Photo by The DV Image
Key Takeaways
- Discover 28 stunning wedding hairstyles for curly hair, from whimsical buns to romantic curls with floral accents.
- Consider a stylish updo if you want your curls off your face—but opt for flowing curls for a romantic look.
- Add flowers, headbands, or clips to highlight your unique curls and match your bridal style.
There's something special about curly hair. It truly has it all: texture, dimension, and shape. Regardless of whether your natural hair is full of spirals, coils, or waves, it will ultimately serve as the perfect base for a range of bridal looks. On the day of your nuptials, you may decide to wear your hair completely down and add just a few flowers or clips to accessorize—or you may want to twist your curls up into an intricate updo, pulling out just a few face-framing pieces. Ultimately, let your phenomenal (and enviable) curls be the star of the show.
"Your wedding day is all about being authentically you and celebrating the love for yourself and your partner, so showing off your natural, textured hair is a great way of embracing your true self," says Rose Ovensehi, a natural hair specialist and the founder of Flora & Curl. "There are many styles for textured hair that can compliment every type of wedding dress, whether you prefer an updo or a more relaxed look." Pick a look that feels the most authentic and right to you. Maybe you want to prioritize all of your hair being out of your face, so you can hit the dance floor without a care in the world, or perhaps you'd rather wear your curls down, lending a romantic-inspired aesthetic to your ensemble.
However, if you're unsure of where to start and are looking for the best wedding hairstyle for curly hair, we've got you covered. Below, 28 hairstyles worn by brides at their own nuptials to provide inspiration for your own look.
A Pulled-Back Look With Face-Framing Pieces
Photo by Teshorn Jackson
For her Texas nuptials, this bride stayed true to what she knew, opting for a natural hairstyle that drew focus to her long hair. Even though she pulled her hair back into a bun, a few face-framing pieces lent a whimsical touch to her look—without drawing any attention away from her dramatic veil.
Side-Swept Curls
Photo by Hana Gonzalez
If you have more voluminous curls, consider sweeping them to one side, as Tress Art Hair did for this bride's Maryland nuptials. In addition to highlighting her glowy complexion, the style ensured that she didn't obstruct the striking shoulder adornments on her gown.
Loose Curls With Baby's Breath Flowers
Photo by Radian Photography
This bride paid tribute to her mother's wedding-day look at her own Georgia nuptials by asking The Heir Salon to place baby's breath flowers in her hair. The romantic florals, which were placed on either side of her part, mimicked the look of an ethereal, rustic-inspired headpiece.
A Subtle Half-Up, Half-Down
Photo by Matteo Coltro
Wanting the focus of her look to be on her dress, this bride asked Suely Menichetti to keep her wedding hairstyle fairly simple. Instead of a dramatic updo, she opted for a subtle half-up, half-down, letting many of her curls cascade down in front of her shoulders.
A Colorful Floral Headpiece
Photo by Yellow Bird Visuals
Bringing the colors of her rainbow-dyed chiffon overskirt into her hair, this bride had Erika Hernandez play up her loose curls by adding a simple floral headpiece to the left side of her part. While she pinned some of her hair back with the accessory, she also made sure to pull out some face-framing pieces.
Bouffant Half-Up
Photo by Kelley Williams Photography
Adding some drama to her wedding-day look, this bride opted for a volume-centric bouffant, half-up hairstyle from Glamology Beauty Lounge. The 50's-inspired style brought attention to her natural curls—without detracting from her dewy makeup look or the stunning sweetheart neckline of her dress.
A Half-Up With a Claw Clip
Photo by Jenny Quicksall
Instead of tying her hair back with a band, this bride opted to incorporate a claw clip into her wedding-day look from Team Hair and Makeup. The clip, which included sparkling embellishments, coordinated perfectly with her diamond drop earrings. A few face-framing front pieces gave an effortless feeling to the style.
An Updo With a Dramatic Floral Headpiece
Photo by Clary Pfeiffer
Flowers aren't just for your bridal bouquet; they also a gorgeous addition to any hairstyle. "I knew that I wanted to highlight my natural hair texture and embrace the curls," this bride said. "However, I also wanted some guarantees that I wouldn't spend the whole day moving hair out of my face or fighting the wind from blowing them around." She and Dionna Nicole of Salon Sevhn ultimately opted for an updo that included a dramatic floral headpiece from Romee Willow Florals.
A Royal-Inspired Headband
Photo by Aubrey & Brandon
For her royal-inspired nuptials in Indianapolis, this bride tapped By Diana Cordoba to create a look reminiscent of a princess. The end result, which included a half-up, half-down style with a sparkling headband achieved exactly that, making it not only fitting for the theme of her nuptials, but also the perfect wedding hairstyle for curly hair.
A High Ponytail
A half-up look isn't your only option for pulling your curls back. For her Atlanta nuptials, this bride opt to have Chaise Debow style her hair in a high ponytail with a middle part. “I wanted to make sure I still looked myself,” the bride said. “Honestly, my husband loves my hair up, with a few pieces hanging down in front, so I went that route. I also wanted to make sure I showed off all of my dress, so the hairstyle helped!”
A Messy Bun
Photo by Carlos Hernandez
Not every bun has to be sleek and smooth. For her Oregon nuptials, this bride embraced a textured, messy bun, tasking Olivia Hawthorne Beauty with pulling her curly strands back into an updo. Such a look was the perfect accompaniment to her strapless gown, a lace Oscar de la Renta dress with a high-low hemline.
A Partially Pulled-Back Look
Photo by The DV Image
For her wedding-day look, this bride drew on the power of second-day hair, planning to have the style she selected for her welcome party prep her hair for the following day. Leaning on a partially pulled-back look from Ricky Davii, she allowed her natural curls to shine. "I wear my natural curls on the daily, so I wanted something that was sleek but still played on my natural hair texture," she said.
A Twisted Ponytail
Photo by Adovasio Photography Studio
Opting to put a spin on the traditional ponytail, this bride decided to select a twisted version for her destination wedding weekend in Rome. The style—done by Reina Gomez—added a touch of drama to her the garden-chic event, perfectly complementing her tiered pink and lavender gown.
A Low Braided Tucked Ponytail
Photo by Brian D. Smith Photography
Searching for something a bit more unique for your wedding-day look? Consider a braided twist, like this bride did for her South Carolina nuptials. "My daily ’do is always down, big, curly, and wild," the bride said. "I wanted to switch it up and really let the dress sing, so Kelli Hoff and I worked on a somewhat messy low braided tucked ponytail—natural feeling and somewhat whimsical."
Voluminous Curls With a Side Part
Photo by Franklyn K Photography
We can't get enough of this bride's whimsical look, which featured a crystal hair accessory that swept her hair to the side. It was the perfect style to pair with her sleeveless wedding dress, highlighting her décolletage.
A Low Bun With a Side Part
Photo by Ledia Tashi
Searching for a classic style for your curly hair? Consider a low bun. However, know that preparation is key to achieving this look. "The month before your wedding (or earlier, if possible) be sure to start deep conditioning and caring for your hair, as nourished and hydrated hair will perform better on your big day," Ovensehi recommends. "Hydration is vital for textured hair—the more textured a person’s hair is, the more moisture it needs to receive to stay healthy."
Long Spiral Curls With a Headband
Photo by Lance Nicoll
While most curly-haired girls tend to wear clips, this gorgeous bride proved that long curls and pearl headbands are a perfect pairing. Headbands are also the perfect accessory to style with a simple tulle veil for a look that's sophisticated and timeless.
A Slicked-Back Bun With Pearls
Photo by Alexandra & Vladimir Nadtochiy
Need an easy style for your big day? Take inspiration from this bride, who sported a slicked-back bun embellished with pearls. "The front of your hair can be gelled down, while you opt for a parting in the middle or a side part," Ovensehi says. "Find the parting or (non-parting) that works for your wedding bun."
A Low Chignon With Long Twist-Outs
Photo by Hugo Coelho
On her wedding day, this bride provide that long twist-outs can lend a fresh feel to the traditional chignon. We love how she paired her locks with a dramatic side part and a cluster of face-framing curls.
Playful Ringlets With a Center Part
Photo by A HEART STRING Photography
This playful, curly lob added a touch of youthfulness and movement to this bride's overall aesthetic. In addition to lending some drama to her look, the center part accentuated the balanced symmetry of her square neckline.
A Low Curly Chignon
Photo by Elizabeth LaDuca Photography
For a sophisticated-meets-rustic style, consider this look. While the elegant chignon is gorgeous on its own, the addition of white roses and greenery transforms this bride's hairstyle into something whimsical and romantic.
A No-Fuss Natural Style
Photo by Jana Williams Photography
This bride decided to let her natural curls shine for her Santa Barbara wedding. The result? A perfect no-fuss style. "Currently, natural, untouched hair is trending," Ovensehi says. "Many people now prefer to embrace their authentic texture rather than creating a perfectly-placed up-do—but it’s important to remember that your big day is all about you, so choose a hairstyle that you feel most comfortable wearing."
A Half-Up, Half-Down With Highlights
Photo by Ryon Lockhart
For a classic and sophisticated bridal moment, pull a few pieces back to expose your facial features while letting the rest of your hair fall around your shoulders. This bride added honey-hued highlights to her hair, brightening up her look—and calling attention to her stunning curls.
A Voluminous Ponytail With a Birdcage Veil
PHOTO BY KELLY GIARROCCO
This curly ponytail is nothing short of epic. However, in addition to pulling her hair back for a Hollywood-worthy style, this bride lent a vintage touch to her look with the addition of a birdcage veil and pearl earrings.
A Stacked Updo With Face-Framing Spirals
Photo by Luma Weddings
Take your curls to new heights by stacking them atop your head for a retro feel. This bride piled her ringlets in a bun—and let just a few curls frame her cheekbones—for the perfect effortless (yet glamorous) updo. If your nuptials are taking place in a hot or humid locale, this is the perfect style to give your neck some breathing room.
A Voluminous Messy Bun
Photo by Lauren O'Brien
Even if you have tons of hair, that doesn't mean you can't opt for a bun on the day of your nuptials. This bride embraced her piles of curls, pulling them back into a voluminous bun that was the perfect accompaniment to (and hold for) her long veil.
A High Updo With a Clip
Photo by Phillip Van Nostrand
Stacking her curls on top of each other, this bride opted for a dramatic updo on her wedding day. However, we particularly love the addition of an embellished clip on the side of her head. The accessory lent a touch of glamour to her simple—yet stunning—look.
A Relaxed and Glossy Low Chignon
Photo by Gaby J Photography
Glossy spirals like these were meant to be showcased. This woven chignon proudly puts them on display, shining a spotlight on the curls. Instead of placing your veil on top of your bun, consider tucking it at the base of your style, as this bride did for her nuptials.
