Although the bride should be the show stopper on her wedding day, plenty of other key players will want to look equally amazing, including, of course, the mother of the bride! A perfectly put-together MOB should have a manicured style without being too over the top. Here are a few beautiful mother of the bride hairstyles to inspire you!
#1: Loose Curly Updo
A glamorous curly upstyle that’s charming on women who want to make a lasting impact in a special event.
#2: Casually Coiffed
This is the look for you if you want to rock a casual, relaxed MOB style! This style is divine for those mothers who have natural waves and want to show them off. Medium to thick textured hair will work best, and any face shape will be complemented by this look.
If you have natural waves and want to give them a little extra boost, I love using Paul Mitchell’s Sculpting Foam combined with Moroccan Oil. Mix these two products, apply them to your hair, and then use a diffuser to dry and accentuate your natural curl. If you don’t have natural curls, do not worry! Add some Body Builder Mousse by Kevin Murphy to your roots pre-blowdry to give extra oomph to your scalp. If you have naturally curly or wavy hair, apply curling cream when wet, then use a diffuser to dry it.
#3: Traditional Updo
Channel your royal elegance with a simple low do on your nape. Simple and graceful.
#4: Fascinating Twist with a Hat
This hairstyle is perfect for the bride’s mother in an elegant winter wonderland wedding or even an outdoor beach destination wedding in Spring or Summertime. It’s a fantastic look for the mature lady (MOB) or a black-tie-themed bridal party. Plus, it’s a great style for naturally textured hair or creating texture with any hot tool (curling or flat iron). An amazing finishing spray for any up-styling, specifically this one, surely requires my all-time favorite, perfect for any weather and texture, is Kenra Professional Volume Spray 25.
#5: Short Easy Waves
If you’re looking for mob hairstyles, opt for this one! It’s a soft textured style for mothers who want to let their short gorgeous hair do its own thing.
#6: Easy and Elegant Updo
Consider this look if you want your hair up and out of your face on your son or daughter’s big day. It’s incredibly simple; once it’s done, you won’t have to think about it for the rest of the day! This look is great for moms with long hair. This style will be stunning if you have a round face and want to elongate it. To help get your hair smoothed back perfectly, I love using Bumble and Bumble’s Does It All Hairspray. It’s light and won’t get too sticky. If you have extra unruly hair, try using Super Goo by Kevin Murphy. It’s a little heavier and will keep your mane tamed all night. To style, secure your hair back into a high ponytail in the crown section of your head. If needed, spray it with a light-hold hairspray and smooth it with a soft boar bristle brush.
#7: Casually Tucked Chignon
This is a classical beautiful updo for a mom of the bride. It’s easy-going, romantic, lovely, and simple. I love its simplicity and easy-going texture, which creates a soft appearance. The hair doesn’t have to be thick, but there has to be enough length to make the chignon big enough.
The client in the picture has quite thin hair. But with volume products, you can make them more textured. My favorite product to achieve this look is Schwarzkopf Session Label Powder Cloud, to create texture even for the finest hair.
#8: Airy Volume Low Bun
This elegant updo was created perfectly voluminously without being overdone. The thick pieces in front would be great for softening the face and giving off an elegant vibe.
#9: Glamorous Style with Glam Waves
For a mother of the bride, a style with glam waves will be a great fit. Glam waves will be curled to the ends and all in the same direction. The hair will be brushed out to create seamless waves. To add to the style, you can have the option to wear it all down or half up.
#10: Twisted Medium-Length Half Updo
A simple and super wearable updo that involves twists and loose waves down your head, bringing softness and glamour. Ideal for a lovely beach wedding.
#11: Lovely Side Bun
I’d call this a mod variation of a classic side chignon. I recommend this style to any mother of the bride who is inspired by a timeless look. It’s best worn with a neckless dress, as it sits low and sometimes brushes the shoulder area. It can get caught on rhinestones and jackets etc. The side can also be easily taken down and transformed into a fresh look for a bride wanting a different vibe for their reception if executed correctly!
#12: Modern Updo
This look is a tousled modern updo. The cutest thing about this updo is how loose it looks. I love the pieces falling from the updo, making it look very natural. There’s volume throughout that many women want to accomplish. This formal style would best fit someone with curly, shoulder to medium-length hair. To achieve these loose pieces of hair falling out, the hair around the hairline must be shorter to create a balance throughout the updo. This updo is best for anyone who doesn’t want anything too perfect or smooth. So many women can wear it. Brides, mother of the bride/groom, at the wedding, or even as a guest at any formal event!
#13: Long Half Updo with Highlights
This mother of the bride hairstyle for long hair is soft, simple, and feminine. She loves to keep some hair on her face and a half-up, half-down look. The client arrived with wavy and thick hair. We used a 1-inch iron to create a soft curl and lightly pinned the half-top to make her look more elegant for the event.
The highlights in her hair make this look pop. We used Shaper Plus hairspray by Sebastian as we set the curl, Kendra Pomade to create the texture in the look, and Tease Backcomb in a Bottle by Big Sexy Hair for volume. For the finishing touch, I used TIGI Hardhead hairspray to ensure the look lasts all day and night!
#14: Simple Long Waves
This bridal look is universal. It is a look you can wear to the office and go straight out for cocktails after. A professional curling iron and a thermal styling protectant spray are the tools to achieve this look. Any hair type can work with this style if you have a good spray and curling iron.
#15: Soft & Swirly Pinned Updo
This look is soft and swirly goodness! I love that it looks like the soft curls were swept up and effortlessly pinned. I always love an upstyle on a blonde because the different tones and textures come through so well. Curl the hair first and use a wide-tooth comb to brush it out. I blow-dried mousse into the hair, tonged it, and brushed it out, then section by section (from bottom to top). I twisted and pinned the hair up.
Like any upstyle, good prep/curling/teasing and pinning is key. Some volume powder for the top section of the crown, along with a good tease, got us that gorgeous volume! This was the mother of the bride that wanted something formal but soft. She also wanted something that she could pop her fascinator over the top but take it out later and still have a pretty style. She adored it!
#16: Adaptable Braided Updo
This look can easily slide into romantic, effortless, polished, and chic updo categories. My favorite thing about this style is its versatility, depending on which dress you choose to pair it with. Nothing is better than having a go-to updo that can be worn to various events. A mother of the bride wanting this style should have either short or medium hair length and any texture. The longer the hair, the bigger the braid, and vice versa.
It will look a little more boho and relaxed if they have coarse or curly hair. However, if the hair is smoother or even straight, it will give a more polished feel. To achieve a thicker-looking braid and a bit of a tousled touch, try using a dry texture spray or powder to give the hair some grit. This look is perfect for any event, from weddings and galas to a fun night out!
#17: Soft Updo with Rose Flower
This style is my take on a classic mother of the bride updo, emphasizing elegance with a soft yet detailed approach. This versatile look suits everyone, making it a favorite for myself and my clients.
The style itself is achievable with many hair types. However, choosing an adaptable stylist with experience in multiple hair techniques is key. This particular look was achieved on fine/short hair, which can make this style challenging to create. It is possible with the correct products.
#18: Romantic Updo Curls
This is a romantic yet sophisticated updo with lots of texture. My favorite part of this look is its versatility. It can work for everyone from the mother of the bride to prom night. Always start with second-day hair because it holds the style soo much better. Medium to long length and texture works best for this look.
Regarding prep for this style, my go-to products are Kevin Murphy Doo.Over and Bedroom.Hair to add both texture and volume to the hair. Having multi-dimensional color will also add visual texture to this style.
#19: Soft Graduated Bob with Bangs
This soft graduated bob is classy, delicate, and feminine. It was designed to make the mother of the bride look and feel beautiful on such a special day. This style is also great for everyday wear. It can be tucked behind the ears or clipped to one side to give a different look or blow-dried with lots of body to give a sexy and powerful look.
I advise the client to ensure they have a good cut with soft highlights about three weeks before the big day. She will feel comfortable with the style, with little growth, while allowing for keeping the shape and color fresh. On the day of, I’d advise the client to use a little conditioner and then have a good blow-dry to ensure body and shape around the face. When the fascinator is fitted, it must slot into a section of backcombed the mother of the bride hairstyle for short hair and keep it in place throughout the day.
#20: Swept Up Low Bun Sophistication
This look is classic messy/chic with a hint of swept-up sophistication. I love this style for clients as it looks effortless yet glamorous. This look is the perfect go-to style for a mother of the bride, bride, bridesmaid, or even a girl who wants a little flirty glamour for that special event.
I always ensure the hair is washed the night before because that makes the hair easier to manipulate and “dirty up” with products. Here I used the Schwarzkopf Osis range. I prepped the hair with Osis Dust It, a mattifying volume powder. I used Osis Freeze, a strong holding hairspray for hold while styling. To finish the style, I used Osis Sparkler, a shine spray that leaves the hair (especially blondes) looking healthy and chic.
#21: Crown Braids & Stacked Curls
This style is a soft, romantic, and natural look. It combines stacked curls on the bottom with volume at the crown held back by braids that wrap around the back of the head. The braids emphasize the height and volume of the style while setting off the curls. They make this look stand out.
This style looks great on everyone. I use it mostly for bridesmaids. The long curls down the back look great for photos, and the braided detailing gets compliments all night long. It’s a perfect event style and one of my favorites to create!
#22: Beautiful Chignon
I love this look as it is a very soft and elegant style. It is a style to be in awe of because of its versatility instantly. It’s the perfect look for occasions such as a wedding, reunion, casual dinner party, or even a school formal. This style complements any fashion statement. Do not polish this style too much, as it is more of a soft, textured look.
I recommend this look to all clients. That is the beauty of its versatility. It is for ladies who embody various face shapes. It is a flexible, quick upstyle for clients waiting for the time before an event. Clients of all ages would be well suited for these mother of the bride hair styles.
#23: Shorter Sassy Curls
This look is for the woman with hair on the shorter side (above the shoulders) who doesn’t want your typical “mother of the bride” style. It allows the woman to be her sassy self! This look is perfect when you want volume and texture but nothing too curly or “perfect.” Variations of this could be less or more curly, less or more volume, or adding a hairpiece to one side. You could even tuck one side!
This style is good for everyone as there are so many variations of how it can be worn. It is great for the short-haired client who doesn’t want anything ordinary and wants to show off their sassy and fun side. This look is versatile because it will flatter all face shapes by adding height to the hair and masking imperfections. This style will help give thin-haired gals the appearance of thicker and fuller hair. It can be worn on a younger client as well. Incorporating a headband would give it some detail and add an element of youth.
#24: Curled Layered Bob
This look is best described as a layered bob curled with a 1-inch curling iron. My favorite thing about hair styles for the mother of the bride is their ease and elegance of it. This client’s daughter is soon to be married, so we play with the color or cut every appointment. This day we were trying out wedding day styles!
To recreate this look, spray the hair with Reken Iron Shape and curl with a 1-inch curling iron. Loosely pin one side back with a couple of bobby pins and finish with Redken Triple Take hairspray.
#25: Twisted Bun
When choosing hairstyles for the mother of the bride, incorporate twists and turns in an enchanted updo for amazing texture and dimension! Top it off with a nice piece of decor to finish the formal look.
#26: Stylish Half-up Half-Down
Look like a damsel-in-distress without any stress with these half-tied curls! Bring your favorite princess fantasy to life with a few hairpins and a floral accessory to create a half-up mother of the bride hair anyone would envy.
#27: Classic French Twist
Roll the day away with this jaw-dropping hairdo! It’s smooth and elegant and will certainly make you the star of the event.