7 Bridal Half Up Half Down Hairstyle Ideas

In all of my years as a bridal hairstylist, there is one style which never seems to get less popular - the half up half down. Honestly I can see why people always seem to love them, they are the perfect style if an updo doesn’t feel like ‘you’, but you still want something a little more special than having your hair fully down. It’s also a super versatile style, and there are endless ways to wear a half up, meaning there’s an option to suit most people’s tastes. And in today’s blog post I’m going to share 7 of my favourite ways I’ve styled half up half down’s for my bridal clients.

The Soft, Tousled Half Up

This is the style of half up half down my clients request the most. The hair is styled into soft waves, that aren’t too perfect looking (sometimes extensions are needed for finer hair types). The ‘half up’ section is also styled with lots of softness and texture to keep things looking natural, but pretty!

The High Pony Half Up

This is a hairstyle that has been trending for the last year or two, and is great for someone who wants a little more drama from their half up half down. The waves in this style are styled in a slightly more uniform way than the first half up (they were a touch more boho or undone). But the real star of the show in this style is the ponytail which is flipped up and secured onto the back of the head, giving it lots of bounce, body and volume! Again, you might need extensions for this style if you have finer hair.

The Low Pony Half Up

This is the more understated sister of the high pony half up, if that style feels a little much for you. The hair has been styled into softer waves here, and the ponytail is left to hang lower instead of being flipped up onto the head. I also added a couple of rope braids into the crown section before securing the hair into the ponytail, for extra detail and texture. Its important to always wrap the band of the ponytail for a more finished look!

The Half Up Half Down With A Bun

Don’t fancy a ponytail? No problem, why not add a bun detail to your half up half down instead? There are a few ways of incorporating a bun into a half up, but for this one we decided what pieces we wanted up, and twisted the ends of those pieces up into a bun at the back of the head! This is the kind of half up I get asked for the least, so why not give this a try if you want something more unique?!

The Braided Half Up Half Down

Braids really had their moment a few years ago, but I still find they’re a popular addition to bridal hairstyles. If you’re after a soft, bohemian addition to your half up half down, braids can be a gorgeous way to do it! Some people like to have micro braids scattered throughout their waves, but the most popular way of incorporating a braid into a half up is coming around the side of the head like in this picture. If you have fine hair and want a big, chunky braid like this you might need some extensions.

The Hollywood Wave Half Up

The Hollywood Wave has been an incredibly on trend bridal hairstyle for the last few years, and here’s a lovely way of making that style a half up half down. These styles are more sleek, and the waves are more uniform for that clean, modern feel. These sleeker styles do look simple, but they are quite technical to create, so most people will need hair extensions and a minimum of 1.5 hours for this kind of hairstyle!

The Natural Curl Half Up

The great thing about a half up, is that it can be tweaked to suit any hair texture. If you’re a curly girl and want to show off your beautiful hair texture for your wedding day, what better way to do it than in a half up half down like this! Look at those curls popping!

Honestly I could be here all day sharing different ways the half up half down can be styled. It truly is one of the most versatile bridal hairstyles, and I can’t see it getting any less popular anytime soon! Want to see how I style a half up half down using hair extensions? Check out this video I posted on Instagram.

If you’re still looking for a bridal hairstylist to create the wedding hair of your dreams, you can enquire with me here.