Choosing a hairstyle for your wedding can be as tricky as choosing the dress, but fortunately there are hundreds of bridal magazines and websites that offer detailed pictures and guides to creating that perfect look.
Because this is a special day it would be a good idea to book a professional wedding stylist, who will be able to advise you on styles that suit your hair and face shape. They will also be able to create some rehearsal styles for you before the wedding, so that you can get a good idea of how you hair will look on the day.
The main concern most women have when choosing a wedding hairstyles is whether to have their hair up or down. Basically 'up dos' suit more formal weddings, as they create a very elegant, classic look. Higher 'up dos', where the hair is piled on the top of the head compliment and balance round faces shapes, whereas those with longer faces will suit hair that is styled out to the sides more, with some width and volume. Think about whether you wear your hair up normally, as some 'up dos' can be quite tightly pulled away from your face and can be uncomfortable if you are not used to it. If you have a wide face consider having some tendrils of hair teased free of the main do, to soften and feminize your features. Another consideration is the type of dress you are wearing. If it is a low-cut or off-the-shoulder dress you may feel very exposed it all your hair is styled up and away. 'Down dos' can create a softer, romantic, and more youthful look. This suits more informal weddings and less glamorous dresses.
Another consideration is whether you have curly or straight hair. As this is a special day you may want to consider how you normally have your hair, straight or curly, and then choose the opposite to create a totally new look. It is very popular these days to have curly hair at weddings, and the variations are endless from soft, romantic loose curls, to tight, high volume spirals. If you would like straight hair, then it must be glossy and in good condition, so make sure you get a good basic cut first to get rid of dry, split ends, and then use straighteners to create that sleek, glossy look.
Veils are not so popular these days, but if you would like to wear one it must be a part of your hairstyle. This style will need to be sturdy enough to hold the veil in place and as a general rule the hair should never be longer than the veil itself.
Tiara's are still a popular accessorize for bridal hair, and you can buy many different shapes and designs to suit both your dress and hairstyle. A tiara suits 'up dos', and creates a very classic elegant look, but it can also look fantastic against a background of high volume curls. Consider your hair colour when you are choosing a tiara, as you will need it to be visible, but not stand out too much.
Other accessories for your wedding hairstyle include jewels, flowers and pearls. Jewelled clips are wonderful for adding an extra bit of sparkle to your hair, and silk flower clips can compliment the colour scheme of your dress. Flowers can also be mounted on combs or grips and used to liven up simple french pleats and twists, or used as a garland to wear around the crown of the head, to suit medieval themed dresses. For that truly elegant, classic look a chignon draped with a loop of pearls is stunning and timeless.
You might want to consider hair extensions or hairpieces if you have short hair, or hair that is in bad condition. Hair extensions should be applied by a specialist, and can be a great way of giving your hair a real boost in volume and length. You will need to take a lot of care of your extensions though, so if you are going on a honeymoon straight after the wedding that involves lots of water sports or outdoor activities, it may not be a good idea to invest in hair extensions. Hairpieces are great for a temporary boost to volume, and can be a good way of achieving a glamorous style with fine, shorter hair.