Charming Formal Half Up Hairstyles That Will Steal Your Heart.
This article, “Charming Formal Half Up Hairstyles That Will Steal Your Heart,” offers you inspiration and detailed step-by-step guides to create elegant and sophisticated half up hairstyles, perfect for weddings and formal events. It discusses a variety of styles for different hair types, along with tips on adding accessories for personal flair and maintaining a flawless look throughout the event. Celebrity examples are also provided to help you find the perfect style that will leave a lasting impression.
Half-Up Braided Hairstyle
Looking for an ultra-glam style? A formal braided half updo is ideal for special occasions and can elevate your everyday look. These intricately twisted half-up braids give the impression of long hair while maintaining an elegant swept-back finish. Use small bob pins and a strong-hold hairspray like L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold for lasting power. To create this look, section your hair into three parts on each side and weave tight braids for maximum definition.
Basic Half-Up, Half-Down Hairstyle
This boho-inspired look features soft textured waves paired with a twisted half-up braid, ideal for anyone looking to go beyond simple waves. Its versatility makes it suitable for a modern boho bride or a music festival.
Beautiful Half-Up Hairstyle with Curls and Pearls
Elevate your appearance for any event with a stunning half-up hairstyle featuring curls and pearls. This style keeps your hair elegantly pulled back while preserving its length. If you don’t mind a bit of extra weight, consider adding hair extensions for increased volume and fullness. Complete the look by incorporating decorative pins or pearls for an added touch of sophistication.
Casual and Tousled Blonde Half-Up Hairstyle
A tousled half-updo is a popular choice among brides planning a bohemian wedding. Achieve this look by lightly applying a working hairspray to softly sculpt your hair into sections, creating the desired peaks and valleys. Finish your half-up, half-down style by gently draping sections of hair along the sides and securing them with pins.
Adorable Half-Up Hair Bow
This hairstyle features a textured ribbon that forms a charming hair bow, giving the impression that your hair is wrapped like a present. It’s both unique and beautiful. To achieve this look, you’ll need medium-length hair with minimal layers, though clip-in extensions can be used to add length and volume. Starting with textured hair will help ensure the bow stays in place.
Smooth Half Ponytail with Baby Hairs
When it comes to updos for black women, a sleek half pony with baby hair is one of the most popular- and for good reason! This look gives total Hollywood sultry glam yet is casual enough to be worn on any occasion.
Half-Up Braided Style
The Braided Half Updo is a chic hairstyle that combines the elegance of braids with the practicality of a half-up style. This look involves weaving sections of hair into intricate braids that are then gathered and secured at the back of the head, while the rest of the hair cascades freely down the shoulders. It’s perfect for adding a touch of sophistication to any occasion, whether it’s a casual outing or a formal event. Additionally, the braids help keep hair neatly in place, offering a stylish solution to manage longer locks. With its unique blend of simplicity and detail, the Braided Half Updo is a versatile choice for those looking to elevate their everyday style.
Half-Up Braid in Platinum Blonde
A platinum blonde braid makes for an ideal half updo, whether for special occasions or daily wear. This sophisticated style complements evening attire, a beach weekend, or even a Monday morning Zoom call.
Fishbone Braid
For a fun and fashion-forward wedding hairstyle, consider a fishtail braid. Perfect for risk-takers, it draws attention to your hair, especially if your dress is simple. This style uses a lot of hair, so extensions may be needed for added volume and length. To achieve a sleek look, create two sections and combine them at the center.
Adorable and Textured
This half-up style has an edgy vibe with its combination of crimping and braiding. To maintain this editorial look throughout the night, you’ll need a strong-hold hairspray like L’Oreal’s El Net. It’s an excellent choice for those with long, medium to thick hair, and suits heart-shaped faces perfectly.
Superbly Stylish
This bold and edgy half-updo is perfect for a night out, adding flair to a casual outfit while highlighting your makeup or accessories. Opt for a backcombing brush like the Spornette Little Wonder Brush to add volume; it’s gentler on your hair and creates a softer appearance. Ideal for those with fine to medium hair seeking a fuller look, this style also complements a round face by adding length.
Braided Beauty
A few braids and some volume give you a trendy, modern twist on the classic half-up, half-down style. For extra shine, apply a serum or spray like Bumble and Bumble’s Shine Spray to the ends. This hairstyle suits a round face shape and curly half-down styles best. It’s ideal for thick, naturally wavy hair, but straight to wavy textures work as well. If your hair is finer, use hairspray on sections before braiding to add grip and reduce slipperiness.
Partially Braided Elegance
Incorporating a braid can transform your regular half ponytail into a chic and trendy style. This look is especially flattering for square face shapes and works well with fine to medium hair of any length, making it highly versatile.
Absolutely Gorgeous
This hairstyle is both classic and beautiful in its simplicity. Soft waves highlight your lovely features perfectly. Remember to use a heat protectant, like Kevin Murphy’s Damage Manager, before applying any hot tools. It has a pleasant scent and is light enough to avoid stickiness. This versatile look suits any hair length or texture.
Half-Up Style with Highlight Braid
This lush hairstyle is a floral masterpiece that will make you feel like a princess, featuring loosely braided and defined strands over twirled locks.
Charming Half-Up Hairstyle with Side-Swept Bangs
Perfect for parties and events, this style enhances your natural beauty. The bangs frame your face like a curtain, showcasing your charming features.
Twice-Braided Beauty
This double braided half-up, half-down style is a masterpiece where two braids converge. To achieve and maintain the sleekness of this look, use a smoothing serum like Paul Mitchell’s Super Skinny Serum both before and after drying your hair. It’s ideal for long hair with medium to thick texture and beautifully complements oval or heart-shaped faces.
Playful Half-Up Look
This half-up style showcases voluminous and charming hair, perfect for semi-formal evening events. Its texture adapts well to half-up, half-down styles, even with shorter hair. Achieve the necessary grit with a product like What A Tease Backcomb In A Bottle, and consider adding a working hairspray. Ideal for medium to long, thick hair, this look flatters a square face beautifully.
Gently Secured Half-Up Hairstyle
The curls are gently pinned with minimal definition, allowing the hair to maintain a flowing shape as if worn down. This soft pinning technique gives a subtle grip at the roots. To help bobby pins stay in place, use Powder Play Volumizing & Texturizing Powder at the roots. This style works well with any face shape and hair type, and its natural appearance makes it easy to achieve.
Tied Up
Hair is interwoven and pinned at the back crown area, creating a seamless look. To ensure your curls remain smooth, apply a pomade like Schwarzkopf Got2b Defiant Shine Pomade to each section before pinning. This hairstyle suits round or oval face shapes best, as it may appear too severe for square or elongated faces. It’s ideal for medium to thick, layered hair.
Volume-Boosted Hair
Hair is teased and pinned to create volume and a full shape on top. To prevent the backcombing from falling out, use a product like What A Tease Backcomb In A Bottle before teasing. A bouffant complements most face shapes, aside from elongated ones, and is best suited for medium to fine hair with medium to long layers.
Side Braids
Both sides are braided from the part down to the ears, with the rest of the hair pinned half up. When doing braids, it’s important to control fly-aways and frizz. Spray Shatter Separate & Hold Spray into your hair before you braid to add more control. Braided sides will look best on round, oval, or heart-shaped faces. Avoid doing this hairstyle if you have bangs or short layers.
Flowing Curls
Curls are pinned to the side, creating a cascading effect. To keep them looking polished, use a shine spray like TIGI Bed Head Headrush Shine Adrenaline. This style complements oval, square, or heart-shaped faces, but it may add unwanted width to round faces. Cascading curls work well with medium to thick hair that has a lot of layers.
Smoothly Pulled Back Sides
The hair is securely pinned at the sides, maintaining volume at the back and on top. A firm-hold hairspray, like Retro Hair Hairspray, is essential for achieving slicked-back sides. This look may not be flattering for those with strong or harsh features, as it tends to emphasize them. It’s best suited for medium to fine hair with medium to short layers.
Halfway Braided Style
The hair is braided from the top and sides down the back, stopping short of the nape to form a half-up style. To keep the braid and curls sleek and shiny, use a shine serum like the L’Oréal Professionnel Ultime Reflexium Shine Perfecting Serum. With the top pulled back, this style flatters round and oval face shapes, especially with a bit of volume on top. It’s ideal for long hair with minimal layers.
Twist One Side Back
One side is twisted across the back of the head, leaving the opposite side down. To add volume and interest to the side-swept curls, use Redken Wax Blast 10. This style flatters all face shapes except round ones and works well with medium to short layered hair.
Elegant Braid
This hairstyle features loosely pinned hair on top with a low, soft braid on one side, emphasizing texture for a distinctive look. Apply a styling mousse like Pureology Colour Stylist Mousse Bodifier before blow-drying for added volume. The fancy braid suits any face shape, and to soften it further, leave some strands around the face. It’s ideal for medium-thickness hair that reaches at least to the collarbones.
Positioned Low at the Back
A flexible hold hairspray, like Matrix Vavoom Shape Maker, is essential for half-up hairstyles on long hair, offering both movement and control. A style pinned low in the back flatters any face shape, particularly heart or square, by softening cheekbones. It’s most suitable for long hair with minimal layering. There are numerous options for partial updo hairstyles, so if these aren’t what you envisioned, try creating something unique. A half-up look is always a reliable choice for formal occasions.
Ana is the founder of Vogue Vibrance, an imaginative hair inspiration blog that covers vibrant colors, textures, updos, and other eye-catching styles. She launched it as a digital space for hair creativity and self-expression to thrive. Through trending looks and conversations, Vogue Vibrance empowers readers to embrace hair as a tool for confidence and self-expression.