You’ve chosen a wedding dress. Now for the difficult part: finding a hairstyle that matches! The following guide will help you narrow down the bridal haircut and hairpiece that makes you feel the most happy and comfortable.
Choosing a Hairstyle: The Basics
Take into account what type of wedding you are having. Will it be mainly indoors or outdoors? Formal or casual. Consider the time of the year – will it be it warm or cool?
When choosing a hairstyle, you should never be pressured into wearing something you won’t feel completely happy and comfortable with. However, it’s always worth being a little adventurous when experimenting for the perfect style. An alternative “modern bride” approach could suit your personality just as well as the traditional romantic look.
Deciding on Hair Length
Be realistic about the amount of time you have before your wedding – especially if you choose to grow your hair longer. Start thinking about your hairstyle soon after you have set the wedding date. This should give you time to grow your hair or experiment with a shorter look. Also give yourself time to try out new hair colors that may enhance your wedding hairstyle.
Finding a Hairdresser
Look for a hairdresser or stylist you feel comfortable with. If you have special events to attend before your own wedding, use this opportunity to have a “trial run”. Give them as much information as you can about your dress, tiara and veil, bring along any photos of hair styles and colors that you would like to try.
If you choose to style your own hair, keep it simple and elegant, such as having it down, blow dried and pulled back with some fancy clips.
Choosing a Hair Piece or Tiara
If you want more than a veil, or plan to remove the veil at the reception, consider giving hairstyle an extra special feature or two.
The hairpiece you choose must flatter not only your hairstyle, but also your size, build and – most importantly – personality. The range to choose from is huge, from veils and hats to flowers, jeweled pins, crows and caps. Give yourself time to explore every option.
The hair piece must be proportioned correctly to your height. It is also worth taking the groom‘s height into consideration.
The hair piece or tiara you choose should compliment your face, gown and hairstyle. Try on various options, taking particular note of the thickness and texture of your hair. Move about and act naturally with the hair piece on (together with your wedding dress, if possible).
Notice how each of these makes your face look. Some will bring out the sparkle and shine in your eyes; others will accentuate parts of your face that you may not be to happy about. Reject the styles which are not flattering to you; shortlist those that compliment your most beautiful features.
Finding a Hair Dress that Matches
The hair dress should be light in weight and appearance. Make sure it doesn’t overpower the wedding dress. If it looks overdone, try a smaller size or reduce the trimmings.
The hair dress should not make you look to short, tall, fat or too thin. For instance, a short or petite bride should not wear a huge picture hat, or anything that could make her look out of proportion.
Symmetrical or Asymmetrical?
Your personality should also reflect in the choice of your headdress. These can be symmetrical (both sides exactly the same) to emphasise traditional beauty, or asymmetrical (more detail on one side and less on the other) for a creative spark.
The asymmetrical design can draw attention to your face and hairstyle. The ideal it should look like it has been designed to be part of your wedding dress. Its color and texture should match the wedding dress. When you have chosen the prefect hair piece, take it along with you to the hairdresser so that you can find the perfect hairstyle.