By Erin Celletti, Brides
From
the moment you've said, "yes!" you've probably been daydreaming of your
glamorous bridal look for your big day. While you may have said yes to the dress and accessories,
it's important to spend some time determining your beauty look, too,
especially what you'll do with your hair. There are plenty of steps you
can take (and others that you shouldn't!) to ensure your bridal hair is everything you've dreamed of.
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For expert tips, we chatted with Ashley Branda, owner of Two01
hair salon in Hoboken, to find out what you should know, do, and expect
while getting your mane ready for your walk down the aisle.
What ALL Brides Should Do
As with most things in life, it's important to be prepared. This means maintaining your hair regularly
for it to be in prime condition. Ashley advises, "Make sure you trim
and dust the hair regularly. This makes for smooth strands, for a
perfected style. Also, consider adding subtle highlights to give amazing
dimension throughout the style, and for the photos."
Try
to keep your hair in its best condition by avoiding too much heat. One
of the worst things you could do pre-wedding is "singe your gorgeous
locks with too much heat." Ashley recommends using a heat protectant
before blow-drying, or heat styling. One of her favorite products?
"Satin Finish by Shu Uemura is an excellent product to use prior to any
heat," she mentions.
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What NO Bride Should DO
It
may be tempting to give a whole new look a try prior to your day as a
bride, but it's not a good idea. Ashley warns against drastic color
changes, explaining, "Make sure you are thinking ahead. These will be
memories that last a lifetime. You should want your color to reflect you
as a person, not something that was trending." So, while unicorn or mermaid hair might look gorge on Instagram, you might want to save it for after you've wed.
Have Reasonable Expectations
The
#1 question Ashley's brides ask most often is, "Do you think this will
stay?" While of course we wish we could keep our bridal hair perfect
forever, try to be reasonable in your expectations. "Of course hair will
naturally lose volume and some shape throughout the long day ahead of
you," Ashley points out. To try to combat this, she suggests
brides-to-be select a style according to weather and texture. For added
volume, length, and shape, Ashley also proposes considering hair extensions.
[post_ads_2]Be Prepared
It's recommended you begin to follow a great hair care regimen, just as you would a skincare or nutrition plan.
"Always have high quality products for your hair—shampoo and
conditioner followed by styling products," says Ashley. "Speak with your
hairdresser to find out what products and regimen will work best for
your hair texture." She adds, "I truly love Shu Uemura moisture shampoo
and masque." While you're at it, be sure to keep up with your coloring
services!
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Plan Ahead
The
morning of the big day, some brides might show up with freshly washed,
three day old, or (gasp!) dripping wet hair! Ashley tells all her
clients to get a blow out the day before the wedding (you don't have to
tell us twice!) so that not only do you have perfect hair for your
rehearsal dinner or pre-wedding festivities, but also so that it's at its best texture for styling the morning of your wedding. Just remember to avoid too much product.
[post_ads_2]Expert Advice
When
asked for some last words of wisdom, Ashley encourages brides with some
classic advice: "Please do something timeless! Do a style that reflects
you and your wedding theme." She also warns to beware of Internet
photos, as they're not always what they seem.
