Don't Do Anything Drastic To Your Hair Before Your Wedding!

Have you ever dreamed of sporting an electric blue Mohawk, or trading your flowing tresses for a cute pixie haircut? That's fine, but trying to live out your follicular fantasies a month before your wedding is a recipe for disaster. Ideally you'll plan your wedding 'do the minute you get engaged. If you have a blond bob and you long for a vibrant red up do for the special day, you'll need to start growing your hair out and shopping that perfect shade of ginger. Or if you want to walk down the aisle wearing a short look, you should get it cut immediately to allow yourself time to restore your locks should you end up regretting your new style.

Hopefully by the time you find your dress and headpiece, should you choose to wear one, get yourself to your stylist to experiment and find the perfect coif to complete your look. Make sure this is the same person who will design your hair the day you actually get hitched. Once you discover the magic look, snap a photo or two so your stylist can remember exactly what you both came up with. Make your appointment for your wedding day hair as far in advance as possible. Don't forget that you'll need an additional appointment to have your color done one week before you get married so you'll have time to get it corrected if needed and also so the skin around your hairline is no longer stained from the dye.

Once you're married you can finally get that bleached-out mullet you've been longing for, but until then, it's better to play it safe!

Hair Extensions for the Big Day

Do you wish you had longer fuller hair to complete the fairy tale look that you're trying to achieve on your wedding day? Have you considered clip-in hair extensions? These beauties, made of real human hair, can make your locks look lush and natural for your nuptials. They come in a wide range of colors and the perfect shade exists to blend in with your own hair. Hot styling tools can be used on these extensions and they can even be dyed. Temporary clip-in hair extensions can make a world of difference in your appearance and I highly recommend them. I offer them for sale for $95 and can show you during your wedding hair practice session how to apply them. You'll be amazed at how much they can enhance your hair's overall appearance!

Proper care of your extensions is crucial in prolonging their life and looks. Treating them gently is key. You must remember that any hair lost from your extensions will not regrow as it would from your own scalp. Remove them daily and use a moisturising shampoo and conditioner every second or third day. Lightly trimming the split ends caused by wear and tear is also paramount. If you choose to use any hot styling tools on your extensions, utilize a heat protectant beforehand. With proper care, your extensions, and the gorgeous head of hair they give you, can last for years!

Mia

I have been meaning to post these photos for while now..but only got to it now when the wedding craziness has slowed down.
Meet Mia. She got married on August 1st, 2009. She came to meet with me in March and we instantly connected.
On the wedding day, I did Mia's hair and makeup and had a few assistants help me with the rest of the bridal party. Everyone looked stunning! Mia's hairstyle was very modern, yet classy. It was great for dancing and the heat. We decorated with fresh orchids to make it look feminine.
For Mia's makeup, she wanted a natural look. Since she doesn't wear makeup on a regular basis, I wanted to make sure she felt comfortable and like herself...just prettier! So, I used light and medium brown tones on her eyes with a winged eyeliner. Then I used individual lashes to open up the eyes and give a more dramatic effect. Of course, I airbrushed the foundation and blush. For the lips, I went with a soft peachy-pink tone that really complimented her beautiful complexion.
Mia was so easy to work with and was so great that I felt re-energized for the whole day (even after working for since 5 am until 3pm without a break!)
Thank you for that, Mia :)

Choosing a Veil

Matching your veil to your desired wedding-day hairstyle isn't difficult; there's a beautiful look for every style.

All Swept Up

The formal updo, with its clean lines and timeless elegance, is a favorite wedding day look and works well with a variety of veils. If you've got your heart set on an updo, remember:

• When choosing a hairstyle and veil, take your face shape into account. If you have a rounder face, sleeker styles with longer veils will look best on you. Fuller styles and veils flatter narrow faces. Talented stylists can adapt most styles to suit the shape of your face.
• Veils that hang longer than your waist, like the fingertip, chapel and ballet styles, are heavy. Tighter styles hold up better under all that tulle, so if you are wearing a long veil, choose a coif with less volume up top. A chignon, where the hair is gathered into a roll at the nape of the neck, is a good bet. Another option is the Juliet topknot, where the hair is twisted into a tight coil at the top of the head.
• Do you love the drama of intricate updos, with lengths of hair woven into an elaborate creation on the crown of your head? This style CAN work with a longer, heavier veil -- instead of covering your hair with the veil, consider piling your hair on TOP of your veil. The veil will cascade down your back, adding romance and sweetness to your style.
• The French twist, where the hair is gathered into a low pony tail and then swept into a roll along the back of the head, is a classic and versatile look. Bride s who choose the French twist are in luck -- this style looks gorgeous both with long veils and with shorter styles, from the floor length veils to the wispy flyaways, which are only about a foot long.

Letting Loose

If you've decided to leave your long locks down for that romantic look, remember that tousled shouldn't mean tangled. Be sure to set your hair and use either hairspray or gel to give it structure and prevent flyaways. Hair left down can work with most any length of veil, but the rule of thumb is that your veil should always be longer than your hair so you don't look messy.

Also remember that the longest veils may be too heavy for hairstyles with lots of body, so try a sleek look if you're wearing a long veil.

Updo or Up Don't?

A good compromise between the sweetness of hair left down and the elegance of updos is any of several in-between styles, where the hair from your crown is swept back and the rest of your

hair is left down. Whether you gather the hair from your crown into a bun, or pull the top layer back with twinkling combs, an in-between style is a lovely compromise in the great debate between up and down. And if you are still undecided, remember that more and more brides are
wearing an updo to their ceremony and taking their hair down for the reception.

Chic Short Cuts

Styling is key for brides with short hair. Shorter styles have a tendency to look messy, so whether you iron it, dress it, or slick it back, make sure that you win the fight against bed head. One look we love for cropped cuts: Tiny crystal-tipped hairpins strategically placed throughout the hair to add sparkle.

Brides with short hair look especially lovely with short veils. Picture a tuft of snowy white tulle fluttering from the crown of your head. But don't think a smaller veil is your only option -- cascading veils can look fabulous, too. Dress your hair up with a tiara or halo of flowers, and you'll be gorgeous in a veil of any length.

Topping It Off

Tiaras are still the hottest accessory for bridal hairstyles, but combs, clips, barrettes, jeweled hair sticks, and hairpins are popular as well. All accessories can look great with a variety of hairstyles and veils, but remember to use them sparingly. Too many twinkles can distract from your most beautiful feature -- your face!