Good Wedding Day Hair – and this time it’s not the bride!
Of course, the bride is the most important person on her wedding day but, from our own experience, we know that mothers and mothers-in-law – not to mention aunts (that’s Sarah) and godmothers (Jo) – want to look our most elegant and appropriate best from top to toe. And the top bit means yep! Your hair… (aka crowning glory as all the Coronation blurb is reminding us.)
As leading London stylist Belle Cannan, co-founder of Salon Sloane in Chelsea, says: ‘You don’t want to outshine the bride but you do want to look and feel the very best version of you on the day so you’ll love going back to the photos for years to come. Hair is an important part of your overall look and it should make you feel super confident and also comfortable – you don’t want to be fretting and fiddling with it all day.’ A big part of that is prepping so you don’t fret at the last minute.
The type of wedding will guide your style, Belle says. ‘For a traditional wedding you’d go for a more formal hairstyle whereas an outdoor boho wedding is always more relaxed. My failsafe option for most hair lengths – obviously not the very short ones – is to start with flawless waves. It’s a timeless look and an easy style to create for short or long hair. From leaving it partly or entirely down with tumbling curls and waves or creating a soft loose up-do, there’s a way to style this that suits everyone.’
If you’re opting for a hat or fascinator, Belle suggests that ‘an oversized ballerina bun, worn to one side high or low, is a great foundation for a small hat or fascinator to sit on. The biggest priority is to find a hat that suits you, then your hairdresser will work with this and your personal style.’
A larger hat works well with hair down, Belle suggests. ‘Make sure to give your hair more bounce than normal so either have it “set” or waved like a classic Hollywood wave.’ If you’re going to want to take your hat off later, you can always pin the hair artfully under the hat so you can just tease it back into place and add a little volume with hairspray.
If you have a fringe, do style it to the side so that when you take your hat off it won’t be flat to your forehead with marks – then you can just ruffle it up and it’s good to go. NB Remember to tuck a mini-hairspray and a couple of pretty pins/barrettes in your bag for the day.
If you’re planning to wear a hat and there’s a sit down meal, a fascinator or tiny titfer is the easiest option if you don’t want to take it off. A couple of things to bear in mind here, Belle advises: ‘Always make sure you have volume that frames the back of the neck – unless you have a high collar/ruff, that is.’
Here, we’d emphasise that talking to your hairdresser and trying out your possible looks well in advance – with hat, fascinator or accessories - is the most helpful and anxiety-quelling thing. Once you’re happy, take a photo of the style you decide on. Also think about the colour, Belle says: ‘schedule your hair colour session so it’s fresh and also make sure the tints complement the colour of your hat.’
Very Important! Book in with your own hairdresser for colour and cut/trim a week or so before hand so it has time to settle in. If there’s a hairdresser for the wedding party on the day, make sure you’re on the list - and take your photo.
In the weeks leading up to the wedding, it’s all about upping your hair care and treatments to make sure your hair is really healthy and in the best condition possible. ‘Investing in a hair mask such as Sisley Restructuring Nourishing Balm – which goes on dry hair - and using it weekly will ensure the hair is nourished and hydrated so it looks gorgeous, glossy and shiny by the day,” Belle recommends. (The Sisley mask is £94 for 125g; a Salon Sloane treatment is £60, which includes a scalp rebalance to lift all impurities).
So, cue trumpets – here comes the bride’s fabulously coiffed entourage…
