The top wedding hairstyles for long hair make an elegant accessory for brides and maids of honor on a special day. You may wear your hair in various ways – sleek and straight, dramatic with waves, styled “up” and effortless, Hollywood glam and classic, and so on.
Chicago-based stylist Angelica Mirela Tanta graciously agreed to meet with me to discuss this hair concept. Look into what she has to say about it.
💡 Key Things to Know First
- Consultation is essential to determine your hair’s quality and the best style you can wear on the big day.
- The biggest benefit of having a gorgeous appearance is that it may boost your mood and self-esteem.
- The problem occurs when you choose a hairstyle that doesn’t work with your face shape, features, hair texture, and density.
- The stylist must be very open to explaining how to keep the style throughout the event.
Look at this photo gallery and discover stunning wedding hairstyles for long hair. You better prepare for the big day!
#1: Vintage Wedding Updo
This hairstyle is a vintage-inspired bob updo. I braided the bottom part first so the rest could be rolled and secured onto the braid. Styling-wise, I curled her hair with a 1.5″ iron, spraying and setting as I went—all curls in the same direction. I created a slight finger wave on both sides and started pinning from the bottom up. This look would be stunning on a bride who loved the flapper era or if you were heading to a themed party where you needed to stand out. I like to think that classic hair looks never go out of style.
#2: Stunning Braided Long Hair with Flowers
If you’re a bride with long hair, you may want a hairstyle that lasts long on your wedding day. This beautiful long braided hairstyle with flowers is great for reducing hair weight while maintaining a tidy look for your big day!
#3: Gorgeous Mermaid Braid
Different types of beautiful mermaid braids suit long wedding hairstyles well. You can style them volumized like an example, or make them sleek and tight based on your preference for the occasion. Use a firm-hold hairspray to style these braids. For added volume, apply a texture spray before you begin braiding.
#4: Low Side Half Up Half Down
If you want to flaunt your long hair at a big event, consider this hairstyle: half up and half down on the lower side. The term ‘half up, half down’ refers to a hairstyle where some hair is put up, and the rest is left down to appear longer. If you naturally have medium-length hair, use extensions that match your hair color. Attach these extensions on the day of your event.
#5: Romantic Low Pony for Long Hair
A romantic low pony would be perfect for a long hair upstyle. This style adds lift and texture to your long locks. If your long hair has curls, a firm hold spray would be useful to secure them.
#6: Uniquely Designed Ponytail
If you’re a bride-to-be with long locks, a uniquely designed ponytail could be your perfect wedding hairstyle. This chic look involves pulling the hair into a braided, twisted, or accessorized ponytail. This adds dimension and texture. It’s perfect for those who want a more relaxed and effortless look. To achieve this style, consider adding hair extensions for length and volume. Use a strong-holding hair spray to hold your hair all day and night!
#7: Elegant Long Champagne Blonde Hairstyle with Accents
This long champagne blonde hairstyle with accents is a stunning option for women. It’s perfect for those looking to elevate their look for a wedding. The soft waves and subtle hints of accent color help to create a delicate yet eye-catching effect. This style works best for those with shoulder-length to long hair. It can be achieved with a curling iron and texturizing spray. Consider which styling products will work best. Speak with your hairstylist for tips and tricks to hold your style in place all day!
#8: Amazing Curls for Long Hair
Amazing curls for long hair create a stunning look perfect for various occasions. Whether it’s a special event or you want to wear your hair with extra flair, these curls will enhance the beauty and length of your hair. To achieve these curls, prepare your hair with a heat-protectant spray. This will help to shield it from potential damage. Divide your hair into sections for easier styling. Wrap each section around the barrel using a curling iron or a wand with a medium-sized barrel. Start from the mid-lengths and work towards the ends. Hold the hair briefly before releasing it to create defined and bouncy curls. Use a texture spray or hair spray to finish.
#9: Loose Bridal Updo
This is a loose bridal updo. This bride wanted to be able to wear her hair to either side or behind her back. To achieve this style, you’ll need long hair. You could use clip-in extensions if you don’t have long hair. This style works best with someone who has medium to coarse hair. Anyone with any dress style can wear it.
#10: Soft & Bohemian
This look is soft and bohemian. I kept the structure at a minimum to give it more of an effortless look. My favorite thing about this look is how versatile it can be. It could be dressed up for a bridesmaid or dressed down for a festival look.
This style will work for any hair type, but I recommend it for someone who wants their hair to look styled but not overdone. Product use is minimal and requires little maintenance to last all day. The more piecey and undone it gets, the better!
#11: Amazing Infinity Braid
There are very intricate ways to twist and lock the hair. One of my favorites is the infinity braid. You can use this to tie back your hair for wedding events or to dress up for a nonformal event. Some elements make the style possible. For example, light-colored hair shows the design. And a lack of layers allows the braid to stay intact. Yet for styles like this, you have to have length to work in a design.
#12: Side Ponytail
Hair is curled, twisted, and pinned into a low-side ponytail with pin curls resting on top. Keep the curls in your ponytail maintained with serum. I love Moroccan Oil. Extra long hair is best for this style. Curling hair makes it shrink, so the extra length will keep hair looking long even after it’s curled and put into a ponytail.
The soft curls in this will soften a square jaw. Avoid this style if you have a round face. It will only add more body to the sides. Backcomb underneath the hair that will go into the ponytail to add more body.
#13: Stunning Messy Braid with Flowers
A stunning messy braid with flowers is the perfect up style for an elegant event. If you typically wear your hair down and aren’t too comfortable with your hair fully up and pulled back, this is a nice option to meet in the middle. Your hair will look like a half-up style, yet it will lay low. The style will hold all night, so be prepared to take out many pins at the end of the night, but it’s well worth it for this beautiful style!
#14: Sleek Updo
This look is all about class. Hair is softly swept away from your face and pinned to the middle of the back of your head in a sleek yet tousled shape. When going for a sleek wedding hairstyle for long hair, add some shine to your hair to help it look polished. My favorite shine spray is Unite Eurotherapy Shina-Mist. Healthy, shiny hair is what this bridal style needs.
Since this style is completely pulled away from your face, it works best on an oval face. If your face is longer, add an extra body to the sides. If it is round, add extra body to the top. Even though this is all taking place in the back of your head, don’t ignore the front. Make sure to create a flattering shape in the front and add some waves on the sides to keep it interesting.
#15: Blonde Bombshell Down Do
Whether you’re looking for a wedding, prom, or a girl’s night out hair idea, try this “down do”! You can never go wrong with a classic beach wave style. The most effective way to get this look is by using a 1-1.5” wand or curling iron, making sure to take medium-sized sections. After your hair has cooled down, brush the waves with a flat brush. This will give your hair a softer look. To prevent the curls from falling straight, use a sea salt or texture spray to give the curls a tackiness to hold on to. Finish with a strong-hold hairspray for a look that will last you all night.
#16: Extra Long Blonde Hairstyle
Once you have the dress, you decide what to do with your hair for your big day. If you are considering wearing it down but have yet to be there, you could always add a halo set of extensions. This will improve your long blonde hairstyle. Remember to ask your bridal stylist if they’re comfortable working with them. If they are, bring them along for your hair trial.
#17: Elegant Low Updo with Accessories
One of the best choices for your bridal style is an elegant low updo with accessories. You can face all weather and avoid messing up your hair while enjoying a fun night of dancing. To give your stylist a plan for your final look, try to have some accessories like your veil or a hair comb nearby.
#18: Gorgeous Creamy Blonde Boho Style
A gorgeous creamy blonde boho style is the perfect wedding hair. One of the best ways to create a boho style is by adding an elegant but simple braid to your hair. Creamy blonde hair showcase braids the best by accentuating different tones and depth in your hair. Remember to keep the braid loose when doing a boho braid and organic style.
#19: Vintage Updo
A low, sleek bun in the back is dressed with vintage pin curls on each side. Use a hard-hold hairspray such as TIGI Hard Head Hard Hold Hairspray when styling your hair. Medium to fine hair with at least medium-length layers works best for this style. This style works best if you have an oval face shape. Hair pulled back like this can be too harsh for a square-shaped face or a face with harsher features.
This is only the beginning regarding bridal hairstyles for long hair. Whether you show off your length or use it in a nice, full updo, these creative and cute wedding hairstyles for long hair ideas have inspired and pointed you in the right direction.
#20: Soft Curly Updo
It looks difficult and elegant, but once you try it, you’ll be surprised at how easy this is! Softly curl your hair and put them in a loose braid, and you’re all set.
#21: Simple Twist
Opt for a classic, simple, romantic, and timeless hairstyle. My favorite thing about this look is that it is so versatile that it will fit perfectly with any wedding theme!
When wearing your hair half down for your wedding, consider your hair texture, how well it holds a curl, and what the weather will likely be that day!
It’s essential to pick a style you will feel completely comfortable in! If you usually wear it down or feel uncomfortable with your hair up, this will be the perfect look for you!
#22: Vintage Glamour Wedding
This look resembles the 1940s-inspired Old Hollywood Glamour vintage brushed-out waves look. The best thing about it is its elegance and shine. It creates a classic silhouette with a softer finish than the traditional wave set. It’s an extremely wearable style that flatters most face shapes and brings a sophisticated elegance to your look.
When considering their next cutting service, I advise someone considering wedding hair styles for long hair like this to aim for a one-length cut. Layers tend to poke out and mess with the uniformity of the waves. Or, an even better-cut option would be to opt for a traditional horseshoe shape perimeter. This type of shape allows for better brush-outs and gives a consistent vintage finish to any curl set by framing the shape around the face where the hair is shortest and allowing the classic curved pageboy teardrop shape around the back.
Consider blow drying a good quality amplifying mousse product into the hair before curling, and use a pomade to help smooth through any frizz during brush out.
#23: Loose Braids with Pearls
Try loose braids with pearls for a style that’s got an elegant feel with a boho twist. The pearls add an extra touch of elegance to this simple and beautiful style. Ask your stylist if clip-in extensions can be added to the style for extra volume and length for fine and short hair.
#24: Modern Half Up Ponytail
A modern half-up ponytail will always stay in style! Half up, half down bridal hairstyles are the most popular style. The pulled-back pieces compliment the soft waves and curled pieces that frame the face.
#25: Double Ladder Braid Style
A double ladder braid is a unique and beautiful way to add elegance to any hairstyle. Braids are a styling technique that can work well with any hair texture and can be added to any hairstyle to create a point of interest.
#26: Perfect for a Bridesmaid
A half-up style with curls is perfect for a bridesmaid with long, thick hair. An updo stylist can create the shape you want, with more or less volume or beachy waves versus glamour waves. Bring options for ornamental accents to see what works best for your look. A hairstylist can hide the pins within the curls for a seamless style.
#27: Adorned Crown
These icy blonde waves adorned with simple yet charming loose braids look even more charming. You’ll surely be fit for royalty and a place on the throne!
#28: Voluminous Fishtail Braid
Fishtail braided hairstyles like this look even more amazing when you add subtle flower earrings.
#29: Waterfall Braids with a Twist
This wedding hairstyle for long hair, the waterfall braid, is an interesting version of a typical down style. It is perfect if you love braids but feel the best when your hair is down. It is suitable for various occasions, not only for a wedding.
This version with straight hair is the best choice for ladies who don’t feel well in curly or wavy hair. I recommend this style to those who love to wear an elegant style but also want to be cute and not too serious.
If you don’t have straight hair naturally, use heat protection and blow dry or iron them first. If you have dry, frizzy hair, make sure that you use smoothing milk or serum, at least for your ends, before using heat. I also love to use Spray Sparkler by Osis for a shinier finish. Skip this step if you have fine hair with no volume.
#30: Romantic Side Ponytail
The big curls look airy (light and fluffy) and fit well with a romantic, playful bridal look that may show a pretty back neckline. I like that it looks smooth and the bride can wear her hair as a piece of jewelry.
Opt for bride hairstyles for long hair. If the client has too fine hair or is short, but she still falls in love with this variant, it can be incorporated very well with clip extensions. The hairstyle is ideal for strapless (off-shoulder) dresses or dresses with specially designed back that should not be covered by the hair.
#31: Braid-Wrapped Twist
This look is simple yet still elegant, sleek, and beautiful. Braiding is one of my biggest passions, and I love that it allows styles to be unique and artistic. For instance, the bun in this style isn’t just your regular bun. It’s braided and twisted, and I love that!
I recommend this hairstyle for wedding events to someone wearing a one-shoulder dress or wanting some of their hair out of their face. It will be a great look for someone more on the minimal side, but it will still be a beautiful and unique look.
#32: Twisted Back Waves
This is a romantic bridal look. I love how it incorporates the current braid trend but keeps a classic half-up silhouette, making it timeless.
This is a great look for someone who wants to wear a veil for the ceremony and pictures but wants to easily remove it for dinner and dancing and have the look last.
Since cascading length is the real show-stopper, add extensions for maximum volume and impact.
#33: Extravagant Bridal Hairstyle
This is an extravagant bridal hairstyle.
It is the most requested updo from my brides, and my favorite thing about this particular hairstyle is that it represents me and my company, Belle Creations by Katlevu. It’s a very elegant look, and I love that I can achieve it. Many hairstylists have told me they look up to me because this style is difficult to create.
I recommend having long, thick hair with extensions, lots of bobby pins, a hair bun for the volume, and a curling iron to achieve this look. As a hairstylist, I recommend bringing out every detail before pinning each curl and lightly using my favorite hairspray from Lóreal. This makes the hairstyle stand out and has a lot of detail.
I recommend this for brides that love that extravagant look.
#34: Soft & Pretty
This look is soft, pretty, and modern. My favorite thing about this wedding hairstyle is that it’s versatile and can be used for all occasions, ages, and hair types.
My advice to a client who is thinking about choosing this style would be to have a blow-dry and set beforehand to make sure the curls last all day.
The best product for this style is texture spray for the volume. My favorite is Wella’s EIMI Dry Me. I also recommend a smoothing serum to smooth the braid and curls. The best one I have found is Osmo Blinding Shine Definer.
#35: Combination Side Braid
This braided style is one of my favorites! I incorporated a braid at the top and a loose fishtail braid into the remaining ends of the hair. The shorter pieces on the crown were left out to create volume and give extra texture to the style. This type of style is perfect for weddings and other formal events.
For this look, I would inform the client that texture is important. It can be created by prepping the hair with a volumizer (Redken Guts 10 is my favorite) and blow-drying it into the hair. Use a curling iron with a heat-protecting product (I used Redken Iron Shape 11) to create movement. While braiding, I like to use a flexible hairspray (Pureology Strengthening Control is my go-to) to help pull apart the braid and keep it looking and feeling soft.
#36: Boho Half Up Half Down
Go for a romantic yet bohemian half up half down style. This is a perfect look for any bride wanting to leave her hair down and loose while maintaining some special detailing in the back. The best thing about this look is the twist and big braid in the back. Stretching out the braid creates a lot of movement and texture in the hair that will stand out in real life and photos.
This look will be a perfect fit if you’re getting married outdoors! Long hair styles for wedding events are recommended to anyone who likes a more undone, relaxed look versus something tightly pulled back and structured. It works great on longer, highlighted hair to see the dimension in the braid and twist details.
#37: Long Retro Waves
These are retro waves for long hair. My favorite thing about this is the volume and bounce it instantly gives the hair! It gives that real Hollywood glam look.
I recommend using a strong hold hair spray, dry wax spray, and shine spray is a must! I use all Eufora products.
I recommend this look for any client with medium to thick hair. Long hair wedding styles are versatile and can be worn for all different events.
#38: Sleek Faux Hawk
This look is a sleek faux hawk. My favorite thing about it is the height and luminous shine.
I used Oribe Super Shine cream for the blowout for this wedding hairstyle. After straightening, I added height by backcombing the top section before securing it with bobby pins. For a finishing touch, I used Oribe Shine Spray.
I recommend this look for someone who wants to keep their hair out of their face but still has a polished, sophisticated look. It is a great style for fine hair and oval faces.
#39 Cascading Curls
Different from a normal side-swept updo, the majority of these curls are pinned up with some left cascading down the shoulder so you can still show off your length. This style works best on brides with medium to thick hair to help with fullness from top to bottom. This style will work with any face shape. If you have a long or square face, keep some fringe or curls out around your face.
When it comes to a curly bridal hairstyle like this, the last thing you want is frizz. My favorite product for smoothing down frizz is Enjoy Creamy Pomade. For this style, the longer and thicker the hair, the better. If you weren’t born with the right hair type, get some clip-in extensions for your wedding day.
#40: Half Up Half Down
An intricate half-ponytail is a great variation to your common hairstyle. You can show off your tresses while keeping a fresh face and care of your tied hair.
#41: Half Up
The hair is softly curled and halfway pinned up in barrel curls in the back, sweeping the sides away from the face.
To help your half-updo stay in place, backcomb it at the base first so the bobby pins have something to grab onto. Volume on the sides will help this hairstyle look better from the front. Before you blow-dry, apply Big Hair Root Pump Plus Mousse.
Hair that is medium to fine is best for this hairstyle. If your hair is too heavy, you might need help keeping your barrel curls in place. Sweeping the sides down and back in front of this will compliment square, oval, or heart-shaped faces.
#42 Twisted Chignon
Photo by Julie Parker Photography
This chignon starts with a twist braid in the front, twisting across the back of the head and ending in a low side chignon on the opposite side. Doing a twist braid on tangled hair is nearly impossible! Apply Unite 7 Seconds Leave-in Conditioner to make your job easier before you blow dry. This style works best on hair with little to no layers. Too many layers will disrupt the flow of the braid.
This style works best on round or oval face shapes. If your face is round, give it enough volume on top to add length to your face shape. Give your hair some volume by backcombing it first and holding the hair gently in your hands as you braid.
#43 Braided Bridal Updo
Photo by Ciara Richardson Photography
A classic updo gets an updated look with a braid going across the top in the back. The longer and thicker the hair, the better! Braids don’t show up as well with thin hair. Updos for long hair in the back are a classic choice for brides because they flatter nearly every face shape. When doing this style, create the braid very last. If you do it first, it can get lost in the do, while doing it last will ensure that the braid stands out.
#44 Waterfall Twist
Photo by Ciara Richardson Photography
The waterfall twist adds a little something more to an all-down style. Each side is twisted to the middle in the back and tied together with hair. Give your curls more movement and texture with spray wax. I like the Play Dirty spray wax.
This will work best on those with long layers and thick hair. If your hair is thin, the twist won’t be as noticeable. This can work on any face shape. It’s soft enough to flatter everything from square to heart to round. Tie your waterfall twist together with a clear elastic, then hide the elastic with a strand of hair.
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