A bridesmaid updo is any style where the length gets pinned up and away from the shoulders, built from twists, braids, or a smooth chignon depending on the texture you start with. The 2027 version leans glossy and lived-in, with soft face-framing layers left loose and curtain bangs swept to the side instead of shellacked into place.
These 24 Bridesmaid Hairstyles Updo ideas run from a five-minute low bun you can pin yourself to a braided, pearl-studded style worth a salon appointment. Fine hair that slides out of every pin, a fringe that refuses to sit, a round face that wants length below the chin: the range covers all three, with hold notes for each.
Elegant Side Chignon With Face-Framing Tendrils
That side-swept bang and those soft tendrils are the difference between a chignon that reads as severe and one that actually contributes to the wedding photos. The dark brown, wavy, thick hair is gathered into an elegant side chignon with a side parting. The glossy texture is visible in the front view. Ask your stylist for: elegant side chignon with soft face-framing tendrils. Thick hair of at least collarbone length works best; the side parting and the pieces around the face soften round and square shapes. Apply a smoothing serum to tame flyaways before styling, and expect this updo to hold its shape for six to eight hours.
Voluminous Textured Bun With Loose Face-Framing Pieces
A textured bun that actually stays textured past the ceremony takes a few deliberate steps. The dark brown, thick, wavy hair is pulled into a voluminous bun, the loose face-framing pieces left soft rather than pinned tight. Ask your stylist for: voluminous textured bun with loose face-framing pieces. Thick, wavy hair of mid-back length suits this style; the middle parting and soft tendrils work well on oval and heart-shaped faces.
Use a teasing brush to build volume at the crown before you construct the bun, then expect to re-pin a few of those loose pieces through the day. Trim split ends every ten to twelve weeks to keep the texture from looking frayed.
Rich Auburn Updo With Cascading Loose Curls
To get curls that cascade rather than hang stiff, each section needs to be curled separately and pinned with the curve facing down. The rich auburn hair is gathered loosely at the nape, with voluminous, loose curls spilling out and tendrils framing the back and shoulders. Ask your stylist for: voluminous auburn updo with cascading curls. Curly hair of any length that can reach the nape works here; the loose curls soften angular jawlines. This is a salon-only build, ideal for a wedding or romantic evening event. Apply a curl-defining cream before styling, then refresh with a light mist of water and serum later.
Sleek Blonde Low Bun
This is the updo for the bridesmaid who looked at the voluminous textured bun and said no. A sleek, low bun with blonde hair and subtle highlights, gathered smoothly. Ask your stylist for: sleek low bun with middle parting. Thick, straight hair of collarbone length or longer is required; the middle parting elongates a round face. This one is a salon-only finish, because getting that polished surface without bumps at home takes practice. Use a boar bristle brush for the final smooth pass. Trim the ends every eight to ten weeks to keep the bun from looking ragged.
Messy Braided Updo With Face-Framing Strands
The word messy is doing a lot of work here. The light brown hair with blonde balayage is woven into intricate braids that feed into a textured, loose bun, with strands left out to frame the face. Ask your stylist for: messy braided updo with face-framing strands. Wavy, thick hair of collarbone length or longer suits this style; the loose strands soften square and angular faces. One drawback: the balayage needs to start high enough that the braids show the contrast, or the texture reads as one flat color.
Gently pull out strands after the stylist secures the bun to enhance the intentional looseness. This updo holds for six to eight hours but will look best for the first four.
Soft Loose Low Bun With Wispy Bangs
Wondering how to keep wispy bangs from staging a mutiny midway through the ceremony? The trick is applying product at the roots before you pin them, which gives the strands enough grip to stay put without looking plastered. This soft loose low bun with wispy bangs suits wavy, medium density hair at collarbone length, and the side-swept pieces soften round and heart faces. Ask your stylist for: soft loose low bun with wispy bangs. The style holds for a solid six to eight hours, though a quick re-pin after dinner is never a bad call.
Dark Brown Updo With Twisted Knot Detail
The twisted knot at the nape is the quiet showstopper here, built by sectioning the hair and twisting each piece before coiling them together into that visible knot. Loose waves and tendrils around the neck keep the whole thing from reading as severe, which is the balance most bridesmaid updos are chasing. This dark brown updo with a twisted knot suits thick, wavy hair at mid-back length, and the volume at the sides balances oval and long faces. Ask your stylist for: dark brown updo with a twisted knot. A smoothing balm over the finished knot tames flyaways without flattening the texture, and the style holds well past the last dance.
Textured Blonde Updo With Intricate Knot
How do you ask for a knot that looks deliberately undone and not like you gave up? Specify the texture level: say you want visible twists and soft waves left out around the face, not a smooth, polished coil. This textured blonde updo with an intricate knot suits thick, wavy hair at collarbone length, where the volume softens round and square jawlines. Ask your stylist for: textured blonde updo with intricate knot. A texturizing spray adds grip before pinning, and a light mist of hairspray locks in the definition without making the strands stiff.
Dark Brown Twisted Low Bun
Getting a smooth, even twist on thick, wavy hair takes practice, and a botched attempt can look lopsided. The escaping tendrils around the nape are what save it, so keep those loose on purpose. This dark brown twisted low bun suits thick, wavy hair at collarbone length or longer, and the low placement works for most face shapes. Ask your stylist for: dark brown twisted low bun with soft tendrils. A light-hold pomade on the tendrils keeps them behaving, and the style needs minimal touch-ups through the evening.
Medium Brown Updo With Braids and Pearls
Pearl accents can make any updo feel planned for the occasion, and here they are woven into the braided elements, not added as a final touch. The textured waves and loose tendrils framing the face keep the look soft, which suits a spring or summer wedding with a romantic, not rigid, tone. This medium brown updo with braided elements and pearls works on wavy hair at collarbone length or longer, and the soft framing suits round and oval faces. Ask your stylist for: medium brown updo with braided elements and pearls. The pins holding the pearls need a careful hand, but once secured, the style holds for eight hours without complaint.
Blonde Low Updo With Twisted Sections
The interest here is in the construction: sections of hair are twisted individually before being gathered into the low bun at the nape. Ask your stylist for a blonde low updo with twisted sections. It works best on wavy, medium density hair that reaches at least collarbone length. The twists add texture and visual weight without needing extra bulk. A flexible hold hairspray keeps the twisted shape defined through the reception, and a trim every ten to twelve weeks prevents the ends from fraying the design.
Dark Brown Updo With Braids and Pearl Accessory
Is this updo worth the salon time when simpler styles exist? Yes, because the braided elements and the pearl pin do the heavy visual work for you. Ask your stylist for a dark brown updo with braids and a pearl pin. The thick, wavy texture and collarbone length are ideal: the braids hold their shape and the pin stays anchored. The low placement and soft waves suit oval and heart face shapes particularly well. For the best result, bring the pearl accessory to your appointment so the stylist can position it within the braided structure.
Blonde Updo With Intricate Braids and Clip
Intricate braids look impressive at the start of the ceremony, but they can loosen over the course of a long day. Ask your stylist for a blonde updo with intricate braids and a decorative clip. The wavy texture and medium density help the braids grip, and the twisted bun anchors the clip securely. Smaller, looser sections may need a pin adjustment halfway through the evening. A salon finish is required here; the braids need a steady hand to maintain their structure for the full eight hours.
Textured Blonde Updo With Sparkling Accessory
How do you make sure the accessory ends up in the right spot and stays there? Start by describing exactly what you see. Ask your stylist for a textured blonde updo with face-framing pieces and an accessory. Bring the piece with you so the stylist can place it where the volume and waves converge. The side part and soft curls create natural anchor points. The face-framing pieces soften the overall shape, which helps round and square face shapes. A root lift product gives the updo hold that lasts through the toast and the dance floor.
Sleek Dark Brown Chignon
A sleek chignon is the polar opposite of the textured, piecey updos in this collection. One takes patience with a smoothing serum and a fine-tooth comb; the other asks for a texture spray and a teasing brush. Ask your stylist for a sleek dark brown chignon with wispy face tendrils. The thick, straight texture and collarbone length are essential for the smooth finish. This style is a salon job if you want the polished surface, but a determined DIYer can get close with a boar bristle brush and enough bobby pins. The hold is solid for a full evening.
Brown and Blonde Braided Updo
The braided crown here is built from multiple smaller braids that weave together before meeting at the low bun, which is what gives it that intricate, almost architectural look. It works best on wavy, thick hair at collarbone length or longer, since the extra weight keeps the braids from pulling loose. Ask your stylist for: brown and blonde braided updo with loose tendrils. A texturizing spray on each section before braiding will sharpen the definition, and the style typically holds for six to eight hours without much fuss.
Blonde Updo With Braided Details and Waves
The braided elements here are tucked into a textured bun, while the loose waves and tendrils soften the whole arrangement for a romantic finish. This combination suits round and oval faces, because the soft pieces around the face add gentle movement without adding width. Wavy, medium density hair at collarbone length holds the braids best; finer hair may need a bit of backcombing at the crown first. Ask your stylist for: blonde updo with braided details and soft waves. Finish with a flexible hold hairspray to keep the softness, and plan a trim every ten to twelve weeks to keep the ends clean.
Blonde Twisted Bun With Ornate Accessory
Can a bun this polished survive a full day of photos, dinner, and dancing? Yes, if the accessory is anchored properly. The ornate piece sits at the center of the twisted bun, and the smooth, soft texture around it keeps the eye on the ornament. Thick, wavy hair at collarbone length or longer gives the twist enough substance to hold the accessory without slipping. Ask your stylist for: blonde twisted bun with an ornate accessory. Have the stylist secure the piece with extra pins, since a heavy ornament can pull the bun down over eight hours. The one drawback: if the accessory is too large, it can feel heavy by the end of the night, so test the weight before committing.
Ash Blonde Low Bun With Floral and Pearl Accessory
A textured low bun with a floral and pearl accessory reads as softly romantic, which makes it a natural fit for a formal winter wedding where the sparkle can carry the room. The ash blonde base with highlights adds dimension without competing with the ornament. Wavy, medium density hair at collarbone length or longer gives the loose strands enough body to frame the back of the head. Ask your colorist for: ash blonde textured low bun with floral and pearl accessory. Position the accessory slightly off-center so the bun still reads as balanced, and this style holds well for eight hours or more.
Voluminous Blonde Updo With Tiara
How do you ask for a tiara without sounding like you’re planning a coronation? You specify the height and placement. This voluminous blonde updo sits high on the head, with the tiara set forward enough to catch the light, and loose wavy tendrils framing the face and ears. It suits thick, wavy hair at mid-back length, since the height needs weight to hold. Ask your stylist for: voluminous blonde updo with a tiara, and be specific about the placement.
Ask for the tiara to sit about an inch back from the hairline, tilted slightly upward, so it doesn’t slide forward during the ceremony. The height works well for oval and heart faces, balancing the proportions. A side part adds a little asymmetry, which keeps the look from feeling too symmetrical. Secure the tiara with extra pins, since a heavy piece needs more than one anchor point.
Sleek Dark Brown Low Bun, Straight
A sleek low bun is not a textured bun with extra pins and a prayer. This dark brown version uses thick, straight hair, and the finish stays polished all day. Ask your stylist for: sleek dark brown low bun with middle parting. The bun works best on hair that is collarbone length or longer and can make a round face look longer. It is a salon-only job because every strand must lie flat, and a finishing spray locks the shine in. A trim every eight to ten weeks keeps the base neat.
Dark Brown Updo With Braids and Floral Accessory, Wavy
The braided elements start at the crown and feed into a low gathered shape, with loose tendrils left out to soften the nape. The dark brown wavy texture gives the braids grip, and the floral accessory is pinned near the side. Ask your stylist for: dark brown updo with braids and a floral accessory. Medium density hair of collarbone length or longer holds the structure best, and the flower adds a romantic note without overwhelming the design. Secure the accessory with a bobby pin through its stem, and this style stays put for a full ceremony and reception.
Ash Blonde Curly Updo With Sculpted Curls
A curly updo that relies on definition has a clear trade off. The ash blonde fine texture here is sculpted into a textured bun with loose curls framing the edges. Ask your colorist for: ash blonde curly updo with sculpted texture. Fine, curly hair can show every bit of frizz, so this style needs a light hold hairspray and a careful hand. It is a salon look, and humidity can undo the definition in hours. Skip it for outdoor ceremonies in summer unless you have a strong finishing spray.
Blonde Bohemian Updo With Braids and Flowers
Can a bridesmaid updo feel elaborate without looking stiff? This bohemian style answers with a crown-like braid structure woven from thick, wavy blonde hair, with baby’s breath tucked into the sections. Ask your stylist for: bohemian blonde updo with braids and baby’s breath. The mid-back length gives enough weight for the braids to hold, and the loose tendrils around the face keep it from reading as formal. It suits most face shapes and works especially well for outdoor or garden weddings. The flowers should be added last, gently pushed into the braids, so the style stays fresh through photos and dinner.
Final Thoughts
Fine or slippery hair holds better with a braid or twist worked into the base, since the interlocking gives pins something to grab. Thick, heavy hair does better in a low bun or a structured shape that spreads the weight evenly instead of pulling at one spot.
- Book a trial four to six weeks before the wedding.
- Apply texturizing spray to dry hair for grip.
- Match bobby pins to your base color.
- Seal the finished shape with strong-hold hairspray.
Choose an updo that feels like you and complements the wedding’s theme.
