With so many beautiful wedding hairstyles for bridesmaids, it can be challenging for brides to pick the perfect style for their bridal party. After all, it can be stressful deciding if you want a special hairstyle for your maid of honor, each bridesmaid to have a different style or the entire group to match with the same dress and hair. Luckily, there are several cute and elegant ways to style your bridesmaid’s hair. Whether your bridesmaids have short, medium length or long hair and you want a simple, easy, boho, modern, or classic look, there’s something here for all women. To help inspire you with the latest hair ideas, we’ve rounded up the best bridesmaid hairstyles to consider for your wedding.
Best Hairstyles For Bridesmaids
Maid of Honor
When picking the perfect maid of honor hairstyle, think about cuts, styles and looks that complement her hair length, texture, color, makeup, and dress. Your maid of honor’s hair can be different than your other bridesmaids, but shouldn’t overshadow the bride.
Think about a half-up and half-down, an updo with unique styling, soft curls, a bun, ponytail, or just let it flow by leaving it down and straight. With so many stunning styles, ask a professional stylist for hair ideas.
Bridesmaid Hair Down
Having your bridesmaids wear their hair down can be a simple yet elegant look. While some may argue that the hair down hairstyle can be too plain, the style just needs to complement their dresses and the overall theme of the wedding to fit. Plus, there are ways to dress up the flowing hair for a cute finish. If the bride is styling her hair down in a fishtail braid, then the bridesmaids can copy a similar look with their hair loose and to the side with a small plait. The only time we would altogether avoid hair down or over the shoulders is on hot humid days.
Bridesmaid Hair Up
Getting bridesmaids to wear their hair up is the classic approach that almost never fails to look cute and trendy. From ponytail updos to braided long hair tied up, there are so many beautiful hairstyle ideas for your bridesmaids that will keep their hair up. To get a sense of what would look perfect, experiment with the different styles. For starters, you might consider different textures, including curly or wavy hair. Braiding with half the hair up or styled to one side looks classy and fashionable, but won’t steal the spotlight from the bride.
Crown Braid and High Bun
If you’re looking for an elegant style that will take your bridesmaid’s hair to the next level, consider a crown braid that leads into a high bun. Crown braids are both whimsical and glamorous, and pair especially well with any wedding look when they are pushed to the base of the bun, rather than starting immediately at the hairline.
The key to the bun is volume, so don’t shy away from using a donut to create the perfect, full shape regardless of hair type. Classic and gorgeous, this wedding hairstyle for your bridesmaids is one of the most popular styles for all hair types, including straight, wavy and curly hair. Plus, having your bridesmaid’s hair up can be beneficial if your special day is held in the summer.
Smooth Bun Updo
The bun hairstyle is as versatile as can be; one variation is a smooth and sleek updo. It adds a layer of posh and formality to the event, which pairs nicely with elegant bridesmaid gowns, especially those that are floor-length or have high necklines. For a sleek bun, be sure to keep things tamed and controlled with plenty of hairspray and bobby pins.
Ponytail
One way to add a little fun to the bridal party is through a ponytail. Ponytail hairstyles for weddings can be a little messy, a little glam, and very chic. Be sure to curl your bridesmaid’s hair into loose beachy waves before gathering the updo into a ponytail that sits right above the crown of their head. This will elongate their faces and necks, so it wouldn’t hurt to incorporate larger earrings to make a statement.
Braided Updo with Flowers
Though your typical braided updo is sophisticated on its own, adding flowers into the design elevates the style into something ethereal. The braid should loosely flow from each side of the bridesmaid’s part until both sides meet in the back to be pinned.
Pull gently on the braids for volume, encourage fly away hairs, and tuck in an assortment of small, delicate flowers for a romantic and sweet gesture that will look heavenly in photos.
Loose Bun Updo
Though seemingly casual, a loose bun can work very well as a bridal party updo. It’s universally flattering for all hair types, easy to recreate, and styles well with a chic wedding vibe.
This updo looks amazing worn with bohemian gowns, more natural makeup, and on ladies who prefer to keep cool while tearing up the dance floor. You can style the bun to the side, up on the top of the head, or experiment with unique ideas to make the hairstyle truly yours.
Curls Pulled To One Side
A glamorous hairstyle for bridesmaids involves a very romantic sweeping of curls pulled to one side. Bouncy curls work best for classic hairdos, where volume does wonders.
Styling this pulled back hairstyle for curly hair is simple. Just add curls to your hair, then tactfully add bobby pins to secure. Trendy and fashionable, hair down and pulled to the side results in an elegant hairstyle you can’t go wrong styling.
Hair Tucked Behind The Ear
For a stunning and timeless style sure to impress, bridesmaids can be styled with one side of their hair tucked behind an ear. It’s a soft and more subtle version of the curls pulled to one side, where only a small section is gently pinned behind the cascading hair. The result is a natural-yet-glam version that works especially well with vintage-looking waves.
Slicked Back Hairstyle
A slicked back hairstyle should be considered for bridesmaids, especially if the vibe of the wedding is modern, contemporary, or high-fashion. This look is reminiscent of the runway and high-fashion styles, and beautiful ladies can pull it off easily with enough gel and hairspray.
Vintage Curls
Vintage curls are always popular; even more so when worn by a group of gorgeous bridesmaids. Loose curls, brushed for shine and silkiness, are amazing for ladies with any kind of face shape and structure, though it works best for shoulder-length hair and longer. To play up the vintage vibe, you can’t go wrong with sharply winged eyeliner and a bold red lipstick color.
Simple Straight Hairstyles
When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with simple straight hair. Straight simple hairstyles for weddings are easy, natural, and smooth. As a bonus, this look is atypical for weddings, so it’s still unique.
To style, be sure to use a round brush and heat protectant for volume, finishing with a middle part. This hairstyle proves that you don’t have to over-complicate things for them to be cute – sometimes toning things down is the best option.
Waterfall Braids
There’s a vast world of braiding options that work for bridal party hairstyles; waterfall braids are a fun variation to be explored. The braids are named for their visual effect – they create a cascading appearance as the hair falls down beautifully from the braid structure. Consider curling the hair into beachy waves from there for a relaxed-yet-intricate combination.
Headband Braid and Curly Hair
For a stunning bridesmaid hairstyle, combine a headband braid with curly hair. Braid a semi-loose, voluminous headband wrapping across the head, while the rest of the hair flows fashionably with delicate curls.
This style can be modified to fit different hair types and wedding aesthetics, from bohemian to formal. Either way, bridesmaids will look like princesses.
Top Knot
The top knot is a trendy style that looks good on ladies both posing for the ‘gram or supporting their best friend on their wedding day. This hairstyle is especially gorgeous when paired with long, curled hair and a simple top-knotted bun pulled effortlessly on top, but it also works well for ladies with short and medium length hair. The key is flowing dresses that are more formal than the hairstyle, to achieve balance.
Half Up Half Down with Twists
A half-up half-down hairstyle is a classic bridal party staple, though using twists rather than braids is one way to retain some individuality. The twist style is incredibly easy and angelic and will give the bridesmaids’ hair a vintage feel.
Half Up with Accessories
The half-up hairstyle is ideal for both the bride and her bridesmaids, especially when a little flair is added via accessories. There are a lot of variations to personalize this look for the big day – sometimes a peppering of flowers is effective, other times pins or clips fit perfectly.
Feel free to take inspiration from other wedding details; if the aisle is decorated with baby’s breath petals, try pinning a few in the half-up section of the hair for an element of wedding cohesion.
Fishtail Braid
Fishtail braids are another braid variation that can make a big difference with any style. You can have one large braid as a focal point, swept to one side. Or, you can have the ladies incorporate several smaller fishtail braids into a half-up half-down look.
Either way, you’re giving the hairstyle some extra dimension and something eye-catching, even though it’s an easy braid to do.
Curly Hair
Bridesmaid hairstyles for curly hair should take advantage of this charming hair type. Whether she has wavy, loose or tight curls, it’s important to find a style that works with and not against her hair.
One of the best curly hairstyles for weddings is the half-up, half-down with flowers. This style offers a balance and can be let down later in the evening when the curls start to lose their tightness and bounce. Another look is the classic bridal updo or a thick, volumized ponytail. As long as the bride isn’t styling a similar look, a bridesmaid can pull off this style to perfection.
Straight Hair
Straight hairstyles for bridesmaids provide the most diverse selection of ideas. Straight hair is versatile and easy to work with. Because brides often like to curl their hair for the special day, having bridesmaids with straight hair can be a great way to ensure the bride stands out.
Free and flowing, to the side or all pulled back, up or down, wavy or slightly curled, there are a number of elegant styles that are on-trend and flawless.
Long Hair
A bridesmaid with long hair can choose from all the latest styles and ideas. Wedding hairstyles require length since many of these looks are pretty involved. From braids and buns to updos and front twists, bridesmaid hairstyles for long hair range from simple and easy to elegant and chic. If you’re lucky to have medium to longer locks, experiment with your hair to find the right fashionable look for you.
Individual Hairstyle Ideas
One amazing thing about weddings is that as the bride, you can break all the rules: you can always forgo the traditional one-size-fits-all option and instead let each bridesmaid have their own hairstyle ideas. One girl can have braids, another may want to style an updo. Match with their personalities and preferences to keep things fresh and fun for your bridesmaids.
