This is all about deciding on the type of style you are looking for. Look through magazines and not just bridal ones. The glossy bridal shoots are often designed for the studio and are often impractical for an actual wedding. Talk to your hairdresser – they know you and your likes and will be able to suggest a style that would suit you. Also talk to them about a hair care regime. Planning makes perfect so this is number one of our wedding hair tips.

2. Basic Haircare

This comes down to using the right product for your hair type. Your stylist can advise you on a hair care regime which is suitable for your hair.Have regular cuts every 6 weeks with treatments. If you colour your hair it is important to use the right products – normally a colour-care shampoo and conditioner, plus a leave-in treatment. These help prevent colour fade and maintain the vibrancy and condition of your hair. I recommend you have your hair cut and coloured one week before the wedding to allow your hair to settle.

3. Which style?

The style ultimately depends on your personal preference, but you should also consider:

• Time of the ceremony: Day or evening?
• Is the ceremony inside or outside?
• How long do you need the style to last?

Some guidelines when choosing a style are:

• All Up: Very sturdy and will last all day and evening. Very glamorous and stylish. Suitable for both day and evening ceremonies.
• Half up/down: Still sturdy and should last all day and evening, depending on hair type. A romantic look. Very youthful. Normally a day style but transforms well to evening wear.
• All down: Not practicable for outdoor weddings as this style won’t last as long. A romantic and modern look, but normally considered more for the daytime than evenings.

Extra tip to our 10 wedding hair tips: If you have decided on an elegant upstyle then wash your hair the night before as most hairdressers prefer to work with slightly dirty hair on the day. Your own natural oils will help keep your hair shiny and smooth.

Some hairstyles can add inches to a bride’s height and shorter brides may choose to use this to their advantage.

4. Accessories

Some accessory suggestions:

• Tiaras: Available from most bridal shops and some hairdressers. Prices vary from $60.00 to $200.00.
• Silk flowers: Becoming very popular today. Good quality silk flowers look like fresh flowers. Can be found in department stores and  salons. Extra to our wedding hair tips: I have found markets to have the most creative and one-off designs from around $30.00.
• Real Flowers: Traditional and STILL look fantastic. Be careful to choose the correct flower. You want one that won’t wilt and isn’t too big for your head. Talk to your florist about the hardiness of flowers and discuss the types with your hairdresser at the trial. Prices vary between florists.

5. Salon, or mobile hairdresser?

This is your personal decision, and to be honest the quality of the work provided by either should not vary. Our key wedding hair tips for this are; Make sure you trial your hairdresser somewhere between 2-3 months before your wedding. This allows plenty of time should something not work at the trial.

Salon:

Advantage: Often you can get everyone done at once

Disadvantages: May be multiple stylists involved whose work may vary.  You still have to coordinate getting everyone to and from the salon.

Mobile hairdresser:

Advantage: They come to you so that you are not rushing around on the day.

Disadvantage: Might be only one hairdresser, so with a large wedding may mean an early start.

6. How to choose a Hairdresser

Talk to a couple of hairdressers and listen to what they have to say about your hair and what they would do with it. They should discuss your hair history, type of colours you’ve had in the past, type of cuts you have had and what you did or didn’t like about them, and generally get to know you and your tastes.

7. The Wedding Trial

The second highest of our wedding hair tips because at the trial you should talk about the dress and the image that you want.

Have any pictures which you have found, available to help your stylist with your design.

Have your head bridesmaids with you to give advice.

Costs will vary from hairdresser to hairdresser so make sure you get prices beforehand.

Extra tip to our 10 wedding hair tips: When trialling a hairdresser look for:

• The cleanliness of their equipment. If they are salon based this also means the salon. Tidy hairdressers do tidy work.
• How well organised the hairdresser is. Is the equipment laid out ready and arranged in an orderly manner and packed well in their bags.
• Are they interested in you and your wedding? Did they ask about the dress etc?
• Have they suggested hair styles for you? Did they give you advice on your hair, including styles and hair care, as well as cutting and colouring advice?
• Are they punctual? You need your stylist to be on time on your wedding day.

8. Who goes first on the day?

We always start with the bridesmaids and make sure that good communication is maintained to allow for changes in the hairstyles as we go. Then we do the bride’s mother and any other people which are booked in. The bride should be done last or as near to last as possible to make sure that she looks fresh. Last but not least the flower girls. Because of their age flower girls hair tends to be fine and wispy, and often does not hold styles well, plus they sometimes get impatient waiting for everyone else to be finished.

9. Pre-wedding cut / colour

Your pre-wedding cut should always be done by the hairdresser that will be doing your hair on the day of the wedding. This avoids any chance of the hairdresser having difficulties with the style on the day. If you have to have a different hairdresser cut your hair, make sure they show you how much they are taking off before they start cutting.

Any colour work should be done one to two weeks before the wedding. Style and colour changes aren’t recommended just before the wedding, and definitely not on the day.  Although it seems low on the list this is one of the most important wedding hair tips

10. On the day

You will need to keep to a schedule. Try to wash your hair the night before rather than on the day.

Allow approximately 40 minutes for hair styling per person. Making a schedule for people to work by will help.

The order that hair and makeup will be done will be as we described in number 8 of our wedding hair tips above.

Try to make sure that there are no errands outstanding. Interruptions can cause stylists to lose concentration and may cause your party to run behind schedule.

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