15 Wedding Guest Hairstyles With the DIY and Salon Price for Each

Wedding guest hair has one job. It needs to look done without looking like you spent three hours on it, and it needs to survive a receiving line, a cocktail hour and at least four songs of dancing before it starts sliding out of place. I’ve been a guest at more weddings than I can count and I’ve planned my fair share too, so I know the actual math brides never get: what these styles cost if you DIY them versus what they cost if you book a stylist, and which ones fall apart the second the DJ plays something with a beat. Below are 15 wedding guest hairstyles, cute enough for Pinterest, honest enough that you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into before you touch a curling iron.

1. Low Bun With Face-Framing Pieces

This is the wedding guest hairstyle I reach for most, and I mean that. Smooth the crown, twist the length into a low bun at the nape, then pull a few pieces loose around your face. DIY cost runs about $8 for a good boar bristle brush plus whatever bobby pins you already own, so basically free if you’re stocked. A salon blowout-and-pin runs $45 to $65. It holds through dinner easily and only gets softer, not messier, once you’re dancing. My verdict: DIY this one. It’s forgiving if your hands aren’t steady.

2. Sleek High Ponytail

Quick Wedding Guest Hairstyles That Take Ten Minutes

A high pony reads polished the second you smooth it down with a little gel, wrap a piece of your own hair around the elastic and pin it. This is the fastest style on the list, ten minutes flat. DIY cost is under $10 for a good edge gel like Ampro or Eco Style. A salon version with a sleek finish runs about $50. It holds all night since there’s nothing to fall out of place, though I’ll say fine hair might need a touch of dry shampoo at the root by hour three. Great pick if you’re getting ready in a hotel bathroom mirror.

3. Half-Up Half-Down With a Twist

Take two small sections from either side of your part, twist them back and pin at the crown, then let the rest fall naturally. This is hair down wedding guest style at its easiest, since most of your length stays loose. DIY cost is just bobby pins, maybe $5. A stylist will charge $55 to $75 because they’re also adding curl or texture to the down portion first, which does make it look fuller in photos. It holds well through a seated dinner but the twist can loosen once you’re moving, so pack two extra pins in your clutch.

4. Soft Beachy Waves

Loose, undone waves feel right for almost any wedding, rustic barn or downtown rooftop. Use a 1.25-inch curling wand, alternate the direction of each section, then brush through with your fingers so it doesn’t look set. A wand like the T3 or a budget option from Amazon runs $30 to $60, a one-time cost you’ll use again. A salon blowout with waves is $65 to $90. Waves hold beautifully outdoors but wilt fast in humidity, so if your wedding is in July in the South, plan on a small can of dry texture spray as backup.

5. French Braid Crown

A braid that wraps from one temple across the crown and tucks in at the back looks intricate but is genuinely a beginner braid once you’ve practiced twice. DIY cost is nothing but a bobby pin and about 20 minutes of patience, or $0 if your hands cooperate. If you’d rather have someone else do it, a braided style at a salon runs $50 to $70. This one is my top pick for durability. It held through my cousin’s entire outdoor reception, dancing included, without a single flyaway.

6. Curly Updo

Tight curls piled high and pinned into a rounded shape works especially well if you have natural curl or coil texture, since you’re working with what your hair already wants to do. DIY cost is low if your curls are natural, just a diffuser attachment for around $15. If you’re curling straight hair to get there, add a wand and expect an hour of work. A salon updo built around curls runs $85 to $120, on the higher end of this list because of the time it takes. It’s a strong pick for beachy or garden weddings.

7. Sleek Chignon

A chignon is a low, smooth knot sitting right at the nape of your neck, and it’s the style I’d call timeless over trendy. It suits long, thick hair the best. DIY cost is around $10 for a doughnut bun form from a beauty supply store, which makes the shape easier if your hair isn’t cooperating. A salon chignon runs $55 to $80. It’s one of the most secure options on this list for a black-tie wedding where you’ll be seated most of the night, though it can feel tight by hour four, so bring an extra pin in case you need to loosen it slightly.

8. Braided Low Bun

Braid the length of your hair first, then coil it into a bun and pin. This gives you the texture of a braid with the polish of an updo, and it’s genuinely one of the easiest DIY styles here because braided hair is more forgiving of imperfect pinning. DIY cost is basically zero if you already own bobby pins. A salon version runs $60 to $85. It holds through dancing better than almost anything else on this list since the braid itself keeps everything locked in place, no touch-ups needed.

9. Twisted Half-Up With Volume

Cute Hairstyles For A Wedding Guest On A Budget

Take small sections along your part, twist and pin them back one at a time, working toward the crown for a Dutch braid look without the actual braiding. Add a little dry shampoo at the roots first for grip and volume, a $9 bottle of Batiste does the job. This is one of the cheapest looks on the list to DIY, under $10 total. A salon version runs $50 to $70. It’s a great choice if you want something photo-ready but you’re getting ready in a shared bathroom with three other people and fifteen minutes on the clock.

10. Blowout Left Down

Sometimes the best wedding guest hairstyle is just really, really good hair left down. A professional round-brush blowout is smooth, has movement and photographs beautifully. DIY cost includes a round brush and a decent dryer, so if you don’t already own one, budget $40 to $80 for a one-time purchase. A salon blowout runs $45 to $70 depending on your hair length, and honestly this is one place I tell brides’ guests to just book it, since a DIY blowout takes real practice to get right. It holds four to six hours before it starts to soften.

11. Slicked Back Bun

Wet-look gel, a fine tooth comb and a bun at the nape gives you a modern, editorial look that works especially well for a black-tie or downtown venue. DIY cost is under $10 for gel like Got2b Glued. A salon version runs $50 to $65. This one is nearly indestructible once it’s done, since there’s no loose hair to fall out of place, though I’ll be honest, it’s not the most forgiving on second-day roots, so wash your hair the morning of if you’re going this route.

12. Boho Waterfall Braid

A waterfall braid lets sections drop out as you go, so you end up with a braid across the crown and loose waves falling underneath it. This is the prettiest option here for an outdoor or rustic wedding and it looks far more complicated than it is. DIY cost is $0 if you’re comfortable braiding, though I’d suggest watching a five-minute tutorial first. A salon version runs $55 to $75. It holds well through a few hours outside but can loosen in wind, so a couple of hidden pins at the ear are worth adding.

13. Voluminous High Bun

A big, textured bun sitting high on the crown feels a little bit ballet, a little bit rock and roll, and it works on nearly every hair type. Backcomb the crown first for lift, then loosely gather the length and pin. DIY cost is under $10 for a teasing comb. A salon version runs $50 to $75. It’s one of the most dance-floor-proof styles on this list, since volume actually helps it hold rather than hurt it, and it barely moves even hours in.

14. Middle Part With Soft Layers Down

If your hair already has natural texture or you have layers cut in, sometimes the move is doing almost nothing. A center part, a light run of a flat iron on the ends, and a spritz of shine spray is the whole routine. DIY cost is under $15 for a good shine spray like Moroccanoil. There’s really no salon equivalent to book here since it’s meant to look undone, which makes it the cheapest style on this entire list. It’s perfect for a laid-back backyard or vineyard wedding where you want to look pretty without looking like you tried too hard.

15. Low Twisted Half-Up With a Ribbon or Clip

Twist the top sections back low, just above the nape, and secure with a decorative clip instead of hidden pins. This is a fun way to add color or texture without touching your actual hairstyle much. DIY cost is around $12 to $20 for a nice clip from Etsy or Anthropologie. A salon version, which is really just styling plus the accessory, runs $45 to $60. It holds well and the clip actually helps keep loose pieces from escaping once you’re dancing, so it’s a smart pick if you tend to lose bobby pins by 9 p.m. like I always do.

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So which wedding guest hairstyle should you actually pick? If you’re on a budget and comfortable with a curling wand, the low bun, French braid crown or braided low bun will get you the most polish for the least money. If you’d rather hand it off to a professional, the blowout or curly updo are worth every dollar since they’re genuinely hard to nail at home. Either way, pack a couple extra bobby pins in your bag. You’ll thank yourself around song number six.