Half Up Wedding Hairstyles Ideas and Tips - Zola Expert Wedding Advice (2024)

Wedding hair should embody the aesthetic of your special day, while also feeling true to your personality and personal style.

For people who wear their hair relatively unstyled on a typical day, an elaborate updo may feel unnatural or stuffy for their bridal look. On the other hand, brides who spend significant time styling their hair daily may prefer a more intricate wedding hairstyle to help them feel elevated and special. If you’re having trouble deciding between wearing your bridal hairstyle down or opting for an updo, a half-up hairstyle offers the best of both worlds without sacrificing comfort. This half-up hairstyle category combines class with an air of effortlessness, while also being easy to wear.

Need some advice and inspiration to give to your hairstylist? Zola has you covered below with half-up, half-down hairstyle ideas for every hair type and length.

What to Keep in Mind for Any Hair Length

Whether you have ultra-short hair, medium-length hair, or long hair, half-up styles can suit you well, as long as you keep a few key ideas in mind. When deciding between hairstyle types, you should always take into account your hair length to determine if your intended look is feasible.

For example, brides with a pixie cut may have to forgo intricate braided hairstyle options because there is simply not enough hair to work with. On the other hand, brides with extra long hair may gravitate toward braids or twists to help keep their hair out of the way and make it more manageable. Medium-length hair tends to have a lot of flexibility when it comes to styling.

Some of the best styles for short-haired brides work with both texture and hair accessories to add interest where intricate braid work or waves may not work. Brides with medium-length hair will enjoy half-up ponytails, buns, and braid crowns. Finally, if you have long hair, intricate and flowing styles are the way to go since there is plenty of hair to use as a canvas.

Eye-catching hair accessories from fresh flowers to headbands, and beaded or colorful hair clips, are great additions to half-up, half-down styles to add more visual interest. These hair accessories can even help anchor your veil.

Finding inspiration pictures of brides with similar hair types to you is another simple way to gauge how any given hairstyle will realistically look on you. However, in the end, your hairstyle is up to personal preference, so if you like the look, go for it (even if it isn’t conventional for your hair length.)

Tips: Straight vs. Curly Hair

Depending on what you are going for, your goals may be quite different when it comes to working with curly versus straight hair. The main concern with straight hair tends to be how to create and maintain volume and movement. Curly hairstyles, on the other hand, often center around keeping hair manageable and looking defined. These opposing objectives will impact styling, hair products, hair accessories, and the overall intended outcome of the hairstyle.

Curly-haired brides may want to work in gel and frizz-defying products to keep their curls in place throughout the long wedding day. Simple half-up, half-down styles incorporating twisting and pinning back the front hairpieces work well for curly hair. Make sure that your hairstylist or wedding vendor uses durable hair clips that can accommodate thicker curls. Zola recommends that you allow your beautiful, natural texture to be the real star of the show.

When it comes to straight hair, brides can choose to go in multiple different directions. A sleek half-up ponytail is a good way for straight-haired brides to work with their natural hair type. However, they can also choose to try and add volume by curling the hair and incorporating products like texturizing spray.

Tips: Thin vs. Thick Hair

Similarly, thin hair and thick hair pose two very different challenges when it comes to styling. Thin hair can be limp and prone to tangling. For that reason, hairstyles like a halo dutch braid crown can enhance volume while keeping hair from getting too messy. Teasing or adding a bouffant may also help create lift and dimension for thin hair.

Conversely, thicker hair can be heavy and difficult to keep in place. For that reason, hairstyles that require defying gravity, like a half-up high ponytail, may be an uncomfortable or impractical choice. Cascading waterfall curls with small front pieces braided out of the way could be a better fit.

Let Your Hair Reflect Your Theme

Half-up, half-down hairstyles are plentiful and diverse. Not to mention, these hybrid styles tend to maintain their effortless appearance despite hours of wear. In fact, a little messiness can even add to the appeal of a half-up, half-down hairstyle! When selecting your perfect half-up, half-down do, keep your wedding colors, theme, and hairstyle preferences in mind, and then tweak your ideas based on your hair type for best results. By following these tips, you will be well on your way to the perfect bridal hair.