Whether you're a classicist in the vein of Emma Watson or Emma Stone, a bohemian spirit like Sienna Miller or Elle Fanning, a bold beauty akin to Rihanna, or a modern romantic à la Alicia Vikander or Nicole Kidman, you needn't limit yourself to the prescribed wedding day hairstyles. In fact, don't think of wedding day hair any differently than you would an evening out–stick to effortlessness, and find inspiration on the red carpet and the runways.
Eschew overplayed updos and basic blowouts in favor of a look better suited to your unique bridal aesthetic—something that represents you at your best. To inspire, we've rounded up a comprehensive collection of the chicest, most aisle-worthy coifs from runways and red carpets past. Click through to find your perfect 'do.
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1
Bow Crazy
Backstage at Lela Rose, Giovanni Vaccaro, Glamsquad Creative Director, and his team prepped hair with Kerastase V.I.P. Powder in Volume and French Girl Sea Spray, then curled the hair to create textured waves. After scooping hair into a low ponytail, stylists roughed up the waves even more with a blast of texture spray. Then came the fun part: the stylists took five feet of white velvet ribbon and tied a bow, wrapping it around the neck and tying securely with an uneven knot in the hair. They finished the style with OUAI Soft Hair Spray.
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2
Pin Art
"For shorter hair or if you want to keep hair natural, skip the pony and slick hair back with a brush using the TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hold Level 4: Extend Hair Spray throughout and add Kitsch Straight Metal Bobby Pins on both sides," hairstylist Justine Marjan, who worked with TRESemmé, said backstage at the Nonie spring 2019 show.
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3
Bella Curls
There's nothing more romantic than fuzzy ringlets. Pulling them into a sleek half-up ponytail, with a few face-framing pieces like Bella Hadid, makes the look a little more modern and casual, perfect for a summer wedding.
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4
The New Half-Up
The half-up bridal hairstyle got a cool makeover this bridal season. Instead of pulling hair into a voluminous half-up section, just the face-framing layers were pulled back and laid flat with a few bobby pins.
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5
Fringe Moment
This hairstyle is all about showcasing Dakota Johnson's signature layered bangs (if you've got them, flaunt them). We love how the rest of her hair, which was expertly painted with golden highlights, is pulled back into a low mussed ponytail. Keep plenty of volume at the crown and hide the elastic to make the look seem purposeful, not hurried.
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6
Hair Bouquet
Peanut butter is to jelly what Rodarte is to hair flowers. Just when we thought the fashion brand couldn't possibly innovate florals again, they tapped hairstylist Odile Gilbert to create this scattered look at the September 2018 show. Flowers are an integral part of any wedding day, so why not incorporate them into your hair?
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7
Royal Way
Princess Eugenie of York wore her hair parted down the center and featuring two face-framing curled tendrils at her royal wedding back in October 2018. Her hair was then pulled back into a low, twisted chignon—and topped off with the stunning Grenville emerald tiara. The princess bride threw tradition out the window and opted not to wear a veil at all, letting her glossy hair really steal the show.
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8
Knot On Top
Karl Lagerfeld gave his stamp of approval on pairing a '90s top knot with a formal look on Chanel's Fall 2018 runway. The best part of this no muss, no fuss hair? It shows off your earrings, lasts all night, and needs minimal touchups.
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9
Soft Ringlets
Jennifer Lawrence ditched beach waves in favor of soft, brushed ringlets for the 2018 Oscars, giving her blinged-out gown a more effortless feel, and her now-longer hair added volume.
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10
Pre-Raphaelite Ringlets
Windswept curls on Jonathan Simkhai's Fall 2018 runway gave girls with barely-there makeup the feeling that they'd just exited a Dutch Master's portrait. Imagine the same impact with the added wow factor of your wedding gown–sheer genius.
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11
Veiled Twist
Accent the whimsy of a birdcage veil with a sleek and architectural loop, rather than a mussed chignon, as seen at Lela Rose's Bridal Spring 2018 presentation.
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12
Bouquets and Bows
Hair flowers had never looked so chic–until Rodarte stunned with their Spring 2018 hair look, where bunches of baby's breath were scattered and tied with petite bows throughout the models' flowing locks.
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13
Spring Awakening
Leave it to Kirsten Dunst to land on the freshest way to don a flower crown. Skip oversized wreaths (the Coachella bride is long over...) and opt for an embroidered or encrusted headband instead. Complete the look with effortless pin-ups that feel textural while having an inherent sense of ease.
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14
Flow Free
Corsetry, off-shoulder bodices and mock necklines all hearken to long-gone eras–and your hair, in turn, should do the same. Take Haley Bennett, who chose a modern yet medieval-inspired half-up style when styling an armor-esque gown by Alexander McQueen.
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15
Bow Down
Erdem's Spring 2017 runway was packed with what might be one of our favorite romantic looks of all time–a braided, mussed updo, slung low, capped off with a simple yet impactful bow. Pair this look with tulle gowns, off-shoulder necklines and corseted bodices for a look that feels straight-out of a fairy tale or romance novel.
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16
The Bubble Pony
Take the ponytail to the next level a la Olivia Wilde for a modern, sculptural look that would perfectly accent any simple, structural wedding gown.
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17
Classy Crop
Cara Delevigne became the queen of taking the pixie cut to black tie heights when she reinvented her short 'd0 on each and every red carpet. Case in point: accessorizing her platinum crop with a slim satin ribbon.
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18
Live Wire
Lily Collins took the slicked-back style to a futuristic level when she opted for metallic wire rather than concealing her hair ties by wrapping strands around them.
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19
Retro Chic
When in doubt, take inspiration from red carpets past–like Emma Stone, when she sported a Bardot-era updo paired with a pastel pink lip.
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20
On a Roll
Brock Collection's pin-up meets princess style for their Fall 2018collection paired well with a side-swept bang, and would have the same affect when styled with a romantic gown. Note: a rolled chignon feels like a fresh take on the standard pinned-up version that's become synonymous with bridal hair styling.
