30+ Vintage Wedding Hairstyles Ideas [2025 Guide & Expert Tips]

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Vintage wedding hairstyles bring glamour, romance, and timeless beauty to any celebration. From Old Hollywood waves to Brigitte Bardot-inspired bouffants, these vintage wedding hair ideas blend classic charm with modern elegance. Whether you’re after modern vintage wedding hairstyles or authentic 1920s Gatsby waves, you’ll find styles for short, medium, and long hair that complete your bridal look with effortless sophistication.

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From lusciously soft chignons to retro pin curls, beehives, and finger waves, there is the right elegant vintage wedding hairstyle for every bride. So, stick with us as we take you on this journey into the past. Several that are so timeless, they are impossible to forget. Find the vintage wedding hairstyles for you and your bridesmaids that will turn the class in your wedding as high up as it can go.

Vintage Wedding Hairstyle – Bouffant Updo

The bouffant hairdo is one of the most iconic vintage wedding updo hairstyles, loved by brides seeking volume and glamour. Perfect for vintage wedding hairstyles for medium length hair or longer locks, this vintage wedding hair style channels 1960s chic. Pair it with pearl earrings or a subtle headband for that timeless, Bardot-inspired look.

A bouffant is stunning all on its own and would usually not require a veil or huge statement headpiece. You would not need to go overboard with this hairstyle. Just pair it with the right earrings or set of jewelry you are sure to wow your guests as well as your partner.

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Vintage Bridal Look with Chignon

The vintage chignon is one of the most elegant vintage hairstyles for wedding days — simple yet endlessly graceful. This style flatters medium-length and long hair, making it ideal for vintage wedding hairstyles long hair collections. Whether you prefer a low, loose twist or a sleek knot, this vintage wedding updo hairstyle never goes out of fashion.

A most popular option for weddings by brides and even guests alike, the chignon can be sleek, it can be slightly messy, it is a versatile hairstyle. It is also perfect for most face shapes. Whether you pair it with bangs, push it low, or wear It high, the chignon will always spell classy.

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Chic Bridal Beehive

The beehive hairdo defines retro sophistication. This signature vintage wedding hairstyle for long hair gives instant volume and elegance. Ideal for brides who love wedding long hair vintage hairstyles, the beehive updo can be styled high or soft and low. Add a birdcage veil for a perfect 60s movie-star moment.


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Retro Inspired Victory Roll Updos

Wedding hairstyles trends on Pinterest – click to find ideas!

These 1940s victory rolls are the ultimate vintage hairstyles wedding look — glamorous, structured, and full of character. Ideal for vintage wedding hairstyles for medium length hair, they pair beautifully with bold lipstick and classic pearls. Try this retro wedding hair look for a stunning, photo-ready aesthetic.

You could choose to style it in a twisted updo, finger wave updo, Victorian twists, or even a stylish top knot. This hairstyle is versatile and can accommodate a myriad of looks. Pair it with bold red lipstick, nails, and perhaps even shoes, and you will have the glamorous vintage look of your dreams.

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Vintage Wedding Bumped Hairstyles

A bumped-up hairstyle is a classic number, it works perfectly for modern retro brides. Easily styled with any type of wedding gown, or even shape of the face. There are many options for this hairstyle. From bumped-up ponytails to chignons, side sweeps, center parts, and even more.

With simple tricks like combing portions of your hair forward even though you are styling it back, and tying your hair loosely, you can create the bump. This 1960s glam is one that has transcended time and followed us to today because of its charm, beauty, and class. Pair a beautifully bumped-up hairstyle with a headband or statement piece and you have the glamorous look you desire to achieve.

Brigitte Bardot-inspired looks are a perfect fit for this category. We asked Multi Award Winning Hairstylist Michael Gray for his expert advice on achieving this iconic style. Here’s what he shared:

Creating a Bardot look is down to the foundation of the Backcombing and right products to prep the height, ensuring the hair isn’t too stiff but still secure. Dry volume texture spray by living proof is great for building height within a Bardot look. 

I always ensure where the client would like the height. If they have a long face, making it slightly fuller on the sides or more of a swoop gives the illusion of the style looking wider. Where someone with a round face, you want to ensure it’s tighter on the sides and more height on the crown to make the face look longer.

By Michael Gray

Vintage Wedding Ponytail

A vintage ponytail is best styled with more volume on top than you would normally have. Whether for African American vintage wedding hairstyles, or just long vintage wedding hairstyles, a ponytail is perfect. Embellish with a shiny hairpiece, lace, or flowers, and you are good to go.

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Retro Inspired Half Up Half Down

For vintage wedding hairstyles half up, there is a lot that you can do. This flexible choice gives you so many options, that it could be difficult to choose. Do you create bouncy waves paired with a retro updo or a half updo with twists at the top and waves beneath?

Pair victory rolls with the cutest curls, or a classy, sleek ponytail with effortless curls. You could choose for the hairstyle to be bumped up, or even to the side. Just find the right headpiece or vintage accessory to complete the look and bring it all together.

Returning Hair Trend – Finger Waves

Nothing says vintage wedding hair like the 1920s finger waves. This iconic retro bridal hairstyle suits short, medium, and long hair, and brings true Great Gatsby elegance to any theme. Perfect for vintage wedding hairstyles for short hair — timeless, glossy, and cinematic.

Create true glamour with this Great Gatsby-inspired look that is sure to earn you the most perfect wedding photos. With hair gel, a hot iron, a rat tail comb and hair clips you can create the look that you desire, along with the right atmosphere for your special day.

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Pin-Up Style Wedding Hair Ideas

Our fabulous pin-up style wedding hair doesn’t get better than the 1940s victory roll that channels a whimsical vibe. However, for a touch of romance, consider the beehive hairdo paired with a twisted French roll. Add a birdcage veil and silk dress to top off this look.

We also love the simple 1950s pin-up hairstyle with waves and a jeweled headband on a strapless Chantilly lace dress. If you want to keep a minimalist look, consider a bow-tied beehive chignon whereas a head-off flawless marcel finger waves bring the glam.

Accessorize your pin curls with pearls, gems, and floral accouterments to enhance your modern, retro, rustic, or chic look.

Vintage Wedding Veils Ideas

The most fun part of a vintage wedding look hands down is the wedding veils. Beautiful, interesting, and creative veils that can completely transform your look and transport you to a different era. When choosing your veils, you should also consider the vintage wedding hairstyles with a veil that you decide on.

This will go a long way in the decision-making also for the veil. From wispy lace drop veils which will go with almost any hairstyle. To shorter flyaway veils that match beautifully with tea-length dresses. On to romantically long mantilla veils from 17th century Spain. A topic on vintage wedding veils would be incomplete without mentioning the birdcage veil, or the Juliet cap veil of the 1950s.

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Elegant Vintage Wedding Accessories

Most bridal accessories from eras past were bold, beautiful, and all about romance. If you are looking to style yourself with vintage hair accessories, then you must find the one that will work for you and your hairstyle. From ribbons to silk bows, flower halos, pins, pearls, and jewel-studded headpieces, you have quite a number of options.

Pair a simple hairstyle with a statement headpiece of jewels or exquisite lace, and you might find your vintage expression in the best way possible. Whether you’re working with 1950 vintage wedding hairstyles or any from another era, you are sure to find the right accessory for you.

Brides Often Ask

What is a vintage hairstyle?

A vintage hairstyle channels the iconic hairdos from previous decades. They go all to the 1920s until the hippie generations in the 70s. These stunning and classic hairstyles were more about enhancing the hair’s natural texture and less about styling. These styles also protected the hair from damage because manipulation was minimal.

What are some great vintage hairstyles for a wedding?

Fabulous vintage Wedding Hairstyles include the Beehive paired with twisted French rolls, victory rolls, and Marcel finger waves. We also love the idea of a soft Beehive paired with a chic chignon, Hollywood waves, a pompadour, or pin curl style. If you want something romantic, opt for teased coif on sleek bangs, retro waves, and a ballerina bun.

Where to look for inspiration for a vintage bridal look?

The best places to look for vintage bridal look inspiration are wedding blogs, vintage magazines, and social media. You can check vintage bridal hashtags on Instagram and Facebook. Buy or subscribe to these magazines, go on Pinterest, or visit platforms, and blogs. If you are a movie lover, you can watch old films with weddings to gain inspiration. If all fails, Google has millions of real vintage brides’ pictures. Check them out.

Conclusion

Vintage wedding hairstyles are never out of fashion and are sometimes the perfect choice for a bride with a personality. Their glamour and timelessness make them so endearing and beautiful. The key is just not to overdo it, and you will have that eternal and fashionable look you are trying to create. Another key would be to mix it up with modern elements so that it is a part of your overall theme and not a costume party. Put the class on your special day with the vintage wedding hairstyle of your choice.

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