How to Style Your Own Bridal ‘Do
While hiring a hairstylist is always recommended for the best wedding day hair, some of you will probably go it alone. Whether for budget reasons, a destination wedding, or simply because you don’t trust anyone else with your ‘do, here’s a few tips to keep your hair in top shape.
“Do a practice version and wear it for as many hours as the reception,” advises hairstylist Hillary Bell of 7 Salon in Miami Beach. “If the wedding is going to be outside, you need to know how the weather handles it.”
Bell reminds her clients that, if they’re not hiring someone for the big day, stay in your comfort zone. “You’re going to have a limited amount of time to get it right,” she says. “There’s a reason sculpted looks are done by professionals, so don’t go overboard with detail.”
If you have a great hairstylist, feel free to ask her advice. You can get tips on products that are good for the location, climate, time of day, and duration of the wedding. One thing that bride’s often forget when planning a style is their wedding day outfit, including neckline and jewelry.
“If you’re wearing family heirlooms and keep your hair down, you might never see the jewels in photographs,” says Bell. “Height is important too. If you wear an updo, you might look taller than your groom in photos.”
Bell recommends getting your hair done a couple of hours before the photos, to give yourself time to relax. Also, if the bridesmaids are doing their own hair, it’s important to make sure there are enough outlets, and tools, to share. “Make sure the girls have enough time,” says Bell. “You need to think about chairs and tables. Also, the more bobby pins, rubber bands, and hairspray the better.”
Finally, Bell says that if you are going to do your own hair, check out non-wedding photographs, so you can see looks that are not done with extensive help. Says Bell, “Get pictures of real hair that someone might have actually done by themselves, with no stylist at all.”
-David Toussaint
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