Your wedding day is one of the most important moments in your life, and naturally, you want to look and feel your absolute best. Many brides-to-be will make sure they have a great skincare routine in place and will start having regular treatments in the months before the wedding. However, one key aspect that often gets overlooked in the hustle and bustle of wedding preparations is hair care and it's so important to look after your hair on the build up to your big day; any wedding hair stylist will agree!
To help you achieve the perfect bridal wedding hair look, we've gathered the top 5 tips from Charlie Illi, Advanced Stylist and Master Technician at Brooks & Brooks. These insights, crafted from years of experience, are essential for the big day...
1. Start Early with Home Hair Care Products
Charlie says the first step to flawless wedding day hair is sorting out your home hair care products well in advance. "It's important that your hair is in good shape and condition before your big day. This would be ideal to sort around 6 months before the wedding date, especially if you have sensitised hair. We want your hair to look it's best in terms of shine and thickness."
Visit your hairdresser and discuss your current hair routine well in advance. Allowing this amount of time means that if any changes need to be made to your current hair routine, you can ensure your hair has time to adjust to the new products or timings. This is not something you want to do 3 weeks before your wedding!
2. Planning a Colour Change? Do It Early!
For those planning a colour change, Charlie recommends discussing your vision with your hair stylist at least 6 months before the wedding. "For anyone with coloured hair, I would recommend talking about your vision at least 6 months before, just for those specifically that want a colour change. It's nice to give your hair some time to gradually go in the direction you want. Depending on the colour technique you might need to retouch or top it up in between the time frame."
Giving yourself an extended timeframe also allows you to know when is best to book your final colour treatment before the wedding. For example, if your colour takes a week to settle into the tone you like, you'll know to book your appointment for 1 week before the big day.
3. Regular Trims for Healthy Locks
To maintain your hair length or keep your hairstyle in top shape, regular trims are essential. Charlie advises how often you should be scheduling in those appointments into your wedding planning timeline to keep your locks looking and feeling healthy before your wedding:
"To allow your hair to reach a certain length, or to keep your hair style in a good shape, a regular trim is very helpful. A head of hair that hasn't been cut for more than 6 months can potentially look very dry and brassy at the lengths and ends. Start with a good trim 6 months beforehand and trim it twice in between, making sure you leave the last cut until 2-3 weeks before the wedding. For the short haircuts like a pixie and bob, keep it up more regularly and the last cut to a week before. It will allow your hair shape to breathe and settle but keep those ends nice and healthy."
4. Consider Your Wedding Hairstylist's Preferences
Understanding your hairstylist's preferences in regards to when to wash your hair in wedding week is crucial. Charlie suggests consulting with your hairstylist about the ideal washing routine based on your chosen hairstyle (this is something that's imperative to discuss during your hair trial!).
"Another thing to be aware of is the condition of the hair for the day. Ask your hairstylist if they have any preference of the hair being freshly shampooed the same day, or the day before. For an updo, I personally prefer the hair to be washed the day before. Freshly washed hair can be slippy. For a waved down hair look on the other hand, I prefer freshly washed hair or I shampoo it myself depending on the time frame."
5. Consultation & Planning is Key
Lastly, Charlie recommends that you take your time to consult with your hairdresser, even if they aren't your wedding hairstylist. Let them know early on about your plans for your special day - they know your hair best and can discuss ideas and styles with you. Additionally, it's important to schedule in a wedding hair trial with your on-the-day stylist so that everyone is on the same page.
"Most hair salons and stylists offer consultations and trial days to have an opportunity to practice your desired style and consult on the needs of your hair on the big day. I would recommend having a trial day 3-4 month before your wedding date, so you have enough time to make some changes but also close enough to the day, so you feel more confident in your decision of what style you are aiming for."
Early and Consistent Care
Of course, these tips are generally good to know but can differ depending on your hair condition, your vision and your hairstylist availability. The road to perfect wedding day hair, just as flawless skin, begins with early and consistent care. By following these expert tips from Charlie, you can ensure that your hair is not only ready for the spotlight but also looks and feels amazing. So, start planning early and enjoy the journey to bridal hair perfection!
Images depict Brooks & Brooks Senior Top Stylist and Colour Specialist Kayleigh Twigg.