Choosing Your Bridal Hairstyle

Are you confused when it comes to choosing the perfect wedding hairstyle for you?

Have you thumbed through endless bridal magazines, only to find yourself even more perplexed and overwhelmed with ideas? Does even the simplest decision — whether to wear it up or down, curled her straight — seem impossible?

Then relax — here’s the information you need to make a choice that’s both informed and inspired.

Staying True to You

Just by avoiding one of the most common bridal mistakes, you’ll be ahead of the game. Don’t lose your identity when it comes time to choose your hair for your wedding day. Sure, you’ll want to look and feel special, but you’ll also want to make sure it’s still recognizably you who walks up that aisle to exchange those vows. When it comes to your wedding hairstyle, your principal guideline should be not what you saw in most of the magazines, but what you actually like.

There aren’t any right or wrong answers when it comes to selecting the right wedding hairstyle. But there are some tips that can help lessen the confusion that often comes with choosing a wedding hairstyle.

Plan — Then Plan Some More

Often, planning a wedding feels like a year-long exercise in project management. After all, there are so many projects and so many people to coordinate and manage. Perhaps your wedding is destined to rival Star Jones’ arsenal of bridesmaids and legions of guests. Or perhaps it’s an intimate little affair involving 10 of your closest friends and family members.

But regardless of its scale, you still need a wedding plan. For most brides, this means using a wedding planning checklist or even a software program. Make sure your wedding hairstyle makes it on the list. In fact, it’s best if you address your hair choices several months before your wedding day — the sooner the better. After all, for many brides, their dream hair involves a slightly modified color, or perhaps a longer length. Both of these take time.

Be Your Beautiful Self

Dream hair is a wonderful thing, but many brides unintentionally take it too far. Just because every bridal magazine you pick up features some willowy, chiseled goddess with long tresses doesn’t mean that you have to imitate them, particularly if you steam up the softball field on weekends and your daily look is on the sporty side.

If you’re still laboring under the misconception that short hair makes a poor showing at weddings, consider Halle Berry and her angelic halo of curls. If you really want to grow your hair, go ahead, but don’t do it just because you think it will make you look more bridal, or because you “have to.” You’ll always look great as yourself. And what’s more, although this article offers some general rules of thumb, the confident, dramatic bride can carry off pretty much anything.

Stay Cool — and Communicate

Wedding planning is stressful, not only for the bride and groom, but for practically everyone else involved. Most of the big stresses can be traced back to poor communication. In reality, your wedding party, friends and family want nothing more than to support you, but friction can crop up if you’re not clear in communicating your hopes and expectations. In particular, be clear when you’re discussing dresses, makeup and hair styles with your bridal party, and start talking about it early on. Make sure they’re comfortable with your preferences. And talk openly about who’s paying for what. If your heart’s set on elaborate hairstyles for your bridal party and you want them to see a professional, consider paying for it yourself.

Keep to the Theme

As wedding planners say over and over again, their most important function is to keep a bride focused on her original themes and choices. If you don’t have a wedding planner to rein you in, be valiant and resist the urge to grab at anything that appeals to you. This always results in a hodgepodge style that just isn’t as appealing as the coordinated wedding you envisioned. Instead, take a minute to consider what your core themes and style choices really are. Ask your hairstylist to help — they’ll be able to give you ideas on how to fit your hairstyle into the overall picture.

Let the Gown Be Your Guide

When choosing your wedding hairstyle, you’ll also want to consider the density, texture and silhouette of your gown. The line of your hair should match the line of your dress. For example, a sensuously sleek bob that’s tucked behind the ear will complement a long, slim gown with clean lines and minimal beading. Even the density of the fabric should carry through to your hair. If you’re wearing an tulle creation straight from a fairy tale, then by all means go for long, flowing hair and ringlets galore.