A Guide to Creating a Romantic Textured Bridal Updo

This is a romantic, highly textured bridal updo built from several techniques rather than one continuous braid: Dutch or rope-braided sections across the crown, large pinned curls at the back, rolled side sections, and a loose rope braid down the center. The flowers are inserted after the structure is secure.

It will work best on long, dense hair. For fine, short, or slippery hair, use clip-in extensions or padding and make each section smaller.

What you'll need

• Tail comb and sectioning clips

• Texture spray or dry shampoo

• Flexible-hold hairspray

• Heat protectant

• 25-32 mm curling iron

• Small clear elastics

• Plenty of strong bobby pins and U-shaped hairpins

• Optional hair padding or clip-in extensions

• Small fresh or artificial flowers

• Optional floral wire or tiny hairpins for securing flowers

1. Prepare the hair

Start with dry hair that has some grip; freshly washed, silky hair will be harder to pin.

1. Apply heat protectant, then add mousse or texture spray through the lengths.

2. Curl the entire head in alternating directions using a 25-32 mm iron.

3. Let every curl cool completely before touching it.

4. Lightly separate the curls with your fingers, but do not brush them smooth.

5. Backcomb gently at the crown and mist with flexible hairspray.

The curls provide the loops and rolls seen in the finished style, so make them more defined than you think you need.

2. Divide the hair into working sections

Create these main sections:

SectionPurposeFront-left and front-rightSoft face-framing pieces and side twistsCrownHeight and the broad braided detailUpper backMain pinned-curl structureLower backRolled loops around the braidCenter napeLong hanging rope braid

Leave out a few thin tendrils around the face and ears. Keep them curled and separate until the end.

3. Build the crown volume

Lift the crown section, lightly backcomb underneath, and smooth only its outer surface. Push it forward slightly to create height, then secure it at the upper back with crossed bobby pins.

Avoid flattening the crown. The style needs a rounded silhouette before the braiding and curls are added.

4. Make the broad crown braid

The upper detail appears to be a very loose Dutch braid or pulled-apart rope braid traveling from one side across the back.

For the closest result:

1. Take a section above one temple and divide it into three strands.

2. Begin a Dutch braid, crossing the outside strands underneath the middle.

3. Add small sections from along the crown as you travel diagonally across the back.

4. Stop adding hair near the opposite side and secure the braid temporarily with an elastic.

5. Starting at the lower end, gently pull the outer edges of every braid stitch outward. This is called pancaking.

6. Pin the widened braid against the crown, hiding the elastic beneath a curl.

Pull only the outer edges, not the whole braid. The goal is a broad, dimensional braid with defined ridges rather than a loose, collapsing braid.

5. Create the central anchor

At the back of the head, take a medium center section and tie it into a small ponytail where you want the updo's weight to sit. Add hair padding beneath it if extra fullness is needed.

This hidden ponytail becomes the anchor for the pinned curls. It keeps the style from relying entirely on pins pushed into loose hair.

6. Form the large pinned curls

Work through the upper-back and lower-back sections one curl at a time.

1. Take a curled strand about 2-3 cm wide.

2. Wrap it loosely around two fingers, preserving a large hollow loop.

3. Slide the loop off your fingers without crushing it.

4. Position it around the anchor and secure its underside with a bobby pin.

5. Arrange the visible outer edge into a rounded petal shape.

6. Repeat, alternating the direction and size of each loop.

Place the first loops close to the anchor, then expand outward. Some should look like smooth rolls, while others should retain spiral ends. Do not arrange them in neat rows; the asymmetry creates the organic effect in the photo.

For stronger hold, push each pin through the underside of the curl and into the anchored base, rather than pinning only the curl's surface.

7. Add the side twists

Loosely twist or rope-braid the sections above each ear toward the back.

• Keep the twist soft at the hairline.

• Pull gently at its edges for width.

• Drape it over or underneath the crown braid.

• Hide the ends inside the pinned curls.

• Leave one or two fine curled pieces near the face.

The right side in the photo is relatively controlled and swept back, while the left side blends into the larger curls. They do not need to be perfectly symmetrical.

8. Make the hanging braid

Leave a generous center section free at the nape. Divide it into two equal pieces.

1. Twist both pieces individually in the same direction.

2. Wrap them around each other in the opposite direction.

3. Secure the end with a clear elastic.

4. Gently pull at the edges to soften and enlarge the rope braid.

For the photograph's shape, keep the top loose and chunky, then allow the braid to narrow gradually. Wrap a small strand of hair around the elastic and pin it underneath.

If the hair is not long enough, attach a color-matched extension beneath the updo before constructing this braid.

9. Blend the braid into the updo

The transition from the updo to the hanging braid should be concealed.

Take two or three remaining curls and pin them around the top of the rope braid. Allow one curl to spiral across its base. This makes the braid appear to emerge naturally from the mass of curls rather than from a visible ponytail.

Check the overall silhouette from both sides. The broadest area should sit around the middle and lower back of the head, with the crown slightly raised and the braid falling centrally.

10. Add the flowers

Insert flowers only after the hairstyle is fully secured.

• Place the main cluster slightly off-center near the upper-left or middle-left area.

• Add one smaller bloom lower down to guide the eye toward the braid.

• Slide stems beneath strong pinned sections, not into unsupported curls.

• Cross two hairpins over each stem or use floral wire for additional security.

• Keep the flowers irregularly spaced rather than forming a straight line.

For fresh flowers, baby's breath, small spray roses, wax flower, and sturdy greenery work well. Avoid heavy blooms or flowers that wilt rapidly without water.

11. Finish and secure

Gently loosen selected curls and braid edges, then check for visible elastics and pins. Secure any heavy areas with long U-pins pushed inward toward the anchor.

Mist with flexible hairspray first, then use stronger spray mainly at the anchor points. Shield the flowers while spraying. Finish the face-framing strands with a small iron and a tiny amount of smoothing cream on the ends.

Key points for matching the photo

• Keep the texture large and airy, not tightly curled.

• Build the style around a hidden anchored base.

• Pull the crown braid very wide.

• Pin curls in mixed directions and irregular sizes.

• Preserve height at the crown.

• Keep the hanging braid deliberately soft and slightly imperfect.

• Add decorative flowers sparingly so they accent rather than hide the structure.

This is an advanced updo and is much easier to create on another person than on yourself. Expect roughly 60-90 minutes after the hair has been curled.