Dated styles and fuzzy fly-a-ways have no place in a wedding party.
April marks the advent of the wedding season – a “hair raising” time for many brides and their hairdressers. Come July, the peak month for couples to get hitched, business will be booming with blushing brides set on looking picture perfect.
While “bed head” ‘dos may cut it on the New York runways, clean contemporary looks, tailored to the individual, translate best in real life and on film.
“A lot of women want long hair, or the appearance of long hair, on their wedding day, because it is considered romantic,” explains Crys Stewart, editor of WeddingBells Magazine. “What’s important is for the bride to look like herself, but better groomed.”
To get you in shape for the upcoming wedding workout, we canvassed top pros who make it their business to create camera-ready bridal styles for a variety of looks.
“Gone are the days of spiral curls and overpowering headpieces,” explains Mary Orlando, owner of Featuring You spa & salon, located in Toronto, Ontario. “Finger waves, pin curls and wet roller sets with glosses and gels, complement solid cuts for simple, dramatic, sensual looks.”
“Hair has to be clean looking, without a lot of heavy gel,” says François Prieur, stylist with Avantgarde in Vancouver, British Columbia. “Make sure your stylist uses a fine misting spray when designing hair.”
Well-versed on the ins and outs of doing hair for photo shoots, Prieur always looks for balance in a hairstyle – one which suits each individual’s facial structure.
“You can wear a lot of styles like a French twist, with the ends left untucked then fanned out, for a fun look; or you can have designer knots secured on your hair, with the ends brushed and smoothed under, for a more conservative look,” Prieur explains.
While hairpieces can extend the length of short hair, Prieur says not every bride should feel she must wear her hair in an updo. “An ear-length bob looks great backcombed at the crown and slicked behind the ears.”
The balancing act also includes the overall image of the bride, according to Doris Bélanger of Au Premier Coiffure in Montréal, Québec.
“Hair must complement the dress, the accessories, and the bride and groom’s size,” Bélanger explains. “A lot of hairdressers forget to adapt the bride’s hair to the height of the groom.”
To avoid last minute trauma, Bélanger advises the bride to meet with her stylist before buying expensive accessories, to ensure the stylist is aware of what she plans to wear, and what she plans to do after the ceremony.
“The simpler the cut, the more accessories she can get away with,” Bélanger adds. “Hairdressers need to make sure they balance the hair with the size of the skirt. A lot of brides end up looking like they have a small head.”
“Being both a salon and photography studio, our hairstylists recognize the importance of eliminating fly-a-ways,” says Janet Bortolussi, co-owner of The Fashion Studio and Salon in Toronto, Ontario. “One stray hair can make or break a print.”
Perfection doesn’t happen by accident. Bortolussi and her staff produce many bridal photographs, focusing on fresh looks to complement today’s bride.
“Updos are anything but traditional,” Bortolussi explains. “Many feature looser curls, but with the right styling aids, they look clean, not cemented.”