Wedding Season Hair Tips

As a guest at a wedding, your job is to be picture perfect but without upstaging the bride. Easy, right? 

With so many online boutiques and social media platforms now offering endless ideas and inspiration look books on everything from outfits to make up and shoes, we thought we’d focus on the one element that can make or break your wedding season look – your hair. 

Keep reading for top haircare tips, updo and lowkey wedding hair styling ideas, and some of the best ways to dress your hair up with minimal effort – while still leaving yourself able to dance the night away. 

Top Wedding Guest Hair Styling Tips

There are a few things you need to think about as a wedding guest attending someone else’s event. Unless you are part of the bridal party, the reality is that you will likely be doing your own hair – and so having some idea in advance about what to do and how is invaluable. 

It is also useful to have some idea as to the kind of wedding you are attending – i.e., is it outdoor or inside, and is there a theme – and what the weather will be doing on the day. I’m sure we don’t have to tell you how annoying it is to have every photo ruined by hair blowing around in the breeze – let’s keep it under control girls!

Our first tip is to wash your hair the day before, so that it has time to settle overnight and dry completely before styling. If you’re planning on having curly hair for the wedding, wearing curlers overnight will give you a tight curl starting point which you can tease and smooth out using straighteners or a hot brush. 

Once you have decided on an updo or more lowkey loose hair style (see below for some of our favourite ideas and wedding guest looks) you can accessorise and choose little additions which will add a hint of sparkle or a pop of colour to your hair. These are the bits where it’s easy to go over the top so again, make sure you know the vibe of the day and abide by the theme strictly.

Our final tip is to always keep a hair tie or hair band in your bag or around your wrist. You never know when you might want or need to tie your hair back for dancing or to freshen up. 

Wedding Guest Hairstyle Ideas and Inspiration

Here are some of our favourite wedding guest hairstyles and ideas.

Keep it Loose and Wavy – Loose and wavy hair is the ultimate Boho chic summer hairdo; easy to achieve and it looks good even when the curls have dropped at the end of the night. This is a great hairdo choice for those who are wearing a strappy dress and want to keep their shoulders a bit concealed, or for those who simply want to keep it lowkey and naturally pretty. 

You can also dress this one up with a jewelled clip or a hair slide, for a bit of glamour. 

Half Up Half Down – A wedding classic, the great thing with a little ponytail is that you can keep it really sleek and elegant or mess it up a little with a half up half down messy bun for a more rustic finish. This is a great option for those looking to keep their hair away from their eyes, and is popular for indoor and outdoor weddings. 

Braided Updo – From a plaited crown around the top of your hair, to a fullhead braid with tendrils framing your face, this is a fun and whimsical hairdo which is pretty unique and can make even the dressiest dress look more bohemian. Adding dramatic makeup can offset this kind of hairdo and create a high level of aesthetic juxtaposition for a fun finish. 

Another version of the braided updo takes a single braid and threads it into a low ponytail, creating a look which is different depending on the angle. You can never go wrong with a braided hairdo – and if you decide to take it out halfway through the night, you will be left with natural loose waves or curls. 

Ponytail – A classic, never to be underestimated. This keeps your hair away from your face, or you can frame your face with some waved tendrils of hair running down from your parting. Add a hair slide or a jewelled hairband for a little sparkle. 

The Takeaway

All of these hairdos are ideal wedding guest options and can be blended together to create new and exciting hairdos dependent on the wedding you’re attending and your hair. Play around in advance and try new things before committing to a single style, and always keep a hairbrush in your bag for emergencies!