20 Stunning Hair Up Styles

Hair up styles are a fantastic choice for enhancing almost any look. They are perfect for special occasions and can also add a touch of sophistication to your everyday style.

The versatility of updo hairstyles is limitless; there are options for all hair lengths and textures, catering to a variety of personalities, personal styles, preferences, and events. 

Your updo can range from polished and refined to relaxed and effortless, making it suitable for everything from weddings to casual outings.

What are Hair Up Styles?

Hair up styles encompass a wide range of hairstyles that lift the hair away from the face and neck. These styles are often secured in place and include everything from casual messy buns to intricate updos or chignons. 

Hair up styles are popular choices for formal events such as weddings and parties, but they can also be adapted for more relaxed occasions. They are highly versatile and can be easily customised to suit individual preferences and various looks.

Key Considerations for Hair Up Styles

Hair Texture

When choosing an updo, it’s important to consider your hair texture, as it significantly affects the volume, shape, and movement of various hairstyles. Your stylist can help adapt styles to suit your hair type for the best results.

For Straight Hair: Straight hair is easily styled into smooth and sleek looks. Its naturally smooth and streamlined texture allows for effortless manipulation into various styles, including chignons, buns, and braids.

For Wavy Hair: Wavy hair has a natural shape that pairs well with soft, romantic updos. It also suits half-up styles, allowing for loose, flowing looks. The natural bounce of wavy hair can be enhanced in updos to create a lively and dynamic appearance, such as with a bouffant hairstyle.

For Curly Hair: Curly hair features natural volume and bounce, giving it a unique shape that is perfect for voluminous and textured updos. Curls can be styled using various techniques, such as pin curls or twists, to achieve a specific shape. Additionally, curls can be arranged into different shapes and textures, from soft waves to defined curls, to create a unique and personalised look.

Hair Length

The length of your hair can significantly affect the types of updos you can create and how they will appear.

Long Hair: Longer hair offers many styling possibilities, allowing for a range of options like braids, ponytails, and intricate styles such as chignons. There are numerous styles to choose from.

Short Hair: Shorter hair is well-suited for sleek looks or half-up styles, as well as simple styles like top knots or small buns.

Face Shape

Different face shapes pair well with various updo hairstyles, which can enhance or soften the features. 

Oval Face Shapes: This is generally considered the most versatile face shape, as it suits a wide range of styles. Hairstyles that emphasise the cheekbones and jawline, such as high ponytails or buns, can be very flattering. 

Round Face Shapes: Updos that add height and volume at the crown can create the illusion of length. Hairstyles like a top knot are particularly flattering for this face shape.

Square Face Shapes:  Softer, more romantic styles are ideal for square faces. Options such as a bun with side twists or a chignon with soft, wispy layers can help soften the angular features of the face.

Occasion and Style

When choosing a hair up style, consider the occasion, whether it’s a casual lunch outing or a more formal event like a wedding. Formal events typically suit more structured and elegant styles, such as a sleek bun or a chignon. Conversely, for casual events, relaxed styles like a messy bun can be a great option.

Maintenance

Some updos require more maintenance than others. Intricate or neat styles may need touch-ups to prevent them from unravelling, which means they require extra styling. In contrast, more relaxed and tousled looks tend to be lower maintenance.

Top 20 Hair Up Styles

1. Bubble Ponytail

Description: The Bubble Ponytail is a stylish hair up that features a playful bubble effect created by placing hair ties at intervals along the ponytail. This styling technique adds texture and volume, making it a fun and lively look. Celebrities like Blake Lively have been seen sporting this hairstyle.
Suitable Hair Types: The Bubble Ponytail works well with most hair types, but it is especially effective on longer hair to achieve the desired effect.
Styling Tips: To create the bubble effect, gently pull the hair on either side of the elastics about 2 to 3 inches apart.

2. Sleek High Ponytail

Description: The sleek high ponytail is a sophisticated hairstyle that pulls all the hair back and up to create a smooth, elevated tail. It is a style seen on celebrities such as Ariana Grande.
Suitable Hair Types: While sleek ponytails are best suited to straighter hair types, they can also be achieved on wavy and curly hair with the correct techniques.
Styling Tips: Styling products like gels and serums will help to create a smooth and sleek finish.

3. Voluminous Low Ponytail

Description: This hairstyle features a voluminous low ponytail, positioned lower at the back of the head while adding significant volume and fullness for a striking appearance. It has been seen on celebrities such as Zendaya.
Suitable Hair Types: This style works best for wavy and curly hair types, as they provide a great foundation for enhanced volume.
Styling Tips: To achieve a more textured look, consider curling or waving the ponytail and applying a texturising spray.

4. Textured Braid

Description: A textured braid is an updo that highlights the hair’s natural texture, often incorporating its curl pattern. This style is popular among celebrities like Zoe Kravitz.
Suitable Hair Types: A textured braid is best suited for curly or coily hair types
Styling Tips: Once the braid has been woven, spritz with some texturising spray to emphasise the look.

5. French Twist 

Description: A French braid is a timeless hairstyle that involves pulling the hair back and twisting it vertically against the head, resulting in a sleek and elegant updo. The process includes gathering the hair, twisting it upwards, and securing it in place. This style has been seen on celebrities such as Eva Longoria.
Suitable hair types: Can work on all hair types, although thicker hair types tend to hold the twist better.
Styling tips: Smooth any flyaways with a styling cream or hairspray. For a more relaxed look, you can pull out the strands around the ears.

 6. Textured High Ponytail

Description: A textured high ponytail is a hairstyle where the hair is pulled back into a high ponytail, but instead of having a smooth finish, it features a voluminous and tousled appearance for a more natural, undone look. This style has been popularised by celebrities such as Beyoncé.
Suitable Hair Types: This hairstyle works best on naturally wavy, curly, and coily hair.
Styling Tips: To add extra volume, use curling tongs or other styling tools to create waves.

7. Messy Bun

Description: A messy bun is a casual and versatile hairstyle that involves gathering the hair loosely and twisting it into a bun, allowing some strands to remain out for a relaxed, undone look. This style has been popularised by celebrities such as Jennifer Lawrence.
Suitable Hair Types: The messy bun works well with most hair types, although finer hair may sometimes lack texture and volume, which may require additional styling.
Styling Tips: To enhance volume before creating the bun, consider using a texturising spray or curling tongs.

8. Braided Crown

Description: A braided crown is a hairstyle in which a braid is wrapped around the head, resembling a crown. The braid can be secured with hair grips or elastics to ensure it stays in place. This style has been seen on celebrities like Lily Aldridge. 
Suitable Hair Types: This hairstyle works well with all hair types. 
Styling Tips: A braided crown can be styled in various ways, including the use of a headband or a more relaxed look with a messy, romantic updo.

9. Classic Low Bun

Description: The classic low bun is a hairstyle that features a twisted look pulled back and worn low at the nape of the neck. It is a versatile option that can be styled in many ways, ranging from sleek and sophisticated to casual and messy. This look is often seen on celebrities, including Meghan Markle.
Suitable Hair Types: The classic low bun can be adapted for most hair types, but thick hair tends to work particularly well, as it provides a more structured and voluminous appearance. 
Styling Tips: To maintain the best look for your classic low bun, use a light hairspray to set the style in place. If you struggle with frizz, apply a smoothing serum to your hair before styling to achieve a polished finish.

10. Bouffant Hairstyle

Description: A bouffant hairstyle, often referred to as a beehive, is inspired by the fashion of the 1950s and 60s. This style is characterised by hair that is raised high on the head, creating a rounded and puffed-out appearance. It is a voluminous look that can be achieved through techniques such as teasing, backcombing, and then smoothing and shaping the hair. This hairstyle is synonymous with icons like Brigitte Bardot and modern celebrities such as Dua Lipa.
Suitable Hair Types: The bouffant can be adapted to various hair types, but it works best with thicker hair that has plenty of volume.
Styling Tips: To secure the style, use a strong-hold hairspray.

11. Weaved & Looped Style

Description: A weaved and looped style involves looping and weaving sections of hair to create a structured, often textured look. This technique can include twisting, braiding, or using hair clips to form loops and weaves, resulting in a unique and intricate hairstyle. This style has been seen on celebrities such as Lady Gaga.
Suitable Hair Types: This technique works best with thicker hair types that have volume.
Styling Tips: You don’t need to aim for perfectly uniform loops; a weaved and looped style often looks best when it appears more relaxed and undone

12. Low Bejewelled Bun

Description: A low, bejewelled bun is styled at the nape of the neck and adorned with sparkling jewels. The bun or the hair surrounding it can feature small embellishments such as crystals, pearls, or rhinestones. This hairstyle can be classic and elegant, making it suitable for various occasions, including weddings and formal events. Celebrities such as Kendall Jenner have been seen wearing this style.
Suitable Hair Types: This hairstyle works well with most hair types; however, for a truly polished look, it is best suited for straight hair.
Styling Tips: Depending on the desired appearance, you can create a sleek, neat bun. For a slightly more relaxed look, consider using a texturising spray.

13. Messy Bun with Loose Strands 

Description: A messy bun with loose strands features a bun created without excessive neatness, allowing some hair to be pulled out to frame the face and create a relaxed, effortless look. The bun can be positioned high, low, or anywhere in between. This hairstyle has been seen on celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez.
Suitable Hair Types: Curly, wavy, coily, and thick hair types often complement the natural texture of a messy bun.
Styling Tips: Secure the bun with a hair tie or grips. The goal is not to achieve a perfectly smooth bun, but rather one that looks slightly textured and imperfect.

14. Chignon 

Description: A chignon is a French term meaning ‘bun.’ It refers to a more polished and refined version of a regular bun, typically secured with pins and designed to appear smoother and more streamlined. Celebrities such as Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are often seen sporting this hairstyle.
Suitable Hair Types: Chignons are particularly favoured for straighter hair types that do not naturally hold curls, due to the sleek nature of the style.
Styling Tips: To achieve the best look, smooth down any flyaways with a fine-tooth comb and mist the hair with a strong-hold hairspray for a sleek finish.

15. Low Chignon

Description: A low chignon is a polished and refined bun style positioned at the nape of the neck. It has been seen on celebrities like Kate Middleton.
Suitable Hair Types: This style works best on straight hair but can be adapted for various textures.
Styling Tips: For a more relaxed look, consider leaving out some front pieces of hair.

16. Curly Pinned Hairstyle

Description: A curly pinned hairstyle is an updo that focuses on creating and securing curls in the hair, often by using hair clips. This retro hairstyle is designed for naturally curly or wavy hair, styled upwards and secured into an elegant updo. Celebrities like Sabrina Carpenter have been seen sporting this look.
Suitable Hair Types: Best for naturally curly or wavy hair.
Styling Tips: Other methods to achieve this style include using hair rollers or curling tongs to create the curls.

17. Twisted Crown Half Updo

Description: A twisted crown updo is a hairstyle where the hair is gathered and wrapped around the head, resembling a crown, using two-strand twists instead of braids. This versatile style is suitable for both casual and formal events and has been seen on celebrities like Hailey Bieber.
Suitable Hair Types: This hairstyle can work well with all hair types.
Styling Tips: Consider adding decorative elements such as flowers or ribbons for an extra stylish touch.

18. Bun with Side Twists

Description: A bun with side twists features a secured bun accompanied by twists on one or both sides. The twists can be simple, with a single strand, or more elaborate, with multiple strands twisted together and then looped around the bun. This style has been spotted on celebrities such as Angelina Jolie.
Suitable Hair Types: This hairstyle works well with all hair types.
Styling Tips: You can wear the bun high, low, or even side swept.

19. Messy Top Knot

Description: A messy top knot is a relaxed updo where the hair is gathered and shaped into a knot on top of the head, allowing for some intentional looseness and visible strands. This casual yet chic hairstyle is suitable for everyday wear or more formal events. The ponytail is wrapped around itself to create the knot and is secured with hair clips. Celebrities like Gigi Hadid have been seen sporting this look.
Suitable Hair Types: Most hair types can work for this style, and it can be adapted for different lengths.
Styling Tips: To achieve the desired look, loosen sections of hair by gently pulling them out or fluffing them slightly.

20. Slicked Back Ponytail

Description: A slicked-back ponytail is a hairstyle in which the hair is pulled tightly away from the face and smoothed down with styling products before being secured into a ponytail at the back of the head. This creates a sleek, polished appearance. Celebrities like Rita Ora have been seen sporting this style.
Suitable Hair Types: This hairstyle is best suited for straight hair.
Styling Tips: A key characteristic of the slicked-back ponytail is the absence of bumps and flyaways. To achieve this smooth look, use styling products such as hairspray, pomade, or gel to keep the hair flat and polished.

Tips for Maintaining Your Hair Up Style

Use the Right Products

Texturising products like sprays or sea salt sprays, or mousse, are excellent for various updo styles, as they add both structure and volume to any look.

Regular Touch-Ups

To maintain your hair’s appearance and ensure the longevity of your updo, it is important to have your hair trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks to keep your hair looking healthy.

Experiment with Accessories

To add flair and style to your hairstyle, you can incorporate accessories such as headbands, clips, or scarves.

Book Your Hair Up Style Appointment at Rush

Ready to elevate your look for your next special occasion? Book an appointment for a hair up style at your nearest Rush Hair & Beauty with the expertise of our talented Rush stylists.