.
28. Elegant Chignon
A chignon is a low knot at the nape with the ends tucked under, smooth and formal. It suits junior bridesmaids rather than small children, as it needs a fair amount of pinning. Pearl pins or a small flower add detail, and a few soft tendrils keep it youthful. It keeps hair completely off the face and neck, which helps at a warm ceremony, and pairs with formal dresses.
29. Curly Updo With Headband
A curly updo with a decorative headband keeps volume contained without dozens of pins. I pin curled sections up into a soft updo, then slide a sparkly or floral headband in front. The headband does a lot of the holding, so the hair needs fewer pins. Naturally curly or wavy hair suits it best. Leave a few curls loose at the hairline. It works at formal and vintage weddings.
30. Long Layered Waves With Clip
Long waves with one side pinned back by a decorative clip is the least fuss of anything here. I make the waves with a wand or overnight braids and clip one side with a floral or pearl clip. A regular clip slides out of fine children’s hair, so I anchor two crossed bobby pins first and slide the clip over them. It suits almost every wedding, from boho to formal.
Fitting Little Ones into the Getting-Ready Schedule
On the morning I fit the children in according to their age, not the order of the bridal party. Toddlers go early, while they’re fresh and before a nap; older girls can go later so their style is crisper for the ceremony. If a young child will nap in the car or at the venue, I choose a braid or low bun, since anything with height gets crushed on a pillow.
Fresh flowers wilt in warm hair within a few hours, so for long days I use silk blooms or small sprigs wired and taped so no stems poke her scalp. Hand the parent a tiny kit: a few bobby pins, clear elastics, a soft brush and a small water spray to tame flyaways. With that, a parent can rescue almost any style between the ceremony and the speeches.
One last thing parents often forget: take the style down gently that night. Remove every pin before brushing, work through any hairspray with a little conditioner, and undo braids from the ends upward. A tired child with a tangled head at midnight is the part of the day nobody photographs.
Will She Still Have It in at the Reception?
A child’s wedding hairstyle should be fun to wear, not something she counts down the minutes to take out. Flower crowns, braids, buns and space buns all have a place; the right one depends on her hair type, its length and how long she’ll sit for. Comfort matters most, since she’ll wear it for hours. Choose something that suits the wedding and keeps her happy, practise it once at home, and the photos take care of themselves.
You'll Like These Ideas:
Leave a Reply