Curly updos range from a simple low bun pinned at the nape to intricate twisted styles with gold wire or fresh flowers woven through.
The choice depends on whether accessories like flowers, pearls or metallic pieces suit the style, and how the curls sit: high, low or half-up.
Pearl pins scattered through the curls catch light, and balayage lifts the bun visibly away from darker roots.
1. Classic Curly Updo
A classic curly updo gathers the curls at the back and pins them in place, so the texture stays visible and the neckline or veil reads clean.
The shape works for most curl types, and when the curls are already defined, the updo holds without fighting the hair’s natural volume.
Pin sections one at a time and let the curls overlap instead of flattening them. A light-hold spray before pinning gives grip without weight.
2. Flower-Accented Curly Updo
Fresh or silk flowers tucked into a curly updo add color and softness without a full crown.
Small blooms sit between curls and stay put with bobby pins or floral wire; larger stems need a stronger anchor, usually a comb base clipped in first.
Pick flowers that match the bouquet or the palette, and keep the count low. A handful of blooms reads as intentional; too many can look busy against textured hair.
3. Pearl-Pin Curly Updo
Pearl pins scattered through a curly updo catch light and add detail without taking over. Each pin goes in at an angle, following the curl pattern, so they look placed rather than dropped in.
Space them out or line them up.
A row across the back reads formal; a few tucked asymmetrically lean softer. Pearl pins work across most hair colors and come in affordable sets.
4. Low Curly Bun
A low curly bun gathers the hair at the nape and lets a few curls fall forward near the face. The bun itself is pinned from curls twisted or gathered at the base, so it keeps fullness without backcombing.
This one suits long or medium-length curls and looks polished without reading severe. If the curls are tight, pull a few out gently after pinning to soften the outline.
5. Voluminous Bridal Updo
A voluminous bridal updo lifts the curls high and back, pinning them into a rounded shape with plenty of height at the crown.
The volume comes from the curls themselves, teased lightly at the roots if needed, then pinned in sections that overlap and build upward.
This style suits thick or medium-density curls and photographs well from every angle. It takes more pins than a low bun and benefits from a trial run to map where each section gets anchored.
6. Bouncy Curl Updo
The curls are pinned into a bun at the back, and because they hold their volume, the whole style reads light and full. The curls stay loose rather than twisted tight, so the bun reads full and textured.
This style works best on medium to long curls and holds well with a flexible-hold spray applied before pinning. If the curls are fine, a few well-placed pins at the base keep the bun from sagging by mid-reception.
7. Balayage Curly Updo
Balayage places lighter color through the ends and mid-lengths, and when those curls are pinned into an updo, the bun lifts visibly away from the darker roots.
The contrast reads even in low light and gives the bun depth without extra styling.
If the balayage is fresh, ask the colorist to bring the lightest tones to the sections that will be pinned most visible. Older balayage works just as well; the curls will already have the dimension the updo needs.
8. High Curly Updo with Tendrils
Gathering curls into a high bun and letting a few tendrils fall loose around the face softens the style without losing its polish. The tendrils are pulled forward before pinning the rest, so they stay intentional rather than escaped.
A high updo clears the shoulders and photographs cleanly from the side.
Pin the bulk of the curls at the crown and let two or three ringlets drop near the temples or ears. The tendrils stay defined with a small amount of curl cream applied before styling.
9. Intricate Twisted Curly Updo
Twists wind through the curls and pin flat against the head, breaking up the volume with visible structure.
Each twist is secured with a pin at the end, then tucked under a curl or folded into the updo so the pin disappears.
This style takes time and benefits from a stylist who works with curly hair regularly. The twists can follow a pattern or sit asymmetrically, and the curls that remain loose fill in around them.
10. Loose Textured Curly Updo
Pinning the curls loosely into an updo keeps the shape soft and lets individual ringlets stay visible rather than merging into one mass.
The curls are gathered at the back or side and pinned with space between each section, so the updo reads textured instead of tight.
Medium to long curls that hold their shape without product give the most reliable result.
Pin a few curls, check the silhouette, then pin a few more. A loose updo can look unfinished if the pins show, so tuck each one inside a curl before closing it.
11. Curly Side Braid with Flowers
A side braid gathers the curls over one shoulder and keeps them visible in full length, with flowers wired or pinned into the braid at intervals.
The braid itself is loose, so the curls stay full, and the flowers sit between sections rather than on top.
Pair this with a flower crown if the palette and formality allow it, or let the braid stand alone.
Fresh flowers need water tubes if the day runs long; silk flowers stay put and weigh less. The braid works for ceremony or reception and photographs well from either side.
12. Curly Updo with Gold Hairpiece
A gold wire hairpiece set with small beads sits across the back of a curly updo and follows the curve of the pinned curls.
The wire is flexible, so it bends to fit the shape of the updo, and the beads catch light without weighing down the curls.
This style suits updos with visible structure, where the hairpiece has a defined line to follow.
Pin the updo first, then press the wire into place and secure the ends with bobby pins. Gold wire reads warm against most hair colors and works for both formal and garden weddings.
13. Curly Updo with Silver Leaf
The metal is shaped and textured to read as individual leaves, and the silver finish suits most hair colors, warm or cool.
Silver leaf pieces come in sizes from a single small stem to a wider branch shape; a smaller piece reads subtle, a larger one makes the accessory the focal point.
14. Blonde Woven Curly Updo
Woven sections run through a blonde curly updo, breaking up the texture with smooth, twisted bands that catch the light differently than the curls themselves.
The weaving is done before pinning the updo, with small sections of hair twisted flat and pinned to hold their shape, then the remaining curls gathered around them.
Loose tendrils left out near the face soften the look and keep it from reading too structured. Blonde hair shows the weave clearly, so the pattern stays visible even in photos from a distance.
15. High Curly Updo with Loose Curls
Pinning the curls high at the crown and leaving a few ringlets loose gives a polished shape that still reads soft.
The loose curls can fall near the temples, at the nape, or both, and they stay defined if left alone after pinning the main section.
A high updo suits long or medium curls and works for formal weddings where the hair needs to stay off the shoulders. The height photographs well and keeps the style visible even under a veil or cathedral train.
16. Half-Up Half-Down Curls
Gathering the top section of curls into a small bun or twist and leaving the rest down keeps the hair off the face without giving up the full length.
The pinned section can sit at the crown or slightly lower, and the curls left down hang loose or get shaped with a curling iron if they need more definition.
This style suits medium to long curls and works for brides, bridesmaids and guests. It holds through a full day without the weight of a full updo and photographs cleanly from the front and back.
17. Flower Accents in Curls
Small fresh or silk flowers tucked individually into curls add color without the structure of a crown or comb.
Each flower is pinned where a curl naturally separates, so the blooms sit nestled in the hair rather than perched on top.
Pick blooms that match the bouquet or palette and keep the count low.
A few flowers scattered asymmetrically read intentional; too many can look cluttered against textured hair. Fresh flowers need water tubes if the event runs longer than a few hours.
