Introducing something new for 2012... guest blog posts! I've had the opportunity to work with several premier wedding vendors in the DC metro, and want to tap into their knowledge and experience to help my amazing brides- and grooms-to-be have the best wedding day possible, from beginning to end. I'm excited for this new opportunity to help my clients - stay tuned for posts on hair, makeup, flowers, dresses, tuxedo rentals, venues, and more!
Our first post comes from Julie Flury, owner of Jewel Hair Design. I had the pleasure of photographing Julie's wedding in 2010, so it's an honor to have her business as my first featured guest! Take it away, Julie!
My name is Julie Flury and I am the owner of the five-star-rated business, Jewel Hair Design, located in the Washington DC. metro area. I have extensive experience when it comes to bridal hair, and I would like to share some ideas with you!
When it comes to finding the right bridal hair stylist for your wedding, it can be tricky and, at times, seem overwhelming. There are so many vendors out there, how do you know which one is right for you? First, figure out what your style is and try to find vendors who have a similar style in their portfolio. Book trials with one or two of your top choices and see which stylist also works well with your personality. Remember - when it comes to being organized, not only is it important for the bride, but your vendors need to show organization and quick responsiveness. If it takes a stylist a week to respond to your email or phone calls, that should be a red flag to keep on looking! Following are ten important things every bride should know about bridal hair:
- Show and tell. On the day of your hair trial, bring anything you think will help your stylist understand the style of your wedding and your unique personality. Bring a photo of you in your dress at a fitting. Bring a swatch of fabric if you think that will help. Bring pictures of brides, celebrities, models - anyone whose look inspires you.
- Extend yourself. If you or your stylists are worried about your hair holding a particular style all through your wedding day, you might want to consider hair extensions. Even if you want a little extra volume to your up-do can make a world of a difference in your pictures.
- Keep having regular haircuts. Even if you are trying to grow your hair for your wedding, keep having regular haircuts. Here is a tip for you, tell your hair stylist not to trim your hair but to “dust up the ends” and less will come off, but will still keep it healthy.
- But don’t get your hair cut just before the wedding! Avoid having a cut too close to your wedding. Especially avoid any change of style, and color. Two weeks before is the latest you should consider having a trim.
- Look after those locks. Pay special attention to hair care in the weeks before your trial and wedding, so that your hair is shiny and healthy. Getting a deep condition treatment or moisture mask the week of your wedding can actually make your hair too slippery to hold a style. Try going 7-10 days before your wedding for special treatments.
- Be product-free on the day. On your trial day and wedding day, go to the hair stylist with clean, dry hair. Avoid using a lot of conditioner that morning, especially a leave-in one. Don’t straighten your hair if you have curly hair and vice versa.
- Don’t make any last-minute changes. The hour or so before you walk down the aisle is not the time to be experimenting with looks. Take photos at your hair trial, so that there won’t be any confusion or stress, and if you need to have a second trial before the wedding day there is no shame in trying out new looks.
- Enhance your unique beauty. When you’re finding pictures to show your stylist, try to find ones that don’t stray too far from your own look and style. If you love having her hair down and flowing on a day to day basis, maybe you don’t want to go for a sleek up-do - and vice versa. It’s so important for you to feel 100% comfortable and beautiful on your special day.
- Be open. The purpose of your hair trial is for you to try new styles out for a day and see if it’s something that you like. If your hair stylist suggests looks that you hadn’t considered before, don’t feel pressured to follow their advice—but while you have their expertise at your fingertips, you may as well give it your consideration. Remember they work with brides every week and have also learned a thing or two about certain hair styles.
- Accessorize. There are so many great hair accessories available now to add a gorgeous accent to your wedding hair. It will depend on the look you’re going for. For a more classical and elegant look, you might want to wear a tiara, jeweled barrettes, or decorative combs. Some of my favorite accessories right now are handmade flowers that match the fabric of your dress or color of your bridesmaid’s dresses, birdcage veils, and live flowers to match your bouquet.
Remember… if you are a girl who is a trend-setter, you need to find a stylist who can give a one-of-a-kind hair style. All brides should look unique and not like every other bride. There are a ton of hair styles to choose from apart from what you may have seen in magazines or pictures online. Be open to adding special details to your bridal hair to emphasize you personally. There are no limits when it comes to making you feel perfectly beautiful on your wedding day.
If you have questions about this article or about a certain hair style, feel free to contact us: www.jewelhd.com | julie@jewelhd.com | facebook
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If you have a topic you'd like to see discussed in a future post, let me know in the comment section below!