35 Stunning Wedding Hairstyles for Brides With Thin Hair (2024)

• Alessandra Bruno is a hairstylist at Fekkai, a hair salon in New York City’s Soho neighborhood.
• Maria “Mia” Lyn is the founder and lead artist at Mia Farah Beautique in Philadelphia. She has more than two decades of experience as a hairstylist.

A Sparkly Slicked-Back Bun

Pulling your tresses back in a tight bun with a sleek side part is the epitome of elegance. At her fashionable Amalfi Coast wedding, this bride demonstrated that a more demure bun is just as stunning as larger-than-life iterations, so don't worry if your tresses are on the shorter side. Plus, completing your updo with a crystal accessory will conceal any sparseness or lack of volume. For more weighty hairpieces, make sure to tease the strands adequately to provide enough grit.

A Wavy Ponytail

Ponytails work on every type of hair, especially thin hair. To enhance the density and add more bounce to your mane, have your hairstylist twist a few strands with a curling iron or another heated tool. Then, pull out a few face-framing tendrils for a flattering look.

Center-Parted Loose Waves

Although you might believe wearing your hair down will enhance your mane's thinness, sometimes, it’s the best option. Usually, hair ties and extra styling create more pulling, friction, and damage, causing more hair loss and breakage. Instead, be gentle with your tresses by adding curls or waves, and parting it either in the middle or to the side for more depth.

Cropped Locs

Contrary to popular belief, locs can totally work for thinner hair. The number of individual pieces depends on the thickness you want to achieve, but this lob length is a sweet option. Since your natural texture will likely be the focal point of your look, styling can be as simple as securing it with a few bobby pins, as this bride did for her botanical wedding in Chicago.

A Twisted Chignon

Instead of a simple bun, amplify the magnitude of your tresses by creating a twisted effect at the nape of your neck and looping your locks at the bottom. “A twist will give the hair movement and texture while looking styled,” Lyn says. Wrapping your strands will also hold your style in place throughout your special day.

A Pearl-Studded Updo With Natural Curls

If you have thin hair with a naturally curly texture, embrace it. The individual spirals and waves take up space rather than laying on top of each other, meaning they're able to bring an element of fullness to your mane. The texture is also ideal for holding up hair accessories, like small pearls and a low veil.

A Blunt Lob With Subtle Waves

Whether you usually wear your hair short or you’re considering a pre-wedding trim, opt for a blunt cut. The straight-forward style, with a few subtle layers around the face, creates the illusion of fullness at the ends. An expert colorist can even paint dimensional highlights or lowlights that give the appearance of greater hair density.

A Side Fishtail Braid

While a classic braid accentuates finer hair, a fishtail braid introduces even more magnitude. At the same time, this hairstyle creates visual intrigue and adds playfulness to your look. You can either start this intricately twisted hairdo at the top of your head or at the base of your neck to achieve the voluminous effect.

A Low Ponytail With Added Waves

Ponytails are a chic and sophisticated way to style thin hair for any type of affair, such as this bride’s timeless wedding in Santa Barbara. Gather the hair into a ponytail at the crown of your head for added movement as you sashay around the dance floor. You can even incorporate extensions to make your locks look longer and thicker. Elevate the illusion of fullness by letting a few wispy strands loose in the front.

A Low Bun With Side Bangs

A low bun is often a go-to wedding hairstyle for brides, including those with thin hair. “A soft pullback will allow the focus to be more about the face-framing, and it will create maximum volume,” Lyn explains. If your hair is sparse, an updo creates its own volume with the hair on your head. Interweave a few strands and leave a side-swept bang, like this bride did for her vibrant Brooklyn nuptials.

A Half-Up, Half-Down Style

Half-up, half-down looks are versatile, playful, and flirty bridal hairstyles, and they work for fine hair, too. These styles can translate however you want: Go for a bouncy look with a higher positioning or opt for a formal one with a lower placement, like this bride’s style at her waterfront South Carolina affair. With skillful curls or waves, you’ll transform thin strands into a thicker mane

A Pixie Cut With a Beaded Accessory

For brides who have pixie cuts without the thickness, an oversized beaded hair accessory will cover up meager patches and add a glitzy edge to your big day. This look will be the perfect finishing touch to glamorous nuptials.

Side-Swept Waves

Gathering all of your hair to one side makes thinning hair look full and healthy since it strategically disperses the strands. By adding loose curls throughout, your style will show off your length and create romance.

A High Updo

Just like low buns, high buns are timeless hairstyles that conceal thinness especially well. Keep it simple by piling your tresses on top of your head without overstyling or adding accessories.

An Intricate Braid

A braided plait has the ability to strategically fake fullness. Techniques, like backcombing, teasing, and pulling strands out for a relaxed look, can easily fluff up any braid. This bride’s hairstyle, featuring layers of fishtail braids, was the ideal choice for her romantic day at a Barcelona palace.

Barreling Beach Waves

If you want to wear your hair down on your big day, consider a wavy style, such as this bride at her retro disco wedding. Pin-straight locks will flatten your tresses, while loose waves will take up more space. To give your mane even more magnitude, use a wave spray followed by a texturizing spray.

A Simple Updo

Gathering all of your strands at the nape of your neck hides any scanty spots while evoking an elegant look. This updo—which this bride wore at her country club wedding in Santa Barbara—is beautiful on its own, but you can also clip on a cathedral-length veil to generate more dimension.

Effortless Natural Waves

As another alternative to wearing your hair down, embrace your natural texture without any additional frills. If you’re eager to infuse more volume, blow dry your hair upside down or in the opposite direction of your part for maximum thickness at the roots.

A Braided Top Knot

Braids are a fun way to add details to a simple bun, and they also inject thickness into thin hair. A hairstylist can either create a broad braid with extensions or mimic the look of a dense plait with loosening and tugging. Repeat this technique at the crown for soft volume around the face.

A Medium-Length Ponytail

Pulling your hair back in a ponytail at the crown of your head is a flirty and playful look for finer hair. If you want to introduce more volume, curl the bottom strands so they separate rather than overlap. This is a practical choice for spring or summer nuptials with scorching temperatures, or if you’ve been on the hunt for an unfussy hairstyle that won’t fall in your face.

A Middle Part With Brushed-Out Curls

This old Hollywood hairstyle at this classic fête in Santa Barbara is full of glamour, and it’s also a foolproof way to hide hair loss. The center part is intentionally sleek for those with thinning strands around the face. The rest of the tresses are pinned and set in curls before being brushed out to cascade over the front pieces and give the appearance of fullness.

A Side Part Tucked Beneath Waves

Although center parts have increased in popularity, side parts are actually an excellent way to imbue density, as showcased by this bride at her rustic-glam wedding in Texas. For a bumped-up look, tease or backcomb the hair at the crown and smooth the top.

A Bouncy Ponytail

You don’t need a thick mane to rock a certain type of hairstyle. Your hairstylist can manufacture thickness and texture by working soft waves and fluffiness into a high ponytail. The end result is a bouncy, effortless style.

A Pinned-Back Half-Up Style

Instead of gathering all of your hair back, pin a smaller section at the crown and leave plenty of tresses to frame your face. Then, manufacture waves with the remaining strands for added volume, and seal your look with a beaded accessory that complements your aesthetic.

Curtain Bangs Secured With a Headband

Curtain bangs are a trendy style that create density around your face. For even more thickness, style the rest of your hair in loose waves. This bride did her own hair with a T3 wand for her garden-inspired wedding in Brooklyn, and she finished off her look with a beaded headband.

A Knotted Sock Bun

A knotted low bun adds visual interest and depth to a classic updo. For those with shorter or thinner hair, you can achieve the same effect with a sock bun. The donut-shaped mold fits around the base of a ponytail and gets folded into the hair for a voluptuous updo.

A Twisted Ponytail

To amplify the volume in a low ponytail, finish off your hairstyle with a soft wave at the finish. Then, brush back and coif the roots at the crown of your head before twisting your locks into a ponytail, like this bride did for her glamorous nuptials in Mexico. The finishing product is sleek and refined yet arguably more eye-catching than the typical style.

Loose Waves With a Flower Crown

Effortless, beachy waves will convert flat, fine hair into a shapely mane. If you want to detract from the thickness of your tresses, top off your look with a stunning hair accessory, like a flower crown. We love this option for garden soirées or botanical bashes in the spring or summer.

A Minimalist Chignon

A sleek hairstyle, like a low bun, is a clean and elegant way to style fine tresses. Plus, it doesn’t need any upkeep. “This is an easy style for thin hair because it will stay put,” Bruno mentions. “You won’t have to worry about your hair falling flat throughout the day.”

A Sleek Low Knot With a Tiara

If you’re more of a maximalist, elevate a sophisticated low bun with an attention-grabbing finishing touch: a tiara. While the bun will conceal sparse areas of hair, the crown will draw the focus away from your thickness. This is a suitable choice for enchanting weddings in a garden, forest, ballroom, castle, or chateau.

A Pixie Cut With Graduated Bangs

Pixie cuts rejuvenate fine hair by lifting the roots since there isn’t any weight to pull them down, and therefore contribute to more thinning. Choosing a style with structured layers and bangs will amplify fullness and density throughout your mane and across the forehead.

An Opulent Updo With a Waterfall Braid

Both braids and chignons add depth and dimension to fine hair, so why not combine them both? An intricate updo with a waterfall braid that wraps around the head is a unique and romantic way to elevate your strands. At her backyard summer wedding, this bride wore her hair in the above style for the ceremony, then released the bun and kept the braided piece for the reception.

Full Bangs With Rock-and-Roll Curls

For long tresses, cascading curls will up the ante on a head of thin hair. Bangs across your forehead will likewise create volume around the face. If your locks tend to get frizzy or if you’re heading to a humid climate with hot temperatures, finish off your hairstyle with an anti-frizz spray.

A Center Part With Fluttery Waves

If your thin hair is usually parted in the middle and naturally falls flat, all you need for more volume is a curling iron or flat iron to generate waves at the end of your locks. You’ll still keep your signature style with some added thickness.

A Half-Up, Half-Down Hairstyle With Loose Curls

Pinning half of your strands back is a romantic choice for any type of bride. For fine hair, a ripple of waves will give more body and life to dull, thin tresses. Harry Potter actress Bonnie Wright embraced this hairstyle at her farm wedding in California, which coordinated with the laid-back vibe and rural landscape.