It’s a given that every single bride wants to look beautiful on her wedding day, and while some may argue that winter hairstyles are no different from looks at any other time of year, there are some things you really ought to consider for winter weddings. We asked acclaimed bridal hairstylist Vicki Lord for her top tips…
Get the right tools
Looking radiant in the winter will take some extra work and care – however, armed with the right products, preparation and mindset you can ensure you look perfect on your wedding day. Winter weather plays havoc with our hair and causes it to dry out and become frizzy – especially in cold, less humid climates. Moisture is sucked away from your locks, causing hair to become static, so it’s best to use a natural bristle brush or a wide tooth wooden comb. I recommend The Bristle Brush Company.
Keep your hair in good condition
In the months leading up to the wedding I recommend choosing a deep conditioning treatment to keep hair and scalp moisturised. Apply this to your locks frequently to nourish your lengths and ends so they are kept in optimum condition. It might seem like a lot of fuss, but it really doesn’t take much to add this into your beauty regime and will make all the difference on the day.
For strong, glossy locks on your wedding day, I recommend using Aveda’s Damage Remedy™ Intensive Restructuring Treatment, which is made with plant oils to help penetrate hair and restore silkiness and shine. Kérastase also have an amazing range of lightweight serums, which are great for fine hair – just be sure to only use it on the lengths of your hair, and stay away from the roots to avoid making them oily.
Embrace the updo
Winter brides also need to think about their natural hair texture and type more than summer brides. I strongly recommend that you let your hair be itself and work with it instead of fighting against it. You can try to a degree to force your hair into unnatural shapes, but what with cold winds outside and central heating inside, fine straight hair will be more prone to drop curls, while naturally thick hair may frizz.
Updos are your best bet if you’re trying to tame unruly hair, as they’re more likely to withstand changes in the climate. Choosing an updo will mean that your hair will be neatly tucked into a beautiful style that won’t budge throughout the day.
Choose the right products
Ensure that your hair stylist uses premium products to really help you avoid hair disasters on your special day. Hair products will vary depending on the style you choose, but for curls I recommend a good volumiser such as Aveda’s Volumizing Tonic™, and Bumble and bumble’s Defrizz to smooth frizzy ends. I also recommend your style is set with a good helping of a high-quality hairspray such as L’Oréal Elnett to stop it losing its shape.
Consider your outfit
A lot of winter brides will wear a beautiful faux fur stole or shrug to keep warm while walking down the aisle and having their pictures taken outside. If you are considering a shawl, you must take this into consideration when choosing your hairsyle.
If you decide to wear a low bun at the side or back, the bottom of the bun may rub against your stole – this will not only make your hair look windswept, but will also weaken the hairstyle and cause it to fall out. You can still wear a bun, but just make sure that your hairdresser is aware that you’ll be wearing something to cover your shoulders so that they can make your hair high enough.
Many brides go for heavy luxurious fabrics when choosing their winter wedding dress and these may have many buttons at the back which you could get your hair tangled on. I would recommend having your hair up if you are going for this option so that you can avoid this nightmare scenario and also fully show off the intricate detailing on your wedding dress.
Brides choosing a high-necked dress should also try and wear their hair up as high as possible to create height – this will elongate your neckline and make you feel tall and slender. You could opt for hair to be swept to the side if you feel uncomfortable with all your hair up, and have a few loose strands to frame your face.
Add some sparkle
Winter brides can indulge not only in rich colours and fabrics but plenty of sparkle too. As the winter light fades and the crisp cold night starts to fall, a winter bride will look stunning with a glitzy hair accessory. Flowers may be a little more limited at this time of the year, but brides can experiment with feathers, diamantes and beautifully coloured jewels.
These days brides have a wide range of hair accessories from headbands, combs, tiaras, fascinators, skull caps or hair pins to choose from – there’s something for everyone, regardless of whether you want an extravagant statement piece or a more simple accessory. Enjoy finding the right thing for you and don’t forget to show your hairdresser what you want to use so they can factor this into your hairstyle on your special day.
Thank you for the great advice, Vicki! If you’re looking for more winter wedding tips, why not check out some of our other Winter Wedding articles?
