You’ve decided on the dresses your wedding party will wear, and now it’s time to figure out their beauty looks. While the best bridesmaid hairstyles should obviously complement whatever they will be wearing—as well as the wedding’s overall style—every bridesmaid need not wear the exact same hairstyle. In fact, it’s much better if each bridesmaid’s hairstyle suits their individual features instead of adhering to a single, matchy-matchy look. After all, there is nothing more radiant and gorgeous than someone who feels great.
To that end, it is a good idea to brainstorm and discuss a few options ahead of the big day to make sure everyone is comfortable and that each look is cohesive with the overall wedding aesthetic. To help, we’ve gathered some of the best bridesmaid hairstyles that are sure to suit their hair texture and their wedding day wardrobe. Read on to see 37 looks that can give your bridesmaids ideas and inspiration for their coif.
1. Slicked-back updo
Keep things uniform among your wedding party with slicked-back buns and ponytails, like the bridesmaids at Nadine Ijewere’s wedding. A bit of hair product will reduce flyaways, ensuring your wedding party looks put-together from the ceremony to late-night.
2. Loose waves
Soft loose curls and waves lend a romantic vibe to your bridesmaids’ beauty look and work well for a garden wedding aesthetic. To ensure the style stays polished, use a wide-barreled curling iron to create the waves and seal with lightweight hairspray.
3. Braided updo with florals
For a whimsical beauty look, try incorporating braids into an updo and secure a few on-palette florals, as seen at Tatiana de Pahlen’s wedding. While this style is easier to do on longer lengths, bridesmaids with shorter hair can weave small braids into a petite bun. Since this style is more advanced, it’s best to choose only if you are planning to have a professional hair stylist for the big day.
4. Slicked crop
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If a bridesmaid in your wedding party has a cropped style, it can absolutely be styled for the celebration. Try this slicked-down look by applying gel for a cool party look.
5. Piece-y updo with flower crown
If your wedding party is donning flower crowns, tailor the look with a relaxed updo. Let front pieces hang loose for a less-fussy, feel.
6. Elegant chignon
A chignon never goes out of style for a wedding day; this look is the perfect wedding hairstyle to elevate a bridesmaid’s look for formal weddings. Let few pieces peek out for a relaxed chignon, as seen at Nicole Wong’s Chinatown wedding.
7. Bubble pony
Add some intrigue to a classic ponytail hairstyle with some strategically placed hair ties for a bubble ponytail look.
8. Long braids
Long, braided hair is a ready-made bridal look that can be worn loose and flowing, as seen at Asiah James’ wedding.
9. Hollywood waves
Old Hollywood-inspired waves enhance the glamor of bridesmaids at a formal affair. At Emily Caro’s wedding, the bridesmaids emphasized volume with deep side-parts for an extra vintage touch.
10. Tucked-back
If a bridesmaid wants to wear their hair down, make the look slightly more polished by tucking back the front and bangs. Start with a blowout, then pin the front pieces of hair back behind the ears to keep hair secure throughout the wedding.
11. Sleek and straight
No need to make things too elaborate for your bridesmaids’ beauty look; when everyone in your wedding party leaves their hair down it exudes a relaxed style. To add polish, do a simple blowout and use serum for shine.
12. Half-up, half-down
A half-up, half-down hairstyle is the perfect in-between look that can keep hair off the face for all those wedding photos but still radiate romance, as exemplified by the bridesmaid at Sydney Watters’ wedding. Best of all, this style can be done on a number of hair textures, lengths, and types.
13. Hair bows
While bridesmaid dress selection is important, don’t forget about hair accessories. Securing back in a ponytail, updo, or half-up style with a hair bow can bring a sweet touch to the vibe.
14. Braided chignon
A classic chignon with a twist. While this style appears elaborate and elevated, it’s actually quite easy to create for your wedding party: simply braid and twirl into a chignon, as Nicole Richie did at the wedding of her sister Sofia.
15. Top-knot bun
When placed high on the crown in the form of a top knot, a twisted bun is anything but boring. Not to mention, this look will stay put during less-than-ideal weather—or better yet, after a long night of dancing—with the help of a few bobby pins.
16. Au natural
There’s truly nothing more chic than embracing natural texture, volume, and length.
17. Beachy waves
Loose, beachy waves are a perfect fit for a seaside celebration, or rustic nuptials like Patrick Schwarzenegger and Abby Champion’s Idaho wedding. Think of it as an enhancement of natural texture, with extra hydrated strands to avoid any frizz throughout the day.
18. Floral accents
It’s likely that your bridesmaids will all want to have different hairstyles to fit their lengths and preferences. A way to make their hairstyles feel all tied together is to use accessories to create cohesion. At this Portugal wedding, all the bridesmaids had real florals added to their locks for a sweet touch.
19. Piece-y Updo
A slightly “messy” updo with front pieces pulled forward can be a beautiful look that brings a sense of ease to a more formal look. It’s a perfect style for a black-tie optional or cocktail dress code. Just be sure the look is secure so it won’t fall out throughout the evening.
20. Bouncy curls
At Vogue editor Naomi Elizée s wedding, a few of her bridesmaids opted for big bouncy curls to add a glamorous feel to their wedding party looks. Large-barreled curling irons are perfect to help achieve this style.
21. Smooth and sleek
While the bridesmaids at Temi Otedola’s wedding all wore different hairstyles, they maintained a consistent aesthetic of smooth and sleek looks as they joined the bride for celebrations.
22. Voluminous updos
Want to have some volume in your bridesmaid’s hairstyles like those at Chioma Adeleke’s wedding? Use extensions to help craft large, intricate chignons and bouffants for a glamorous-meets-retro vibe.
23. An elevated mix
One great way to ensure all of your bridal party will have a polished look is to bring on a hair and makeup team for everyone. While they each can choose their own styles, the professionals can help everyone craft a put-together coiff.
24. Wrapped updos
Wrapping hair around an updo—whether it be a chignon, petite bun, or a ponytail—can help give the hairstyle a bit of extra definition. We love how the bridesmaids at this Tennessee wedding all wore different styles that incorporated beautifully wrapped hair around their updos.
25. Messy chignons
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If your bridal party members are a bit younger, don’t be afraid to lean into something more playful. Messy chignons can lean into the joie de vivre of your littlest attendants as they toss petals down the aisle.
26. Buns with defined parts
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You can still have a slick-back bun style with a part. At Meeka Hossain s Los Angeles wedding, her bridal party wore sleek chignons with very clearly defined parts. These styles are also great if you’re adding a piece of tikka jewelry on your forehead.
27. Gelled bobs
Bridesmaids with bob or other short hairstyles can define their coif for their friend’s big day by using gel to slick down their hair. Tucking hair behind the ears can also keep hair off your face as the day continues.
28. Polished ponytails
A ponytail can be a perfect look for a bridesmaid if done right. To ensure a polished look, make sure to have hair properly blown out first. Consider using an invisible clear hair-tie and wrapping the pony with hair where it is fastened for an elegant feel.
29. French twists
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A French twist is a timeless hairstyle that is sure to keep strands secure throughout the evening. Bridesmaids or even flower girls can wear this style with their bridal party attire.
30. A touch of curl
Another way to make your bridesmaid’s hairstyles feel consistent when they aren’t all the same is to make sure each has some curl to the look. Using a curling wand on lengths, bangs, or ponytails can bring everything together beautifully.
31. Woven chignon
Rather than wrapping up a chignon like a classic ballet bun, have your bridesmaid’s stylist weave the hair around to create a dynamic and voluminous shape. This style is best for bridesmaids with longer hair that can hold the style.
32. Low ponytail
While some bridesmaids might like to choose a high party pony, a low ponytail can also be an elegant updo option. We love how this low style includes a wrapped hair elastic as well as a polished wave to the loose strands.
33. Half-up bun
When pulling hair into a half-up style, you don’t have to have all the strands falling loosely down the back. Instead, channel Lana Condor’s bridesmaids and consider pulling that hair into a small chignon at the crown of the head.
34. Ribbon-wrapped ponytail
A ponytail wrapped up in a bow with a pretty on-palette ribbon can be a chic choice for bridesmaids throughout the wedding weekend. We love this chic style at an Italian welcome party.
35. Updo with bangs
If your bridesmaids have bangs, there are a few ways you can style them for an updo. Either let them out in a few pieces framing the face, create a polished, side-bang swoop to one side, or pin them all back as Madeleine White’s bridesmaids did.
36. Pretty barrette
Whether your bridal party member is in their 40s or still in kindergarten, a pretty hair barrette with an accent like a flower or rhinestones can pull together their wedding day look.
37. Hair pin
A hair pin is another great accessory to throw into the mix for your bridesmaids. They can add a touch of elegant shine to a chignon or French twist.
Bridesmaid Hairstyle FAQ
There is no expectation that a bride will pay for her bridesmaids to have their hair and makeup done. However, it is a kind gesture that they can offer to their bridal party. It s possible that a bride may organize a hairstylist to be present for bridesmaids to work with, but they might ask them to contribute to the costs of the services.
If you have a hair and makeup team available for both the bride and the bridesmaids, it s important for the bride to have her services done in the middle of the schedule. Since the bride should appear the most fresh, the middle is a sweet spot to help avoid getting behind schedule if the style takes longer.
The short answer: no. Since most bridesmaids will have different hair lengths and textures, it s not easy to have a one-size-fits-all formula to their hairstyles. You can find ways to create cohesion amongst the styles though.
