Is any hairstyle inappropriate for the mother of the bride?

No! Updo, half-up, half-down, completely down—nothing is off-limits. The mother of the bride can make the decision based on her hair type, dress style, and personal preference.

Is it okay for the mother of the bride to get her hair done with the bridal party?

If everyone is comfortable with this, absolutely! But it's a busy day for the MOB and perfectly acceptable to fly solo and get ready at her own pace.

25 Mother-of-the-Bride Hairstyle Ideas

Mother of the Bride Hairstyles — Photo by Alicia Lucia

Your mom has stuck by your side through wedding appointment after wedding appointment and is always there to give her (occasionally unsolicited) opinion. It’s time to return the favor and help her figure out her own wedding-day style! But choosing a figure-flattering mother-of-the-bride dress is only half the task. Mom also needs to select a ‘do for the big day that’ll pull the whole look together. And this list of mother-of-the-bride hairstyles is exactly the place to start.

Does she lean toward a more traditional style? She’ll flip for a classic chignon. Did she already promise to break it down on the dance floor? Suggest a style that’ll keep her hair from falling in her face, like a half-up half-down hairdo. But no matter which of these mother-of-the-bride hairstyles catches mom’s eye, rest assured that none of them even come close to matronly. (In fact, can we just go ahead and ban that word from our vocabulary?)

Take the mother-of-the-bride dress into consideration. An updo will let an embellished neckline shine while wearing longer locks down looks gorgeous with off-the-shoulder gowns.

Forward these mother-of-the-bride hairstyles to your mom ASAP.

01 of 25

Formal Updo

Like mother, like daughter! This bride and her mother chose pinned and polished updos for the big day. If you select a similar style, we recommend stashing a few extra bobby pins in your clutch in case any tendrils come loose when you hit the dance floor.

02 of 25

French Twist

Mother of the bride kissing bride on the cheek — Photo by Sidney Bensimon; Hair & Makeup by Beautini

This timeless style is a classic for a reason. It can easily complement any style of dress, wedding, or face shape.

03 of 25

High Bun and Side Part

Knotted Bun and Side Part — Photo by Kristen Curette & Daemaine Hines; Hair by Graciela Saldivar; Makeup by Paloma Garcia

It’s a timeless ‘do that’ll always have her looking back fondly on the wedding photos—but who are we kidding, she’ll cherish those pics regardless!

04 of 25

Side-Swept Style

We especially love how this mama pinned a couple of glittering hair accessories into her side-swept locks for a little extra glamour.

05 of 25

Interlocking Updo

Mom kissing bride on forehead — Photo by Stephania Campos; Event Planning by Daryl Wilson of D Concierge Events; Hair by Nikki Garcia

This intricate updo is created by first curling and then interlocking the loose ringlets and strategically pinning them to the top of the head. The style works well on a variety of hair lengths, too!

Have your stylist leave a couple of tendrils loose to frame your face, as this lovely lady has here, to keep the style from seeming stiff.

06 of 25

Polished Chignon

A classic chignon is made all the more beautiful with some shine spray. Spritz some on and your locks will be just as light-catching as that of this teary-eyed mother of the bride.

07 of 25

Faux-Hawk Updo

She’s not a regular mom; she’s a cool mom—and deserving of a hairstyle that’s just as trendy as she is. This faux-hawk updo is a unique style that’s still plenty appropriate for a formal affair.

08 of 25

Natural Curls

What’s not to love about this mom’s free-flowing, textured locks? If you'd like to rock a similar style, be sure to check out our favorite hairstyles for natural curls.

09 of 25

Twisted Updo

This spin on a classic French twist is a bit softer. With looser strands, this style manages to appear both effortless and chic, making it perfect for a wide range of wedding themes with almost any degree of formality.

10 of 25

Pinned-Back Locks

This minimal-effort style works for both longer locks and shorter hair alike. After running a curling iron through the hair, simply pin back a few tendrils with a sleek bobby pin or jeweled clip for an instantly elevated look.

11 of 25

Beautiful Blowout

Stuck on a style? No mother of the bride (or bride for that matter) can go wrong with a beautiful blowout. After styling, be sure to spritz on a flexible, lightweight hairspray to keep locks looking soft and touchable.

12 of 25

Voluminous Bouffant

Nothing says glamour quite like a voluminous updo. We recommend this style for formal ballroom weddings and stashing a travel-size volumizing hairspray for the reception in case you lose a bit of fullness as the night wears on.

13 of 25

Side Bun

Fixing a chignon off to the side offers a soft and subtle spin on the traditional hairstyle. You can elevate it even more so by adding a jeweled hair comb like this mother of the bride did.

14 of 25

Sleek Volume

Mom in traditional dress zipping bride into wedding gown — Photo by Kurt Boomer; Event Planning by Jacqueline Hallgarth Events; Hair by Frank Giacone

For the illusion of fuller locks, tease the hair at the crown of the head and sprinkle on a volumizing powder before twisting style and securing it. Voilà!

15 of 25

Face-Framing Half-Up Half-Down

Mom zipping bride into red dress — Photo by Carmen Santorelli; Event Planning by All Who Wander Events; Hair by FaceTime Beauty

We love how this mother of the bride kept her style soft by leaving some locks loose and framing her face. It’s an ultra-flattering look!

16 of 25

Loose Low Knot

Mother daughter portrait in Lake Como — Photo by David Salim; Event Planning by Design Anarchy Studio; Hair & Makeup by Lala Barbie & Marcela Bantea; Floral Design by Tuscany Flowers

The beauty is in the imperfections when it comes to this low knot. The loose strands here and there give it effortless Meghan Markle vibes.

17 of 25

Soft Waves

This mom’s hair has plenty of movement, thanks to those ultra-soft waves. To mimic the look yourself, use a large-barrel curling iron after blow-drying, focusing on the ends of your hair, and then loosen the curls by gently combing through with your fingers.

18 of 25

Sleek and Smooth

Mother of the bride and bride embracing — Photo by Kaylee Chelsea Photography; Event Planning by Novelty Events; Hair by Tiara Evans & Janet Miranda

A sleek and smooth hairstyle will work for almost any mother of the bride or groom, no matter their personal style. Before heading to the stylist on the morning of the wedding, use a smoothing serum on damp hair to help tame tendrils and boost shine.

19 of 25

Messy Wrapped Chignon

Why not encourage mom to rock a hairstyle that complements your own? It’ll help create consistency in your wedding photos. This mother-daughter duo, for instance, wore gorgeous variations of messy updos.

20 of 25

Soft Half-Up Half-Down

With the hair pulled back from the face, a half-up half-down hairstyle allows the wearer to truly shine. This variation includes a slightly teased crown that adds just the right amount of oomph.

21 of 25

Short and Curled

Don’t feel like you’re limited with short hair! Tons of looks work for any hair length. Case in point? This mom’s effortlessly tousled crop.

22 of 25

Teased Soft Waves

This mom-approved hairstyle combines lovely waves with a touch of teasing. While the texture is kept soft and feminine, the volume at the crown dresses the style up a bit and will look beautiful in those wedding photos.

23 of 25

Short, Textured Crop

For super short hair, we love this edgy, textured style. Best of all, it couldn’t be easier to accomplish yourself. Just rake a pomade or texturizing paste through the hair and you’ve got a style that’ll stay put through the reception.

24 of 25

Beachy Waves

This mother of the bride’s loose, beachy waves perfectly complements her daughter’s boho wedding style. If you’re looking to rock a similar style, try using a smoothing serum or shine spray to keep the style polished and the waves from frizzing.

25 of 25

Wrapped Updo

How gorgeous is this wrapped updo? It’s an undeniably special look fit for the most special of days. To help it hold, we recommend not washing your hair the night before the wedding. The extra bit of grit and oil will actually make it easier to style and for the look to hold from the ceremony to the last dance of the night.

FAQ

Is any hairstyle inappropriate for the mother of the bride?

No! Updo, half-up, half-down, completely down—nothing is off-limits. The mother of the bride can make the decision based on her hair type, dress style, and personal preference.
Is it okay for the mother of the bride to get her hair done with the bridal party?

If everyone is comfortable with this, absolutely! But it's a busy day for the MOB and perfectly acceptable to fly solo and get ready at her own pace.

A Guide to Mother-of-the-Bride Duties

25 Mother-of-the-Bride Hairstyle Ideas to Send to Mom ASAP