We are often asked “how” a bride should begin choosing her wedding day hairstyle. In all honesty, there is no specific answer. Your hair style should compliment your dress as well as your face shape. That being said, sometimes the style you like might not match your dress (as it might cover the details on the dress) or your face, so its always good to get advice from your stylist as he/she will know what suits you best! Below are some crib-notes on the most popular styles.
Popular Wedding Day Hair Styles
Updo
This has quickly become a popular style for brides. Whether you style it high or low, this hairstyle lets the focus remain on your face, ensuring that nothing will get in the way on your beautiful day. It’s also a great way to add flowers or other adornments to your hair, and give that extra pop in pictures that helps compliment your dress.
The Messy Bun
If a whimsical, fairy-tale wedding is your dream, a messy bun may be the perfect updo for you. A messy bun looks effortless; as if it didn’t take you half the day to get the look and yet somehow you look perfectly put-together. This look is a great complement to a flowing wedding dress, and can make a wedding seem a little less uptight and formal.
To pump up hair and add more definition to the bun, try using a volumizing spray before you set your bun. This will give your hair some volume and thickness, while also holding the bun in place.
1/2 up 1/2 down
By far the most popular of wedding hairstyles, this look can be achieved a number of different ways. You can add in braiding or weaving, decorative pins, flowers, or hair accessories, or keep it simple and classy. This hairstyle also works well with straight or curly hair, and and can be left long in the back or pinned up in a half bun or braid, depending on the look you are going for.
All down
Ideal for a summer or beach wedding, this hairstyle is simple yet breathtaking. It’s best for women who have medium length hair, and is a great style for fine hair, as it can easily add volume and thickness. All you need is a curling iron and hairspray, and you’ll be ready to dance the night away, (without having to worry about your hair!).
Side bun/ponytail
This gives a modern twist to the traditional bun. The style suits most faces, and is great for those who like a bit of hair showing but still want it off their shoulder. It always looks really beautiful with a flower and is playful, young and fresh. You will want to consider which side your bun/pony is placed. Take into consideration any detail on your dress AND the side facing the guests during the ceremony.
Braids
A fun braid is a great current hairstyle to try! This trend has been around for a while now, likely because of its feminine beauty and versatility. Whether you want a french plait, a braided crown, or a couple of braids woven into a hairstyle, there are endless possibilities.
Hair accessories
As much as you want to rush out and buy everything you like JUST IN CASE you can wear it for your wedding day, STOP! Try going shopping after you’ve had your trial just so you know what to look for. Also, the style you thought you like may not necessarily be the one you end up having. We do carry a limited supply of items from Hair Comes the Bride or you can order from their Try Then Buy program. It’s a great way to try a couple of different accessories before committing!
Just one last thing, please be realistic! Everyone’s hair is different, so what you see in a photograph may not be right for you. Instead, your stylist should be able to do a version just for you so that it matches your features and dress so be open to suggestions and don’t stress about it! Have fun!
Choosing the right bridal hair accessories can be the perfect way for any bride to enhance that special glow.
Jeweled Headpieces
Looking for a way to add a little sparkle to your wedding day look? Here’s what’s trending in bridal headwear this season from one of our favorite accessory suppliers – Hair Comes the Bride!
A touch of silver and sparkle is very much en vogue. It’s also a brilliant way to create a bridal look that is as unique as you.
Foliage designs remain popular but have evolved to depict more natural elements such as hair vines available in both subtle and larger headpieces to create a more twinkly effect.
Silver forms the base for the most stylish designs, with the sophisticated glitter of pearls, crystals and beading adding wow-factor in the detail.
Faux Floral Options
Brides looking for a spring/summer, casual or beachy look will love the real-life looking flowers. What we love as stylists is that options are available as a clip or hair pin!
Babydoll Weddings carries a limited variety in the Salon or we can special order pieces for your trial with two week’s notice. Simply email our Bridal Liaison or order directly from Hair Comes the Bride using their Try Then Buy program.
To see more beautiful accessories, from head pieces to hair combs, and discover pretty bridal jewelry too, visitHair Comes the Bride
Hair Comes The Bride is here to help! You can build your own personal look book with pieces chosen just for you. Be sure to use the code BabydollWeddings10 to save 10% on your purchase.
Getting married is one of the biggest life events you’ll ever 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 for your big day is often 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 what makes you feel beautiful so that you have peace of mind as you walk down the aisle.
The Consultation and Trial
Your hair and makeup consultation and trial should ideally take place 6-8 weeks prior to the wedding. During this consultation, our stylist will ask you a series of questions to gain an understanding of the styles you like. Bring photos as we don’t always speak the same language! We will advise you about what will work best to accentuate your features and compliment your dress. Your role is to have an open and honest relationship with us and to tell us what you think!
Just like you would bring your shoes and the proper undergarments to a dress fitting, you need to bring all the proper goods to your hair and makeup trial. Bring your veil, headpiece, flowers or barrettes to your appointment so you can see what they will look like with your hairstyle. Come with your hair prepped as you would have it the day of your wedding: preferably unwashed with little to no product as possible. Same for your face. Show up with a fresh face (moisturizer is okay). We can provide makeup wipes if you are coming from work and applied makeup in the morning. As with the hair, your stylist will ask questions regarding colors you normally wear and how you want to look on your wedding day. Provide input and let us know if you don’t like something. We can change it.
Depending on the hair style, we may recommend hair extensions to provide extra volume – even if you are entertaining an up-do. We offer both rental and purchase options so that you can choose what works best with your budget.
What Does “Trial” Mean
It is important to note that a trial is just that – a time to see what you like and what you don’t like, what works and what doesn’t. We will take notes and photos so that we can review them on your wedding day and use the same colors we used at your trial. That being said, you may decide, upon getting home, that the red is a little too bright, or that you really do want the winged eyeliner your maid of honor decided is too dramatic. It’s ok. We are happy to make those adjustments to ensure you are the best version of you on this day!
On-the-day Preparations
We provide a tentative timeline with each and every invoice we send you. This provides a snapshot of the timeframe it will take on your wedding day to style those you’ve contracted us to pamper. We create this as soon as you secure your date so that we can catch any issues (i.e. you can’t get into the venue as early as we need to start) and adjust accordingly. The timeline is finalized 30 days before the wedding allowing you time to communicate it to your bridesmaids and anyone else receiving services. Making sure that everyone is ready to hop in the chair when assigned will ensure the day flows smoothly and keep us on track!
Remember
Wedding planning can become super stressful, especially as your day gets closer. Your wedding hair trial and wedding makeup trial is important, so kick back, relax, and be pampered! Go in with a positive attitude, bring a pal or your mom if you want to, and let yourself have a good time while you get beautified. Trust your inspiration and your stylist and you’ll leave nothing but happy!
Classic Romantic Makeup Looks That Are Swoon Worthy
I absolutely love it when our favorite wedding photographers email us GORGEOUS wedding photos of our brides…and dolls, this one is rocking my soul so hard. This classic romantic makeup look has me swooning!
Our makeup artist Sabrina did the makeup for this wedding and everything came together so beautifully. Enjoy this tasty treat on your Thursday morning.
These photos are the work of the uber talented Abby Dennison Photography. She captured this look so beautifully, don’t you think?
I always say a great makeup artist and a great photographer go hand in hand. Enjoy!
Get This Look
Eyes: Urban Decay Eye Shadows in white, kryola, warm brown and dark brown
Sabrina was also the master artist for this retro pin-up style look.
I love how the bride’s up-do perfectly complements her bight red pout! Thanks to Josh at Royal Escape Productions for perfectly capturing this Doll’s personality.
You don’t have to be a bride to want your makeup to go the distance. We all cringe when we look in the mirror at 3pm and see our freckles have popped through our foundation, our mascara is shadowing our lower lashes and our lipstick is (gasp) gone! Here are some great tips you can do to make your makeup sweat, shine and hug proof for the big day and every day beyond.
Your Foundation
1. Clean, hydrated skin. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. If you apply makeup to dry, un-moisturized skin, chances are your base will come off sooner and look uneven. The makeup or primer needs something to cling to!
2. Primer. A primer isn’t only there to make you makeup look fresh, it also helps keep your makeup on longer. Often primers double as mattifiers and pore minimizers so you can eliminate shine while giving your makeup a great surface to sit on. (Tip: primer needs to settle before makeup is applied so wait a few minutes before makeup application).
3. Foundation that works for your skin type. Foundations are not all created equal and some are built to last longer than others (Tip: to create a longer lasting base, spray your foundation brush or sponge with a setting spray before applying).
The Eyes Have It
4. Eye Primers or Cream Eye shadows. Wedding makeup is expected to last up to 15 hours. Avoid creased eye shadow by applying a primer made for the eyes or a long lasting cream eye shadow. The primers create a crease-free surface for your shadow to sit on and should make your eye makeup bullet proof. (Tip: eye primers need an oil based eye makeup remover to remove as they are built to stay).
5. Powder. You don’t need bucket loads of powder to make your makeup last, but you do need the right kind. Powders that are made to absorb oil and are color free are fantastic for long wear. Too much pressed powder can result in a cakey look so go easy.
Kissable Lips
6. Lips. If a bold lip is what you’re going for, use a long lasting or liquid lipstick. These tend to be matte and stay on for longer. A stain under gloss can also help it to last and high shine over nude lips will always give you more lip time. (Tip: Do carry a gloss and lipstick with you for touch-ups. Lips are the one thing that always need touching up).
7. Setting spray. Use a setting spray as insurance that your makeup will still look flawless even at the end of the night (Tip: hairspray is not a setting spray!)
8. Look after it. Maintain your look! If it’s a hot day and you’re sweating, use a tissue to blot down. If you are a crier, use a folded tissue or handkerchief and catch the tears before they hit your face. (Tip: Allocate a bridesmaid to be on makeup duty and have them remind you to touch up lips or de-shine throughout the day).
With these tips, you’ll have a makeup that lasts the day and long into the night.
The last thing we want in the heat of summer is heavy, clumpy makeup so many of us lighten our beauty routine to a more natural look. Lashes, however, are a year-round necessity. Our experts put together these five tips to ensure that you get perfect eyelashes without going to the expense of extensions.
1. Eyelash curlers are a must.
Lash curlers are optimal to getting that “wow” factor. Not all curlers are alike, though, so be sure to choose one that creates a beautiful upward curl. With a delicate motion, move from the lash base upward for maximum results. And always curl before applying mascara, not after. We love the glamorous curls you get with Shiseido’s curler. Silicon pad curls from base to tip and includes one replacement pad.
2. Rest between mascara applications.
Patience is a virtue. Give your lashes a little bit of drying time between each coat. This will allow the mascara to set allowing you to add volume with each coat.
3. Comb your lashes.
We don’t know about you but we hate clumpy lashes. To avoid this, use a metal-toothed lash comb. Wait a few seconds after applying your coat of mascara and then brush through your lashes. Once dry, apply your next coat and repeat. Try the Lift Off Lash Comb for a refined look.
4. Stick with one brand.
Mixing brands (layering one over the other) can lead to clumping as not all formulas are made to blend. Should you decide to experiment, keep your lash comb close by to catch any potential clumps.
5. Condition your lashes.
Just like your hair, your lashes need a little TLC. Lash conditioners work as a primer, creating a good foundation for mascara. Growth treatments like Latisse stimulate the eyelash growth cycle, making it longer, so lashes come in longer, darker and thicker,” but you must stick with the regime to see results. Full results take within 2-3 months, while improvements show within 4 weeks.
Perfect Pin-Up
