Want to look elegant at your wedding with the latest wedding hairstyles? Check out these trends for inspiration.
Weddings are undeniably one of the most significant days in a woman’s life. It’s a day when dreams come true, love is celebrated, and memories are made to last a lifetime.
Every detail matters when it comes to wedding planning, and the choice of hairstyle (especially for women) is no exception.
A woman’s hairstyle on her wedding day is more than just a practical consideration; it’s a reflection of her style, personality, and the overall aesthetic of the wedding. The right hairstyle can enhance a bride’s natural beauty, complement her wedding dress, and add a touch of glamour and elegance to her overall look.
For a lot of women, their wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to look and feel like royalty. There are countless alternatives for wedding hairstyles, ranging from tight buns and elaborate braids to romantic updos and cascading curls, per Elegant Wedding Invites. The ideal hairdo is crucial to achieving the bridal look of a bride’s aspirations, regardless of her view of herself as a current trendsetter, boho queen, or classic beauty.
In this article, JanaTribe will suggest the various styles of hairdos for brides but before that, let’s delve into the types.
What are the popular bridal wedding hairstyle types?
Every yet-to-be bride should know that there are various types of wedding hairstyles. These include:
Updos Hairstyles
Updos are one of the most popular hairstyles for brides due to the vast creations available. An updo can look very formal, with each piece of hair intricately placed or undone for a more whimsical feel. You can also add bridal jewelry to enhance the hairstyle and add more flair.
“The styles of updos range from incredibly intricate twists and coils to a simple, sleek ballet bun. You can be incredibly creative when it comes to updos. I have found that every updo style can be adjusted to fit almost any face shape,” Halli Bivona, a New York-based wedding hairstylist, notes.
Bivona also explains that there are major benefits to an updo, like not having to worry about the style falling or becoming frizzy, adding, “Especially for summer weddings, getting your hair off your neck will keep you cool during your gorgeous outdoor ceremony.”
Down Hairstyles
Down hairstyles typically range from a classic bouncy blowout and soft waves to sleeker styles tucked behind the ears.
These styles add a touch of playfulness to a formal setting like a wedding and can be versatile in styling. Most brides feel more comfortable wearing their hair down because it feels more like “them.”
“The juxtaposition between a couture gown and relaxed blowout makes for some gorgeous photos. However, if you are looking for something that feels a bit more formal than just entirely down, a pinned half-up, half-down look is a great way to meet in the middle of an updo and a fully-down hairstyle,” Bivona offers.
Natural Hairstyles
Natural hairstyles are just as versatile as any other hairstyle. Natural bridal styles are just as varied as traditional styles, with more texture to the hair. You have chignons, upsweeps, ponytails, half-ups, and half-downs—they run the gamut.
“I see more than often styles where the natural texture is blown out, but not straightened, to create this gorgeous, soft pillowy texture that can be transformed into any bridal style,” Leigh Hardges, a stylist at Maxine Salon and a natural hair expert, tells Brides.com.
Chignons or Low-Buns Hairstyles
You can also opt for a chignon or low bun if you prefer your hair out of your face for the big day. This is also one of the best ways to show off your dress if you have a detailed back or other design elements to spotlight. A chignon, or low bun, also stays put throughout a day of events and a night of dancing. That means you won’t have to worry about your hair falling or losing its bouncy curls.
Curls
Curls are a very versatile hairstyle for brides. Vintage curls make any gown look romantic! These curls are on the glam side and have a tighter look to them. You can pin the curls up out of your face or sweep them to the side for extra drama.
There are also loose curls and beachy waves. These curls fall and sweep past your shoulders. They create a more relaxed yet gorgeous look for your big day. Beach waves are the perfect pairing if you have a mermaid silhouette-inspired dress.
Ponytails
Ponytails are another style to consider on your wedding day. You can choose a fun and flirty high ponytail with loose waves or curls or a sleek low ponytail that looks oh-so-chic.
Half-Up, Half-Down Hairstyles
And, if you can’t decide on a hairstyle, there is always a half-up, half-down option. Have your stylist gather the top portion of hair into a ponytail, then determine what to do with the unrestrained tresses at the bottom—you can straighten or curl it.
“Half updos will always be popular. They’re the best of both worlds; you can have the security of wearing your hair down, with the more formal feel of having it pinned out of your face,” Caitlyn Meyer, a globally sought-after hair and makeup artist, and luxury bridal expert, states.
Simple bride wedding hairstyle trends in South Africa
Nowadays, you can do with your hair whatever you like, as long as it’s healthy. Think of what kind of bride you’d like to be: traditional and elegant; innocent and romantic; chic and glamorous; unconventional and bohemian; beachy and sporty.
Below are some popular bridal hairstyles and hair accessories for South African weddings. Get inspired to bring any of these looks to life.
Braids
Braided Faux Hawk
Bring a little edge to your bridal look with a braided faux hawk; keep the sides natural and slicked back into the updo, or have your hairstylist add additional braids on the side for an even more unique take. The braided updo hairstyle is great for showing off your glam.
Braided Crown
Here’s a look fit for a queen—so naturally, it’s our pick for fairytale-inspired weddings. Thick braids are twisted into an updo reminiscent of a crown; wear it as is, or double down by topping it with a tiara.
Cornrow Chignon
To achieve this sophisticated look, ask your stylist for cornrows braided in a finger wave style and into a low bun, suggests our expert, India Williams. It’s a unique and modern take on the low chignon, a wedding ‘do that’s stood the test of time.
Cornrow Braids
One of the chicest and most modern braided wedding hairstyles for Black hair, cornrow braids work well whether your natural tresses are long or short. In this look, the braids are gathered at the nape of the neck for a sophisticated finish, perfect for showcasing an open-back gown or statement neckline.
Natural Hair Updo with Front Braids
Show off your natural hair with a crown-inspired updo, and add visual interest with a few face-framing braids. Play up the look by adding beads and ornamentation that fit the vibe of your big day or play off your wedding gown.
Braided Ponytails With Jewels
We love a little hair jewelry—why wear jewelry only against your skin?—and large braided ponytail hairstyles like these provide the perfect canvas. Work with your stylist to select the perfect hair hoops that complement your other accessories; look for pearls, colored gemstones, or simple metallic.
Half-Up Senegalese Twists
If you’re rocking Senegalese twists—or decide to for your wedding day—and are looking for hairstyles for a wedding with braids, the twists work well for one of our favorite hairstyles: a half-up, half-down look. Here, the style is adorned with flower clips, perfect for a garden wedding or to play off a gown that has three-dimensional embellished florals (like those by Mira Zwillinger and Eisen Stein!).
Side Parted Box Braids
You may be culling the internet for wedding hairstyles for box braids, but how about just wearing them down? We love this long and loose style, parted off to the side, for both formal and laid-back affairs; pair your braids with dazzling diamond earrings for the former or a flowy gown for a barefoot beach wedding.
Loose French Braid with Flowers
A search for braid hairstyles with flowers will offer images of updos overflowing with wildflowers, flower crowns, and more, but we love this more minimalistic take. Each tier of the loose braid ties in more and more hair and is marked with the teeniest bejeweled floral hairpin. Try it with pins descending in size to add visual interest—and skip the veil.
Diagonal Bow Braid
For a look that’s oh-so-feminine, why not incorporate bows? We’re not talking about actual bows. In this wedding braid hairstyle, the hair itself is knotted off at each level to look like a demure bow. It’s perfect for the bride, wedding party, or, our favorite, an adorable flower girl.
Updos
When it comes to wedding hairstyles, updos will always come to mind. They are not only weather-proof, but they also highlight your glowing face, as well as your gown’s neckline and back details.
Black Swirled Updo Hairstyle
If you have chemically straightened your hair or wear a weave, try this look on your big day. Super sleek hair swirled into perfect circles gives a glamorous retro feel. The jeweled hair clip adds a bit of bling to the elegant updo.
Roll and Pin Updo
Rolling and pinning hair in place is an easy way to create interesting updos on natural hair. This technique creates versatile looks and styles on afro hair of almost any length. This rolled and pinned updo is sophisticated and is sure to complement the most elegant wedding dress. It’s also cool enough to be worn after the wedding without worry that it may be too fussy for casual, everyday occasions.
Black Updo with Defined Waves
Will you take a look at these waves? Of course! You are likely to do a double take – so perfect they are! This is also a very romantic updo because of the way all of the defined curls twist and turn around each other to form one uniform vintage hairdo.
Curls
Long, Smooth Curls
If your tresses have serious length, show off your wedding hair by rocking these gorgeous, smooth curls. Have your stylist work some frizz-fighting product through your waves before pictures, so they stay shiny and sleek all day.
Pinned Curls with Floral Headpiece
Take a unique spin on a classic wedding hairstyle by pinning your curls to the top for extra volume. Then, complete the look with a sparkly headpiece for a stunning wedding day look.
Loose Curls with Braided Fishtail Crown
Try this tousled half-up, half-down hairstyle if you want the perfect balance of done and undone. Then, braid your hair to add extra texture. The messy waves are perfect for a beach or boho wedding—but you can rock them regardless of your wedding theme.
Natural Curls with Flower Headpiece
We believe you should be the best version of yourself on your wedding day, so if you have natural curls, make them extra bouncy. First, work with your hairstylist to solidify the combination of wedding hairstyling products to give you your best hair day. Then, consider adding a fun hair accessory like a headpiece, tiara, or flower crown.
Glamorous Hollywood Curls
You’re the star of your big day, so why not have a bridal hairstyle that suits it? Use hot rollers or a wide-barrel curling iron to create Hollywood-inspired curls with big, touchable volume.
Soft Curls with Braid and Floral Hair Pins
Bouquets aren’t just for holding anymore! Elevate your destination wedding hair by adding a crown braid and a few floral hair pins to your half-up curls.
Loose Curls
Black Curls with Accent Braids
A lot of updos for black hair focus on braids or twists, but this one lets the curls be the star. The well-placed braids on the side of the head help break up the curls with a unique touch. African American brides will appreciate it.
Curly Bun with Side Swept Bangs
Who doesn’t love a great bun? This style adds not just sophistication and elegance to the bun, but the pinned curls create an added visual interest that makes you feel like you could look at it all day. This style is sure to wow with or without the bangs since the huge bun is the star of this show.
Natural Highlighted Curls
Natural curls are a built-in hairstyle all on their own and there’s nothing quite like having a good curly hair day to make you feel yourself. Wearing your natural curls loose is always a great option when it comes to wedding hairstyles for black women. Of course, adding color is optional, but there are lots of ways to add temporary hair color without risking damage to your beautiful curls.
Waves
Finger Waves
Wedding hairstyles for black women with short hair can be hard to find, but we’ve got your back. Finger waves are the perfect hairstyle for those with short curls and pixie cuts. It is an excellent choice for black women who love all things vintage and is a great style to not only frame the face and highlight your makeup but to show off popular hair accessories to their full advantage.
Long Loose Waves in Ponytail
Not every black woman looking for a wedding hairstyle is the bride. You could be the mom of the bride, a member of the wedding party, or even a guest. Whatever your role, you deserve a great hairstyle, as long as you are mindful of not upstaging the bride on her big day. This hairstyle featuring long, loose waves is quick and easy to achieve and works well for guests and bridesmaids. You can achieve this look with a wig or extensions for added length if desired.
Wavy Chignon
Adding waves to the classic chignon is a great way to create texture and add a bit of vintage glamor to your wedding day hairstyle. This style is all grace and poise.
Short Hair
Short Natural Hairstyle with Flowers
Skip the extensions in favor of a pretty short hairstyle. This look celebrates the natural texture of your hair. For a romantic touch, add a cluster of real flowers above your ear.
Others
Faux Hawk with Curly Bangs
This is an excellent wedding day hairstyle for black women with medium-length natural hair who want to rock their natural curls in a laid-back way that is still formal. If your natural hair doesn’t have a lot of definition, you can achieve this style by braiding it out or twisting it out.
Huge Bun with Cornrow Side Details
This huge high bun hairstyle is simply gorgeous and deserves to be on any list that features wedding hairstyles for black women. It’s simple and stylish but is also easily modified by changing the size, style, and texture of the bun. The addition of the side cornrow details takes the look to new heights that are truly worthy of appreciation.
Sleek Classic Chignon with Middle Part
Chignons are synonymous with vintage glamor and formality. The simple elegance of this style means it will always be among the top contenders when it comes to wedding hairstyles for black women. Whether you have relaxed hair or natural hair, if you can pull your hair back to your nape, you can create the perfect chignon, and if all else fails, there are always extensions for that bit of extra length.
