An updo is the quickest way to look like you tried without actually trying that hard. This year, the trend shifts away from stiff, sprayed structures toward styles with movement, texture, and a little bit of personality.
These 35 Trendy Hair Up Hairstyles cover everything from polished knots you can wear to a wedding to messy buns that work for a Tuesday. Whether your hair is fine, thick, short, or long, there’s a style here that holds its shape and hides a grow-out line or a fringe that won’t cooperate. Expect a mix of salon-worthy techniques and DIY-friendly looks, all built for real life.
Sleek Twisted Updo With Polished Knot
The design here is all about precision: a single, smooth twisted knot sits at the back of a collarbone-length blunt cut, with no bangs to interrupt the line. This sleek twisted updo works best for fine, straight hair that can hold a polished finish without frizz. Ask your stylist for: sleek twisted updo with a precise knot. Apply a smoothing cream before the hair is twisted, then use a fine-tooth comb to seal every strand into place. The result is a glass-like surface that stays put through a full workday or evening event.
Voluminous High Updo With Soft Curls
Can your hair actually hold that much height without collapsing? This voluminous high updo answers yes, provided you have thick, wavy texture and at least long length to work with. The golden blonde base with highlights adds dimension to the large, soft curls that are swept upward into a dramatic crown.
Ask your stylist for: dramatic high updo with soft, voluminous curls. A teasing brush at the crown provides the lift, and a strong-hold hairspray locks everything in place. Expect the style to hold firmly for six to eight hours before the curls begin to settle. A trim every eight weeks keeps the layers from looking ragged.
Voluminous Honey Blonde Updo With Face-Framing Bangs
The honey blonde tone here has lighter highlights woven through the crown, and the soft bangs hit just above the brow. Shoulder-length, layered hair with wavy texture is the starting point for this voluminous updo. Ask your stylist for: voluminous updo with soft bangs and crown volume. The bangs are cut to sweep sideways, blending into the face-framing layers. Before the updo is built, the front pieces are curled with a wand, and a texturizing spray adds grip to the crown. The result is a polished style, with the honey blonde shade lightening the overall effect.
Rose Gold Updo With Loose Curls
This is not a pastel fantasy. The rose gold color here is grounded by blonde highlights, giving it a lived-in warmth that reads as grown-up. The thick, wavy hair is gathered into a voluminous updo with loose curls that fall around the face, and the middle parting keeps the shape from feeling fussy. It is the kind of rose gold updo that lands best in cooler months, when the rose tone stands out against darker coats and evening lighting. Ask your colorist for: rose gold with blonde highlights for a voluminous updo. A texturizing spray adds the slight dishevel that keeps the loose curls from looking too set. The face-framing pieces are left out intentionally, softening the hairline.
High Textured Updo With Voluminous Curls, Long
The high textured updo here relies on the natural curl pattern of thick, black hair to build its shape. Wispy face-framing tendrils are left out from the middle parting, while the rest is gathered into a voluminous bun at the crown. Ask your stylist for: high, textured updo with voluminous curls and face-framing pieces. A curl-defining cream is worked through damp hair before styling to keep each coil distinct. A strong-hold spray is essential to maintain the height, because the weight of long, curly hair will pull the bun down over the course of an evening. Fine hair cannot support this much structure without significant backcombing, so thick density is required here.
Voluminous Messy Bun With Curtain Bangs
How do you get that perfect undone top knot that looks like you did not try, but also like you tried? Start with thick, wavy hair of mid-back length, then ask your stylist for a voluminous messy bun with curtain bangs. The ash-blonde highlights add just enough dimension so the bun reads as textured rather than chaotic. A middle parting keeps the bangs symmetrical and soft around the face. This is the style you want when a sleek ballerina bun feels too stiff, but you still need to look assembled.
Ash Blonde Messy Updo With Decorative Pins
The design works because the pins are not an afterthought. This messy updo starts with wavy, thick hair of collarbone length, pinned into loose curls that cascade in a controlled tangle. Ask your colorist for an ash blonde with lighter highlights to keep the color from going flat under the embellishments. Then your stylist slides decorative hairpins into the gaps, each one securing a piece that would otherwise escape. The pins do double duty: holding the structure and adding the only shine this matte-texture style needs.
Voluminous Ash Blonde Updo With Soft Waves
A middle parting at the crown gives this updo its lift, and the soft, cascading waves keep the shape from feeling stiff. The ash-blonde base with lighter highlights creates contrast in each wave, so the volume looks like movement instead of bulk. This style works best for thick, wavy hair, but fine hair may lose the wave pattern within two hours. Ask your colorist for a voluminous updo with soft waves and face-framing tendrils. The loose pieces around the temples keep the height from feeling severe.
Loose Messy Bun With Textured Waves
Can you get this at home, or does it require a salon? The answer is both. The loose messy bun itself is achievable with wavy hair of mid-back length, some dry shampoo and a few pins, but the platinum highlights on an ash-blonde base are what give the texture its dimension. A salon can place those highlights to make the waves look intentionally scattered, not just slept on. Ask your colorist for a loose messy bun with textured waves. At home, the trick is to pull out strands after you pin the bun, not before.
Messy Updo With Loose Textured Bun and Ash Blonde With Highlights
This is one of those styles that looks more complicated to maintain than it is. The messy updo with a loose, textured bun is built from wavy, thick hair of mid-back length, with the ash-blonde highlights doing the work of defining each section. The pieces that frame the nape and face are not accidental: they are left out to soften the overall silhouette. The honest drawback is that the loose strands tend to frizz faster than the pinned sections, especially in humidity. Ask your colorist for a messy updo with a loose, textured bun. A texturizing spray helps the bun hold its shape without looking stiff.
Low Textured Bun With Dark Roots
Before you book this low textured bun, know that the ash blonde tone is the real commitment, not the styling. The dark roots add depth to the wavy texture and buy you time between color appointments, since the grow-out line is part of the look. Ask your colorist for: ash blonde with dark roots. Ash tones fade faster than warm ones, so a toning appointment every four to six weeks keeps the lighter highlights from turning brassy.
Messy Windblown Low Bun With Face-Framing Pieces
How do you get a bun that looks like you ran through a breeze without it falling apart by lunch? Start with wavy, thick hair at mid-back length, because the texture is what holds the shape. Gather it loosely at the nape, leave a few face-framing pieces out, and let the ends stick out where they want to. Ask your stylist for: messy low bun with face-framing pieces. Use your fingers rather than a brush, and a texturizing spray gives the ash blonde waves enough grip to stay put for a full day of errands.
The windblown effect is about what you do after the bun is secured. Pull a few strands loose around the ears and at the crown, then tug gently on the bun itself to soften the line. The middle section should feel full, not flat, so resist the urge to smooth everything down. This is a style that rewards a light touch.
Effortless Messy Top Knot
The mistake most people make with a messy top knot is twisting the hair too tightly, which kills the wavy texture and leaves a sad little nub on top of the head. The trick is to gather medium-long blonde hair high on the crown, twist it loosely, and wrap it around itself without pulling the ends all the way through. Ask your stylist for: messy top knot with texture. The middle parting keeps the front clean while the knot does the work. This one is a true DIY, about five minutes with an elastic and a few pins, and the wavy texture holds better when you skip the brush entirely.
Low Bun With Unique Bow-Like Knot
The bow-like knot at the nape is not a ribbon and it is not a twist, it is a loop of hair folded back on itself and pinned flat. Medium, straight, light blonde hair at collarbone length is the sweet spot for this one, long enough to create the loop but short enough that the knot does not droop. Ask your stylist for: low bun with a bow-like knot detail. The rest of the bun needs a smooth finish, so run a cream through the lengths before you gather, then pin the knot securely at the center. It looks intricate but takes under ten minutes once you have the fold memorized.
Sleek High Ponytail With Wrap Detail
Does a sleek high ponytail actually stay put on fine hair? Not reliably, which is why this one is best on thick, straight hair that can grip a hair tie without slipping. The dark brown strands are pulled back tightly from a middle parting and secured high on the head, with the tail reaching mid-back. Ask your stylist for: sleek high ponytail with hair-wrapped base. The wrap detail is a section of hair wound around the elastic, which hides the tie and adds a polished finish.
This is a salon-leaning style for most people, because getting the tension even on both sides takes practice. A boar bristle brush helps smooth the surface, and a light oil on the lengths keeps the tail from looking dry. If your hair is fine or layered, the sleek line will expose every gap, so consider a lower placement instead.
Voluminous Wavy Blonde Ponytail
A high ponytail with large, glossy waves that cascade down the back needs a strong foundation to keep its shape. The blonde base with visible lighter highlights adds dimension that reads clearly even from across the room. Thick, wavy hair of mid-back length is the ideal starting point here.
Ask your stylist for a voluminous wavy ponytail with loose tendrils. Curl the ponytail section separately from the rest of the hair for maximum wave definition, then lock it in with a flexible hold spray. The real drawback is that those voluminous waves can soften by the end of a long night, especially in humidity. A trim every eight weeks keeps the ends healthy enough to hold the curl.
Braided Updo With Flowers
It is not a loose floral crown, but an intricately braided updo with small white flowers woven into the structure. The brown base with balayage creates depth that keeps the braid detail readable from any angle. Long, thick, wavy hair is the canvas this design needs.
Ask your stylist for an intricate braided updo with flowers. The flowers are worked in after the updo is secured, so they stay fresh and positioned exactly where you want them. This lands best at garden parties and outdoor weddings where the whimsical detail feels part of the setting rather than an add-on. A light flexible hold spray keeps the braids defined without making the flowers look stiff.
Intricate Braided Crown Updo
A braided crown detail circles the head while loose waves and tendrils soften the perimeter. The platinum blonde base with balayage means every twist and turn of the braid is visible, so the technique has to be precise. Fine to medium wavy hair of long length can handle the weight of the braid without pulling at the roots.
Ask your stylist for an intricate braided crown updo with loose tendrils. The braid at the crown needs to be secured tightly enough to hold all evening, while the face-framing pieces stay soft. A toning appointment every four weeks keeps platinum from veering brassy against the loose waves.
Braided Updo With Intricate Pattern, Mid-Back
How do you describe a braided updo where the back is the main event? The medium brown base with subtle highlights keeps the intricate pattern from getting lost in a single flat tone. Thick, wavy hair of mid-back length has enough density to support the woven detail without the braids feeling sparse.
Ask your stylist for an intricate braided updo with loose tendrils at the nape. The braids are built from small sections that create a repeating pattern across the back, so the stylist needs to see reference photos to replicate the precise layout. A texturizing spray on each section before braiding gives the pattern grip and keeps it from slipping. The loose tendrils at the nape soften the overall shape and keep it from reading as too rigid.
Ash Blonde Updo With Braided Crown
A braided crown circles the top of the head while loose curls and face-framing pieces keep the rest soft and romantic. The ash blonde shade with highlights gives the braid enough contrast to read as a separate element. Thick, wavy hair of mid-back length with a side part provides the volume needed for the crown to sit visibly.
Ask your stylist for an updo with braided crown, loose curls, and face-framing pieces. The face-framing pieces are what make this work for round and square face shapes: the soft curves balance the sharpness of the braid. The braid at the crown is tightened first, then the curls are loosened around it to create contrast. A toning appointment every six weeks keeps the ash blonde from warming up against the highlights.
Low Updo With Intricate Braided Knot
This low updo keeps its interest at the nape, where braided sections and soft twists converge into a textured knot that holds its shape well. The wispy strands left around the face are not an accident, they are the buffer between formal and fussy. Wavy, medium-density hair gives the braids enough grip to stay put, though that same texture invites flyaways as the evening goes on, so a texturizing spray is your friend.
Ask your stylist for: low updo with an intricate braided knot and wispy bangs. It is a salon build, one that takes patience rather than skill at home. The trade-off is honest: this low updo braided knot looks composed from the front, but the back is where the real work shows, and that is where it will need the most attention before photos.
Softly Sculpted Low Updo With Face-Framing Pieces
Compared to a hard, shellacked bun, this softly sculpted low updo is the version that lets long, thick hair keep its weight while still reading as done. The dark brown base with subtle highlights gives the twisted sections depth, so the shape does not flatten into a single dark mass. Loose, wavy tendrils around the side and neck are what separate it from a ballerina bun, they soften the whole construction.
Ask your stylist for: softly sculpted low updo with face-framing tendrils. Thick, wavy hair is the ideal candidate, it holds the twists without needing a dozen pins. The honest catch is that achieving this sculpted low updo requires a stylist who understands tension, too loose and it unravels, too tight and the softness disappears. The highlights need a gloss or toning appointment every six to eight weeks to keep them from blending into the base.
Sculpted Low Updo With Wavy Tendrils
The difference between this sculpted low updo and a messy bun comes down to the tendrils, they are wavy, deliberate and pinned to fall exactly where they land. Long, thick dark brown hair with subtle highlights is twisted and pinned low, with those face-framing pieces left loose to move. This style looks romantic from the side and architectural from the back, two personalities in one silhouette.
Ask your stylist for: softly sculpted low updo with face-framing tendrils. This wavy low updo suits thick hair best, the length keeps the twists from slipping. For anyone with fine hair, the tendrils will look sparse and less soft. A smoothing product on the main body before twisting keeps the shape sleek, while the tendrils should be left to dry naturally so they keep their wave. The subtle highlights need a toner every eight weeks to stay visible against the dark brown base.
Sleek Low Bun With Side Parting
A sleek low bun with a side parting is built on precision: the part must be clean, the hair smoothed flat, and the bun placed exactly at the nape. Thick, straight dark brown hair at shoulder length is the right canvas, it has enough weight to lie flat against the head. The technique starts with a fine-tooth comb to define the side parting, then a smoothing serum worked through the lengths before gathering everything low. Ask your stylist for: sleek low bun with a side parting. The finish depends on the bun being wound tight and pinned flush, no loose strands, no visible elastic. This is a sharp, polished silhouette that holds all day, but it does not allow for second-day hair, it needs a fresh wash to look this controlled.
Textured Low Bun With Caramel Highlights
Can a bun be both casual and intentional? This textured low bun makes the case. Medium brown hair with caramel highlights is gathered low, then twisted into a knot with visible texture, so the back view shows a twisted detail. Wispy bangs frame the face, which keeps the whole style from looking rushed.
Ask your stylist for: textured low bun with wispy bangs. Wavy, medium-density hair at mid-back length is ideal, it gives the knot enough bulk to look soft. The caramel highlights trace the twists and keep the bun from reading as a single brown blob. Round faces get the most out of the wispy bangs, they soften the hairline without hiding it. Pull the bangs out after the bun is pinned, then add a texturizing spray to the knot for grip.
Low Bun With Intricate Twisted Sections
The appeal of this low bun is entirely in the architecture. Each twisted section is wrapped and pinned with precision, creating a sculpted look. Thick, wavy hair at mid-back length has enough weight to hold those twists in place, but the same density means the style can loosen faster than you expect.
Ask your stylist for: low bun with intricate twisted sections. The twists need to be secured tightly at the base to keep their definition through an evening. A strong-hold spray is essential here. Without it, the darker pieces blend together and the detail gets lost. The real drawback is that this is a salon-only shape. Recreating those clean sections at home takes more patience than most of us have.
Low Messy Bun With Auburn Highlights
This is less a formal updo and more a cozy October afternoon in hair form. The dark brown base with subtle auburn highlights keeps the messy low bun from reading as flat, while the loose tendrils around the nape soften the whole thing. Ask your stylist for: voluminous messy low bun with loose tendrils. A middle parting and wavy texture give it that lived-in feel without trying too hard. It works best for casual events where you want the hair up but not polished.
Messy Updo With Dark Blonde Balayage
The construction here is controlled chaos. The dark blonde balayage creates depth through the voluminous bun, with lighter pieces catching the eye where the loops and curls break the surface. Wavy, thick hair at mid-back length provides the raw material, but the technique is what makes it work.
Ask your stylist for: messy updo with voluminous texture and loose curls. Strands are pulled out deliberately around the nape and face to frame without looking accidental. The balayage provides contrast. Without that contrast, the volume would look like one dense mass instead of a layered, airy shape.
Elegant Updo With Sculpted Twisted Bun
How do you get a twisted bun that looks both polished and soft at the same time? The trick is the face-framing strands. This elegant updo keeps the sculpted bun tight at the crown while letting a few wavy pieces fall forward, which prevents the platinum blonde from reading as severe. Ask your stylist for: elegant updo with a sculpted twisted bun and face-framing strands. The subtle highlights add dimension without distracting from the shape. This is a formal-event style that holds its structure best when the hair is prepped with a finishing spray before the twist begins.
Sophisticated Twisted Updo With Loose Tendrils
Long, wavy hair with medium density is the sweet spot for this style. The intricate knot at the nape needs enough length to wrap around itself, but not so much bulk that the knot becomes bulky. Ash blonde with subtle highlights gives the twists a visible pattern that darker shades would hide.
Ask your stylist for: sophisticated twisted updo with an intricate knot and loose tendrils. The tendrils balance the knot and keep the silhouette from feeling too bottom-heavy. A texturizing spray helps the pieces grip each other, which is the difference between a knot that stays and one that unravels before the evening ends.
Voluminous Sculpted Twist Updo
The sculpted twist relies on clean sections and a firm structure built from the nape up. Dark blonde highlights add dimension to the wavy texture so the twist reads clearly, not as a muddle. Ask your stylist for a voluminous sculpted twist updo with face-framing tendrils. This is not a pull-it-back-in-ten-minutes situation. Each section needs pinning in place, and a styling cream helps control the surface flyaways that wavy hair tends to throw.
The honest trade-off: the voluminous crown can soften over a long evening if your hair is naturally wavy. Wavy texture resists a rigid hold, so heavy hair at the crown will settle. A flexible-hold spray at the root area buys another hour or two, but expect to do a quick pin check before photos.
Romantic Twisted Updo With Loose Curls
This one looks like a close cousin to the sculpted twist above, but the intention is different. The sculpted twist wants clean architecture; this romantic version wants soft, visible movement. Blonde highlights weave through the intricate twists, and the loose curls that fall at the nape and around the face are the point, not an afterthought. Thick, wavy hair of mid-back length holds the twists best. Ask your stylist for a romantic twisted updo with loose curls and face-framing pieces.
Skip this if your hair is fine or barely past your shoulders. The twists need enough weight to stay tucked, and the face-framing curls need length to drape instead of poke. The styling chair is where the magic happens: each twist is pinned individually, and the fall of the curls is adjusted by eye. It is a salon-half-day situation, but the result looks deliberate from every angle.
High Messy Updo With Voluminous Crown
The volume at the crown is the trick. Dark brown hair with subtle highlights gets lifted at the root and pinned so the soft wavy texture stays airy, not flat. Face-framing pieces with a slight curl break the line of the updo, which keeps the whole thing from reading as a formal bun. Ask your stylist for a high messy updo with a voluminous crown and face-framing pieces.
The DIY version is possible if you have thick, wavy hair and some patience with a teasing brush. Backcomb the crown section in one-inch sections, smooth the surface layer over it, pin the length into a loose high bun, then pull out a few pieces at the temples. A dry shampoo applied before you start adds grip. The salon version buys you a more balanced crown that does not deflate on one side, which is the common bathroom-mirror mistake. A middle parting and soft wavy texture make this a smart choice for parties where you want polish without stiffness.
Dramatic High Updo With Golden Blonde Curls
Is this the same as a voluminous crown updo? No. The voluminous crown updo keeps the height contained at the top; this one builds the entire silhouette from large, soft curls stacked from the nape to the apex. Long, thick golden blonde hair with highlights reflects light differently on each curl, so the shape appears as one sculpted mass of individual pinned sections. Ask your stylist for a dramatic high updo with voluminous curls. This is a salon-only design: the structure needs a second pair of hands to keep the curls from collapsing into each other as they are pinned. Fine hair will not hold the scale, and short hair cannot reach the crown in one continuous sweep. The result is the closest thing to architectural hair that still moves.
Intricate Braided Updo With Balayage and Curtain Bangs
The mistake people make with this look is assuming any braided updo will work with curtain bangs. It will not. The bangs need enough weight to sweep to the sides without gaping, and the braids need visible dimension to keep the updo from looking like a flat knot. Dark brown hair with subtle lighter tones (balayage) gives each braid depth. Ask your stylist for an intricate braided updo with balayage detail.
Thick, wavy hair of mid-back length is the starting point. The braids are woven from the hairline inward, and the curtain bangs are left out entirely, then blended into the sides. A common error is pulling the braids too tight, which flattens the crown and makes the bangs look separate from the rest. A looser tension at the crown keeps the volume and lets the balayage show through the braid pattern. The front and side view shows how the middle parting and soft wavy texture tie the bangs to the updo without a hard line.
Final Thoughts
For a polished, long-lasting look, choose sleek twists and knots; for a softer, more relaxed finish, reach for loose tendrils and messy textures. Fine hair benefits from a blunt baseline and a smoothing serum, while thicker textures hold volume well with a strong-hold spray.
- Trim split ends every 6-8 weeks to maintain the health of updos.
- Use a smoothing serum on dry hair for sleek finishes.
- Refresh curls or waves with a texturizing spray before styling.
- Secure styles with strong-hold hairspray and bobby pins.
Find the updo that suits your style and occasion.