The dos and dont’s of bridal hair

Love, love, love doing hair! Fashion editorial hair, hair for portraits, quick change on a friend’s mane but bridal hair holds a special place in my heart. People ask me why is this my favorite type of hair to do and my answer is always the same: it’s the most challenging and most rewarding.

After the getting ready process is over the hair will have to withstand the effects of time, dancing and all the activities involved in a wedding for about 8 hours and it’ll be photographed and filmed from all angles typically without touch ups or changes.
If you are a future bride, here are some useful tips on how to achieve perfect hair for your wedding and to my fellow hair stylists some words on how to deliver beautiful bridal hair every time you are booked on this assignment.

BRIDES

• Do bring lots of pictures on your trial day.  Hair and makeup artists are visual people and a half up and half down can be done in different versions so make sure you bring a picture of what version you want.

• Do start a deep conditioning regime at least 8 weeks prior to your event if you have prone to frizz hair. The ideal way to do this is to use a deep conditioning cream or oil on your hair, cover with a shower cap and sit under a dryer for 10 mins. Since not everyone has a dryer in their homes I suggest that you cover with a shower cap and leave for 20 to 30 mins while you do some house hold shores, make sure your fiance is out because you want him to continue believing that you are naturally gorgeous.  Girl, the shower cap look would ruin it for you!

• Do some good research prior to meeting with your stylist for your trial. Don’t expect your stylist to read your mind, as professionals we can make suggestions based on your hair length and texture, also your gown and wedding vibe however you should know what you want, extreme indecisiveness will only frustrate you and your stylist throughout the process. A hair trial should last from  1 & 1/2  to 2hrs maximum not 3 or 4 hrs. So have a pretty clear idea of what you want prior to booking your hair trial.

• Do ask your hair and makeup artist team for their day rates or if they offer a package that include touch ups or change of looks. The way this work is you’ll have your hair and makeup artist staying at your hotel room past their schedule completion time to provide quick touch ups for you and your attendants or perform a complete look change on your hair and makeup for your reception. Be prepared to pay a considerable hourly rate for this service but they are well worth it if you want to feel and look like a celebrity on your wedding day.

• Do make sure to purchase a hair accessory, either a crystal pin or a flower to decorate your hair. They add a beautiful accent to your style specially if you are removing your veil for the reception portion or your wedding.

HAIR STYLIST

• Don’t be afraid of being honest with your clients.  If they bring a picture of long cascading curls and they only have above the shoulder hair (trust me people, this happens!), be firm and say that the hair style will require extensions. If you’re not experienced in working with extensions, make sure to refer your client to a friend stylist that you know does a good job with them and you’ll assume just the styling portion on her wedding day. Don’t commit to something you know won’t work. If you say yes to everything that comes your way knowing that the task is impossible you’ll end up with a frustrated client and a bad reputation to boot.

• Don’t show bobbi pins, it’s not flattering at all to look at a style that shows pins, it’s even worse when the pins are a different color from the client’s hair.

• Don’t use hair sprays and hair gels that give that 80’s look. I seriously don’t understand how some stylists still use these products and create styles that look like their clients are going to their prom, not their wedding.

So what do you do to keep your hair in tip top shape? Do you have a do or don’t to add to my list? Can’t wait to hear from you!