The Best Hairstyles for Every Wedding Dress Neckline

These flattering 'dos will take your bridal look to the next level.

Now that you've selected a wedding dress, it's time to turn your attention to your hair. The best course of action? Don't treat your dress and your bridal hairstyle like they're mutually exclusive. Instead, your hair (however you choose to wear it!) should work to complement and enhance your wedding dress. When the two are in sync, you'll feel like the best version of yourself—and you'll look it, too.

If you're someone who doesn't have a lot of hairstyle know-how (the majority of us!), it's difficult to know where to start, especially when it comes to putting together a cohesive look. We tapped experts for their insight into choosing that perfect style. Their top piece of advice? The easiest way to ensure that your bridal hair works in tandem with your wedding dress is to go by the neckline.

Here, we've rounded up several hairstyles that perfectly suit today's most popular necklines, including scoop, off-the-shoulder, and high neck. It's important to note that some necklines will give you more creative freedom than others. "Some dresses demand a certain hairstyle, others, like the strapless dress, do not," says Nunzio Saviano, owner of the eponymous salon in New York City. Ahead, discover the hairstyles that work best with your particular wedding dress—they just might change your entire vision of your bridal 'do.

Meet Our Expert

• Nunzio Saviano, owner of the eponymous salon in New York City

• Temur Hamilton, professional hair stylist

Related: 9 Wedding Dress Trends for 2024, From Corsets to Dramatic Trains

Strapless: Hair Down

A strapless neckline offers the ability to choose just about any bridal hairstyle. "This neckline is a green light for anything. It's just about what is going to look best on you. I prefer the hair down, but wearing it up can look really beautiful, too," says Saviano.

Strapless: Sleek

Case in point? This sleek, pulled-back hairstyle keeps a jewel-encrusted headpiece from looking too over-the-top.

Strapless: Loosely Braided

For Temur Hamilton, a strapless dress is all about flaunting your shoulders. This textural fishtail braid keeps hair swept back and out of the way without feeling like an updo.

Strapless: High Bun

This ballerina-inspired topknot gets the romantic treatment, thanks to subtle volume at the crown—and it looks even lovelier when paired with a strapless sweetheart neckline.

Strapless: Half-Up, Half-Down with Braid

A half-up, half-down style will keep your hair both out of your face and show off your gown's neckline. Dress up the signature style with a braid and sprigs of baby's breath.

Boat Neck: All Up

The boat neck, also known as a bateau neck, is best paired with an updo, says Saviano. "When your hair is down, it can almost make the dress look narrow, and when it is open like this, it will really look beautiful when the hair is up," she says. We agree. The horizontal neckline—meant to show off your neck, collarbone, and shoulder points—begs for hair to be kept up and away.

Boat Neck: Off the Shoulders

Hamilton also recommended keeping hair off the shoulders for this particular neckline. "Wearing too much hair down with this look isn't flattering—you aren't able to see everything you want to show off," he says. A voluminous style, like this bride's natural curls, flaunts the neckline beautifully.

Boat Neck: Side Bun

Balance out a low side bun with a lacy hair accessory (that doesn't distract from your collarbones!) on the other side.

Related: 24 Low Bun Wedding Hair Ideas for Your Big Day

Boat Neck: Sleek Pony

Make like this bride and pair an illusion bateau neckline with a sleek ponytail. Pro tip: Wrap a one-inch strand around the hair for a more polished look.

Boat Neck: Low Bun

Keeping your hair up and away doesn't have to mean piled on top of your head. This bride's low bun, complete with a romantic twist, is the perfect way to highlight a boat neck—without taking hair to new heights.

Off-the-Shoulder: Side-Swept

A side-swept style like this one feels impossibly romantic, especially with cascading curls. "Off-the-shoulder is such a romantic neckline, so you want to keep the hair very soft," says Hamilton. "What's great about that is that you can keep it straight and sleek or soften it up with some waves or curls. It depends on the bride!"

Off-the-Shoulder: Piecey Updo

Since this neckline is all about soft beauty, you'll want to keep things piecey. "Pulling out a few pieces of hair at the front would be the perfect pair to this dress style," Hamilton says. We love how this bride did just that by leaving a few tendrils out of her sleek fishtail braid.

Off-the-Shoulder: Floral Accessory

Take notes from this bride, who pinned back her curls with an ethereal fresh floral headpiece. It perfectly matches her gauzy off-the-shoulder sleeves.

Off-the-Shoulder: Loose Half-Up, Half-Down

For brides with longer hair who don't want to go completely up for an off-the-shoulder look, a loose, half-up, half-down style is a perfectly romantic option for this bridal neckline.

Related: 37 Half-Up, Half-Down Wedding Hairstyles We Love

Off-the-Shoulder: Braided Updo

A subtle braid adds structure to an updo, while floating curls bring that softness Hamilton loves for this wedding dress style.

Off-the-Shoulder: Half-Up, Half-Down with Flower Crown

Any half-up, half-down hairstyle suits this wedding dress neckline, but one topped with a flower crown feels like an especially appropriate pairing.

Dramatic Back: Side-Swept Waves with Braid

If you're rocking a wedding dress with an open back, be sure to keep your hair away from the drama. "It's open for a reason," Saviano says. If you want to wear your hair down, consider pulling it to one side—letting it hang in front—and elevating the look with a braid.

Dramatic Back: Chic Bun

For Hamilton, wearing a wedding dress with an open back requires an updo. "There are so many ways you can go, but a chic bun or pony at any length would work perfectly," he says.

Dramatic back: Under-Braid

Saviano has just one rule when it comes to this style: "The hair can't go over the fabric." If your wedding dress's back isn't entirely open—but is mostly bare—this is especially true. For a more modern look, opt for an under-braid style, which keeps hair pulled up.

Dramatic Back: Victorian Ponytail

A cross between a braid and a ponytail, this loose, soft style stops long hair from tumbling straight down your back.

Related: 34 Wedding-Worthy Ponytails to Complete Your Bridal Beauty Look

Dramatic Back: Fishtail Updo

For open-back wedding dresses with intricate details, like lace, beading, or stitching, Saviano also recommends an equally intricate updo. This fishtail style definitely fits the bill.

V-Neck: Side-Swept

For the bride who doesn't want to commit to an updo, this side-swept, voluminous style is the perfect compromise. "For this wedding dress style, hair should be softly pulled back to show off the gorgeous V-neck on that special day," says Hamilton. "It doesn't need to be all up, but ensuring that the hair doesn't cover the neckline is essential."

V-Neck: Half-Up, Half-Down

When your curls are this pretty, you're just as obligated to show them off as you are to enhance your gown's neckline. Pull your hair into a half-pony, and be sure to let several pieces free to frame your face.

V-Neck: Sophisticated Bun

For this bride, a sophisticated, upswept bun with loose, face-framing tendrils is the perfect complement to the plunging v-neck neckline of her gown.

V-Neck: Milk Maid Braid

A milkmaid braid brings a bohemian feel to a classic neckline.

Related: 65 Simple Wedding Hairstyles That Prove Less Is More

V-Neck: Side Braid

For thick-haired brides, a side braid ensures that your locks will remain off your décolletage without looking harsh or pulled back.

V-Neck: Side Bun

A side bun works similarly but is a better option for the bride who wants her hair entirely off the collarbone.

High Neck: Side-Part Updo

"A high-neck wedding dress should be paired with pulled-back hair to show off the neckline," says Hamilton. By keeping your hair away, like with this updo with a deep side part, you'll keep all eyes on the fabric's pretty details.

High Neck: Wrapped Ponytail

Another way to keep the focus on the vintage-style neckline? A sleek ponytail.

High Neck: Center Braid

This fashion-forward, modern style is sleek on the sides but voluminous up top. It's definitely flashy, but won't detract from or overwhelm a high-neck dress.

High Neck: Center Part with Headband

We love how this bride matched the laser-cut shapes on her wedding dress to the crystals in her headband.

High Neck: Braid-Wrapped Updo

A braided updo only enhances this bride's lacy, high neck look.

Related: The Best Wedding Hairstyles for Round Faces

Scoop: Half-Up, Half-Down with Bangs

Hamilton's go-to hairstyle for scoop-neck wedding dresses is a half-up, half-down variation (we love how this beauty wore it with bangs!). "This way, you can flaunt the neckline when you need to or push a few pieces into the front, too," he says.

Scoop: Faux Bob

If your scoop-neck wedding dress errs on the vintage side, a curly faux-bob—and a bold cat-eye—is an on-theme choice.

Scoop: Side-Swept with Twists

This bohemian wedding dress calls for a loose, twisted look. We'd add baby's breath or small buds for a free-spirited touch.

Scoop: Sleek Chignon with Veil

Pair a traditional chignon with a short veil to keep the classic vibes coming—a sleek center part will keep the look from feeling dated. Just be sure to arrange your veil behind your shoulders so it doesn't interrupt the flow of the scoop neckline.

Scoop: Cascading Updo

This style pushes curls towards one side of the head and away from the feminine neckline just inches below.

Read the original article on Martha Stewart.