37 beautiful half up half down hairstyles for the modern bride

30 JunHair & Inspiration

Half up half down hairstyles will never go out of style. They’re one of the most popular hairstyles amongst brides, and also the most practical. They offer the best of both worlds – soft and romantic curls and a polished glamour that comes with an updo.

A half up hairstyle isn’t just for long haired brides. Pinned back hair suits short, medium or long hair. Keep in mind, a lot of the looks you see below can be recreated with the help of hair extensions so don’t feel discouraged if your hair isn’t as thick and luscious as the inspiration shots. While hairstylists can’t perform miracles, they can certainly work their magic with their industry tricks, tools and techniques.

The thing we love the most about a half updo is it creates the perfect foundation to secure a veil or hair adornment. And, of course, it keeps the hair off your face which is always a good thing if you’re planning an outdoor wedding. We’re all for beautiful hairstyles, but you shouldn’t have to sacrifice practicality when choosing your wedding day hair!

If you love a practical and pretty look as much as the next girl, another notable consideration is the versatility of a half up hairstyle. Many brides choose a romantic updo for the ceremony and then remove some of the pins at the nape of the neck to reveal loosely curled hair that’s been held in place for the first half of the day. Just be sure to let your hairstylist know your intentions to change your hairstyle after the ceremony. This way they can design your updo so that it can easily transform into a half up hairstyle with the removal of a few hair pins.

Let’s wait no longer! We’ve pulled together 37 of the most beautiful half up half down hairstyles for the modern bride. They’re soft, feminine and chic and we just know you’ll love them.

Photo credit: via Pinterest

Braided half up half down hairstyles

A braided half up hairstyle is all about texture and detail. You don’t need to be bohemian inspired to pull off this romantic look. Soft braids suit modern to vintage brides, and even traditional bridal looks.

As this hairstyle is often textured at the sides or back, we recommend a delicate hair vine to scroll along the contours of the braid. Alternatively, a delicate crown to frame your face will offer that perfect finishing touch without taking attention away from your hairstyle or wedding dress.

Twisted half up hairstyles

Not quite a braid and definitely not boring. A twisted half up hairstyle feels relaxed, glamorous, and arguably, more effortless than braids. It’s the perfect look if you wish to adorn your hair with a detailed bridal headpiece or wedding crown. It exudes sophistication without the formality and it’s easily one of our all time favourite bridal looks.

Half up hairstyle with volume

Sometimes you don’t want too many fussy details on your wedding day. This is often the case if your wedding gown is quite elaborate or detailed. For a cleaner and modern look, we love a bit of volume at the crown. It’s a simple detail yet impactful, elongating the face and your overall silhouette.

Half up ponytails

There’s a certain playfulness that comes with a half up ponytail. You know the look – fresh and relaxed, it almost just needs a pretty bow to complete the look. But a half up hairstyle doesn’t have to feel overly girly. Mess it up or add a few small plaits or braids into the mix for a dreamy look perfect for the modern bride.

How to accessorise half up half down wedding hair

Half up wedding hairstyles feels feminine and romantic so we recommend accessories that capture the dreamy yet sophisticated spirit of your bridal look.

Choose from backwards facing headpieces, a delicate wedding crown, statement earrings or a wedding veil positioned at the crown to complement this look perfectly.

Our collections feature some beautiful wedding accessories that pair perfectly with half up hairstyles. And of course, all of our designs are handcrafted in-house and fully customisable so we can accommodate custom requests.

If you’d like to get in touch to chat about your bridal look, send us an email. We’d love to work with you to create something beautiful for your wedding day.

Shop this look: REINA gold wedding crown

Shop this look: MEADOW set of 4 bridal hair pins

Shop this look: SOMERSET floral bridal headpiece

Shop this look: WHISPER floral hair pins in blush or ivory

Shop this look: WANDERING delicate pearl bridal headpiece

Shop this look: BOTANICA floral bridal headpiece

Shop this look: LE POEME delicate wedding headpiece

37 beautiful half up half down hairstyles for the modern bride - TANIA MARAS | bridal headpieces + wedding veils (2024)

FAQs

Which hair style is best for a wedding? ›

Off-the-Shoulder: Loose Half-Up, Half-Down

For brides with longer hair who don't want to go completely up for an off-the-shoulder look, a loose, half-up, half-down style is a perfectly romantic option for this bridal neckline.

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What does mother of the bride wear in her hair? ›

Updos are a mother-of-the-bride hairstyle favorite for a reason: they're timeless, they frame your face and they work with a wide variety of dress styles. Whether it's a beautiful braided bun, an elegant chignon or an updo with a few wispy tendrils, you really can't go wrong.

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How do you style wedding hair with a veil? ›

Simply position the veil's comb above the bun and the sheer fabric will gracefully drop over the bun for a look that's ethereal and romantic. If styling your veil with a hairpiece, nestle your veil comb between your updo and headpiece to create a beautiful image. Consider wearing a blusher for that touch of mystique.

Should a brides hair be up or down? ›

Consider Your Wedding Dress Neckline

"If you are wearing a strapless dress, either hair down or half up, half down will look pretty and feminine while still showing off the neckline," advises Mar. Loose waves and a soft, flowing style is key. If your dress has a higher neckline, our pro says to consider an updo.

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How many days before your wedding should you get your hair done? ›

Brides ask me all the time when they should have their hair cut and colored before their wedding, and usually recommend about 2 weeks before your wedding. This ensures enough to time to fix any color if it's not exactly what you wanted, and it's not too long so there won't be any grow out at your roots.

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Who pays for mother of the bride outfit? ›

Mother of the Bride & Groom

Both the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom are expected to pay for their own wedding attire. Typically, these gowns do not need to match the bridesmaid dresses, however, some brides prefer for the gowns to coordinate in some way.

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Who pays for mother of the bride hair? ›

“Usually the mother of the bride pays for herself, and sometimes the entire bridal party,” says Cohen.

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What does the modern mother of the bride wear? ›

Out With the Old

"We've seen mothers of the bride and groom moving away from the traditional two-piece outfits, in favour of a more contemporary look that can be worn again. An elegant well-cut dress with sleeves and minimal detail is the most requested look, with a great shoe and bag.

Do you wear a veil over or under your hair? ›

Most wedding veils are worn over the hair in various ways depending on the style of the veil, however, if you don't want to cover your bridal hairstylist's hard work you might want to consider wearing your wedding veil under your hair.

What is the rule of wedding veils? ›

"Modern veil traditions purely reflect personal style," says Stark. She further explains that brides don't have guidelines or restrictions on what type of veil they have to wear, so they can have fun with it. "These days, there really are no rules in what a veil should or shouldn't look like," she says.

What hairstyle is best for heavy veils? ›

Longer and heavier veils may need a more supportive hairstyle such as an up-do, a braided style that is half up/half down.

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What is the hairstyle called half up half down? ›

This particular hairstyle is more or less what the name suggests: tie up the top half of your hair into a topknot or ponytail, while the lower half can cascade down your back or be swept to the side. This is an underrated hairstyle and bound to be a favorite for anyone who wants a great look in a hurry!

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What is the hair trend half and half? ›

Half and half hair color (also known as split dye) is when your colorist dyes half of your hair one color and the other half a different shade.

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What are the best hair styles for wedding guests? ›

Hair should be well groomed. You want to look dressy, sleek and polished - aim for short, slick side partings, barrel tonged waves, ballerina buns and textured updos.

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What is the most popular wedding hairstyle? ›

Half up, half down hair is one of the most popular wedding hairstyles for short and long hair. This timeless look will never go out of style. Half updos are the perfect fit for veils and other accessories. It can also be paired with all the styles mentioned above.

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What is the trend hair for wedding guests? ›

Among the anti-prim hairstyles we love are slick high ponytails, ultra-sleek, ultra long plaits, braids and pigtails, '90s loose updos worn with a modern spin, cute baby braids, mussy, sexy texture (or sexture) and accessories: the more the merrier.

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Should I wear my hair up or down for wedding guest? ›

When deciding on your perfect hairstyle, keep in mind the dress code and style of the wedding you're attending. For a casual daytime celebration, you may want to opt for soft waves, whereas an elegant evening affair might call for an extravagant updo. Keep in mind your wedding guest dress or outfit, too!

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37 beautiful half up half down hairstyles for the modern bride - TANIA MARAS | bridal headpieces + wedding veils (2024)