Celebrity hair stylist Vicki Lord has been in the industry for 25 years and specialises in bespoke bridal hairdressing. We caught up with her for a chat and ask her about what you should expect from your bridal hairdresser…
Getting married is one of the biggest life events you’ll ever have to prepare for and becoming a bride is an incredibly unique journey for every woman. Your planning list seems endless and making sure that everything is done and perfect ahead of your big day can be daunting and stressful.
How you look on the day is also paramount. All eyes are on you so it’s important that you choose what’s right for you and your special day. You have to put so much trust in other people to get your big day look just right, so you’ll have peace of mind that you’ll look perfect when you walk down the aisle.
Choosing your perfect hair stylist
The first step is to find a hair stylist with a strong bridal portfolio that you like the look of. Then you’ll need contact them and get a quote that’s within your budget and to check their availability. Allow plenty of time before your wedding to select a stylist, ideally six months to a year. If there’s someone you must have, book them as soon as you know your wedding date.
If you want that extra polished look for your big day then take to find a hairstylist with lots of bridal hair experience. Bridal hair styling is very creative, so it’s important to find somebody who has the right abilities and passion to style your hair in the way you want.
Ask your hairdresser to suggest hairstyles for your bridesmaids that will compliment your chosen look but not over power you. After all you’ll be the centre of attention and you’ll want your bridesmaids to be enhance your look, without stealing the limelight.
I would always choose a separate make-up artist and hairdresser, especially if you want the wow factor in each department. Hairdressers are taught everything there is to know about hair and a good make up artist will have gone through a similar lengthy process to learn their craft.
I am not suggesting that make up artists that offer hair styling services are not trustworthy. Some are very good, however, make up and hair are two completely different jobs. It’s worth bearing in mind that it takes three to four years to become a fully fledged hairdresser. You don’t want to use somebody who’s trained in one field but has completed short courses to offer both services, so ask where and how they qualified.
A good hairdresser will carry premium brands that will make your hair style last and has a professional looking finish, so make sure you ask about what products they use.
The consultation and trial
Your hair consultation and trial should take place two months prior to the wedding. It’s really important that your hairdresser takes the time to have a thorough consultation, this should take at least an hour. It’s important that you get to know your hair stylist and their way of working, so you’re happy and confident with how you’ll look and feel on your big day.
During your consultation your hairdresser will get an understanding of your specific needs and styles. They’ll advice advise you about what works best for your style and will work with you to accentuate your existing features. Your hairdresser should also take your hair texture, face shape into consideration and chose the right hairstyle to compliment you and your dress.
A good hairdresser wants to work with you to create your vision for the big day and will experiment with different looks and styles until you are totally happy. This will mean not changing your individual style and allowing your natural beauty to shine through. You should have an open and honest relationship with your hairdresser, so don’t be shy about your opinions.
Be prepared that you may have to wear clip in hair extensions to create the extra volume needed even if you are going to wear your hair up. Your hairdresser will be able to recommend a good brand.
If possible have a hair and make-up trial on the same day so that you can see your whole look working together. Also, have your trial done in the morning so you can test to see how long it will last throughout the day.
On-the-day preparations
Make sure your hairdresser supplies a timetable for you and your bridesmaids so that everyone involved will know what is happening on the morning of the wedding. This will ensure things run smoothly on the day.
Don’t forget to send a copy of this timetable to your make-up artist. That way your stylists can work as a team and keep everything running like clockwork. It’s essential that you and your bridesmaids run on time to avoid that panic situation where the hairdresser does not have time to work on the bride because the make-up artist took too long or vice versa.
Want more hair and beauty tips? Our Wedding Beauty section is chock-full of big day inspiration!
