The Right Wedding Hairstyle: Finding “The One”

Sue Walsh on April 25th, 2008

Getting married this summer? If a walk down the aisle is in your immediate future you no doubt have a lot of decisions to make. I know that in grand scheme of things booking the right venue for the reception and landing a good caterer is more important than your hair, but as a former hairstylist I’ve seen many a bride leave the decision of their wedding hairstyle to the last minute and regret it. Here are some tips to ensure that your hair looks picture perfect on your big day.Go on a Wedding Hairstyle Hunt

You can’t make an informed decision unless you know your options. Get a feel for what hairstyles are “in” as well as a good sampling of the classics. Buy magazines and cut out pictures of hairstyles that catch your eye and keep them in a large envelope. You’ll want to save these for the consultation with your stylist.

Be Realistic

Yes, we’d all love to have a crown of thick, lustrous hair on our wedding day but if your hair is fine and barely touches your shoulders you’re going to have to reign that hair fantasy in a bit. Gravitate towards wedding hairstyles that mimic your hair’s length and texture as much as possible. Yes, your hairstylist does have a few tricks up her sleeve, but a magic wand isn’t one of them.

Suit Yourself

When choosing your wedding hairstyle don’t try and defy nature. Work with what you’ve got and enhance your hair’s natural texture instead of trying to camouflage it. If you have naturally curly hair incorporate that into your hairstyle. Those with thick hair shouldn’t try to stuff it all into a small bun. Also keep in mind your face shape when choosing your wedding hairstyle. Look for styles that will flatter your face and show off your best features.

Be You—Only Better

You’ve probably heard this before but walking down the aisle looking like a total stranger isn’t the definition of a blushing bride. Of course you want to look a little different than usual on your wedding day but don’t go so overboard that even your groom wouldn’t recognize you. To avoid straying too far from your natural style give some thought to how you wear your hair everyday and find dressed up versions of that style. Do you wear your hair in a ponytail a lot? Try wearing a sleek chignon for your wedding hairstyle. Do you always wear your hair down? Try having it set into big, soft curls and only pin up the sides. This way you’ll still recognize yourself in the wedding photos.

Have a Trial and Avoid Wedding Day Errors

One of the biggest faux pas you can commit is to book your wedding hairstyle appointment without first having a consultation. Even if you’ve been going to the same hairstylist for years and she knows your hair like the back of her tail comb you still need to sit down and discuss your big day. Book an appointment for one and a half to two months prior to your wedding day and bring those pictures you’ve been collecting. Discuss the styles you want, ask for suggestions and input and have your stylist do a rough trial run to give you an idea of what the style will look like on you. Now is also the time to discuss hair coloring and cuts. You don’t want to have too fresh of a cut for your wedding day and you need to leave some time between your color and your big day (just in case something goes wrong!). Don’t leave until you’re confident your stylist and you see eye to eye on your wedding hairstyle so there are no disastrous surprises on your wedding day.

So there you have it—lots of planning and a little dose if “hairstyle reality” and you’ll be able to choose the perfect wedding hairstyle for you. Do you have any wedding hairstyle horror stories? While it probably wasn’t funny at the time, if you’ve got one that you think will make us chuckle please feel free to share.

Submitted by: Cindy