40 Easy Wedding Hairstyles for a Simple Bridal Look

Laura Harrier with long glossy hair with body — Mike Marsland / WireImage / Getty

Wedding hair has come a long way since the rigid coifs and standard updos of old. And, while those styles are still just as appropriate today, we're happy to see an expanded range of freedom and personality injected into the range of bridal 'dos. In all honesty, the day is yours and whether you're having an intimate micro wedding, a luxe black-tie party, or are hitting up the courthouse with your honey, you're fully in command of how that head of hair falls. This may not be a celebration of your hair per se, but it shouldn't not be either.

Need some inspiration to guide your bridal style choice? We've got all the celebrity red-carpet looks worthy of the ceremony aisle as well as expert intel on how to achieve the looks and ensure they stay put through dinner and dancing.

Meet the Expert

Clariss Rubenstein is a celebrity hairstylist and member of the R+Co Collective.
Giovanni Vaccaro is a founding member and the artistic director of the on-demand beauty service, Glamsquad.

01 of 40

Bombshell Blowout

Lori Harvey with blown out lob and neutral makeup — Taylor Hill / Getty

This style is what every woman is craving right now: "A healthy, bouncy blowout that is super smooth and shiny," Vaccaro says, noting, "Product and brush are key here."

On damp hair, apply mousse or spray and run a round brush through hair, aiming a blow-dryer on the hair as you go.
"For fine hair, get your hands on Glamsquad's Full Effect Volumizing Mousse to give your hair that long-lasting body you crave," he says.
"For thick hair that reacts to humidity, I love Kerastase's Fluidissime Anti Frizz Spray to spray all over. "

Byrdie Tip

For a smooth and shiny blowout, the kind of brush you use is important. "Natural boar bristle brushes will give your hair shine and are the best for smoothing out dry, frizzy strands," Vaccaro says.

02 of 40

Curly Updo

By loosely pulling strands back into a relaxed, twisted bun (go for mid-height), Jasmine Tookes easily shows off her neck, profile, and gorgeous jewelry. (Which, we might add, is great for those wedding photos.) We're equally in love with her impeccable cat-eye.

Sweep hair back into a mid-level ponytail, pulling a few strands out to frame the face.
Secure the ponytail with an elastic, and wrap the ends of the ponytail around the elastic to form a bun and hide the hair tie.
Use a curling iron to curl the loose strands at the front.
"At the end, if you still need a bit more control, or want the look to be tighter to the head, I add some Oribe Silverati Pomade and smooth the sides away from the face with a toothbrush or nail brush," notes Rubenstein. "Yes, the cheapie little nail brushes they use to clean your nails during a manicure, like a toothbrush but bigger. I use them all the time for smoothing hair and taming flyaways."

03 of 40

Accessorized Bun

Virtually effortless, we're partial to Lupita Nyong'o's diamond-encrusted take on the bun.

Pull hair up and back into a voluminous ballerina bun.
Wrap the ends of hair around the base of the bun, pinning it into place.
Leave it bare or wrap it with an elegant ribbon.

04 of 40

Relaxed 90's Updo

Eiza Gonzalez with messy updo attends the Global Premiere Screening of "Babylon" — Emma McIntyre / Getty

This relaxed style may come with certain 90's connotations, but rest assured the bombshell look is as timeless as they come. If Eiza Gonzalez can make the effortless style work for the red carpet, brides can totally flaunt it down the aisle.

Start on dry hair, preferably with a bit of grit in it, and create large curls with a curling iron.
Set the curls with hairspray and tousle for volume as needed.
Separate any front pieces you want to leave out of the updo.
Pull hair back into a loose bun, securing with pins.
For added texture, gently tug at sections of the bun without unraveling it.
Style the front sections depending on length, either with a round brush for volume or curling iron for more defined curls.

05 of 40

Sleek Updo With Deep Side Part

Anya Chalotra with deep side-parted sleek updo — Mike Marsland / Getty

Just when you think a slicked-back bun couldn't be more chic, Anya Chalotra raises the bar with a deeper-than-deep side part.

Run a smoothing serum through dry hair to prep.
Section hair by creating desired part. (This style looks equally as good with a center part.)
Pull hair back and secure at desired height, smoothing the tops and sides. (Anya is modeling a low bun just at the nape of the neck here.)
Secure with an elastic, wrapping one small section of hair around it to conceal it.
Finish with hairspray to set.

06 of 40

Sleek and Straight

Selena Gomez with straight, glossy center-parted hair and red dress at 2023 MTV Video Music Awards — Catherine Powell / Stringer / Getty

Romantic waves may be a bridal staple, but that doesn't mean you have to forgo your tried-and-true straight tresses. Selena Gomez's pin-straight hair is so glam it rivals any curvy tendril.

Apply mousse or spray to damp hair and blow-dry straight.
Follow up with a hair straightener if necessary.
Run a smoothing shine serum through hair.
Part the hair as desired and pull the front sections behind the ears, smoothing them back. Secure with bobby pins concealed beneath the hair shaft.

07 of 40

Braided Updo

Business in the front, formal bridal party in the back. We say "I do" to Diane Kruger's braided hairstyle.

Separate hair into two sections, and divide each of those into three sections to create a French braid.
Cross the rightmost strand over the middle strand to make it the new middle strand, adding some hair to the far right strand as you go, then repeating on the left until you reach the end of the hair.
Continue around the head, putting as much hair into the French braid as you can, then tie a regular braid with the remaining hair.
Take one braid and wrap it into a low bun, and do the same on the other side, to create low bun pigtails.

08 of 40

Pinned-Back Waves

We love the way Jaimie Alexander's naturally curly texture complements her pinned-back locks. This is an easy wedding hairstyle—especially if you have chin-length (or shorter) tresses like Alexander.

Add wide-barrel curls all over the head, then gather hair into a pony.
Twist the ends a bit as you put it up to help guide the hair and add extra volume.
Pull hair into a loop by wrapping the pony around before finally pulling through.
Secure and spritz with hairspray.

09 of 40

Cascading Waves

Jennifer Lopez with loose waves attends the Ralph Lauren SS24 runway show — Dave Benett / Getty

If you're looking for a wedding hairstyle that's both classic and low-maintenance, channel JLo's red-carpet look with cascading curls and plenty of volume.

Starting on dry hair (even day-old works), use a wide-barrel curling iron to create loose waves, brushing them out with your fingers.

Byrdie Tip

For the perfect curls that last, use a 1-inch or 1 1/2-inch curling iron. Spray hair with hairspray after curling and let hair cool before lightly brushing out with your fingers.

10 of 40

Brushed-Out Waves With French Fringe

Felicity Jones with curtain bangs and brushed-out waves — Jacopo Raule / Getty

If you're rocking fringe, consider a more diffused wave over its ultra-defined counterpart. The softer texture, as seen on Felicity Jones, will evoke the same carefree vibe while flattering the shorter layers.

Start on dry hair, preferably with a bit of grit in it.
Use a wide-barrel curling iron to create larger waves.
Spray with hairspray once cool.
Brush through with a paddle brush once hairspray has completely dried and curls have set.
Add a shine or smoothing serum to control frizz, if needed.

11 of 40

Sideswept Elegance

Madelaine Petsch with sideswept waves attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party — Jon Kopaloff / Stringer / Getty

Regardless of texture—be it defined curls, loose waves, or the barely there bends of a blowout—you can turn up the heat on just about any style by juxtaposing the hair to the side. The look is as timeless as it is easy to achieve, take it from Madelaine Petsch.

Create desired texture by following previous instructions.
Once sprayed and set, push all of the hair off of one should and back.
Take all of the hair and pull it over to the alternate side so it cascades over the shoulder.
Hairspray to secure in place, paying special attention to the pulled-back side.
Add bobby pins to keep the style in place if necessary.

12 of 40

Loose Ponytail

Going for a boho bridal look? Make like Laura Harrier and opt for a low, loosely curled ponytail with face-framing tendrils. It's simple, romantic, and effortless to achieve.

Beginning on dry hair, use a wide-barrel curling iron to create loose waves.
Pull hair back into a low ponytail, securing with an elastic.
Pull two pieces of hair out from the ponytail, so that you have face-framing sections.

13 of 40

Curled Bob

Chanel Iman with curly bob — Taylor Hill / Getty

For an effortlessly chic wedding hairstyle, opt for loose, lived-in curls. Extra points if you channel Chanel Iman's covetable just-above-the-shoulder bob—whether you go for the cut or simply pin it from underneath.

Add a deep side part to the hair using a wide comb.
Use rollers to create wide, retro curls (hot rollers will create curls that last).
Add a volumizing product such as Aveda Volumizing Hair Tonic to the roots.

14 of 40

Half-Up Bun

Alicia Vikander with romantic half-up hairstyle — Frazer Harrison / Getty

"This is my go-to wedding hairstyle for every hair type and texture because the look is universally flattering," Vaccaro says. One part romantic, one part fairy tale, (Beauty and the Beast, in particular), Alicia Vikander's gorgeous Academy Awards look is an easy-to-pull-off hairstyle for the big day.

Pull a top section of hair into a ponytail, securing with an elastic.
Take the end of the ponytail and wrap it around the elastic, pinning it into place so that it forms a bun.
Spritz on a texture and shine spray.

15 of 40

Accessorized Half-Up, Half-Down

Brie Larson with embellished half-up hairstyle — Frazer Harrison / Getty

Take a cue from Brie Larson and let a show-stopping hair accessory take center stage. She keeps the rest of the hairstyle simple with smooth, shiny lengths and barely curled ends for the epitome of elegance.

Sweep the top half of hair back into a half-up, half-down style.
To add some glam, add a fun accessory rather than an elastic, twisting the hair around the barrette so that it becomes part of the style.
Run a flat iron through the ends of hair to ensure they stay smooth.
For a similar silky finish, look no further than Verb's Ghost Oil.

16 of 40

Romantic Updo

Blake Lively in tousled updo with headband — Samir Hussein / Getty

Blake Lively punctuates her romantic, imperfectly perfect updo with a jewel-encrusted circlet and matching pins at the base of her head. We love the added touch of playfulness!

Pull hair back into a ponytail
Take the ends of the pony and wind them around the base into a loose bun.
Pull a few strands haphazardly out of the look to frame the face.

17 of 40

Undone Braid

Margot Robbie in loose braid — Chris Jackson / Getty

As the ultimate easy wedding hairstyle, we can envision Margot Robbie's loose, romantic braid walking down the aisle.

Pull hair into a low ponytail and divide into three sections, forming a braid by crossing the outer sections over to the middle and repeating until you reach the bottom of the hair.
Secure the bottom with an elastic and pull a few face-framing strands out of the braid.
The style is meant to look undone (that's part of the appeal), but make sure any flyaway strands stay out of your face by finishing with a thin coat of Ouai's Texturizing Hair Spray.

18 of 40

Curly Half-Up

We'll take any chance we get to replicate Rihanna's stunning red-carpet hairstyles. And this ultra-voluminous half-up look is no exception.

Use a wide-barrel curling wand to create loose waves throughout the hair.
Create a half-ponytail by pulling back the top section of hair, securing with an elastic.
Wrap one piece of hair around the elastic to conceal it and secure with pins.
Spritz a shine spray all over the hair.

19 of 40

Sophisticated Lob

Sydney Sweeney in green dress with sleek lob and flipped ends — David Livingston / Stringer / Getty

Sydney Sweeney's über chic lob has us seriously considering a pre-nuptial chop. Who wouldn't swoon over those exquisitely rounded ends?

Apply mousse to damp hair and blow-dry straight from roots to mid-lengths, concentrating on injecting volume at the roots.
Once you get to the bottom of the mid-length near the ends, switch to a small round brush and begin curling the ends inward.
Touch up sections with a hair straightener if necessary, but keep in mind that this style is all about smoothness rather than achieving a pin-straight aesthetic.
Run a smoothing shine serum through hair.

20 of 40

Intricate Buns

Hailee Steinfeld with architectural topknot — Karwai Tang / Getty

This hairstyle might be slightly more complicated than some of the others, but with its mesmerizing bends and buns, we think Hailee Steinfeld's Oscars look is worth it.

Pull hair up into a smooth, high ponytail.
Separate the end of the ponytail into several sections, clipping each so you can work with one at a time.
Taking one section, create a loop in the hair (think of it as a mini bun or knot), securing it into the base of a ponytail. Repeat on all the sections of hair until you have one updo comprised of several smaller buns.

21 of 40

Accessorized Pixie

Janelle Monáe's Embellished Pixie cut — Steve Granitz / Getty

Janelle Monáe has made twinkling hair accessories her signature when it comes to the red carpet—a match made in heaven with her closely cropped pixie.

Spray a texture spray through dry hair to create grit.
Secure a jeweled or embellished band over the top, using fingers to adjust hair as needed.

22 of 40

Bun With Veil

Hailey Bieber with bun and birdcage veil — Kevin Mazur / Getty

For a vintage throwback, add a retro-inspired veil to your wedding hairstyle. Here, Hailey Bieber keeps it modern with her slicked-back topknot for a simple, demure take.

Pull hair back into a high ponytail.
Take the ends of the ponytail and wrap them around the base to cover the elastic and create a topknot.
Secure a veil over the entire look.

Byrdie Tip

The face-skimming veil that Bieber is wearing is called a birdcage veil. It is a great option for brides who don't want a traditional-length veil.

23 of 40

Knotted Braid

Elegant and romantic, Jessica Chastain's low, knotted braids would make for an easy, gorgeous wedding hairstyle.

Pull hair back into a low ponytail.
Separate the hair into three sections and start a loose braid.
Once the braid is finished, use your fingers to loosen sections for a more lived-in look.

24 of 40

Barely There Bends

Karreuche with crinkled hair — Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty

Keep your wedding look laid-back by accentuating loose, barely there bends with a few strategic pins and a center part.

Begin by center-parting dry, day-old hair.
Use a straightening iron to create bends through the ends of the hair.
Glide the straightener down as you normally would, but pivot the tool 180-degrees away from your face before gently pulling down straight through the rest of the hair at the mid-shaft. Repeat for each section of hair.
Pin hair back with barrettes as desired.

25 of 40

Retro Curls

Andra Day with retro old-hollywood curls — George Pimentel / Getty

A tribute to Old Hollywood glamour, Andra Day's voluminous Veronica Lake–esque waves are easy and 100 percent swoon-worthy.

Begin by side-parting dry hair.
Separate into 1-inch sections and wrap them around a 1 1/2-inch curling iron.
Once each section is curled and cooled, gently run fingers through to soften the look. Brush through with a fine-toothed comb if necessary.
Repeat all over the head, then secure one side of the hair in a barrette.

26 of 40

Natural Curls

Imaan Hammam with voluminous spirals — Jim Spellman / Getty

Imaan Hammam demonstrates that a naturally curly texture is the epitome of pretty for red-carpet appearances, and in our opinion, the walk down the aisle.

First, ensure hair is properly moisturized.
Let natural curls air-dry, or diffuse as you normally would.
Apply a smoothing cream once mostly dry. Tousle and fluff with a curl pick for extra volume.

27 of 40

High Ponytail

Show off your cheekbones and flawless makeup application by opting for a sleek high ponytail like Joan Smalls. (We think it would be especially pretty if your dress is strapless.)

Pull hair back into a high pony, smoothing the tops and sides. Secure with an elastic.
Wrap one small section of hair around the elastic to hide it.
Finish with shine spray.

28 of 40

Wet Look

The wet look has turned from an avant-garde style to something far more popular. As it often crops up on the red carpet, it only makes sense that it would make its way to the chapel (or courthouse, as the case may be), too.

"To create the wet look, I start with dry detangled hair," Rubenstein says.
Now, it's time for the product. "I start at the nape of the neck and work my way up, running product through section by section. My favorite product to use for this is Oribe Rough Luxury Molding Wax."
Use a comb to thoroughly coat the hair with product. Style as desired.

29 of 40

Finger Waves

Zendaya’s Vintage Finger Wave hairstyle — Jeffrey Mayer / Getty

Zendaya's retro finger waves are equal parts edgy and elegant. We'd say that striking combination makes for one totally chic wedding hairstyle.

Beginning on freshly washed and conditioned hair, apply mousse or gel all over the head. R+Co's Motorcycle Flexible Gel will keep things intact.
Using a comb, make an S-shape in the hair, keeping a finger in the groove of the shape to keep the style in place.
Repeat all over the head. Let dry.

30 of 40

Bouncy Half-Up

Lily Aldridge with long wavy half-up, half-down hairdo — Taylor Hill / Getty

A classic for good reason, this bouncy look is sultry and sophisticated all at once.

"Twist sections back after lightly teasing and collect them one inch below the highest point of the head," Vaccaro says.
"Criss-cross bobby pins to secure and have fun with a hair accessory to cover pins and elevate the look," he adds.
"Leave out face-framing pieces for added softness. Finish with Glamsquad's Get Set Strong Hold Hairspray ."

31 of 40

Half-Up With Fringe

Camila Cabello with curtain bangs and wavy half-up hair wears white lace dress and attends the Fendi Couture Fall/Winter 2023/2024 show — Jacopo M. Raule / Stringer / Getty

If you have bangs, do like Camilla Cabello and show them off with a simple, Brigitte Bardot–esque half-updo.

Create a part from the tops of your ears, up, pulling the front section of the hair into a high ponytail, smoothing down the sides. Secure with an elastic.
Take a small piece of hair from beneath the ponytail and wrap it around the elastic to conceal. Secure with a pin.
Set the look with hairspray.

32 of 40

Side-Parted Glossy Waves

Adriana Lima with old Hollywood retro waves — Robin Marchant / WireImage / Getty

Adriana Lima's look sets the tone for sheer excellence in bridal beauty. Not to mention, it looks gorgeous paired with a bold lip.

Part hair to the side.
Using a wide-barrel curling iron, curl the hair in sections, moving the iron toward the face for the retro look.
Finish by smoothing with a serum or oil and plenty of shine spray.

33 of 40

Low Chignon

Gemma Chan with soft chignon — Karwai Tang / Getty

Gemma Chan's soft chignon with face-framing strands is easy and chic, making it a go-to style for any formality.

Pull hair into a low ponytail, keeping some sections of hair around the face loose. Secure with an elastic.
Wrap the ends of the ponytail into a loose chignon, pinning the hair into place.
Run a wide-barrel curling iron through the face-framing pieces to create a loose wave.
Set with hairspray.

34 of 40

Air-Dried Pixie

Zoe Kravitz with pixie cut and baby bangs — Frazer Harrison / Getty

Those with short hair can impart romance into their style by simply air-drying and using a quality texturizing product.

Let hair air-dry.
Apply a root-lifting product like Kenra Professional Dry Volume Burst, working it into the hair with fingers.
Use a comb to slick down any errant hairs and put the look into place.

35 of 40

Blown-Out Pixie

Kerry Washington with voluminous pixie — John Shearer / Getty

Short hair, like Kerry Washington's, gets the glam treatment with a blowout and some texture.

Starting on damp hair, sweep your pixie to the side to create a loose side part.
Use a comb like Mason Pearson's Fine Tooth Comb to brush hair into sections. Then begin blow-drying, using a round brush to amp up the volume.
Finish with a texture spray.

36 of 40

Mermaid Waves

Constance Wu with slightly wavy mid-length hair — Steve Granitz / WireImage / Getty

This casual, undone look is perfect (and perfectly doable) for wedding season.

Start on dry hair and divide into sections.
Use a 1-inch curling wand to curl hair towards the face while holding the iron horizontally.
Once curled, spritz dry shampoo at the roots, and flip hair upside down before lightly back-brushing for added volume.
Finish with hairspray.

37 of 40

Cascading Flowers

Emma Stone looked beautiful with fresh roses pinned in her hair, as created by her stylist Mara Roszak. This romantic look would be perfect for a wedding and is surprisingly easy to pull off.

Wash hair and apply volumizing mousse to emphasize natural texture.
Use a large-barrel curling iron to create loose waves, as needed.
Use bobby pins to tuck in natural flowers in a cascading pattern.

38 of 40

Jeweled Headpiece

Actress Patricia Contreras looked stunning wearing this jeweled headpiece at the Venice International Film Festival. The look is an easy way to instantly add some glamour to any wedding hairstyle.

Part hair down the middle.
Use a curling iron to add soft curls to the hair.
Place a jeweled headpiece on top of your crown. (You can also wear your hair in a loose bun or half-up with this headpiece.)

39 of 40

Braid-Wrapped Bun

Gigi Hadid's braid-wrapped bun is a perfect way to give your topknot the bridal treatment.

Pull hair up into a high ponytail and secure with an elastic.
To easily create the perfect bun, pull hair through a hair doughnut. Fan hair evenly around the doughnut until fully covered. Wrap an elastic around the bun to secure.
Take the hair sticking out and divide into two sections. Braid each section and secure with a hair tie.
Take one braid and wrap it around the bun. Secure with a bobby pin.
Take the other braid and wrap it in the other direction so the entire bun is covered with a braid. Secure with a bobby pin.
Spray lightly with hairspray to keep hair in place.

40 of 40

A Bridal Headband

America Ferrera in black dress with loose waves and pearl headband — Gregg DeGuire / Stringer / Getty

Bridal headbands are back, baby! (Not that they were ever truly out, if you ask us.) The best part? They're an easy addition to just about any hair style.

Create desired texture by following previous instructions.
Once sprayed and set, add headband to placement of choice.
Touch up hair to fall around the headband as desired.

Your Wedding Beauty Timeline: What To Do and When To Do it

40 Easy Wedding Hairstyles for a Simple Bridal Look

Bombshell Blowout

Curly Updo

Accessorized Bun

Relaxed 90's Updo

Sleek Updo With Deep Side Part

Sleek and Straight

Braided Updo

Pinned-Back Waves

Cascading Waves

Brushed-Out Waves With French Fringe

Sideswept Elegance

Loose Ponytail

Curled Bob

Half-Up Bun

Accessorized Half-Up, Half-Down

Romantic Updo

Undone Braid

Curly Half-Up

Sophisticated Lob

Intricate Buns

Accessorized Pixie

Bun With Veil

Knotted Braid

Barely There Bends

Retro Curls

Natural Curls

High Ponytail

Wet Look

Finger Waves

Bouncy Half-Up

Half-Up With Fringe

Side-Parted Glossy Waves

Low Chignon

Air-Dried Pixie

Blown-Out Pixie

Mermaid Waves

Cascading Flowers

Jeweled Headpiece

Braid-Wrapped Bun

A Bridal Headband

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