30 Wedding Guest Hairstyles for Every Length & Dress Code

Match your hair to the dress code

Long hair (shoulders and below)

• Polished low bun — middle part, smooth back, knot at the nape.
• Hollywood waves — side part, 1.5-inch barrel, brushed through.
• Half-up with soft curls — pull the crown back, leave the rest waved.
• Slicked low ponytail — wet-look gel at the roots, sleek through the lengths.
• Fishtail or Dutch braid — pulled apart for fullness.
• Braided crown — two braids meeting at the back of the head.
• Twisted chignon — two ropes twisted into a low knot.
• Bardot half-up — bouffant crown, ends curled out.
• Boho headband look — waves under a thin satin band.
• Wet-look low knot — modern, very high-fashion.

Medium hair (collarbone to shoulder)

• Tousled lob waves — flat-iron bends, not curls.
• Half-up bow — small section pulled back, finished with a silk bow.
• Low knotted ponytail — tie low, twist the ponytail into a half-loop.
• Vintage finger waves for art-deco and roaring-twenties weddings.
• Soft side part with deep waves — works under a fascinator.
• Twisted updo — two side twists pinned at the back.
• Slicked-back tuck — flat to the head, ends tucked into the collar.
• Loose French braid pulled apart — softer than a tight braid.

Short hair (pixie, bob, lob)

• Sleek side part with shine spray.
• Tousled pixie with deep texture — paste at the roots.
• Wet-look bob — slick gel, parted dramatically.
• Headband-and-curl combo — pearl or velvet band over loose curls.
• Pinned-back bob — two jeweled barrettes behind one ear.
• Faux bob — long hair pinned under, looks like a bob.

Hair accessories that elevate any wedding guest look

• Pearl or rhinestone hair pins.
• Silk or velvet bows in black, ivory or burgundy.
• A thin metallic headband.
• A small fascinator for British or church weddings.
• One statement clip — never more than one statement piece.

Day-of timing

Wash hair the day before, not the day of — hair holds styling much better with 12+ hours of natural oils. Style at least three hours before the ceremony so the shape relaxes into something that looks lived-in rather than freshly done.