Your child’s wedding is a long day for your hair. There’s the morning in the chair, the ceremony, a receiving line full of hugs, and a reception where someone always pulls you onto the dance floor. When I style the mothers in a bridal party, I’m thinking about how the hair will behave after six hours, whether it suits the neckline of the outfit, and whether she’ll still recognise herself in the photos years from now. These 30 mother of the bride hairstyles run from pixie cuts and lobs to half-up styles and full updos, with notes on who each one really suits and where it tends to let people down.
Grey, Fine or Thinning: Adapting a Style to Hair Over Fifty
Most mothers I style tell me their hair isn’t what it was at their own wedding, and they’re usually right. Texture changes with age, and the style has to work with the hair you have now rather than a photo of a 25-year-old model.
Silver and white hair
Grey hair is often coarser and drier than pigmented hair, so it frizzes more easily and takes a little extra smoothing cream. White hair can also pick up a yellow cast from very hot tools, so I keep irons at a moderate setting. If you use a purple shampoo, use it a few days before rather than on the morning; overdone, it leaves a lilac tint that shows in daylight photos.
A thinner crown or a wider part
This is the most common worry I hear, and it’s very fixable. Gentle backcombing under the top layer, a zigzag part instead of a straight one, and a tinted root powder matched to your colour all hide scalp in photos, especially under the flash. Very sleek styles pulled tight across the top are the ones I’d avoid, because they show every gap.
Timing colour and cuts
- Colour about a week to ten days before, so roots are covered but the shade has softened.
- Cut about two weeks before, so layers have settled.
- Wash the day before, not the morning of, unless your hair turns oily overnight; most updos grip second-day hair better.
- Bring the earrings and any hair piece to the trial, plus your glasses if you’ll wear them for the readings.
1. Classic Low Chignon for Mother of the Bride
A low chignon sits at the nape, below the collar line of most jackets, which is why it’s my first suggestion for mothers wearing a structured dress with a coat or bolero. On fine hair I build it over a small padded base so it doesn’t shrink to the size of a walnut by the reception. Pin placement matters more than the shape: I cross pins into the base rather than the outer roll, so an arm around the neck in a hug doesn’t loosen it. Leave a couple of soft pieces at the temples and add one small comb if you want something to catch the light.
2. Soft Romantic Curls for Mother of the Bride
Hair worn down is the hardest thing to keep looking fresh, and soft curls are where I see the most disappointment by the speeches. A large barrel gives a loose bend, but on fine or freshly coloured hair those bends relax within a couple of hours unless each curl is pinned to cool before it’s brushed out. I set them early, leave the pin curls in while makeup is done, and only brush through just before she leaves the house. Medium to long hair with some weight holds this best. Heavily layered cuts tend to frizz at the ends instead of curling.
3. Elegant Updo for Mother of the Bride
An updo lifts the whole silhouette and shows off the neckline, which is why mothers in off-the-shoulder or boat-neck dresses so often ask for one. I keep the volume at the crown rather than the sides, because width at ear level makes a face look broader in group photos. Soft twists across the back give texture without looking fussy. On fine hair I tease a little underneath each twist so the shape isn’t relying on pins alone. Thick hair has the opposite problem, weight, so I split it into two anchored sections instead of one heavy roll. Built that way, it lasts well past the cake cutting.
4. Half Up Half Down for Mother of the Bride
Can’t decide between up and down? Half up half down is the compromise I suggest most to mothers who feel exposed in an updo but don’t trust their hair to stay nice worn loose all day. With the top section pinned back, your face stays clear for photos even on a windy afternoon. My one warning: that section needs a proper anchor, a small hidden ponytail or two crossed pins, because a single clip slides down by mid-afternoon. A decorative clip or a slim braid at the crown dresses it up. On hair shorter than the shoulders it can read a little like a school style, so I’d keep it for medium lengths and longer.
5. Shoulder Length Bob for Mother of the Bride
A shoulder length bob is quick in the chair and easy to keep tidy through the day, which matters when you’re greeting guests rather than checking a mirror. I ask mothers with bobs to get their cut about two weeks before the wedding, not two days; a fresh cut can look blunt and the layers need time to settle. A smooth blowout suits a tailored suit, soft bends suit chiffon. A deep side part adds height at the crown, and a jewelled pin behind one ear finishes it. If your hair flips out where it meets the shoulder, ask for the length to sit just above or below that point.
6. Crown Braid Updo for Mother of the Bride
A crown braid wraps around the head and holds everything off the face, which makes it one of the safest choices for an outdoor ceremony where wind is likely. It needs length, roughly past the shoulders, to travel all the way round. On shorter hair I braid the two sides and join them at the back instead. Gently pulling the edges of the braid outwards is what keeps it soft rather than tight and schoolgirlish, and I pin from underneath so nothing metal shows. Small pearl pins or tiny flowers sit nicely in the loops.
7. Sleek Bun for Mother of the Bride
A sleek bun shows everything, which is its strength and its risk. Every flyaway and bump shows up under a flash, so I smooth the hair with a little serum and a boar bristle brush, then set the surface by spraying onto the brush rather than straight at the head. It suits defined features, statement earrings and structured gowns. I’d steer you away from it if you have a lot of short broken hairs or regrowth at the hairline, because those pieces stand straight up within an hour. On grey hair keep the serum light; heavy shine products can make silver look flat and greasy in pictures.
8. Curly Half Updo for Mother of the Bride
Curly half updos are easiest on hair that already has some natural wave, because the curls do the holding instead of fighting against it. I gather the top loosely, secure it with a twist and crossed pins, then let the lengths fall. If your hair is straight and slippery, I prep the roots with mousse and tong it in smaller sections than you’d expect; big curls on slippery hair fall flat first. A few face-framing pieces stay out. This style sits comfortably between formal and relaxed, which helps when the reception is much more casual than the ceremony.
9. Vintage Bouffant Updo for Mother of the Bride
Looking for drama? The retro bouffant updo builds height at the crown with backcombing at the roots, then the top layer is smoothed over and swept back. It’s one of my favourite tricks for mothers with fine or thinning hair on top, because the teased base hides the scalp without adding any hair. The skill is in the smoothing: too little and it looks messy, too much and the lift collapses. At the end of the night, work the backcombing out gently with conditioner in the shower; dragging a brush through it dry snaps fine hair. Drop earrings finish the vintage feel.
10. Side Swept Curls for Mother of the Bride
Side swept curls send all the length over one shoulder, so your face reads differently from the open side, and that’s useful if you have a profile you prefer. The secret is a hidden anchor: I cross a row of pins down the back of the head so the curls can’t creep back to the centre. Pick the side according to where you’ll stand at the ceremony, with the open side facing the guests and the photographer. I’d avoid it with a one-shoulder neckline on the same side as the hair, since the two end up competing.
11. Twisted Low Bun for Mother of the Bride
Think of a twisted low bun as the chignon’s textured cousin: two or three rope twists wrapped together instead of one smooth roll. It hides uneven layers and grown-out colour well, so I often suggest it to mothers caught between cuts or colour appointments. The twists grip each other, which keeps it steady through a long day. Medium to long hair suits it. Tuck pearl pins into the grooves between twists rather than on the surface, so they look set into the hair.
12. Pixie Cut for Mother of the Bride
Short hair can be just as striking at a wedding. A pixie cut is chic, modern and needs almost nothing from you during the day. I style pixies with a little paste worked through dry hair rather than heavy spray, so the texture moves instead of looking set in a helmet. A side-swept fringe softens the shape. Book the trim about a week ahead; a pixie cut the day before can look severe around the ears. One jewelled pin at the temple is plenty.
13. French Twist for Mother of the Bride
The French twist rolls the hair vertically up the back of the head, and it’s what I’d reach for with a black-tie evening or a classic gown with a high back. It needs medium to long hair of fairly even length, because heavy layers poke out of the roll. I build a row of crossed pins up the centre back first, then fold the hair over them and pin into that foundation, which hides every pin. A few soft face pieces and a decorative comb at the top of the roll are all it needs.
14. Loose Waves for Mother of the Bride
Loose waves forgive a lot. When they drop over the day they still look intended, which is more than you can say for tight curls. I use a large wand, leave the last inch of each section out, then break the waves up with my fingers once they’ve cooled. A light flexible spray keeps them soft to the touch. On very fine hair I add a dry texture spray before tonging so the waves have something to cling to. In humid weather or a marquee, plan on them relaxing by evening.
15. Braided Updo for Mother of the Bride
Braids give pins something solid to grip, which makes a braided updo the most secure style here. I use it for mothers who plan to dance properly, or whose slippery hair won’t hold a smooth bun. Fishtail and three-strand braids look quite different up close, so bring a picture of the texture you like. Shorter layers get caught inside the braid, so even layered hair manages it once it reaches the shoulders. Tendrils near the ears and a few flowers or pearl pins suit both rustic and formal settings.
16. Layered Bob for Mother of the Bride
A golden layered bob gets its movement from the cut, so the styling only has to bring it out. If you’re colouring, book the colour about a week before and the cut after it, since toner can shift slightly in the first few washes. On the day a round-brush blowout with lift at the crown keeps it polished, while soft bends through the layers suit a lighter dress. A side part adds a bit of sophistication. A pin tucked behind one ear keeps a section off your face during the speeches.
17. Low Ponytail for Mother of the Bride
A sleek low ponytail looks simple, which is exactly why it has to be precise. I brush the hair back with smoothing cream, secure it at the nape with a small elastic plus two crossed pins underneath, then wrap a strand around the base to hide the band. The glossy surface is what makes it formal. It shows off statement earrings and keeps hair off your face all day. Watch the weight on thick hair: a heavy ponytail pulls on the nape after several hours and can bring on a headache, so I’ll sometimes stack two ponytails that read as one.
18. Curly Pixie for Mother of the Bride
The most common mistake with a curly pixie is over-styling it. I work a curl cream through wet hair, let it dry untouched or with a diffuser on low, and leave it alone until it’s completely dry. Brushing curls once they’re dry turns them straight into frizz. If your curls loosen in humidity, a light gel that dries with a slight crunch holds the pattern; scrunch the crunch out once it’s set. Add one sparkling clip for the occasion and the job’s done.
19. Half Up Braid for Mother of the Bride
A half up braid frames the face and keeps it clear for photos while the rest of the hair flows. I start the braid at the hairline just above the part rather than on top of the head, so it sits like a headband instead of dragging your hairline back. It suits medium to long hair. Leave a few pieces loose at the temples, and tuck small flowers into the braid if the bridal party is wearing them. Hair washed the day before braids better than freshly washed hair, which is too slippery to grip.
20. Smooth Blowout for Mother of the Bride
Sometimes sleek and simple is exactly right. A smooth blowout is the most underrated choice for mothers who dislike having their hair fussed with. The body comes from drying the roots up and over a round brush, then letting each section cool on the brush before releasing it. It works at any length and sits well with formal gowns. Its weakness is moisture: rain, a steamy tent or happy tears along the hairline can drop it, so pack a small brush and a drop of anti-frizz serum in your bag.
21. Flower Adorned Updo for Mother of the Bride
Fresh flowers tie your hair to the bouquet. A flower adorned updo starts as a chignon or twist, and the blooms are pinned into the gaps afterwards. Ask the florist for hardy flowers, such as spray roses or wax flower, wired onto short stems; soft petals like gardenia brown at the edges after a few hours out of water. I add flowers last, after the hairspray, because spray marks petals. Choose colours from your wedding palette so it sits with the rest of the party. This suits garden and outdoor weddings on medium to long hair.
22. Textured Lob for Mother of the Bride
The textured lob, or long bob, sits around the collarbone: long enough to tuck behind the ears, short enough to dry fast. The texture comes from point-cut ends, which give waves something to hold. I style lobs with a flat iron bend rather than a tonged curl; it gives a flatter, more modern wave that suits the length. A side part adds polish. Collarbone length can catch on a high neckline, so check how it sits with your outfit on before the day.
23. Vintage Finger Waves for Mother of the Bride
Finger waves are sculpted S-shaped waves set close to the head, a 1920s look for short to medium hair and a mother who enjoys standing out. They aren’t quick. Traditional waves are set wet with gel and a comb, then dried, while faster versions use a flat iron or clips. Getting them even takes practice, so I’d only book them with a stylist who can show you photos of her own finger waves. Once the gel sets, they barely move all night. Statement earrings complete the vintage mood.
24. Soft Updo With Tendrils for Mother of the Bride
The tendrils are the risky part of a soft updo. On straight fine hair they hang limp by the afternoon, so I curl them with a small iron and keep them pinned up until you walk out of the door. I pull them from the hairline after the updo is finished, never before, so they come out at the right length. The updo itself is gathered loosely with a little height at the crown, and a few pearl pins finish it. It suits medium to long hair at almost any venue.
25. Wavy Bob for Mother of the Bride
A wavy bob works anywhere from chin to shoulder length. The waves give a short cut movement, but they also add width, so on a round face I start the waves below the cheekbones. I use a wand for loose bends, then tousle with my fingers. A side part adds lift. By evening the waves loosen, and on a bob that simply looks relaxed rather than collapsed. A clip near the ear is all the decoration it wants.
26. Twisted Crown Half Updo for Mother of the Bride
A twisted crown half updo takes a section from each side, twists them back and joins them at the back while the rest stays down. I find twists more forgiving than braids for mothers with layered hair, because shorter pieces tuck into a twist easily and stay there. It keeps hair off your face and looks best with soft waves through the lengths. Leave a few loose pieces at the temples. Small pearl pins along the twists add sparkle and help hold them.
27. Polished Bun With Accessories for Mother of the Bride
A plain bun turns formal once you add the right piece: a comb, a pearl cluster or one jewelled pin. I place accessories after the bun is finished and anchored, never as the thing holding it together, because combs loosen as you move. Weight matters too. A heavy comb on fine hair drags the bun down by evening, so test it at your trial. Set the bun low or mid-height depending on your neckline, and match the metal of the accessory to your jewellery.
28. Layered Shag for Mother of the Bride
A layered shag is a cut more than a set style, so it’s for mothers who already wear one or want a change well ahead of the wedding. The choppy layers give volume without much product. On the day I scrunch in a light mousse, diffuse or rough-dry, then define a few curtain pieces around the face with a flat iron. Don’t book a fresh shag the week of the wedding; the layers need a couple of weeks to fall into place. A small pin is enough decoration.
29. Low Side Bun for Mother of the Bride
A low side bun sits just behind one ear at the nape, so a single earring gets the whole stage. I build it on the side away from your best profile, so in the ceremony line your face is open to the guests. It flatters most face shapes and holds well on medium to long hair. Loose tendrils, a few pearl pins or one small flower are plenty. It sits as comfortably with a relaxed dress as with a formal one.
30. Voluminous Curls for Mother of the Bride
Full, voluminous curls are the boldest way to wear hair down. Hot rollers are my go-to here rather than an iron: they set curls with lift at the root, and you can finish your makeup while they cool. Brush them out with a paddle brush, gently, then mist with texturising spray for hold. Medium to long hair suits them; very fine hair may need a few clip-in wefts to reach this fullness. The curls grow larger and softer as the night goes on, which still looks good on camera.
Glasses, Hats and Your Slot on the Wedding Morning
Two practical things change which of these styles will work for you, and neither shows up in a photo of the hair alone.
Working around glasses and hats
The arms of your glasses sit right where a tucked bob or a side bun wants to go, and they can push curls flat behind the ears. If you’ll wear glasses for any part of the day, I want them at the trial so I can shape the hair around them. Fascinators and hats need planning too. A low bun or chignon leaves room for a hat brim, while a high updo usually fights it. Most fascinators attach with a comb or a slim band, and I anchor the comb into a pinned section rather than loose hair so it doesn’t tilt as the afternoon goes on.
Where mum fits in the schedule
On most wedding mornings I style the mother of the bride towards the end, just before the bride, so her hair is freshest for the ceremony and she’s free to help everyone else first. Allow roughly 45 minutes to an hour for an updo and a little less for hair worn down, though it varies with length and how many people are being styled. Wear a button-front shirt so nothing has to come off over your head afterwards, and pack a small kit for the day: a few matching pins, a travel spray and a fine-tooth comb.
Settle It at the Trial, Not the Night Before
Start with facts rather than a picture: your hair’s length and texture, the neckline of your outfit, and how long the day will run. Those alone narrow these 30 styles quickly. Book a trial with your stylist, wear a top with a similar neckline, and take photos from the side and back as well as the front. Then go with the style you forget about once the ceremony starts. You’ll want your hands free for hugs, not for fixing pins.
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