When you have a formal occasion, half up hairstyles are a great option. Pinning some hair up allows you to keep some length around your face, but still have the structure of having an “updo”, therefore keeping the body and shape in place. If you are considering a half up style, here are 20 formal half up hairstyle ideas to inspire you.
Cute Half Up Hair Bow
It’s a hair bow with a braided ribbon! I love that it looks like your hair is tied up like a gift! It’s unique and beautiful.
You will need at least medium length hair with minimal layers to create the bow and long braid. Clip-in extensions can also help to add length and fullness. Starting with texture in your hair will aid in creating the bow so it won’t slip.
Simple Half-up Half-Down
This style is boho inspired. The soft textured waves complemented with the twisted half-up braid is perfect for those wanting something a little different than just waves.
The best thing about this style is that is that it is so versatile, and it can be worn by the modern day boho bride or to a music festival.
This style is great for a woman who is a little boho at heart. The style has volume, so would be suited for someone with thick hair or happy to add an extension to create that extra volume and length.
I’m not a huge fan of using too much product when it comes to styling. Although I can’t live without my S1 + S2 powders by Natalie Anne Haircare. Perfect to give my looks that ultimate volume and texture, and then using my Nak fixation spray to give it that little extra hold.
Fishtail Braid
If you have a wedding stylist, this is a super fun hairstyle! It’s not every day I get a request for a mohawk fishtail braid.
I would definitely describe this bride as a risk taker and someone who loves fashion. If your dress is a very simple silhouette, then it will make the focus on her hair even greater.
This style requires a lot of hair! Braiding eats up a lot of the hair, so if you are lacking density I would consider using hair extensions. To get the sides of her hair super slick and to add length and volume to the braid I had to create two different sections and then combine them in the center.
Cute and Crimped
This half up look is a bit edgier since it involves both crimping and braiding.
How To Style:
- Begin with dry hair. Use a crimper and crimp a few random sections of your hair (mostly on the sides) so they will show in your half updo.
- Use a backcombing brush to create volume at your hairline. Create a large pompadour style, then begin a French braid.
- Once the top section of your hair is braided, secure the end of the braid with a clear hair tie.
- Curl the rest of your hair using a small curling iron.
- Once all of your hair is curled, use your fingers or a rattail comb to pull apart the braid so it looks bigger and fuller. Be sure to hide your hair tie!
- Spray everything with a strong hold hairspray.
Recommended Products:
For an editorial look like this you will need a strong hold hairspray to keep your hair in place all night. Try El Net Hairspray by L’Oreal.
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
If you have long hair that’s medium to thick, this is a great option for you. A heart shaped face is ideal for this style.
Excellently Editorial
This extra edgy look is fun for a night out on the town! It will dress up a casual outfit and show off your beautiful makeup or accessories.
How To Style:
- Begin with dry hair.
- Curl everything with a medium-sized curling iron.
- Once everything is curled, use your fingers or a brush to separate the curls so they look more natural.
- Use a backcombing brush and create volume on the top of your head.
- Gather the top half of your hair and smooth the sides. Use a bobby pin the secure the hair in the back/middle of the head.
- Spray everything with a strong hold finishing spray.
Recommended Products:
To get some serious body, use a backcombing brush instead of a comb. It’s gentler on your hair and will create a softer look. Try the Spornette Little Wonder Brush!
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
This look is great if you have fine to medium hair that you are hoping to make appear thicker and fuller. A round face shape will be elongated by this style.
The Braided Babe
A few braids, a little body, and violá! You’ve got a trendy, modern take on a classic half up half down style.
How To Style:
- Begin with dry hair. Separate the hair into five sections starting from one ear going to the other, each section about one to two inches wide.
- Braid the two sections above each ear and secure the ends of the braids with a clear hair tie.
- Back comb the top/middle section of hair.
- Gather the top half of your hair and create three knots. The easiest way to do this is to separate the top half of your hair into thirds and then knot them.
- Secure the end of the half pony with a hair tie.
- If you hair is naturally curly, then lucky you! You don’t need to do much to it. If not, use a small curling iron to curl what’s left out of the half pony.
Recommended Products:
After this look has been created, add some shine serum or spray to the ends of your hair for a little extra sheen! I love Bumble and Bumble’s Shine Spray.
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
A round face shape will be complemented by this look. Thick hair that has natural wave is ideal for this style, although naturally straight to wavy hair will work too.
Tip:
If you have finer hair and are having trouble making the tiny braids stay, spray the sections of hair with hairspray before you braid them. It will give you hair a little bit of grit and make it less slippery.
Half Braided Beauty
A braid is a great way to make your otherwise ordinary half pony a bit more modern and trendy!
How To Style:
- Begin with dry hair that’s parted to one side.
- Spray everything with a texture spray or a dry shampoo.
- Curl each section of your hair with a 1¼-inch curling iron.
- Create a waterfall or French braid with the hair that starts on one side of your head and goes down to your ear. Gather the end of the braid to meet the other side of your half pony in the back/middle of your head. Secure with bobby pins.
- Spray everything with a light hold finishing spray.
Recommended Products:
I love the Davines Medium Hold Hairspray as both a working and a finishing spray. Use it before and after you curl!
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
If you have a square face shape, this look will complement you. Fine to medium hair of any length will work for this look! It’s very versatile.
Simply Stunning
This style is simple, yet so classic and beautiful. Soft waves and a deep side part really bring attention to your gorgeous features!
How To Style:
- Begin with dry hair that’s parted to one side.
- Spray everything with a working spray, then curl each section using a 1¼-inch curling iron.
- Gather one side of your hair and twist it back to meet the other side of your half pony in the back/middle of your head. Secure with a bobby pin.
- Spray everything with a light hold hairspray.
Recommended Products:
Be sure to spray your hair with a heat protectant before you use any hot tools on it. Kevin Murphy makes a great one called Damage Manager. It smells wonderful and is super light so it won’t get sticky!
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
This look is incredibly versatile and really any length or texture of hair will work! A square face shape will be flattered by this look.
Half Up with Accent Braid
A floral masterpiece this luscious hairstyle is! With loosely braided and defined pieces over your twirled locks, you’ll feel like a princess instantly!
Lovely Half Upstyle with Side-Swept Bangs
Great for parties and events that would highlight your natural beauty. The bangs act like a curtain, revealing a charming face.
Double Braided Babe
Two braids meet to create this double braided half up half down masterpiece!
How To Style:
- Begin with dry hair that’s parted as desired.
- Use a flat iron or a blow dryer and round brush to smooth out your hair.
- Create a French braid on either side of your half up section.
- Once the two braids meet, combine them together. Secure the ends with a hair tie. If desired, crimp a few sections of the hair that aren’t in the half up section.
- Spray everything with a light holding spray.
Recommended Products:
A smoothing serum is a great option to add to a sleek style like this both before you dry, as well as after! I love Super Skinny Serum by Paul Mitchell.
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
This look is ideal if you have long hair that’s medium to thick in texture. An oval or heart shaped face will be complemented by this style.
Big, Sexy and Sassy
This half up style is big, sexy hair at its finest!
How To Style:
- Begin with dry hair.
- Spray a working spray and/or a dry shampoo at your roots. Use a backcombing brush to create a lot of body on all sections of your hair from roots to ends.
- Gather the top half of your hair and pull it back to create a half up half down style. Secure it with bobby pins.
- Spray everything with a light hold finishing spray.
Recommended Products:
This look requires a lot of “grit”, so a product like Backcomb in a Bottle by Big Sexy Hair would work well! If needed, combine that with a working hairspray.
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
Medium to long hair that’s thick is ideal for this look. A square face will be complemented by this style.
Softly Pinned Half Updo
Curls are pinned softly, with little definition, giving the hair a nice shape that still flows as if it were all down.
How To Style:
- Start by curling your hair with a 1 ½ inch curling iron, adding spray wax for more texture.
- Use your fingers to softly scrunch up and pin sections of hair, pinning around your ear level.
- Insert the bobby pins up into the hair, pushing the hair up slightly as you pin to add more body.
Recommended Products:
When pinning your hair softly, it helps to have a little grip at the roots. Use Big Sexy Hair Powder Play at your roots to help the bobby pins stay.
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
Softly pinned hair will work with any face shape and any hair type. Since it is so natural looking, it’s an easy look to achieve.
Wrapped Up
Hair is wrapped across itself, back and forth, pinned in the back crown area of the hair.
How To Style:
- Use a flat iron or large curling iron to softly curl the ends of your hair.
- Starting at the crown, push up a small section of hair until it’s the size that you want and pin it in place. Pin a few more pieces like this all through the crown to create a nice shape.
- As you move down the sides, wrap the hair on the left over to the right, and vice versa, pinning each side wrapped across the other side. Take 2-3 sections for each side.
Recommended Products:
To help keep your curls smooth, use a pomade in each section before you pin it. I like Schwarzkopf Got2b Defiant Shine Pomade
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
This hairstyle will look best on round or oval faces. It will be too harsh for square or long face shapes. Medium to thick hair with layers will also work well with this look.
Bouffant
Hair is backcombed and pinned so that it has body and a nice full shape on top.
How To Style:
Use a comb to backcomb the base of your hair at the crown.
- Once your hair is nice and backcombed, use the comb to smooth down the top section so it’s soft and smooth instead of looking ratted.
- Gather hair from each side just above the ears and pull it into a half ponytail.
- Secure with a clear elastic.
Recommended Products:
Backcombing can fall out easily without the right products. Before you backcomb, use Big Sexy Hair Backcomb in a Bottle to help your backcomb stay.
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
A bouffant is flattering on most face shapes, except for long. It will work best on medium to fine hair with medium to long layers.
Braided Sides
Both the sides are braided from the part down to the ears, with the rest of the hair pinned half up.
How To Style:
- Section out the hair from your ears forward and clip it aside for later.
- Pull the back part of your hair into a half ponytail and secure with bobby pins or a clear elastic.
- Do a French braid down each side of your hair, starting on your part and ending by your ears. Secure with bobby pins.
Recommended Products:
When doing braids, it’s important to control fly-aways and frizz. Spray Short Sexy Hair Shatter Separate and Hold Spray into your hair before you braid to add more control.
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
Braided sides will look best on round, oval or heart shaped faces. Avoid doing this hairstyle if you have bangs or really short layers.
Cascading Curls
Curls are pinned to the side in a shape that gives them a cascading effect.
How To Style:
- Curl all of your hair with a 1” to 1 1/2” curling iron, or with the flat iron.
- Do one small braid on each side of your part that ends by your ears.
- Pin up the crown area of your hair into a nice shape, then proceed to pin up curls down one side.
- Finish with hairspray.
Recommended Products:
Shine spray will keep your curls looking polished. I like TIGI Bed Head Headrush Shine Adrenaline.
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
Cascading curls will look great on oval, square or heart shaped faces. Avoid this style if you have a round face, as it only adds more width to the sides. This style will also work great for you if you have medium to thick hair and lots of layering.
Slick Back The Sides
The hair is pinned tightly on the sides, while still keeping body in the back and on top.
How To Style:
- Begin by curling all of your hair and backcombing it at the roots for more body.
- Pin the front section into a pompadour, then pin the hair down the Mohawk section so it has more body on the top and in the back.
- Finish by pinning back the sides tightly, hiding the pins underneath the curls in the back.
Recommended Products:
A firm hold hairspray will make all the difference with this hair style. Use Retro Hair Hairspray to really get the sides slicked back.
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
Slicked back sides will look unflattering if you have harsh or strong features, as it will only accentuate them. This style is best on medium to fine hair with medium to short layered locks.
Braid It Half Way
The top and sides of the hair are braided down the back, stopping before the nape to create a half up look.
How To Style:
- Do an inside out French braid starting on top and ending just below ear level.
- Use bobby pins to secure the end of the braid in place.
- Finish by curling the ends of your hair for a more formal look.
Recommended Products:
Keep the braid looking sleek and shiny, as well as the curls, with shine serum. I love the Loreal Professionnel Ultime Reflexium Shine Perfecting Serum.
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
Since the top is all back, this style will look good with a little volume on top on round and oval face shapes. It will also work best on long hair with little to no layering.
Twist Back One Side
One side is twisted back across the back of the head, while the opposite side is left down.
How To Style:
- Start by curling all of your hair and sweeping it over your right shoulder.
- On the left side, do two to three twists that start by your left ear and end just behind your right ear, going across the back of your head.
- Secure the twists with bobby pins and hide the pins with curls.
Recommended Products:
To make the side swept side voluminous and interesting, spray Redken Wax Blast 10 on the finished curls.
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
A side swept style like this will be flattering on any face shape except round. This is a great style for medium to short hair with layering.
Fancy Braid
Hair is curled and pinned loosely on top, with one side in a low, soft braid.
How To Style:
- On curly hair, pin the top and sides up and away from your face.
- Sweep all of the hair that’s left out over one shoulder.
- Do a loose side braid, starting the braid at ear level.
- Once the braid is complete, use your fingers to loosen it even more. Secure with a clear elastic.
Recommended Products:
It’s important to give this style texture, that’s what will set it apart. Before you blow dry and curl, apply a styling mousse such as Pureology Colour Stylist Mousse Bodifier.
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
This fancy braid will look good on any face shape. It is soft enough to be flattering on anyone, but if you want it to be even softer, leave some hair out around your face. This will work best on medium thickness hair that is at least to the collar bones.
Low In The Back
Soft curls are very loosely pinned low in the back, one side wrapping over the other.
How To Style:
- Using a 1-inch curling iron, curl the ends of your hair softly.
- Take the hair on the left side, drape it loosely back and pin it at your nape.
- Take the hair on your right, drape it loosely back and pin it over top of the last section.
- Secure with bobby pins.
Recommended Products:
A flexible hold hairspray will help with this hairstyle. It will give you movement but also control. Try Matrix Vavoom Shape Maker Hairspray.
Best Face Shape and Hair Type:
A half up style pinned up low in the back will look good on any face shape, especially heart or square since it will soften up the cheek bones. Long hair with little to no layering will work best.
As you can see, there are so many options when it comes to half up styles. If one of these looks isn’t exactly what you have in mind, consider trying something creative on your own. Either way, half up is always a safe route to go with your hair for your formal occasion.
