70+ Wedding Hairstyles For Every Hair Type

Long, Short, Up, Down, Curly, Straight, With Accessories, Without Accessories—We've got you covered

When it comes to wedding hairstyles, most folks fall into one of two groups: the I-know-EXACTLY-how-I-want-my-hair-to-look crew, or the OMFG-what-am-I-going-to-do-with-my-hair squad. And you know, I should be perfect at this. As a hairstylist who works weddings, I’ve spent hundreds of hours around brides doing wedding hair. But somehow I found myself literally cutting my own hair in the bathroom on my wedding day. Yeah, true story. #DontBeLikeMe

So in the interest of NOT being like me (seriously, do not try that at home ever), we’re here to save you some heartache by walking through how to find the best wedding hairstyles for you (and your hair!), plus how to find a stylist to help make that happen. If you’re thinking of going the DIY hair route, we got you too: check our posts here and here.

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Black Wedding Hairstyles

a woman with long black hair gets her styled and makeup done for her wedding

Figuring Out What Wedding Hairstyle Works For You

Trying to figure out which wedding hairstyle will work best for you can initially be a little tricky. As we know, Pinterest and the interwebs are chock full of gorgeous images, but many of those are of hair models sporting loads of extensions, along with a stylist, killer lighting, and a fan. When you find some images you like ask yourself this: Does it seem like my hair could do what’s in that picture? If you’re sporting a pixie, a super Rapunzel curled look is probably not going to happen. Or say, trying to get your tight natural curls into a super sleek chignon. On your wedding day, you should aim to look like a slightly fancier version of yourself. Don’t make this the day you’re trying out some totally new look for the first time.

a hairstylist hairsprays a brunette bride's hair for her wedding hairstyle

How To Find A Wedding Stylist

We’ve written at length about how to find a wedding stylist. But the short version is this: start by checking our Vendor Directory, talking to your own stylist, or asking friends for a referral. Most stylists require a trial in order to book your wedding. While at first this may totally seem like one of those WIC moments and like something you don’t need, it absolutely is a must. This is as much for you as it is for your stylist. While it gives them a chance get a feel for your hair, it gives you a chance to get to know someone who is going to be with you at a potentially stressful time. You want someone you feel comfortable with and someone who will be able to stay calm and professional.

At your trial, bring your stylist a few options of things you like, and think about why you like those looks. Is it the curls, the colors, the accessories? Keep in mind the neckline of your dress and any jewelry you plan on wearing, along with your veil or other headpiece if you will have one. Even the very best stylists can’t replicate a style exactly: your hair is not the same as the person in the picture. Your stylist will create a style that works for you and your hair, which in the end will be a far more successful style than a bad copy of Pinterest.

To help you in your search for wedding hairstyles that are going to work for you, we’ve rounded up our favorite hairstyles for short, medium to long, and curly hair, for all types of textures and thicknesses.

short wedding hairstyles on a variety of hair textures, like this bride's curly hair

Wedding Hairstyles For Short Hair

Calling all undercuts, pixies, bobs, and lobs! Short doesn’t mean boring, not for one second. While it can feel like it’ll be hard to make it feel different from your everyday hair, keep in mind you’re going to be all spiffed up wearing a killer outfit—this isn’t a normal day.

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How To: DIY a Gold Leafed Short Hair Style

Pro-tip: Adding an accessory is the best-kept secret in bridal hair. It helps the style feel elevated and finished. Or go with a bold eye or lip to bring your look up a few notches. Check out our post on wedding hair accessories for short hair.

Woman's hair from behind, half up with messy loose braids and two large pearl combs for a wedding hairstyleHair by Jenny Cho Hair | Accessory Lelet NY

Kelly Osborn from behind with lavender locks, shaved into a wide mohawk and curled into a faux-hawk—inspiration for a wedding hairstylePhoto by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images 

Portrait of woman with warm brown skin, bright red lips, bold dark eyebrows, and very close cropped blond hair as a wedding hairstyleHair by Step the Barber

cotton candy pink hair, coifed to chin length, with a vintage ’50s vibe for a wedding hairstyleHair by Miss Rockabilly Ruby

side profile of woman with grey chin-length bob with large chunky braid in front, secured with two long, thin, metallic clips for a wedding hairstyleHair by Kristin Ess

Woman with auburn hair in messy chin-length bob with two chunky, loose headband-style braids across the front, secured underneath hair for a wedding hairstyleVia Moooi Makers & Kappers

Woman with platinum hair in mohawk with finger waves along the sides, with long hair on top in many twists folded together tightly for a wedding hairstyleVia Behind the Chair

woman with dark chin-length wavy hair with grey streaks, side-parted for a wedding hairstyle, wearing bright red glossy lipstick Hair by Ashley Streicher

woman with tightly coiled natural hair, smooth on one side, piled on top and side, with white floral hairpiece for a wedding hairstylePhoto by Winnie Au | Via Refinery29

Woman with chin-length hair in loose waves, gathered half up with baby's breath for a wedding hairstyleHair by Jemma McArthur

woman in ornate blue and red dress with gold appliqués, with close shaved dark hair, wearing a gold bejeweled headband with large red stone and gold tikka for a wedding hairstylePhoto by Kesha Lambert

woman in ’20s vintage-style gold beaded dress with shoulder length hair, side parted, in loose waves for a wedding hairstylePhoto by Amy Gray | Featured on A Practical Wedding

Wedding Hairstyles For Medium to Long Hair

Hey there #longhairdontcare ladies—real talk, your hair doesn’t need to be down to the floor in order to have an amazing updo. In fact, having medium-length hair typically is one of the best lengths for updos. Sometimes if hair is really long, it can hard to achieve the tousled, romantic looks we’ve come to love.

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How To: Vintage Hairstyle with a Modern Twist

Check with your stylist a few months before your wedding to see if you need a trim or layers to get the look you want. Braids and twists are the perfect way to add dimension to your style and they look great in photos. Looking to learn how to braid your own hair too? Check out this post for the best tips on braiding hair.

Woman's hair from behind, pulled back into stacked horizontal twists with a thick horizontal fishtail braid for a wedding hairstyleHair by Annette Waligora

Messy twisted and braided french twist, with the front tightly pulled back, from behind for a wedding hairstyleHair by Riwana Capri | Via Nine Zero One Salon

Woman with medium-length dark red loose waves, gently pulled back into a half up style with twist, with gold stars and dots along the twist for a wedding hairstyleHair by Kristin Ess

woman with long dark brown ombre hair in a waterfall braid from front to back, with loose curls for a wedding hairstyleHair by Lirian

woman with platinum, pink, and dark-streaked hair, piled on the side in a low twisted braid for a wedding hairstyleHair by Annette Waligora

woman with dark and grey-blue hair with a side roll from front to back with pearl accents for a wedding hairstyleHair by Sarah Malinda

woman with honey, blond, and brown hair pulled back into four braided buns, vertically along back of head for a wedding hairstyleHair by Hair Romance

woman's hair gathered into two loose horizontal rolls with floral and pearl accents for a wedding hairstyleHair by Whitney Burkhart

blond hair, sleeked back into a woven chignon for a wedding hairstyleHair by Janine

woman with wide braid crown for a wedding hairstyle, from behindPhoto via Black Bride

woman with dark hair with very deep side part and romantic voluminous curls for a wedding hairstyleHair by Rubi Jones | Photo by Emily Soto 

woman with very long dark curly hair, with the right side pulled back into a large double orchid fastener for a wedding hairstyleHair by Mona Sangha

woman with sleek dark shoulder-length hair with the right side secured with a gold and pearl leaf and flower headpiece for a wedding hairstylePhoto by Sally Pinera | Via Style My Pretty

woman with a loose French twist accented with trek metal halo accessory for a wedding hairstyleHair and Photo by Honestly WTF | Hair Accessory from Lelet 

woman with dark hair with thin twists from sides of head secured with contrasting white bands, woven among the rest of her coiffed hair for a wedding hairstyleHair by Dionne Smith Hair
woman with middle part and wide-braid headband for a wedding hairstyleHair by Theodora Micheal

woman with sleek hair gathered into a low chignon with gold ripple accessory for a wedding hairstyleHair by Kristin Ess

woman with dark hair gathered loosely into curls at the nape of her neck with gold and pearl tikka for a wedding hairstyleHair by Mona Sangha

messy loose french braid from front hairline gathered into loose chignon for a wedding hairstyleHair by Emma Chen

woman with long dark hair loosely pulled back and cascading in loose curls down her shoulder for a wedding hairstyleHair by Satine Studio

woman with flower tattoos from neck down shoulder with red hair in loose horizontal braid crown and braids gathered on top of her headHair by Yulalesya Beauty

woman with a loose braid along left side of head with another layer of hair woven along underneath, gathered in the back for a wedding hairstyleHair by Lindsey Neavitt | Via Nine Zero One Salon

woman with long dark hair with deep side part and sleek waves cascading down shoulder for a wedding hairstylePhoto by Ciara Richardson | Hair by Stephanie Brinkerhoff | Via Style Me Pretty

woman with very shiny, sleek, long dark hair with waves starting around shoulder height for a wedding hairstyleHair by Sylvia Stankowski

woman with front, chin-length hair parted center and loosely curled, with long hair curled and piled on the back of her head for a wedding hairstyleHair by Modimel

woman with blond and orange sherbet colored hair with bright yellow and darker orange patches, pulled back into a voluminous french twist, with a loose long bang sidepart for a wedding hairstyleHair by Kelly O’Leary-Woodford

woman with long curled dark hair parted in the middle with ornate jeweled headband across forehead for a wedding hairstylePhoto by Jaclyn Fischer

woman's profile with hair in a faux-hawk twist, accented with jeweled hairpiece for a wedding hairstyleHair by Anyahair | Photo by Nia Soy Photography

Woman with vibrant red hair loosely piled on top of her head with loose curled tendrils for a wedding hairstyleHair by Kubar Katerina

Wedding hairstyle inspired by Game of thronesHair by Annette Waligora

woman with pink and grey hair gathered into horizontal twist across the back of her head for a wedding hairstyleHair by Heather Chapman

woman with hair in loose braids and twists for a wedding hairstyleHair by Jill Buck | Via Nine Zero One Salon

woman with hair loosely braided and woven on the top of her head, then gathered at nape for a wedding hairstyleHair by Flora Hair

Wedding Hairstyles For CURLY and textured HAIR

Where my curly girls at? Rock what nature gave ya for a wedding hairstyle that is uniquely you. Real talk, I’ve spent most of my life trying to avoid my curls, while obsessing over curly styles (isn’t that always how it works? #curlenvy), so I’m always so excited to see brides showing off their natural textures on their wedding day.

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How To: Edgy Updo For Natural Hair

If you have certain products that your curls loooove definitely bring those along for your stylist. Find a stylist who is comfortable working with varied textures so you and your wedding squad will all feel their best. Looking for a new DIY style? Try this edgy updo for curly hair or figure out how to finally get smooth curls. And if that’s not enough, check out this post for more curly wedding hairstyles.

woman wearing lace top, tulle bottom wedding dress, looking delighted, with tightly coiled textured hair for a wedding hairstylePhoto by Nick Allen

woman with loose messy curls for a wedding hairstyleHair by Kelli Mason

woman with sides braided vertically to create textured curled mohawk for a wedding hairstyleHair by Alex Pelerossi

woman with long dark hair with loose curls cascading down shoulder for a wedding hairstyleHair by TEAM Hair and Makeup | Photo by Jose Villa Photography | Via Style Me Pretty

woman with short dark wavy hair, side parted, with swoop bang, with top longer than back for a wedding hairstyleHair by Lana

woman with curls loosely gathered at nape with gold leaf hair accessory for a wedding hairstylePhoto by Amy Gray | Featured on A Practical Wedding

woman with fade on sides and long tightly curled hair on top for a wedding hairstyleHair by Step the Barber

blond curly hair gathered low at the nape of her neck, with gold leaf, pearl, and white enameled flower hair accessory for a wedding hairstyleHair by Tori Schones

woman in rose garden with long cascading strapless white wedding dress with long dark, wavy hair parted down middle for her wedding hairstylePhoto by Brandon Witzel | Via MunaLuchi Bride

woman with long dark corkscrew curls and large bright flower crown, wearing a high-necked long-sleeved wedding dress for a wedding hairstylePhoto via Emilia Jane Morgan | Hair by Kathy Collins

Woman with curly platinum hair gathered back with with gold fern hair accessory for a awedding hairstyleHair by Alisha Jared

Woman smiling in white dress with wide gold choker and long dark hair styled into many thick twists for a wedding hairstyleHair by Enhanced Beauty by Kori

woman in garden beneath mossy curtain, holding pink and white bouquet, with medium length hair parted on side with loose waves for a wedding hairstylePhoto by Helena & Laurent | Featured on A Practical Wedding

woman smiling with natural hair coiled on top and back of head for a wedding hairstyleHair by 1193 Natural Hair Salon

woman in wedding dress and cape with shoulder-length natural curly hair and bangs for a wedding hairstylePhoto by Rebecca Schoneveld Bridal

woman in white lace pants and crop top from behind with short wavy blond hair for a wedding hairstylePhoto by Jasmin Vant

woman covered in veil with shoulder-length natural curly hair for a wedding hairstylePhoto by Sonia Savio | Featured on A Practical Wedding

woman with dark hair and fade on side and short loose waves on top for a wedding hairstyleHair by Rachel Ranae Paz

Need more wedding hairstyles inspo? Check out updos for medium to long hair, and bridesmaid styles your friends will love. Looking to try your hand at styling? Look at these wedding hairstyle how-tos: vintage updo, gold leaf pixie, finger waves, and half up/half down.

Alright, share your photos. What was your wedding hairstyle? Did you love it?

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