Tips for Perfect Wedding Hair: Do's and Don'ts

Written by Jen Kiaba Barry Monday, 26 July 2010 13:44

Have you gotten all of your hair scares out of your system? I certainly hope that I have, because a wedding is not the place to have leopard print/Bozo the Clown/scary 80's hair! Especially if it's your wedding that's in the works, the last thing you want is to have your hair be a source of stress on the big day.

It may seem like a small detail, but the wrong hairstyle can effect a lot of different aspects of your look and of how you feel on your special day!

For example: my high school senior photo shows me sporting an unfortunate orange head of hair. Not quite Bozo the Clown, but enough that I keep that yearbook hidden at the bottom of a box in the garage! Oh, and those bangs that I cut myself? Also tragic.

From bad Sun-In bleach jobs to DIY haircuts to helmet head, I've been there and done that. (Please don't judge!) But a little bit of planning can be just the ticket to get the perfect hair for your perfect day. I've complied a little list of Do's and Don'ts to help you plan ahead and avoid a wedding hair scare.

Do: Talk to your regular stylist about your upcoming nuptials several months in advance if you are interested in making any drastic changes to the color or cut for the wedding. She might even be able to recommend several styles for your hair type and face shape. If you're going for hair extensions, this will give you some time to get used to them.

Don't: Go to a brand new stylist the day of the wedding. I did this before a formal party once. The good news was that my hair did not frizz despite the humidity. The bad news: yup - that's where I got the helmet head!

Do: Ask your married friends where they got their hair done if you don't have a regular stylist. Ask to see your friend's wedding pictures. (They will be thrilled to show them to you and will likely give you good recommendations for who to go see.)

Don't: Choose a style that requires a ton of pins and spray to set. This will add weight to your head and will likely begin to pull at your roots. The last thing you want is a headache on the big day!

Do: Look for a style that is soft and less architectural. Leave the skyscraper of a hair-style to the models in the fashion magazines!

Don't: Pick a style just because it looks good in the fashion magazine. Instead, think about the flow of your wedding day and try to find a style that will fit into the overall mood (i.e. formal, relaxed, wild, etc.).

Do: Try out your hairstyle before the wedding. Wear it around for several hours and see if the style keeps, or if you will need to have a bridesmaid at the ready for some mid-wedding maintenance.

Don't: Worry! If you've planned ahead and end up with a bad cut or terrible color, there is time for a fix. Call up a trusted stylist and let them know what went wrong. He or she will be able to repair the damage given enough time before the wedding.

Do: Plan your style around your tiara and veil.

Don't: Color/highlight at home - unless you or a good friend have some serious skills in that area. A good friend of mine has her roommate do her hair a fiery red and it looks amazing. You would never guess that it comes from a box at the supermarket. But we aren't all always so lucky. In general, leave the color to the pros!

Do: remember that your hair should be your crowning glory - not a big headache! So plan ahead and you will be able to focus on the more important things on your big day!

Jen Kiaba is a photographer and burgeoning crafter who lives in Rhinebeck, NY with her lovely boyfriend, two crazy cats and an adorable basset hound. When her hands aren't covered in tacky glue, she specializes in taking romantic portraits of happy couples in the Hudson Valley!