By Kathryn Romeyn, Brides
Brides may have dozens of nightmares—literal or
figurative—leading up to their wedding day, and while some are about
issues far out of their control (rain, for one), others relate to things they can totally prevent. One of those situations: A bad hair day on the big day. And whether it’s touching up roots, treating your blonde tresses, or adding highlights, dyeing your hair can definitely up the risk factor. Luckily, we've tapped LA-based colorist (of Sally Hershberger Los Angeles salon) Sulekha Hilton for her expert hair coloring advice and the dos and don'ts of dyeing.
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First
tip: Start thinking about your hair color—and “start to move in the
direction of your wedding hair goal”—four to six months ahead of the big
day. Do not (repeat, do not!) wait until the last minute, the week of,
or even a month
out if you’re somebody who color-treats her hair. “You definitely want
to make sure you look like yourself,” says Hilton, who advises against a
dramatic color change before the wedding, unless you’re someone who
does that all the time. What she finds is that, “what everyone wants is to be blonder (and longer) for their wedding.”
Also,
make sure to stick with one, trusted colorist for the duration of your
journey to the altar—this is almost as serious a relationship as the one
with your fiancé (joking!...sort of). “Make sure you like them and you
understand each other,” says Hilton, adding that any changes should be
made slowly and done a couple weeks ahead of schedule, leaving time for
adjustments.
A key piece of advice from the experienced colorist regards extensions, one of brides’ favorite wedding-day accessories.
If you do plan to use extensions, inform your colorist and schedule an
appointment when they can ensure that the extensions will properly blend
with your final look—which leads to an important point many people may
not think of...
Calling all perfectionists: Hilton says she likes to see what the bride is thinking for their wedding hairstyle
“so I can create the color to flow with that shape. Any type of color
that is highlighted or not one solid color looks different worn
different ways,” she says, “And you can tell your colorist if the
wedding will be inside or outside, day or night, and then can help you
decide what will reflect best in that type of setting.” Make sure to
have your color done in time for the trial,
so you can see exactly how it will look. “Remember,” says Hilton, “you
see yourself from the front, but everyone else sees your hair from the
side and back.” (And don’t judge the color by what it looks like in any
restroom, she warns!)
[post_ads]Hilton’s ultimate
timeline for the final color application before the big day? Get your
highlights done seven to 14 days before the wedding; have your base
color done (without greys) three to 10 days ahead of time; book a color
gloss refresher three to five days out; and head to the salon to get
greys covered three days in advance.
And for
the love of your future spouse, don’t go into a pool after your final
color sesh. “Don’t go swimming!” begs Hilton, clarifying not in a
chlorinated pool at least—especially if you're blonde. “If your hair
color for your wedding is very important to you, then follow all your
hair instructions from your colorist.” This may include a special
shampoo and conditioner. Hilton says your stylist for the big day will
have some say in what he or she wants for texture (“they tend to not
want it too silky so it holds the style”), but in general she recommends
Sally Hershberger’s 24k line because the shampoo is very cleansing
without stripping away the color, while the conditioner is moisturizing,
but still gives great body. Blondes without gold tones should look for a
violet shampoo like Rene Furterer’s Okara Mild Silver Shampoo, and
anyone with a bold fashion shade should use her color-depositing obsession, Celeb Luxury’s Viral line.
Bottom
line, “The time leading up to the big day can be quite nerve-wracking
and emotional, but don’t wait until the 11th hour to figure it all out,”
Hilton says. “Start early. Make lists
with time frames. Be prepared. And don’t hesitate to ask your haircare
team any questions or concerns you might have, no matter how ridiculous
you think they might be.” Furthermore, she says, don’t leave anything
out because you might “get in trouble with your hair team. We want you
to be your most beautiful self and make the process as stress-free and
enjoyable as possible.”
And just remember—salons double as therapists’ sofas.
