Planning Your Wedding

Bridal Hair Devon

Bridal Hair Devon

Up or down... or half-up? Tousled or straight? And what about hair jewellery? With so many options to choose from, how do you decide on a bridal hairstyle?



We help you out with expert info from the stylists so you can ensure your look is effortlessly #hairgoals

So, first things first. How do you decide what kind of hairstyle to go for on your wedding day? It can be tempting to opt for something totally unique, but a great piece of advice from Rebekah from The Pop-Up Salon (thepopupsalon.co.uk) is that your hair should complement the theme of the wedding and not steal the show. "Think about when you feel at your most beautiful and use that as your starting point," she recommends.

However, that doesn't mean you should fixate upon one style you have in mind. "It's great to be open-minded too, as I always think it is like choosing your wedding dress - you don't know until you try," says Emma of Hair by Emma C (hairbyemmac.net).

The dress is an important element to consider - what kind of style is it? "Think about the compatibility of your hairstyle with your dress," say bridal hair specialists Nicola and Rebecca of Gershwins Hairdressing (gershwins-hairdressing.com). Do you have a beautiful back detail that you would like to have on show? Have a look at similar dresses and styles and see what hairstyles the models or brides have opted for. "However, it is important to bear in mind your own hair length, thickness and style," says Ellie of The Updo Girl (theupdogirl.com) "For example, if the image you have seen has a loose, layered, sweeping fringe gently pulled back but you have a single-length, full fringe, the final look will be quite different."

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Hair Brigitte Fisher
Flowers Winsor Flower Studio
Mimosa Photography

Think about your surroundings too. "You should consider whether the style is suitable for where you plan to marry. Although a looser style looks beautiful in a photo, you might be having an outdoor wedding and you need to think of the longevity of the style, especially when it has to survive all possible weather conditions," says Ellie.

So if you need inspiration, where should you turn? Pinterest, Instagram and wedding magazines are really good for sparking ideas, and help you to identify trends. Our experts have identified some of the upcoming fashions in wedding hair, so if they fit in with the style of your wedding, and you have the hair type for it, talk through these styles with your hairdresser.

"Our most frequently requested look for 2018 is a softly waved style secured into a low chignon or bun," says Rebekah. It's a look that's set to be even more popular thanks to the recent royal wedding. "Meghan Markle's loose chignon was styled with romantic loose tendrils and this soft dreamy look will no doubt inspire the direction of wedding hair for next season," says Helen of Hello Gorgeous (hellogorgeoustruro.com).

Boho braids are also here to stay, and can be incorporated as a half-up, half-down style or worked into an updo, looking as chic or relaxed as you want.

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Hair Gershwins Hairdressing
Flowers Laura Hingston Flowers
Lucy Shergold Photography

"I've noticed the styles I've been requested to create lately are a lot more textured and 'airy', usually sitting lower on the nape of the neck," says Ellie, with Emma describing the look as "loose, natural and effortless".

And it's not just about the hair itself any more, with trends predicting brides will be using ribbons and flora to full effect, plus "accessories such as fresh flowers, and trailing garlands of the jewelled and flower variety", say Nicola and Rebecca.

"Sleek and simple low buns and ponytails dressed with white silk or velvet ribbons adds an ethereal and magical touch to any wedding hairstyle," explains Helen. "You will even start to see petals dusted over soft curls and big floral headdresses with plenty of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' inspiration."

It can be easy to make mistakes when choosing your bridal hair, say our experts, but you're not alone in that. "The most common mistake I hear of is that a bride chose a style that was completely different to something she'd usually have," says Ellie. While there's nothing wrong with trying something new or slightly alternative, make sure you feel happy and comfortable with what you have chosen.

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Hair Gershwins hairdressing
Emma Solley Photography

"Some brides like to choose a really extravagant style because they want to go all out, and often go for something that they've seen on Pinterest or Instagram," explains Helen. "Unfortunately, this can leave a lot of brides feeling disappointed as it's often impossible to recreate these looks on real hair. These unrealistic images can be just that, and are achieved through using wigs or heavy editing."

Emma's advice is to know your own hair and look at styles in the same colour. "Lighter hair shades such as blonde show off detail like smaller plaits a lot better, so if you have really dark hair, the chances are they will just get lost within the style," she says.

Plus, take heed of Helen's sage advice. "Some brides like to avoid trims to gain extra length, but this will result in split ends and will mean that your hair won't style or hold as well," she says. "I would advise you to have your hair trimmed regularly - and it's important not to take any risks or make any drastic colour or style changes close to the wedding."

So to ensure your chosen style really is the right one for you, what advice do our experts have? You'll be happy to hear they all fully agree on the ultimate top tip: book a hair trial!

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Hair The Updo Girl
Headpiece The Lucky Sixpence
Clare Kinchin Photography

"Book in for a thorough consultation and trial with a stylist who really gets your style, spend time chatting and working out which hair really works best for you, taking face shape, hair texture and your individual style into account along with the style of dress, colours and themes," says Rebekah.

Emma agrees that a consultation is so important, and should never be rushed. "Take notes to your trial to tell your stylist about what you do and don't like when having your hair done," she says. "I never mind any of my brides doing this because it has to be perfect for you."

Helen recommends taking time to find a hairdresser you can trust and feel relaxed with. "Effective communication is key to achieving the look you envisage."

"We recommend you to speak to a professional who can advise what your hair will do, and we also have two videos on our Facebook page (facebook.com/gershwinshairdressing) that are a good starting point before you trial a variety of styles," say Nicola and Rebecca.

And one final, important piece of advice to remember when having your hair trial: don't be afraid to change your mind!  "Your wedding day is probably the day you will have the most photographs taken of you in your lifetime, so make sure you feel happy and comfortable with what you have chosen," says Ellie.

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Hair Brigitte Fisher
Headdress With A Gypsy Soul
Kirstin Prisk Photography


words Lucy Higgins
main image Hair The Pop Up Salon/McKenzie Brown Photography

BRAIDS
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Hair Brigitte Fisher
Emma Barrow Photography

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Hair Brigitte Fisher
Emma Stoner Photography

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Hair The Updo Girl

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Hair The Updo Girl

DREAMY UPDOS

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Hair Gershwins Hairdressing
Headpiece The Lucky Sixpence
Emma Solley Photography

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Hair Gershwins Hairdressing
Ethan Eliot Photography

Bridalhairdevon12
Hair The Pop Up Salon
McKenzie Brown Photography

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Hair Layla Smith
Headpiece Claire Austin
Emma Barrow Photography

SOFT WAVES

Bridalhairdevon15
Hair The Updo Girl

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Hair Gershwins Hairdressing
Ethan Eliot Photography

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Hair Gershwins Hairdressing
Emma Solley Photography

Bridalhairdevon20
Hair Layla Smith
Headpiece Claire Austin
Emma Barrow Photography

RIBBONS, FLOWERS AND JEWELS

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Hair Gershwins Hairdressing
Emma Solley Photography

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Hair Brigitte Fisher
Mimosa Photography

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Hair Gershwins Hairdressing
Emma Solley Photography

Copyright Wed magazine 2018



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