Key Takeaways
- Brides with long hair can choose from versatile styles like elegant curls, relaxed waves, or intricate updos to suit their wedding vision.
- Regular trims and pre-wedding styling appointments help maintain healthy, long hair that’s ready for any bridal look.
- Consider your dress, venue, and personal style when selecting a hairstyle, from beachy waves to polished ponytails.
Optimizing your hair health in the months leading up to the wedding is a priority for so many brides-to-be—it's not sexy to talk about, but stronger, longer, thicker hair is something so many women strive for ahead of the walk down the aisle, and it makes sense why: Longer hairstyles inherently offer more versatility, as more length makes it easier to pull off everything from an intricate updo to flowing, voluminous waves. While shorter hair can always be augmented with extensions on the big day arrives, many brides make a concerted effort to grow out their hair during the engagement period so that their options are wide open when choosing a wedding hairstyle.
An important step in ensuring your hair is long and healthy when the big day arrives? Building regular maintenance into your pre-wedding beauty schedule. Consistent trims allow you to grow your hair longer, as less damage and breakage will need to removed just ahead of the wedding. And a pre-wedding styling appointment is an absolute must, celebrity hairstyle Mia Hendrickson notes. "It's always best with long hair styling to have a haircut that has long layers and face-framing angles," she says. "Keeping hair one length is not ideal for most long-haired bridal styling."
Meet the Expert
Mia Hendrickson is a celebrity hair and makeup artist with over 15 years of experience in the bridal industry. She is the owner of Mia Farah Beautique.
Though many brides with long hair feel pressured to wear it down on the big day, that's not your only option. Similarly, the ever-popular Old Hollywood waves aren't a must-have either. Whatever your hair length, long or short, you should feel empowered to walk down the air with your hair styled in the look you love most. To help you find the right one to suit your hair length, we're sharing 35 ideas that are perfect for brides with long, flowing hair.
From classic curls and bouncy ponytails to sky-high updos and half-up styles, we're sharing some of our favorite long hair ideas to inspire your own big-day hairstyle.
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Subtle Waves
Photo by Jose Villa
Not every bride wants a structured updo or long curls. Subtle waves are a beautiful option for brides with long hair—add just a little bend to your ends for movement and texture that doesn't feel too "done," just as this bride did for her wedding in Santa Barbara, California.
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Supermodel Blowout
Photo by Kelly Mour
If you're looking for a high-impact, moveable hairstyle, get inspired by the hairstyles favorited by 90s supermodels: a bouncy blowout. This bride had a few pieces of hair pulled back in the front to keep it out of her face, but otherwise let the rest flow in voluminous waves for her high-concept wedding in Denver, Colorado.
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Perfectly Curled
Photo by Sarah Porter
"The most popular hairstyle for long hair is definitely the Hollywood wave," notes Hendrickson. Though this bride had her hair professionally styled for her Arizona wedding, you can conquer the look on your own using a 1.5-inch curling iron on small sections of hair, securing each curl to your head as it cools. Once cooled, release the curls and use a wide-toothed comb to gently loosen the spirals.
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Structured Updo
Photo by Terri Baskin Photography
Hendrickson recommends adding hair extensions (even if you have long hair) for formal, ornate updos like this one, which the bride chose for her late summer wedding in Virginia, as they will create more volume and a longer-lasting hairstyle. This structured updo was specifically chosen to complement the bride's ornate wedding dress. "Collaborating with my phenomenal hairstylist, Dommie Cole, we crafted a unique look that perfectly complemented the dress without drawing attention away from it,” she explains.
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Perfectly Imperfect Updo
Photo by Janna Brown
Loose buns have risen in popularity in recent years (thanks in large part to Meghan Markle's big-day look), and if you connect with this unfussy hairstyle, it's a great option for the wedding day. This bride chose a high, piecey bun for her California wedding, and it was a lovely foil to her ornate strapless wedding dress.
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Classic Half-Up, Half-Down
Photo by KT Merry
The half-up, half-down hairstyle is a favorite among brides for a reason: It allows you to show off both your long locks and your beaming face. This 'do is especially versatile in that it looks gorgeous on just about every hair texture and length.
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Slicked Back and Wavy
Photo by Scott Clark Photography
If you want to show off your long hair on the wedding day, wearing it down is a great way to do just that. Still, you might not want it falling over your face throughout the celebration, so slicking back just the front sections (as this bride did for her Hudson Valley nuptials) can be a great solution.
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Classic Chignon
Photo by Chi-Chi Ari Love
If you’re searching for a style that’ll never go out of, well, style, this is the one for you. To make it unique and personal, and accessorize it with just a bit of sparkle or a tiny posy, like this bride did here.
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Beachy Waves
Photo by Les Loups
Tying the knot at the beach? Don't fight against the heat and humidity. This bride chose soft, beachy waves for her wedding in the British Virgin Islands, which meant her look would be further enhanced by the sea air—not fighting against it.
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No-Fuss Ponytail
Photo by St. Chelle
Who knew the style you wore to keep your long hair out of your face at the gym would be fancy enough for your wedding day? We did! Try using a texturizing powder and teasing the hair at your crown to get the effortless, textured pony this bride is rocking.
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Paired With a Veil
Photo by Eric and Jamie Photography
Veils can be challenging for brides with long hair, particularly if you want to wear your hair down. Though a tulle veil is light and airy, it can still flatten your hairstyle or pull stands out of place. Work with your stylist to ensure the hairstyle you choose works well with this accessory—for this bride, who was married in Alabama, pulling her hair forward over both shoulders ensured her cathedral-length veil wouldn't put a single piece of hair out of place.
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French Roll
Photo by The Lockharts
Though the French roll hairstyle isn't as popular today as it once was, there's still something elegant about the look, especially if you're hosting a black-tie wedding. Need proof? Just look at this bride's gorgeous coif, which she sported for her French-inspired wedding.
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Tousled Waves
Photo by Elyse Hall Photography
Curls are a classic, elegant wedding hairstyle, but if you want something slightly more contemporary, ask for tousled waves, just as this bride did for her Arizona wedding. "I wanted [my hair] to be an elevated version of what I would normally wear, which is down and curled," the bride noted.
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Sleek and Straight
Photo by Dana Fernandez Photography
Curly hairstyles are wedding mainstays, but they're not your only option. If you love the way your hair looks straight, you should feel empowered to wear it that way on the wedding day.
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Bouncy, Sideswept Ponytail
Photo by Abby Jiu Photography
If you're planning an after-party dress change, consider a fresh post-nuptial hairstyle, too. A bouncy ponytail will keep you cool on the dance floor and pairs nicely with aa fun after-party look, as evidenced by this bride's second look for her wedding in Virginia.
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Finished With a Crown
Photo by Larissa Cleveland
Accessories can make or break a hairstyle, so choosing the right one is key. "Some brides don't select the best hair accessories to complement a long hairstyle," notes Hendrickson. "It's important to select a medium to larger size hairpiece to pair with the longer hair—more hair means more hairpiece." This bride, who tied the knot in Napa, chose a statement-making halo to pair with her long curls.
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Sleek Style
Photo by Jose Villa
It's important to keep your attire in mind when choosing your hairstyle. For this bride's pre-wedding welcome party, she paired her chic white suit with an equally stylish hairstyle: her sleek, straight hair was parted deeply to one side and featured just the slightest hint of a curl at the ends.
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Soft, Touchable Waves
Photo by David Bastianoni
Subtle waves are the ideal hairstyle choice for any bride who wants a touchable style—they're perfectly imperfect from the jump, so you don't have to worry about being too precious with your hair throughout the night. That's exactly why this bride chose the look for her nuptials in Capri, Italy.
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Straight Ponytail
Photo by Lilly Red
If you really want to show off your hair's beautiful length, a straight style will make the maximum impact. This bride had her stylist create a lengthy ponytail that started mid-crown for her wedding in Lake Como, Italy.
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Loose Waves
Photo by Liz Andolina
Hendrickson considers this relaxed version of Old Hollywood waves to be the trendier counterpart amongst long-haired brides. The romantic waves have a looser composition that errs on softness over definition.
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Long Ponytail
Photo by Samuel Lippke Studios
If your goal is to show off your hair's length but also keep it off your face, a ponytail is a perfect option. This bride, who was married in California, took the classic iteration of this hairstyle up a notch by having her stylist add some well-placed curls.
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Bouncy Waves
Photo by Bottega 53 Studio
Soft waves are a popular wedding hairstyle for a reason: They're touchable, so you don't have to worry about messing them up throughout the day, but they also look polished. Plus, their more relaxed nature makes them a winner for all-day wear—even if they start to "fall," it'll look like they're doing so by design.
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Posh and Polished
Photo by Flora & Fauna
Modern elegance is the name of the game when it comes to this long hairstyle. Featuring an ever-so-slight wave and smooth, shiny strands, it’s an undeniably polished style. We love how the generally straight locks still flaunt a bit of bounce and shape at the ends.
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Full and Fluffy Pony
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Why not go big with all that length—really big? This bride looks like she took our advice, and we love her voluminous ponytail full of the prettiest curls for her Mexico City wedding.
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Glamorous Cascading Curls
Photo by SYDNEY NOELLE PHOTOGRAPHY
Wearing a strapless wedding dress? Complement the neckline by having your glamorous curls cascade down your shoulders. Unlike the bouncy curls of more traditional looks, we find this bride's natural hair to be the perfect finishing touch to her ethereal look.
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Sleek and Straight
Photo by A Sea of Love
No matter your wedding theme, season, or setting, a pin-straight hairstyle is bound to complement it. This no-fuss look is especially perfect for minimalist brides with sleek sartorial choices to match.
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Beautiful Bridal Blowout
Photo by Laura Murray
Show off all that length with a beautiful blowout. Simple enough, right? Best of all, you already know that this tried-and-true style will work for you and your hair texture.
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Deep Side Part
Photo by Lisa Poggi
You can never go wrong with sporting a deep side part for your wedding. Case in point: This beautiful bride's 'do is taken to new heights thanks to her side part and gorgeous veil.
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Intertwining Updo
Photo by Gaby J Photography
Despite the intricate, intertwining locks that make up this updo, it doesn’t look stiff or severe. Keep your look similarly soft by using a flexible hold hairspray and a high-shine mist. We especially love how the bride's highlights add an extra dimension to the 'do.
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Stunning Swirled Updo
Photo by Alexandra Lee Photography
Now this is how you do a formal updo! The swirled shape is an architectural—not to mention stunning—update on the conventional style.
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Full French Braid
Photo by Bonphotage
A side-swept French braid is a great choice for free spirits, and for those who don’t want to keep wiping sweaty strands off their faces while on the dance floor. Hendrickson recommends adding hair extensions (even if you have long hair) for coifs like this, as they will create more volume and a longer-lasting hairstyle.
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Beachy, Mermaid Waves
Photo by Photo by Julieta
Hosting a beach wedding? Lean into the laid-back vibes and consider wearing beachy, mermaid waves on your big day. This style is at once effortless and classic and will be a coif you look back on fondly for years to come.
FAQ
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How you wear your hair is totally up to you. Updos come with lots of functional versatility, such as being extra secure, keeping hair out of your face, or emphasizing a neckline. However, wearing your hair down provides the benefit of really flaunting that length and offers a more romantic and youthful vibe.
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Hair should be at least shoulder-length to accommodate an updo. The longer the hair, the higher and more voluminous the updo can be.
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Hendrickson recommends scheduling regular trims up to the wedding day. While the suggestion may sound counterintuitive, trims are essential to maintaining the health of your hair, and healthy hair grows faster than depleted strands.
