Retro Hairstyles Any Bride Would Love

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

The big day is on its way — are you ready? Whether you're full of new engagement excitement, mind-numbingly deep into all the mundane details of wedding planning, or scared of what might go wrong at the last minute, it's a good time to pump the brakes and focus on something fun: wedding hair. Put aside the budget, tell your wedding planner you'll call her later, and permit yourself to explore the possibilities!

When it comes to picking the right hairdo for your wedding, there are a lot of great tips and tricks floating around online. Our favorite advice came from Nexxus trend curator Lacy Redway, who spoke to Harper's Bazaar about what to look for in a wedding day 'do: "You want to think about the silhouette of the dress to make sure your hairstyle compliments it. You should also consider the lasting memory of the photo. Think about hairstyles you may look back on in 10 years and think – 'what was I thinking?'"

With that sentiment in mind, we've put together a list of our favorite retro hairstyles for some vintage wedding inspo! These legacy beauties have endured over decades, if not centuries, which means you'll adore them on your 50th anniversary as much as you did on your wedding day.

This chic-looking bun is the way to go if you want a modest, elegant look for your wedding day. The phrase "chignon," which dates back to the late 1700s, is French for "knot or coil of hair worn at the back of the neck" (per Online Etymology Dictionary). Basically, a low bun but bougie. As far back as the history books go, different cultures were known to have worn chignons, including Chinese, Uighur, and Greek civilizations (to name a few). According to Encyclopedia of Hair, they really surged in popularity in the 1860s and have remained a classy staple since. Though it's hard to tell from the picture above, this super clean, tucked-in look can be done in three easy steps. In this how-to YouTube video, YouTuber Hair Angels showed her viewers all it takes is a low ponytail, bobby pins, and some tucking.

Though it may be a tricky sell if you have short hair, a good stylist can definitely make it happen with some extensions. "If your hair is long enough to be pulled back and tucked or wrapped into a bun, you can wear a chignon," celebrity stylist Clariss Rubenstein explained to Ipsy. "If you need more length, temporary extensions or even a clip-in bun work well."

For those who enjoyed the 2000s pouf, you'll love the timeless bouffant-style wedding look. The term "bouffant," which literally means "puffed out" in French, was popularized in the late 1950s into the 1960s. It takes its inspiration from earlier trend setters like Marie Antoinette, who was known for her over-the-top updos (per Online Etymology Dictionary). 

Though it originates in the overindulgent style of high society ladies, the bouffant in 2023 is all about taking time out to treat yourself. "Now they [bouffants] seem to be more a sign of indulgent defiance," Town & Country editor Stellene Volandes told The New York Times. "I am going to take the time out of my crazy schedule, and my self-care is going to be to sit in a chair and have someone give me big hair, and I want everyone to see it!"

The nice thing about the bouffant is that you can pair it with almost any kind of finishing touch (like a braid or bun), and you can pull it off with or without bangs. All you need to create the perfect bouffant is a teasing comb, a bristle brush for smoothing out the front, and lots of hairspray (per Cosmopolitan). When it comes to teasing, stylist Britney Williams said, "The bigger the better. ... You can always take some of the tease out, but it's not easy to add more later on."

As its name suggests, the pompadour is all about height and elegant appearance. Much like the bouffant, the pompadour originates in the French court. Named after the king's mistress, Marquise de Pompadour Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, this upswept style dates back to the 1700s (per Online Etymology Dictionary). The look popped up again in the 1940s with victory roll-style flare (think Bette Davis in "Now, Voyager"), and Lucille Ball rocked her own red, curly version of it during her time on "I Love Lucy." In 2022, the style was popular among men and women, making it the perfect go-to for a gender-neutral look.

Some important advice for anyone who wants this look for their big day: Make sure you try before you buy! It's a wonderfully bold look, but wedding pics are forever, and you'll want to be sure you're in love with it before you walk down the aisle. Especially if you're planning to DIY your wedding hair, save some extra time to quaff this voluminous beauty — it can be tricky the first time around. "A perfect pompadour is going to mean something different to everyone," YouTube stylist BluMaan described in a how-to YouTube video. "It's going to depend on personal preference, what you like, ... [and] what you can achieve with your hair type." In general, he said, start with damp hair, blow dry your hair upward, and finish off with pomade.

Nothing says retro style, so simply as the fashionable 1960s bubble cut. We can thank public figures like Aretha Franklin and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy for popularizing the 'do, which is still popular among celebrities. According to the Encyclopedia of Hair, "this hairstyle had originated in the 1930s and evolved into straighter, longer versions" in the '60s. "One famous television flip belonged to actress Mary Tyler Moore when she appeared on the series 'The Dick Van Dyke Show' during the 1960s," added author Victoria Sherrow. "Marlo Thomas, star of the series 'That Girl,' also wore a trendsetting version of the flip."

If you have short to medium-length hair, this is a great style to try! Back in the day, ladies used curlers to achieve this style, but modern-day curling irons will be a quicker go-to for you. "Once that [piece of hair] is curled, ... I'm going to keep it in shape, just like you do with normal pin curls, and pin it in place," vintage stylist YouTuber Cherry Dollface described while demonstrating the styling process. "You want to make sure these cool all the way; give them at least 10 minutes (a little bit more if your hair is longer or thicker)." She noted you can also tease the top of your hair and add some pomade for additional roundness and volume.

Braids are as old as humanity itself, and they've got a pretty fascinating history. The Venus of Willendorf, an Ice Age-old statue that came out of Austria, is one of the oldest depictions of a woman with braids (per PBS). Historian Victoria Sherrow described how statues of the ancient Indian gods show cornrow-style braids (Encyclopedia of Hair, pg 216), and no doubt you're already familiar with Viking braids. According to the Washington Post, Columbian slaves even used different patterns of braid to communicate secretly. "The curved braids would represent the roads they would [use to] escape," local historian and expert braider Ziomara Asprilla Garcia told the publication. "In the braids, they also kept gold and hid seeds which, in the long run, helped them survive after they escaped."

In the modern age, celebrities like Taylor Swift and Lupita Nyong'o have inspired us with some pretty stunning braided buns. As you can see in the above picture, this look can easily be dressed up with different accessories for your wedding day. It's also a great pick for all hair types! In this tutorial, YouTuber Hair By Lori shows that all you need are two braided pigtails (and maybe some extra bobby pins) to put together a gorgeous braided updo like the one above. 

The ponytail is such an easy and convenient go-to for people with long hair, as evidenced by its long history. "The hairstyle known as the ponytail can be seen on frescoes painted thousands of years ago in Crete, so it may have emerged in Greece during ancient times," researcher Victoria Sherrow wrote in Encyclopedia of Hair (pg 310). "Girls and young dancers in ancient Egypt and young girls in ancient Rome also wore their hair in the style that we now call a ponytail."

As you can guess, the low pony is a no-fuss, no-muss wedding hairdo that holds a lot of vintage appeal and customization options. Whether you prefer it to be curled or straight, accessorized or plain, breezy or formal, there's a good ponytail for every bridal theme. When paired with an updo and adorned with tight curls, a low side ponytail evokes a southern belle vibe, or "Beauty and the Beast" Parisian ballroom style. Have your stylist add a few braids or twists for added visual interest — the world is your oyster!