Wedding Updo Styles Ranked From Cheapest to Expensive

Wedding updos are one of the timeless chic when it comes to choosing bridal hairstyles. And I’ve sat in more bridal suites than I can count over the years, and the question I get asked more than any other is simple- how much more am I going to pay for the fancy braid versus the plain low bun? So today I’m ranking eight bridal hair updo options from the cheapest wedding updo you can pull off yourself to the priciest full glam package, with real dollar amounts attached and a note on who each style actually works for.

1. The DIY Twisted Bun

Cost: Free. If your hair falls past your shoulders, a simple twisted low bun is the easiest wedding updo to do yourself, and it costs you exactly nothing but bobby pins and a can of dry shampoo. This works great on long, straight or slightly wavy hair since it holds its shape without much prep. Curly and coily hair can absolutely wear this too, just add a few extra pins around the crown. My best advice is to practice this look twice before your wedding day, not once. A rushed DIY updo reads rushed in photos. Grab a set of pearl pins from somewhere like Lelet NY or even Amazon for under $20 and it instantly looks bridal instead of just pulled back. Pair it with a fingertip veil, since a low bun gives you a nice secure base to pin one into.

2. The Salon Blowout Pinned Back

Cost: $35 to $50. Sometimes you just need someone else’s hands on your hair. A basic blowout pinned into a loose low updo is the cheapest professional option out there, and most regular local salons, not bridal specialists, will do it for $35 to $50. This is the move if your hair is fine or thin, since a blowout adds the volume a DIY twist just can’t. It won’t hold up through a humid outdoor ceremony quite as well as a style with more pins and product, so ask your stylist to go heavy on the hairspray if you’re getting married outside in July. I paid close to this for my own trial back in 2008, and honestly, it held up fine through six hours of dancing.

3. The Classic Low Chignon

Cost: $75 to $100. This is the wedding updo hairstyle almost every bridal magazine photographs, and for good reason. A low chignon works on medium and long hair, sits low enough for a veil to tuck in perfectly underneath, and photographs beautifully from every angle. Most bridal hairstylists charge a flat $75 to $100 for this look regardless of texture, and it’s easily one of the most requested wedding updos for medium hair. My honest opinion is that this one is worth hiring out. A chignon needs even tension throughout or it looks lopsided by hour three, and that’s hard to fix on yourself in a mirror. If you want it dressed up, ask for a few loose face-framing pieces instead of a fully slicked back finish.

4. The Half-Up Half-Down Updo

Cost: $75 to $90. It’s technically a hybrid, but I’m including it because so many brides search for this thinking it’ll be cheaper than a full updo, and it usually isn’t by much. Expect to pay close to that same $75 to $90 as a chignon, since the crown section still needs to be sectioned, curled and pinned with precision. This is one of the prettiest wedding upstyles for brides who don’t want their whole face pulled back or who feel a little self-conscious about their ears showing. Short hair brides, this one is trickier since you need enough length to actually pull the top section up and pin it. If your hair sits above your shoulders, ask your stylist if this is realistic before you fall in love with a Pinterest photo.

5. The Braided Updo

Cost: $100 to $125. Braids add time, and time is exactly what you’re paying for here. A textured braided updo, whether it’s a fishtail wrapped into a low bun or a halo braid crowning a topknot, usually runs $100 to $125 because your stylist is doing two techniques instead of one. This is a gorgeous option for a loose updo wedding look at a barn or outdoor venue, and it holds up well through dancing since braids are naturally more secure than a smooth twist. If you have thick or coarse hair, mention it during your consultation, since braiding takes longer on denser hair and some stylists price braided styles a bit higher because of it.

6. The High Volume Topknot

Cost: $110 to $140. The high updo is having a real moment right now, that piled-up-on-top look with soft pieces framing the face. It typically costs more than a low bun, somewhere around $110 to $140, because getting real height and keeping it from collapsing by the reception takes backcombing, extra pins, and often a small topper piece underneath for structure. This style works best on medium to long hair and honestly looks incredible with a birdcage veil or no veil at all. If your hair is on the thinner side, ask your stylist about a small volumizing piece rather than teasing your natural hair within an inch of its life.

7. The Updo With Clip-In Extensions

Cost: $175 to $250. If you love the look of a big, dramatic updo but your natural hair is fine, short, or just not that long, clip-in extensions are how you get there, and they add real cost. Expect $175 to $250 total once you factor in the extensions themselves (Sally Beauty and Bellami both sell decent clip-in sets starting around $60) plus the extra styling time. This is also the go-to fix for brides wanting a fuller wedding updo with a veil, since more hair gives the veil comb more to grip onto securely. My advice here is to buy your own extensions ahead of time and bring them to your trial so your stylist can color match and trim them, not the morning of your wedding.

8. The Full Glam Package With Trial and Travel

Cost: $250 to $400 and up. This sits at the top of the ranking, and it’s less about the updo itself and more about everything wrapped around it. A trial run alone averages $75 to $150, and if your stylist travels to your venue or hotel, add another $50 to $150 travel fee on top of the actual updo cost. Some bridal beauty teams bundle this as one package, usually $250 to $400 for trial, travel and day-of styling combined. Is it worth it? If you have a large wedding party and want one team handling everyone’s hair on a tight morning timeline, yes. If it’s just you getting ready, I’d put that extra money toward the chignon or braided updo instead and save the rest for your honeymoon.

---

No matter which wedding updo hairstyle you land on, book your trial at least a month out and bring an actual photo, not just a vague idea in your head. Your stylist can only work with what you show them.