Wedding Path NewsWire
Wedding Hair Q&A 1151 views
Award-winning hairdresser Pat Wood takes time out of her busy schedule to share her tips for WeddingPath brides- and grooms-to-be.
Q1: What should you look for when choosing a hairdresser?
A1: ‘Somebody who will give you a full consultation without commitment. They should show a genuine interest in you and be happy to spend time talking about your wedding and your hair. They should also ask the bride about her style of dress – they can’t plan a hairstyle without that information. It’s important that they ask lots of questions. For instance, they should want to know how you usually wear your hair, and whether you pin it up or leave it down if it’s long. Does it hold curl? If not, they should test it by suggesting a practice run.’
Q2: What’s the best way to find a hairdresser?
A2: ‘By word of mouth and recommendation. Also, look in hairdressing magazines to find people in your area, or visit the website for the Fellowship for British Hairdressing, www.britishhair.org, to find registered members in your area. This is the trade body for hairdressers, and they demand very high standards of their members.’
Q3: How far in advance should a bride or groom begin planning any changes to their hair style for the big day?
A3: ‘Around six months is a good time, as this allows enough cuts to work towards the hairstyle you really want.’
Q4: Would you advise a change in hairstyle or colour for the wedding day?
A4: ‘You should never change your hairstyle or colour just before your wedding – you’ll look too different on your photographs. Live with a new hairstyle or colour for at least three months so you’re familiar with the look. If you never wear your hair up, then don’t wear it up on the wedding day as, again, it won’t be an image with which you are familiar. The colour of your hair must blend in with the colour of your dress or suit, and it should also complement your skin tones. Your hairdresser should be able to advise you on this. The groom should avoid having his hair cut the day before the wedding – aim for a cut around a week before the big day instead.’
Q5: What about using fresh flowers in your hair?
A5: ‘If you choose fresh flowers such as tea roses, ask the florist to wire them in advance to stop them opening up. Good florists are familiar with this practice.’
Q6: And other hair decorations?
A6: ‘Flowers and feathers can look lovely, crystals and scattered flowers can look dated, but a cluster of flowers can look good if you don’t plan to wear a head-dress. They should always be worn on the side of the hair parting, never on the other side as it will look unbalanced. If you have a middle parting, flowers should be placed on both sides of the face for a balanced look.’
Q7: What about hats?
A7: ‘A hat should be kept small to avoid hiding the face as everyone wants to look at the bride’s expressions.’
Q8: What are the current trends and fashion for the brides’ hair?
A8: ‘Styles are a lot more funky at the moment. The fashion for brides with long hair is to wear half of it up and the other half of it down, but it obviously depends on the style of dress. There is certainly a trend towards a less sculpted look.’
Q9: Is it OK for the bride to use a hairpiece?
A9: ‘As long as you have used hairpieces before, so that again you are familiar with the look. It may sound obvious, but make absolutely sure that any head-dress you choose is attached to your own hair, NOT the hairpiece, so that if you take the head-dress off, the hairpiece doesn’t come off with it!’
Q10: How can a bride maintain a hairstyle throughout what can be a long day?
A10: ‘If you are going to wear it up, wash your hair the night before rather than the day of the wedding, otherwise it’ll be too soft to work with and it won’t stay up. Definitely fix the hairstyle, using a good spray that doesn’t give a solid look. Test different products before the wedding to see which works best at holding your hairstyle in place.’
Q11: Should all the bridesmaids have the same hairstyle?
A11: ‘No – that’s too old-fashioned. Each should be styled to suit their face and personality.’
Q12: Are there any special considerations when choosing to get married abroad?
A12: ‘If you are marrying on a beach, try to arrange for the ceremony to take place under a canopy, as standing in the sun can make you feel ill, your eyes can water with the glare and your hair will not respond well to intensive heat. It’s worth remembering that doing your own hair on your wedding day can be a lonely experience, so you should ideally have a friend, family member or friendly professional to help you get ready.’
Q13: Any other tips?
A13: ‘You should think about your hairstyle at the very beginning of your wedding plans – at the same time as you start discussing the church, reception and dress or suit. This gives you time to create the look you want so you feel totally confident that you look your absolute best for what is one of the most important days of your life.’
Two-time North West Hairdresser of the Year Pat Wood has run salons and styled the hair of many celebrities. She now travels the world training young hairdressers and demonstrating new techniques.
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