After styling hair for hundreds of weddings over the past 17 years, here are my top 10 tips to follow leading up to your hair appointment with my team and I.
1. I will die on this hill : WASH YOUR HAIR THE NIGHT BEFORE
Skip heavy conditioning masks and smoothing treatments right before the big day as well. We have product to make the hair “dirty” and create grit.
** Oily hair is NOT better and will actually make it a lot harder to create a style. Grease is heavy and makes the hair lie flat against the head. To be real honest, it also smells really gross the minute a hot tool hits it and makes it steam.
** Hair loaded with hairspray and other products. Yes, one mom just did this. She said she brushed through it and thought that it would style better because it is already “gritty.”
Want to know what she ended up with?
Crunchy curls because the minute the curling iron wrapped that hair, those products all melted and the curls were not brush-able.
We layer our products according to each hair type, in a specific order. When you come in with random sticky products already loaded in your hair, it’s like asking us to bake a cake after someone else has already dumped a bunch of random ingredients into the bowl.
So please, trust us on this one: clean, product-free hair is the best starting point for your wedding hair. We promise we have the grit covered.
2.Pick The Right Hairstylist
If your ride-or-die stylist loathes updos (and many do!), do not try to convince them they should still do it.
Trust me—this was a very awkward situation for one bride who came to me (only weeks before her wedding!) after finding this out the hard way. Luckily, her hair stylist was on board and encouraged her, after several unsuccessful attempts at creating an undo, to find a bridal hair stylist.
A bridal hair specialist spends every free waking hour obsessing over and perfecting bridal hair looks.
3. Schedule A Hair Trial
We recommend scheduling your hair trial within 3 months of the wedding. Bring inspiration photos (of hair that is a similar colour to your own) as well as your hair accessories/veil.
Coming in from out of town? Don’t worry. That’s about 75% of our brides. You have options! We can work around your travel plans and line one up for when you’re in town for other wedding business OR we can do it within the week of your wedding. We’ve even been known to do wedding hair trials the day before the wedding! We change it slightly and voila, you have beautiful hair for your rehearsal :)
All-in-all, going into the wedding morning know exactly how your hair will turn out makes for a stress free experience.
4. Consider Hair Extensions
Aside from the fact that we are now being bombarded with Ai bridal hair photos, here’s something to note; Those full, gorgeous styles? They all have extensions. And here is why we recommend them:
they boost volume and body
they hold a curl 10x better than your own hair
and of course, the most obvious one, they add beautiful length = fullness in the ends of the hair making the overall style look rich and luscious.
Here is a link to the ones we love the most. The seamless clip-in extensions by Bombay Hair are incredibly affordable and of the highest quality. You’ll love them, I promise!
https://bombayhair.com/?rfsn=9331542.e40cc2
Use the code:
TMBRIDAL15 for $15 off hair extensions (excludes final sale / ponytail)
TMBRIDAL50 for 50% off hair styling tools (excludes final sale/open box)
5.Wear a Button Down or Loose Fitting Shirt While Getting Ready
Put on a zip-up or button-down shirt, or a robe, for your hair and makeup appointment so you do not mess up your hair when changing into your dress. Please note: Silk robes do unfortunately create static in the hair.
6.Get a Trim 2 - 4 Weeks Before The Wedding Day
You know what a flat iron can’t hide? Fried ends. I said it. I’m sorry, but styled damage is still damage. 😂
Even in an updo, those dry, split ends can still peek through and make the finished style look less polished. Healthy hair simply styles better and gives us a much more beautiful result.
So if your ends are feeling a little crispy, start babying those locks now: deep condition, use good products, minimize heat damage, and get regular trims. Even a little “dusting” of the ends is better than hanging onto those split ends.
One important note: don’t do a brand-new mask, deep conditioning treatment or smoothing treatment the night before your wedding. Your hair can be left too soft, slippery or coated, which can actually make styling more difficult. Aim for about a week before instead.
7. Pack An Emergency Kit (the ultimate wedding morning emergency kit list below):
- eyelash glue (use it to glue the clasp of the necklace to the back of the neck)
- tide-to-go pen Amazon Link Here
- anti-chafe stick This is the best one: Body Glide
- lipstick or lip gloss for touch ups (sometimes your makeup artist will provide this)
- blotting papers These ones from Sephora are amazing!
- double sided fashion tape (for easy hemming and hiding bra straps) Amazon Link Here
- tissues
- Advil or Tylenol
- band-aids (super handy for blisters!)
- safety pins
- needle and thread (I have sewn straps back on!)
- mints
- deodorant
- phone charger
8. Your Veil Should Have a Metal Comb
And here’s why! The plastic ones are wide, are hard to put into the hair and even harder to take back out. The metal ones glide in easily, accept bobby pins for extra grip and are easy to slide on out when you want to remove the veil without wrecking your bridal hair. This is key!
Another option is to ask the bridal shop or your seamstress to sew on loops instead of a comb. This is great for under the bun veil placement.
9. Limit the Peanut Gallery
Asking your 10 bridesmaids for their opinion will get you 10 different answers, plus maybe a fight about curtain bangs.
One or two trusted voices = less stress.
10. Stay True To Yourself
Ignore the trends. You want to look back on your wedding photos and love the hairstyle you chose because it felt true to your personal style, not because it was trending at the time.
Secondly, repeat after me: This is not the time for a drastic dye job. Brunettes—please don’t try to go blonde a week before your wedding. Go brave and bold, if you have a hankering, AFTER the wedding.
PRO COLOUR TIP: The most flattering hair colour, if you’re looking for change, according to celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan, is to return to your childhood hair (like 2-4 years old) colour for a natural, youthful look that harmonizes with your features.
