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Copyright ©2012 Michelle Houser www.diydreamwedding.com

How to Have Perfect Hair on Your

Special Day By

Michelle Houser

The Legal Stuff

How to Have Perfect Hair on Your Special Day is one of three elements within the

D0-it-Yourself Dream Wedding eBook set. As such it is copyrighted by Michelle Houser.

No portion of this bonus e-Book may be reprinted or reproduced in any way without the

author’s express written permission.


© 2012 Michelle Houser. All rights reserved. Duplicating, reprinting, or distributing

this material without the express written consent of the author is prohibited.


The Basics

Since your wedding day is supposed to be the best day of your life it’s only natural to

want to look the best that you possibly can. So here are some tips creating the perfect

ensemble of dress and hair.

Some wedding hairstyles are just plain incompatible with certain styles of wedding

gowns. It's important to strike a balance between the dress you're wearing and your

wedding hairstyle for an ultimately beautiful, overall look.

And since you will likely select your gown before choosing a 'do, your wedding

hairstyle should be carefully selected to mesh with the style and cut of the dress you've

chosen. While this might seem like common sense, it can be hard to be objective when

you fall in love with a hairstyle that just doesn't quite suit your gown.

Remember your wedding day will be well documented by your photographer or

videographer, and you simply don't want to look back at your pictures and say to

yourself…

"What was I thinking?!"

Here’s what I’ve learned from my own experience, the experts, and my friends who

have walked down the aisle recently.

Choose your hairstyle before you choose your head dress or your veil. When

you have chosen a head dress or veil to match your hairstyle try it on, and

accept the comments made by your bridesmaids, or family members.

Make sure that you or your hairdresser is happy and comfortable with the

arrangement. A few practices will show up any flaws in your plans and get

everyone at ease for the big day.

Don't be limited by your “everyday hair.” By adding hair extensions or a hair

piece you can add volume and length and completely change your look. The

beauty of a one off hair style is that you can go to much more effort than

would if you had to do it every day.


Also think about your wedding dress and try to match its style. The degree of

formality of your dress should be matched by your hairstyle.

Nurture your hair months before the wedding. You should already be doing

this anyway, right? But if your hair care is less than rigorous, and it’s in poor

condition, then you need about 6 months to bring it to the condition you want

on “your big day.”

The style you select should not be too bold or modern unless you really want

that look. Selecting a tried and true, yet contemporary, style means you won't

have to worry about looking foolish.

Make sure that you’ve used all the products that you are going to use on the

day of your wedding long beforehand. You don’t want to have an (usually

unsightly) allergic reaction to any of your hair care products.

Don't wash your hair on the day of your wedding or the night before. You hair

is better when it's settled down. I recommended, and so do the experts, that

you wash it at least 24 hours before the time of the wedding, but no closer to

the wedding than that.

Make Any Head of Hair Beautiful

Everyone who works to make brides the best they can be agrees, your bridal hairstyle

need to reflect, yet enhance, your personality and personal style. Here are their

recommendations, based on the current length of your hair. But, never forget that today,

hair extensions make almost anything possible.

No matter what, here’s a tried-and-true tip: bring a photo of your gown to the

consultation appointments you’ve made.

Long Hair

If your hair is long and you wear it pulled back most of the time, then many stylists

recommend an elegant updo. They can even incorporate a detail from your gown into

the hair design, such as braiding or twisting of fabric. Or, they can look to the texture of

the dress for inspiration.

Do you wear your long hair down most of the time? Then try wearing some of it up

away from your face and leave the rest to cascade around your shoulders. Maybe let few


tendrils escape to float around your face. Whether they are curled or left natural, they

will soften your appearance.

Some folks believe that wearing it all down is just too casual for the big day. But, you

need to listen to your inner voice too. Don’t be “talked into” a style that just isn’t

authentically you.

What if your long hair is full of natural curls? Stylists recommend that you enhance

them and work with them, not against the natural tendency of your hair.

But, what should you do if you’ve got long, straight hair? Stylists advise that you

wear it up, with any curls firmly pinned in place.

Medium –Length Hair

If your hair is medium in length, stylists agree: it can be curled and worn with a

sparkly headband or tiara to dress it up. Others recommend that you simply tuck some

hair behind your ears and use a decorative hair clips to hold it back.

If your dream is to wear it up and you have some time grow it out, go for it. But don’t

assume you should grow your hair long. Longer is not always better; in fact, some styles

are more difficult to achieve with longer, heavier hair. It is best to ask your stylist ahead

of time how your hair should be handled even if it's a year before the final styling will

take place.

Short Hair

Don’t worry – there are lots of things you can do with short hair to feel extra special

on your wedding day, such as:

Sweeping it forward

Embracing the pixie look, and setting it off with a really feminine gown

Curling longer pieces in front of your ears into feminine face-framers

Spiking it. If your dress is sleek and modern, a glamorous-yet-edgy style

would look fabulous.

Faking a poufy updo

Using a deep side part

Thinking "waves" not curl!

Taking advantage of sweeping bangs, slicking the rest of the hair back and

pinning it into a quasi-updo.


For other styling ideas, just "Google" short hair wedding tips. You’ll be overwhelmed

by what you see; so be sure to print out your favorite styles, and take those to your stylist

consultations.

And What about Your Veil and Headpiece?

Here is the best advice I’ve heard, from experts, friends, and family members. The

basic rules of thumb are:

Pick out your wedding gown first

Decide on your hairstyle second

Choose the headpiece and veil third

I’ve heard some horror stories where a headpiece was torn apart by the bride or on-

site stylist on the day of the wedding; because it did not go with the hairstyle the bride

wanted. How can you avoid this nightmarish scenario?

Have a couple of trial run appointments at the hair salon prior to the big day. This

way an exchange can be made for a different style headpiece if necessary.

Don’t feel pressured into purchasing a headpiece because it "matches your dress".

You could choose instead to look for a detail from the gown you would like to enhance

and find a headpiece that complements it. Maybe you could choose pearls, or you might

even think of matching the flowers in your bouquet.

If you find that every headpiece seem to big, look at what is offered for first

communion headpieces, and if you find something you like, ask the bridal salon to add a

longer veil.

What if this is your second marriage? Many agree that having a veil is fine if you

want one, but you may want to just skip it all together. A beautiful tiara, hair ornament,

or even a hat, could be the solution of choice. After all, hats are coming back!

If you’re just not sure what you want, or should have, your stylist can also help to

determine what style of headpiece or veil is best for your dress, neckline and neck shape.


My Tried-and-True Perfect Hair Timeline

Three months before the big day…

Experiment with Different Hairstyles

Start experimenting with your hair after you select your gown and (if possible) at

least three months before the event. When doing a consultation with a stylist (if you're

having your hair done at a salon), take any hair accessories you plan to wear on your

wedding day, including hair pieces, and bring pictures that will inspire the look you

want to achieve.

Also tell your stylist during your practice round whether you have an oily, dry or

normal scalp and follow washing instructions accordingly. And, talk about the seasonal

weather variants and the venue whether the wedding will be held indoors or out-of-

doors.

That’s because some styles will work better than others, depending not just on your

personal preference and dress selection, but also because of the weather. For example,

long flowing hairstyles do not hold up well in high humidity at outdoor weddings.

During your consultation, make sure that you are comfortable with the stylist as well

as hair style. You don't want something that is not you. You want a style that will make

you feel like yourself and will look great in pictures.

Here’s a great tip from a bride I know. She says it’s a good idea to do errands and go

about your normal day with the practice style to see how it holds up under strain and

works for you visually.

Six weeks ahead of time…

Trim your Hair

All the experts agree (and so do many of the brides I’ve spoken with), a bride should

cut her hair about a month and a half before the wedding, to ensure all the scruffy ends

are gone, and they have a fresh, clean cut. But don’t go overboard! This is not the time

to experiment with a new drastic haircut before your wedding, as it may end in disaster.


Just 10 days to go…

It’s time to Straighten or Color Your Hair or Add Those Highlights

Naturally, you want your hair to be freshly colored, but you also want to leave time to

fix any mistakes.

Stylists advise if you’re doing all-over color (and it’s a color you’re used to working

with), you can wait until just a week before the wedding, if you need to.

But when it comes to getting highlights, they all advise getting those a full week and

half prior to the wedding. That’s because they can be tricky to “get right”.

What if you want to have your hair straightened? Everyone agrees – brides and

stylists alike, that straightening or relaxing treatments should be done a week or two

before the wedding. That way the treatment can settle into your hair and appear more

natural. And if you plan to color your hair too; then have your hair straightened/relaxed

first, then wait a couple of weeks and do color -- in order to prevent damage. Obviously,

that pushes your timeline back a bit – so plan accordingly.

The wedding is just seven days away…

Brow Shaping

While people don’t consider eyebrows to fall under the topic of wedding day hair, I

think it’s important enough to bring to your attention. You don’t want the perfect hair

style, and scruffy brows, do you?

I advise that you go to a better-than-usual salon to have your brows groomed five to

seven days before the wedding so you won’t have any residual redness or irritation. And

–because of the many horror stories I’ve heard, steer clear of using warm waxes so you

don’t get any burns. Who wants to try to camouflage scabs and red marks on the

morning of their wedding? Certainly no one I know.

Today’s the day…

Relax, and Enjoy each Moment

You’ve done the planning, organizing, and delegating. There’s really nothing more to

do. Today is about being fully present, and savoring as many moments as possible.

But there are two important things I can share about the day of the wedding which

could make it easier to relax and enjoy. Here’s the first.


Everyone I know says “do all the bridesmaids first and the bride last”. Makes sense.

And the second?

Whether you visit the salon on the day of your wedding, or your stylist comes to you,

remember to wear a zip-up or button-up shirt when getting your hair styled. In other

words, no turtleneck sweaters, please.

Oh, yes; one more thing. Because many pictures are typically taken before the

wedding, have your hair done two hours before the photo session starts.


My Guidelines to Wedding Day Hair Perfection

Is there anything “simple” about planning, and preparing for, your wedding?

Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, does it? But, believe it or not, if you follow my

guidelines, on the morning of your wedding, you won’t be worried about your hair. And

that’s a good thing!

1. Don’t Settle for Second Best

Consult with more than one stylist for your trial run so that you find the best person

for you. There may be someone you already know and trust; someone who specializes in

the look you want for your wedding. Certainly go to them first. But, it never hurts to take

the recommendation of friends, co-workers, or family, and try someone new. And, you

know you can always use a consumer review web site, such as Yelp! (www.yelp.com).

Just enter “wedding hair stylist” into the search bar, after noting your location, and see

what pops up. I did just that, as an experiment, and found reviews for 96 salons and

stylists in my area.

Don’t be concerned about slighting your regular stylist. She is sure to understand

that having your hair done for this occasion is very different from getting an everyday

great cut or color.

2. Plan Ahead

If you have your hair colored, permed, or treated, have it done at least one month

before your wedding date. The extra time will soften your style a bit, so it looks more

natural. Also, should disaster strike (dare we think it?) you'll have time to fix it. And be

sure to get a trim a few weeks before your wedding date to neaten up your tresses and

eliminate split ends.

3. Seek a Relaxed Mindset and a Relaxed Hair Style

Don't get your hair done (or do it yourself) too early on your wedding day, and don't

wear it pulled back too tightly. Your scalp may start to hurt and you could get a

headache if you wear a killer updo for too long.

4. Don’t be Shy… Ask for Help!

I know a lot of brides who chose to do their hair themselves. And those who enlisted

the help of an honest, yet supportive friend who can give you their perspective or

assistance while you work can make all the difference to your emotional well-being, and

the quality of your hair when you walk down the aisle.

http://www.yelp.com/


5. Have Realistic Expectations

Whatever you do, look to celebrity hair for only for inspiration. Did you know that

“A-list” celebrities can spend upwards of $17,000 on their hair for one event?

Unbelievable! You’ve got to admit that it’s completely unreasonable to expect the same

exact look from your stylist, who probably has only about two hours on the day of the

wedding in which to work her magic. So be realistic – it will save you heartache and

disappointment – two things you really don’t want on your wedding day.

6. Be True to the Real You

This should really be the #1 guideline to follow. Don’t, don’t, don’t overdo things.

You want to be authentically you, don’t you? I like what Dr. Phil has to say about

authenticity, and happiness:

Be your authentic self. Your authentic self is who you are when you have no fear of

judgment or before the world starts pushing you around and telling you who you're

supposed to be. Your fictional self is who you are when you have a social mask on to

please everyone else. Give yourself permission to be your authentic self.

If your stylist, friends, or family are leading you to a hair style that feels ‘wrong’ in

some way, listen to that inner voice. You want to feel relaxed and comfortable on your

wedding day, right?

Even if authenticity isn’t a big issue to you, think about this: an overly complicated

hair style is just one more thing for you to worry about. And we all know that's not

something you need right now. This is your day to shine, smile, laugh…and love!


Style Gallery Web Sites

The Knot

http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-beauty-tips/wedding-hairstyles-

updos.aspx?MsdVisit=1

Latest Hairstyles

http://www.latest-hairstyles.com/wedding

Wedding Hair

http://www.weddinghair.com

Brides

http://www.brides.com/wedding-dresses-style/wedding-

hair/gallery/hairstyles/editors-pick/results

Celebrity Bride Guide

http://www.celebritybrideguide.com/celebrity-wedding-hairstyles

Celebrity Bride Guide’s 2011 Winning Styles

http://www.celebritybrideguide.com/2011-wedding-hairstyle

The Wedding Channel

http://weddings.weddingchannel.com/wedding-planning-ideas/wedding-

hairstyles.aspx

http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-beauty-tips/wedding-hairstyles-updos.aspx?MsdVisit=1

http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-beauty-tips/wedding-hairstyles-updos.aspx?MsdVisit=1

http://www.latest-hairstyles.com/wedding

http://www.weddinghair.com/

http://www.brides.com/wedding-dresses-style/wedding-hair/gallery/hairstyles/editors-pick/results

http://www.brides.com/wedding-dresses-style/wedding-hair/gallery/hairstyles/editors-pick/results

http://www.celebritybrideguide.com/celebrity-wedding-hairstyles

http://www.celebritybrideguide.com/2011-wedding-hairstyle

http://weddings.weddingchannel.com/wedding-planning-ideas/wedding-hairstyles.aspx

http://weddings.weddingchannel.com/wedding-planning-ideas/wedding-hairstyles.aspx

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