Bridal Trends for 2026: Soft Curls with Subtle Accents

Bridal trials are underway for the spring/summer 2026 wedding season! Caralee Pridemore, Sam Villa Ambassador and Founder of @sweetlypinnedbycaralee, an on-location wedding hair and updo specialist, schedules her trials 3-4 months before the special day and this year her brides are asking for soft polished curls with subtle accents…mostly worn down or only half up. Spring Bridal Trends Soft blowouts with curls worn down Half up half down styles with an inverted ponytail Soft polished curls with two twists pinned back “Brides this season are going for more casual, less structured styles with hair being worn down or just half up, but they all have tons of beautiful soft sculpted texture to elevate the look,” explains Pridemore. She also says that most want exaggerated length and volume, so extensions are usually incorporated as well. Whether styling hair to be worn down or half up, Pridemore gives the following on how to create highly polished soft texture worthy of a wedding day. Polished Soft Bridal Curls Section hair at the nape and add extensions row by row leading up to the crown to create fullness and add length. Prep hair using a Sam Villa Texture Professional Textur Iron all over to expand volume. If hair is curly or there are signs of frizz, hair should be pre-straightened. Apply a smoothing cream to reduce frizz and add shine, and then use a Sam Villa Artist Series 2-in-1 Marcel Iron & Wand 1.5” with the Marcel attachment to …