Articles: Hairstyles Uncovered & Wedding Hairstyle
Wedding Channel Article: Hairstyles Uncovered
Jennifer Anniston left her tousled hair down and covered it with a delicate elbow-length veil. Rebecca Romijn topped her updo with a tiara and a cascading veil of Chantilly lace. But what if you're not a celebrity bride with a team of stylists? Trying to coordinate your veil with that perfect Juliet topknot can leave you French twisted. Don't worry -- we have all the tips you need to choose a fabulous hairstyle that's just right for you.
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:
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, 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 far and away 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 face.
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Wedding Hairstyles
Today’s brides have a myriad of options for their nuptial locks, but one thing remains true: your wedding day is no time for a bad hair day. If you’re like most brides, you want your hair -- along with everything else -- to look more beautiful than it ever has. When it comes to hairstyles, there tend to be two kinds of brides: those who want something dramatic and special to suit the occasion, and those who, if you’ll pardon the expression, don’t want to change a hair.
Of course, it is possible to achieve both looks at once: elegant, yet natural. It is also perfectly acceptable to pull out all the stops and go for the most dramatic hairstyle ever, including jewels and hair extensions. It’s all a matter of choice. And even if you do choose your everyday style, there are many touches you can add to look a bit more romantic, but still very much like you. The following are a few tips to help you achieve the bridal hairstyle for you.
Accessories: Hair accessories range from simple pearl headbands and tiny flower studs sprinkled throughout hair to jeweled hairpins, lace Juliet caps and glittering princess tiaras. When shopping for hair accessories, try to wear your hair in your bridal style to make sure the accessories will work. Tiaras look great on either short or long hair, and flowered or jeweled accessories are also quite versatile. Don’t forget to consider the style and color of your gown -- as well as your veil -- when selecting hair accessories.
Condition: Because you’ll probably want your hair to shine on your special day, be sure to use a good conditioner, not just the day of your wedding, but several weeks in advance. Not only will your hair be healthier, but you will know which products make your hair look shiny and full, and those which make it limp, frizzy or flat. On the day of your wedding, you may also want to use some type of laminate, or shine enhancer. In any event, always test new products well in advance. The last thing you want is a hair "surprise" on your wedding day.
Gown Style: When determining your wedding hairstyle, you might also consider the type of gown you will be wearing. For example, if your wedding gown has a medieval look, a sleek French twist and tiara may be out of place. Instead, you might wear your hair loose with some sort of floral wreath, or even an elegant braided style. On the other hand, if your dress is very streamlined or formal, wearing your hair in a sophisticated updo may be the way to go. Consider the neckline of your gown as well -- if you plan to wear your hair down, will it clash with the neckline or cover any special jewelry?
Another element to take into consideration is how formal your wedding will be. A formal wedding calls for an elaborate updo; however, the same style would look out of place at a very informal ceremony.
Last Minute Changes: This should be common sense, but in case you are suddenly inspired to change your hair dramatically for your wedding… don’t! If you absolutely must get that spiral perm or wild new color you’ve always had a hankering for, do it well in advance, as in several months before your wedding. That way, in case you hate it, you will have plenty of time to correct the problem (i.e., color it back, grow it out, or find a style you can live with) before your big day.
In fact, wedding experts advise that you "practice" your wedding hairstyle at least once before your wedding, whether you are styling it yourself or having a professional do it. Most stylists will do a "run through" for a minimal, if any, fee.
Chameleon: Many brides embrace the opportunity to change their hair for every wedding related event, marking each occasion with a different "do." For example, she might wear her hair in her natural style for her bridal luncheon; partially pulled back with jeweled accessories for her rehearsal dinner; and in a sophisticated updo with a tiara for her wedding. Who knows -- she might even get Bo Derek braids for her Caribbean honeymoon…
But why so much fuss about hairstyles? Your hair is your crowning glory, and the frame for that gorgeous face of yours. Even Delilah figured out that it was the source of Samson’s power. Whether you opt for the simplest enhancement, such as a fresh flower tucked into a French twist, or a professionally sculpted curly updo, remember this: on your wedding day, you will be flushed with happiness, and surrounded by the people you love most in the world. It is virtually impossible to look bad under these circumstances. Your skin will glow, your eyes will sparkle, your hair will look divine, and of course, you will live happily ever after.
Jennifer Anniston left her tousled hair down and covered it with a delicate elbow-length veil. Rebecca Romijn topped her updo with a tiara and a cascading veil of Chantilly lace. But what if you're not a celebrity bride with a team of stylists? Trying to coordinate your veil with that perfect Juliet topknot can leave you French twisted. Don't worry -- we have all the tips you need to choose a fabulous hairstyle that's just right for you.
All Swept UpThe 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? Don't despair, 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. Brides that 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 LooseIf 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 CutsStyling is key for brides with short hair. Shorter styles have a tendency to look messy, 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 far and away 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 face.
*******************
Wedding Hairstyles
Today’s brides have a myriad of options for their nuptial locks, but one thing remains true: your wedding day is no time for a bad hair day. If you’re like most brides, you want your hair -- along with everything else -- to look more beautiful than it ever has. When it comes to hairstyles, there tend to be two kinds of brides: those who want something dramatic and special to suit the occasion, and those who, if you’ll pardon the expression, don’t want to change a hair.Of course, it is possible to achieve both looks at once: elegant, yet natural. It is also perfectly acceptable to pull out all the stops and go for the most dramatic hairstyle ever, including jewels and hair extensions. It’s all a matter of choice. And even if you do choose your everyday style, there are many touches you can add to look a bit more romantic, but still very much like you. The following are a few tips to help you achieve the bridal hairstyle for you.
Accessories: Hair accessories range from simple pearl headbands and tiny flower studs sprinkled throughout hair to jeweled hairpins, lace Juliet caps and glittering princess tiaras. When shopping for hair accessories, try to wear your hair in your bridal style to make sure the accessories will work. Tiaras look great on either short or long hair, and flowered or jeweled accessories are also quite versatile. Don’t forget to consider the style and color of your gown -- as well as your veil -- when selecting hair accessories.
Condition: Because you’ll probably want your hair to shine on your special day, be sure to use a good conditioner, not just the day of your wedding, but several weeks in advance. Not only will your hair be healthier, but you will know which products make your hair look shiny and full, and those which make it limp, frizzy or flat. On the day of your wedding, you may also want to use some type of laminate, or shine enhancer. In any event, always test new products well in advance. The last thing you want is a hair "surprise" on your wedding day.Gown Style: When determining your wedding hairstyle, you might also consider the type of gown you will be wearing. For example, if your wedding gown has a medieval look, a sleek French twist and tiara may be out of place. Instead, you might wear your hair loose with some sort of floral wreath, or even an elegant braided style. On the other hand, if your dress is very streamlined or formal, wearing your hair in a sophisticated updo may be the way to go. Consider the neckline of your gown as well -- if you plan to wear your hair down, will it clash with the neckline or cover any special jewelry?
Another element to take into consideration is how formal your wedding will be. A formal wedding calls for an elaborate updo; however, the same style would look out of place at a very informal ceremony.
Last Minute Changes: This should be common sense, but in case you are suddenly inspired to change your hair dramatically for your wedding… don’t! If you absolutely must get that spiral perm or wild new color you’ve always had a hankering for, do it well in advance, as in several months before your wedding. That way, in case you hate it, you will have plenty of time to correct the problem (i.e., color it back, grow it out, or find a style you can live with) before your big day.
In fact, wedding experts advise that you "practice" your wedding hairstyle at least once before your wedding, whether you are styling it yourself or having a professional do it. Most stylists will do a "run through" for a minimal, if any, fee.
Chameleon: Many brides embrace the opportunity to change their hair for every wedding related event, marking each occasion with a different "do." For example, she might wear her hair in her natural style for her bridal luncheon; partially pulled back with jeweled accessories for her rehearsal dinner; and in a sophisticated updo with a tiara for her wedding. Who knows -- she might even get Bo Derek braids for her Caribbean honeymoon…
But why so much fuss about hairstyles? Your hair is your crowning glory, and the frame for that gorgeous face of yours. Even Delilah figured out that it was the source of Samson’s power. Whether you opt for the simplest enhancement, such as a fresh flower tucked into a French twist, or a professionally sculpted curly updo, remember this: on your wedding day, you will be flushed with happiness, and surrounded by the people you love most in the world. It is virtually impossible to look bad under these circumstances. Your skin will glow, your eyes will sparkle, your hair will look divine, and of course, you will live happily ever after.
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