You just opened the cute little package that asked you to stand by your friend’s side on her wedding day. Cue the planning: What color dress do you need? Should you book a hotel? And, of course, what should you do with your hair and makeup? Oftentimes, if you’re in a bridal party, you’ll be asked to get your hair done professionally for the main event. If you don’t know where to start, consider this your go-to guide for navigating all things bridesmaid hair.
Featured experts
- Ken Paves is a celebrity hairstylist and Hairdo design collaborator
- Rita Hazan is a celebrity colorist and the founder of Rita Hazan Salon
- Danielle Keasling is a celebrity hairstylist and the Great Lengths executive artistic director
- Priscilla Valles is a celebrity hairstylist and extensionist
- Paul Labrecque is the creative director, master stylist, and colorist at Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa
The good news: Hair and makeup isn’t as rigid as it once was when it comes to wedding parties. Celebrity hairstylist and Hairdo design collaborator Ken Paves says he’s seeing more brides encouraging individuality among bridesmaids so they feel special on that day as well, which has resulted in a wider variety of looks. “That means often having more say in their hairstyle and not everyone having a matching pineapple updo with baby’s breath—unless that’s your vibe, of course!”
Thanks to this shift, we’re “seeing very short and cropped looks, bobs, lobs and mid-length styles, natural texture, slick backs, side parts, center parts, top knots, ’90s updos, undone French-inspired up sweeps, ponytails, messy buns and more casual and undone hair than ever before, just like we are seeing on the red carpet and in fashion,” says Paves. If you feel overwhelmed or stuck on what inspo images to bring the day-of, check out some of our favorite expert-recommended hairstyles for bridesmaids ahead.
Bridesmaid hairstyle inspiration
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Bohemian bridesmaid
Celebrity hairstylist and Great Lengths executive artistic director Danielle Keasling recommends this style for an effortless bohemian look. “Start with clean, dry hair and use a leave-in heat protection spray or cream. Section your hair into four main parts (top, bottom, left, right) and clip them up. Divide each main section into smaller sections. Braid each small section of hair into tight three-strand braids, securing them with elastic bands. Continue until your entire head is braided,” she explains. “The larger the braids, the bigger the wave and the smaller the braids, the tighter the texture.”
She then uses her Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener ($500) to “clamp down the length of each braid, holding for a few seconds at each spot. Allow the braids to cool completely, and then gently unravel each braid. Lightly finger comb through the waves to break up the sections or use a large tooth comb.” She advises avoiding using a brush to prevent frizz. Pro tip: if you like more definition, she recommends Biolage All-In-One Multi-Benefit Oil ($26) to add shine. Then “set your gorgeous lived-in strands with a light hold hairspray and add a little detailed braid if you choose!”
Courtesy of Danielle Keasling 2 / 8
French-inspired updo
Paves shared this photo of a French-inspired pulled-back updo he did for Eva Longoria. The key to this look is a lot of texture, he notes. Show this image to a stylist to give them an exciting challenge that results in simple elegance.
Courtesy of Ken Paves 3 / 8
Loose blowout curls
“The loose blowout curl look is one of my favorites because it looks so effortless yet adds great volume,” says celebrity extensionist Priscilla Valles, who has lent a hand in styling dozens of your favorite stars’ hair. Use this photo of a look Valles worked on as a starting point for your stylist, or try your hand at the style yourself. Dry shampoo, hairspray and a nice oil are also products she recommends to complete the look.
“To obtain this look, I recommend using a big curling iron with a barrel at least two inches in size to get that loose yet defined curl. Start out with dry hair and spray your roots with dry shampoo all around the crown of the head,” instructs Valles. She notes that “an extra step that makes all the difference in creating lasting volume is flipping your head over and blow drying your hair.”
Then, part your hair down the middle and start with one-inch sections towards the back. “My favorite technique to get the perfect curl is wrapping the strand all the way around the barrel towards the scalp while leaving an inch or two straight at the end,” says Valles. “Unwrap the curls one at a time and hold when releasing each one for a few seconds. Repeat this process all around the head, spray all over with hairspray and let it sit until cooled.” Once the hair is cooled, flip your head and shake it out, then finish by running your fingers through your hair with a bit of oil for a shiny finish.
Courtesy of Priscilla Valles 4 / 8
Chignon with tendrils
“Chignons are my favorite when brides want an updo on their bridesmaids,” says creative director, master stylist and colorist Paul Labrecque with Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa. He says he would create this look using Volume Style Root Lifting Spray ($28) and a large barrel curling iron. “Then the hair would be pinned up with bobby pins and hook bands and locked in place with L’Oreal Tecni Art 6 Styling Hairspray ($31).”
Courtesy of Paul Labrecque 5 / 8
Loose beach waves
Rita Hazan, a celebrity colorist and the founder of Rita Hazan Salon, thinks loose beach waves are a great look for a bridesmaid. “It’s easy enough to achieve and still looks put together and fresh for a wedding ceremony,” she says. “What inspired me to create this look was seeing how the hair looks after getting out of the salty ocean water!” If you’re getting your hair done by a professional, bring this picture with you. If you’re going to try to DIY, Hazan says, “all you need to do is curl your hair from top to bottom using a regular sided wand and brush out the curls so you can achieve the loose look,” she explains.
Courtesy of Rita Hazan 6 / 8
Length for days
Paves shared this photo of himself and Longoria with Victoria Beckham at her birthday party. He says her effortless loose waves pair perfectly with her formal wear, making it the perfect inspo for a bridesmaid look.
If you don’t have long hair but want to get the look for a night, he recommends Hairdo extensions, noting he can’t recall a formal hairdo he created that didn’t add extensions—even the most effortless looking styles. “Get the exact look you want in an instant with enough polish to feel appropriate for a bridesmaid,” says Paves. “Extensions hold their style better than natural hair, so you can worry less about your hair and can be used to add volume, length, color, dimension or texture.”
Courtesy of Ken Paves 7 / 8
40s glam
“This is an example of a glamorous 40s set used for bridesmaids who want their hair down and to stay put all day and night,” says Labrecque. To get the look, set hair “with counter pin curls, skip wave, and then standing pin curls using Daily Style Firm Hold Styling Gel ($28).” Then, hairspray the look and brush it out with a brush.
Courtesy of Paul Labrecque 8 / 8
Glam waves
“As a celebrity hairstylist and someone who travels the world servicing luxury wedding hair, one of my go-to secrets for creating voluminous, luscious waves that stay is Great Lengths tape-in hair extensions,” reveals Keasling. “By adding the perfect amount of bulk, it not only will enhance the beauty of your waves to look fuller and more glamorous, but they will also help create a stronger foundation without compromising the natural movement of hair.”
To get this look, grab a large-barrel curling iron and a good heat protectant spray. Keasling loves Biolage Thermal Setting Spray ($24). “Start from the mid-shaft of your hair and curl away from your face on both sides. As you work through your hair, pin your curls with pin curl clips to allow each curl to cool completely. Apply a light-hold hairspray. Once cool, brush out your curls into beautiful glam waves using a wide tooth comb.”
Courtesy of Danielle Keasling 
