Welcome to the ultimate French girl hair tutorial featuring a dreamy look inspired by the iconic Brigitte Bardot half up half down hairstyle!
There’s a timeless quality about the feminine beauty of Brigitte Bardot. Her signature look always feels soft, romantic, and just slightly undone in the most effortless way. One of my favorite looks of hers is from Viva Maria! – the renowned white shirt outfit paired with her voluminous half-up half-down hairstyle tied with a bow. It’s the perfect balance of casual and glamorous, and it feels just as beautiful today as it did then.
I recently recreated this look to include both the hair and outfit! I’ve also included a short video tutorial below for your viewing pleasure 😉
Read on to see how to do Brigitte Bardot hair in an easy and effortless way!
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Brigitte Bardot Hair Tutorial: Romantic Half-Up Half-Down Hairstyle
✨ What Makes Brigitte Bardot Hair So Iconic?
Brigitte Bardot’s hairstyles are instantly recognizable because of their volume, softness, and effortless texture.
Her signature look typically includes:
- Soft, voluminous crown
- Slightly tousled texture
- Face-framing pieces
- A relaxed, undone finish
- Feminine details like bows or ribbons
The beauty of her look is that it never feels overly styled – it’s relaxed, romantic, and naturally glamorous. It’s definitely one of my all-time favorite feminine hairstyles and one of the best vintage inspired hairstyles for women!
🎥 Brigitte Bardot Hair Tutorial (Video)
This quick tutorial shows exactly how I achieved this soft, romantic hairstyle step-by-step along with the outfit details!
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💕 How to Recreate the Brigitte Bardot Half-Up Hairstyle
This hairstyle is surprisingly simple once you understand the key elements. Here are 5 simples steps for this iconic Brigitte Bardot hair tutorial:
Step 1: Start with Soft Texture
Bardot’s hair always has a bit of movement. If your hair is freshly washed, you can add:
- Light waves with a curling iron
- Texturizing spray or dry shampoo
This helps create that soft, airy volume. I added clip-in hair extensions for extra volume and curled my hair with a 1 1/4 inch curling iron for soft waves!
Note: Brigitte Bardot hair wouldn’t be complete without her famous curtain bangs. While it’s not necessary for this hairstyle, feel free to add a clip-in curtain bang if you want a more authentic look (unless you already have bangs like me!).
Step 2: Create Volume at the Crown
This is one of the most important steps in this vintage hairstyle tutorial! Gently tease the crown section of your hair to create that legendary 1960s lift. You can lightly smooth over the top so it still looks soft and natural.
Step 3: Section the Top Half
Take a section from both sides of your head (around the temples) and bring it toward the back. Keep it slightly loose – you don’t want it pulled too tight.
Step 4: Secure and Soften
Secure the section with a small hair tie or clip. Then gently pull at the crown and sides to create that effortless, slightly undone look. If you already have Brigitte Bardot bangs, gently part them off center and spritz with hairspray.
Step 5: Add a Feminine Bow 🎀
To really get that feminine Bardot look, finish off the look with a bow! This is what gives it that romantic, vintage charm.
You can choose:
- Satin bows for a polished look
- Velvet bows for a softer, cozier feel
- Neutral tones for everyday wear
- Soft pastels for a more feminine aesthetic
For this Brigitte Bardot hair tutorial, I wanted to get as close as I could to the original look so I chose an oversized black satin bow.
💫 Tips for Getting That Effortless Bardot Look
If you want your hairstyle to feel authentic, focus on these details:
- Don’t over-style (softness is key!)
- Leave a few strands loose around your face
- Avoid making it too “perfect”
- Embrace a little volume and texture
- Keep the finish light and airy
The goal is to look like you just naturally have beautiful, voluminous hair (I definitely don’t but I like to pretend haha!).
🌸 Styling the Full Brigitte Bardot Look
To fully capture the essence of this look from Viva Maria, I styled this romantic half up hairstyle with bow with a simple, feminine outfit inspired by the original:
- Crisp white long-sleeve shirt with pin-tucking
- Thin black polka dot ribbon or scarf tie in a bow (attached at the neck)
- Black mini skirt (the original has a black belt and blue maxi skirt)
- Soft, natural makeup
- Large black hair bow
The beauty of this Brigitte Bardot outfit is in its simplicity – it feels effortless, yet still incredibly chic.
🌷 How to Make This Bardot Hairstyle Feel Modern
While Brigitte Bardot’s style is vintage, it translates beautifully into modern fashion. One of the reasons this look is so popular is because it’s incredibly versatile.
You can wear this hairstyle:
- Casually with everyday outfits
- For brunch or café dates
- For special occasions
- For holidays with a velvet bow
- With dresses for a romantic, feminine aesthetic
You can make it feel current by:
- Pairing it with soft, feminine dresses
- Styling it with minimal, glowy makeup
- Choosing neutral or pastel coquette bows
- Keeping the overall look light and natural
It’s a style that works year-round and always feels elegant.
Photos taken by Josh Off the Clock
Outfit Details
White Chillinen Shirt c/o (Use LIZZIEINLACE for 15% off!) | Black Mini Skirt (similar) | Black Polka Dot Tie (similar) | Vintage Camera (similar) | QueenMee Black Satin Bow (Use LIZZIE10 for 10% off!) | Luxy Hair Extensions (Use LIZZIEINLACE10 for 10% off!)| Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick
🌷 10 Romantic Hairstyles Inspired by Brigitte Bardot
If you love this look, here are more feminine, vintage-inspired hairstyles that capture that same romantic energy:
- Classic Bardot half-up with a velvet bow
- Loose voluminous waves with a center part
- Messy low bun with face-framing pieces
- Half-up hairstyle with a satin ribbon
- Soft teased ponytail with volume at the crown
- Loose braid with soft, undone texture
- Romantic updo with wispy tendrils
- Curtain bangs with tousled waves
- Low ponytail tied with a feminine bow
- Soft blowout with lifted crown volume
These romantic hairstyles all share that same effortless, feminine, slightly undone aesthetic that makes Bardot’s beauty so timeless! Not ready to let your curls out just yet? Protecting styled layers with a silk bonnet overnight is key to great second day hair!
🌸 Final Thoughts: Channeling Effortless French Romance
Brigitte Bardot’s beauty is a reminder that effortless, romantic styling never goes out of fashion. This half up hairstyle with bow is such a simple way to add a touch of vintage femininity to your everyday look – whether you’re dressing up for something special or just romanticizing your daily routine. Sometimes all it takes is a little volume, a soft wave, and a bow to create something truly beautiful.
What do you think of this vintage inspired hair tutorial?
Would you you try out this Brigitte Bardot hair style for yourself? Let me know below!
xo
