Being the mother of the bride at 50 or 60 doesn’t call for playing it safe, but it does call for hair that respects how your hair behaves now. Most of the women I style in this age group have hair that’s finer at the crown, drier through the lengths or newly grey, and the best styles work with those changes instead of hiding them. These 30 mother of the bride hairstyles cover pixies, bobs, half-up looks and updos. For each I’ve noted the hair it suits and the catch you should know about before you commit.
Hearing Aids, Glasses and a Sensitive Scalp
These come up at nearly every trial I do with mothers over 50, and they change which styles will be comfortable for twelve hours. Mention them at the start of the appointment, not at the end.
Hearing aids
Behind-the-ear aids sit exactly where a lot of pins and tucked sections go. I plan the pinning around them and leave a little room behind each ear so nothing presses on the aid when you hug someone. If you’d rather they don’t show, a soft section of hair can fall over the ear even in an updo. Hairspray can clog the tiny microphone openings, so I’d take the aids out while the hair is sprayed and put them back once it has dried.
Glasses
The arms of your frames slide in above the ears and can dislodge pins or flatten curls there. Bring the glasses you’ll actually wear, including reading glasses for the vows or a speech, and put them on and off a few times during the trial. I’ll move pins that get in the way.
A scalp that aches
Tight, heavy updos can give a tension headache by the evening, and a sensitive scalp feels it sooner. Fewer pins placed well hold better than dozens pushed in, and spiral pins grip without pulling. If your head aches an hour into the trial, it will be far worse ten hours into the wedding, so say so and let the stylist loosen it or change the plan.
1. Low Chignon Bun for Mother of the Bride
Verdict first: if you only try one updo at your trial, make it this one. A low chignon sits at the nape, so it never fights a hat, a fascinator or the back of a dining chair. On hair over 50 I twist the knot rather than smoothing it, because a twist hides a thinner ponytail and gives the shape more body. Medium to long hair suits it. A comb or two loose tendrils near the cheekbones soften it, and it shows off statement earrings well.
2. Soft Curls for Medium Length Hair
Fine hair looks fuller curled, which is why I often suggest soft curls to mothers worried about thinning. Curl with a large barrel, pin each curl to cool, then run your fingers through instead of a brush so the curls stay grouped. The weak point is the root. If fine hair sits flat on top, curls make the crown look flatter by contrast, so I lift the roots with mousse and a round brush before any curling starts. A side part usually gives more height than a centre one.
3. Sleek Bob Haircut Over 50
A chin-grazing sleek bob is the cut that looks most deliberate, and it’s very quick to dress for a wedding. I smooth it with a paddle brush and dryer, then run a flat iron through with a slight bend at the ends so they turn under rather than flick out. Chin length draws the eye to the jaw. That suits a defined jawline; if you’d rather soften yours, a few centimetres longer is kinder. It pairs with a bold lip and leaves your hands free all day.
4. Romantic Half Updo With Waves
Can’t choose between up and down? Here the top section goes back into a soft twist while the rest falls in waves, so hair stays out of your eyes at a garden or outdoor ceremony. On hair that’s thinner at the crown, I tease gently under the pinned section so it doesn’t sit flat against the head. A small floral pin or a pearl accent where the twist sits dresses it up. It works on most lengths past the chin.
5. Classic French Twist Updo
The French twist belongs at formal weddings and with high-backed gowns because it looks finished from every side, and photographers catch the back of your head more often than you’d think. It needs medium to long hair. On fine hair I build it over a little backcombing so the roll has substance; on thick hair I split the roll in two to keep the weight off the pins. Leave a few face pieces or keep it sleek for drama. One decorative pin in the twist is enough.
6. Pixie Cut for Older Women
A pixie cut is the freest choice here: almost no maintenance and nothing to come undone. It shows off cheekbones and eyes, so it rewards groomed brows and good earrings. I style pixies with a matte paste for texture, or a little cream to smooth them down for a more formal day. It keeps you cool at a summer wedding. My one request is a trim a week before, not the day before, so the edges have softened around the ears and neckline.
7. Voluminous Bouffant Updo
For fine or thinning hair over 50, the bouffant is the most useful style on this list, because the teased base adds the fullness the hair has lost. I tease in small sections at the root, then smooth the top layer over with a soft bristle brush so no backcombing shows. It’s a statement, so I’d save it for an evening ceremony or a formal reception. A light spray holds the height. Teasing tangles, so take it out that night with conditioner and your fingers, never a dry brush.
8. Layered Lob With Soft Waves
A lob sits around the shoulders, which makes it the most flexible length here: long enough to pin back, short enough to dry quickly. Soft layers and gentle waves give it movement. Watch the shoulder line, though, because hair tends to flip outwards where it meets the dress; a lob cut just above or below that point behaves better. A deep side part adds volume. It suits straight and wavy textures alike.
9. Elegant Low Bun With Side Part
Pairing a deep side part with a low bun takes the stiffness out of the bun and frames the face. I make the part first and set the front with a little spray so it holds its direction, then gather everything into a bun placed low and slightly towards the heavier side. A few wispy pieces near the ears soften it. Medium to long hair suits it. Jewelled clips or pearl pins finish it, and it reads well in profile, which is how most ceremony photos will catch you.
10. Short Curly Hairstyle for Fine Hair
Curls on fine short hair give the look of density without adding any hair. If you have natural curl, scrunch a curl mousse into damp hair and dry it with a diffuser on low; if not, a small wand sets the pattern. Don’t brush these once they’re dry. Short curls hold up in warm weather better than longer ones, since there’s less weight pulling them straight. Dangling earrings sit well against the shape.
11. Twisted Updo With Loose Tendrils
Twisting packs the hair together, so a twisted updo looks fuller than a smooth one on hair that’s lost some thickness. Sections are twisted and pinned into a gathered shape at the back, and loose tendrils at the face stop it looking severe. Medium to long hair suits it. Because the twists already give texture, a sparkling pin or one fresh flower is all the decoration it needs.
12. Sleek Straight Hair With Center Part
Sleek straight hair with a centre part is minimal and modern, and it’s also the least forgiving style for hair that has turned dry or brittle, since every broken end shows. I use a heat protectant and a flat iron at a moderate temperature, then a little serum on the lengths only. A centre part lengthens the face and balances symmetrical features. Pair it with elegant earrings and a bold lip. On very fine hair it can look thin when dead straight, and I’d suggest a soft blowout instead.
13. Vintage Finger Waves for Short Hair
Finger waves are sculpted S-shaped waves set close to the head with gel and a fine-tooth comb, then left to dry firm. They work on short to medium hair. They take time and real skill, and an uneven wave is obvious, so book them only with a stylist who has done them before and can show you. Once set, they barely move all day, which is their great advantage. Vintage-inspired gowns and statement jewellery suit them.
14. Braided Updo for the Mother of the Bride
Braids give pins something to grip, so a braided updo is one of the most secure options here. I use it for mothers whose very straight or slippery hair won’t hold a smooth bun. Loosening the edges of each braid makes it look fuller, which helps on thinner hair. Face-framing pieces and delicate pins or flowers finish it, and it lasts through a long celebration without fuss.
15. Shoulder Length Blowout
A shoulder-length blowout gets volume and shine from a round brush and patience. The curve at the ends comes from rolling the brush under and letting each section cool before releasing it. Over 50 I keep the dryer on a gentler heat and always use a protectant, because drier hair frizzes and snaps more easily. A side part adds lift. It’s simple, polished and easy to revive with a small brush from your bag.
16. Loose Side Swept Curls
Side-swept curls send the waves over one shoulder and leave the other side clean. That bare side needs something to hold it, so I secure it with crossed pins hidden under a decorative pin; the pretty pin shouldn’t do all the work. Use a large iron for loose waves. They suit medium to long hair. If your hair has thinned, sweeping it all to one side doubles the visible thickness on that shoulder, which is a real bonus.
17. Polished Ballerina Bun
A ballerina bun is a low ponytail wrapped around its own base, which makes it one of the fastest updos to do and one of the most secure. It keeps hair entirely off your neck, a relief on a hot day. If your ponytail is thin, I wrap the hair around a small padded doughnut so the bun isn’t tiny. It suits every face shape and pairs with statement earrings. A jewelled clip or pearl accent at one side adds sparkle.
18. Layered Pixie With Side Bangs
A layered pixie with side-swept bangs adds softness to a short cut. The bangs soften the forehead and draw attention to the eyes, and a little texturising product defines the layers. I dry the bangs with a small round brush on a low setting, then set them with a touch of cream rather than spray, so they still move when you turn your head. Bold earrings and colour on the lips suit it.
19. Romantic Updo With Curls
A curly updo gathers soft curls up and leaves a few tendrils loose. The curls fill out the shape, so it looks generous even on finer hair. I curl first, then pin each curl into place individually. That takes longer than gathering the hair and curling the ends afterwards, but it looks far more natural and holds better. It sits well at formal weddings, with sparkling pins or fresh flowers.
20. Smooth Inverted Bob
An inverted bob is shorter at the back and longer at the front, so it angles towards the jaw. The stacked back gives volume at the crown without teasing, a real help for hair that has lost body there. Style it smooth and sleek or with a slight wave. It holds its shape all day. The angle needs regular trims to stay crisp, so have it cut about two weeks before the wedding.
21. Half Up Twisted Crown
Sections from both sides are twisted back to meet at the centre like a soft crown, and the rest stays down. It frames the face and keeps hair out of your eyes. I twist each section away from the face, which gives a little lift at the hairline. Medium to long hair suits it. A flower or jewelled pin where the twists meet is the obvious finishing point, and it’s especially at home at a garden wedding.
22. Sleek Low Ponytail
Don’t overlook a sleek low ponytail, gathered smoothly at the nape with a strand wrapped round to hide the elastic. Over 50 the hairline is often thinner at the temples, and scraping the hair back tight exposes that, so I keep the front slightly soft rather than pulled flat. A smoothing serum adds gloss. It works at formal and relaxed weddings and lasts through long celebrations.
23. Soft Curls With Curtain Bangs
On a mature face, curtain bangs soften the forehead without the heaviness of a straight fringe. They part in the centre and frame the eyes and cheekbones, and with soft curls through the lengths the look is modern. If you’ve never had them, cut them a month ahead so they’ve settled; new bangs always look short at first. I use a large iron for the lengths and a round brush for the bangs. Delicate jewellery suits it.
24. Elegant Updo With Hair Accessory
The accessory here isn’t an afterthought; it’s the point. A smooth updo with a comb, a jewelled pin or a small headpiece puts all the focus on one piece. I place it after the updo is built and secured, so the accessory decorates rather than holds. Check its weight at your trial, because a heavy comb drags on fine hair over a long day. Keep a few soft tendrils at the face. It suits formal weddings and medium to long hair.
25. Wavy Bob With Side Part
A wavy bob with a deep side part gets movement and volume without much work. I use a curling wand for loose waves, then tousle with my fingers. The side part creates height and frames the face. It’s easy to manage and pairs with elegant gowns. On short hair that drops quickly, a texture spray before curling gives the waves more staying power.
26. Classic Updo With Volume on Top
Height at the crown lifts the whole face. This classic updo smooths the hair back into a shape with the top section teased for body, which helps fine hair most. I keep the volume a little behind the hairline rather than right at the front; it looks more current and less like a 1960s set. Keep the finish smooth. A sparkling pin or pearl accent completes it.
27. Tousled Shag Haircut
The modern shag brings texture to medium-length hair through piecey layers, and a texture spray brings them out. The cut does the work, so a new shag should be cut a couple of weeks before the wedding to settle. It suits curtain bangs and soft waves. On very fine hair too many layers make the ends look sparse, so ask your stylist to keep some weight at the bottom.
28. Low Knotted Bun With Braids
Small braids threaded into a low bun add detail to a classic shape. I braid two thin sections at the sides and wrap them around the base of the bun, which also hides any gaps on thinner hair. It stays secure all day at a formal wedding. Leave a few soft pieces at the face, and finish with delicate pins or a small flower.
29. Glamorous Old Hollywood Waves
Old Hollywood waves are deep, glossy waves sculpted down one side. I curl every section in the same direction, let them cool completely, then brush them into one pattern, with clips pressed into the ridges while the spray dries. They suit medium to long hair and a red lip. On grey or silver hair this style looks particularly striking, because the high shine shows off the colour.
30. Textured Crop With Soft Layers
A textured crop is short, piecey and confident. A light paste defines the texture; heavier wax can make fine hair separate and show the scalp. It holds its shape all day and pairs with statement earrings and polished makeup. Have the cut a week or so before the wedding so it’s had time to soften.
Three of These You Can Manage at Home Without a Stylist
Not every mother wants to book a stylist, and some of these styles are realistic to do yourself with a bit of practice. Try each one at least three times in the month before, and use your phone to photograph the back, since a hand mirror never shows it properly.
The ballerina bun
Brush the hair into a low ponytail and secure it with a small elastic. Twist the length, wrap it around the base and pin it with four or five pins pushed in towards the elastic. Use a padded doughnut first if your ponytail is thin.
The twisted half updo
Take a section from each temple, twist each away from your face and cross them at the back of the head. Pin with two crossed pins so they form an X. Curl the lengths afterwards if you like.
The shoulder-length blowout
This one takes the most practice. Work in sections no wider than your brush, dry the roots first, and let each section cool on the brush before letting go. If your arms tire, large velcro rollers placed in warm sections and left for ten minutes do much of the job for you.
Your Hair Now, Not Your Hair at Thirty
The best style for your child’s wedding is a well-groomed version of how you already wear your hair, not a new person. Think about your gown, the venue and how long the day runs, then look for the styles here that suit your hair’s texture as it is today. Have a trial and wear it for a few hours afterwards. Then you can walk into the ceremony knowing it’ll hold, and watch your son or daughter instead of your reflection.
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