Hair. Ohhh… hair. It’s such a big deal that feminist movements have shaven theirs off. That Broadway musicals have been created around the central theme of ‘hair’.

Hair. It’s such a big deal, no wonder why so many brides stress and worry over their perfect hair ‘do’ for the big day.

A few weeks ago, in my blog about our bridal photoshoot for Rosalind’s Bridal, I offered up my humble advice for wedding day make-up. Now – as promised – I want to complete that post by showing you the hairstyles that the stylists of Halcyon Aveda did for our 5 blushing bridal models.

But first: a word on bridal hair:
Up, Down, Sideways, Curls, Straight, Flowers, Tiaras.. oh so many choices! No wonder bridal hair is so difficult, with endless amount of choices, and not to mention the infinite amount of hair types and brides out there. But I offer you my humble advice, just 2 meager words: Don’t Settle.

“Don’t Settle”?? WHAT do you mean, you’re probably thinking. Well…. check out the photos and then make sure to read the bottom for an explanation on “Don’t Settle”!  

Now on to the “dos”!

The “Up” but Low do: This can be classy or fun, great for almost any bride out there.. and you surprisingly don’t need a lot of hair to do it. To add a bit of fun, you can weave in braids too!

The Side Do: Asymmetrical is quite a hit right now! A side-do can give you a bit of romance, flirtatious fun, glamour and class all rolled into one! Perfect for long or short hair, and looks great with flowers or a headband or any bit of ‘sparkle’ in your hair.

The Down Do: Looking for some romance? A touch of “Cinderella” in your wedding? Half-down do’s with lots of curls will accomplish that for your wedding day! I love the romantic look of cascading curls and with a tiara to top it off. For straight hair, down do’s can also add a bit of fun too!

So back to “Don’t Settle”. In my experience as a wedding planner, a bridesmaid, a friend, and yes, even a bride …. every bride at some point can wonder, “oh, this is good enough” or “ok, I don’t need to spend another $50+ on another trial, I’ll just go with this stylist”. Well ladies… I call that settling. Yes, I understand the need to balance your wedding budget with your beauty expectations. But .. seriously. This is your wedding day. And this is how YOU look. And everyone will be looking at YOU. These will be the wedding photos that hang above your fireplace, on the walls of your home, on your iPhone that you’ll show everyone, sent to grandma and grandpa for their fireplace mantle, (get the picture?). I think I’m doing you, your photographer, your hubby and anyone involved when I say: Don’t Settle.

Your hair plays a big part in your wedding day “look” and can make the difference between giving you a romantic or classy look, a flirtatious or sexy look. Many times since hair & make-up might be the last vendors you book, it might feel easy to compromise on it in lieu of saving a few wedding day dollars or time or effort. But I will say it again: don’t settle. And for all you bridesmaids and friends out there, don’t let your bride-to-be friend settle!

 Now, that doesn’t mean that you need to find a hair stylist that charges celebrity prices for your wedding day hair, but what it does mean is that you should find a stylist who can create the hairstyle that you want for your wedding day, with ease.

So don’t feel guilty getting multiple trials if you’re not happy with your hair. Bring with you multiple pictures of what you want your hair to look like. Also bring a picture of yourself where you like the way you looked. And watch while your stylist is doing your hair… if it’s going a way you’re not feeling comfortable with, speak up! It’s easier to fix the hairstyle while in the process, rather than re-doing it when it’s all finished. And hopefully, you will be pleasantly surprised and come out with the hairstyle of your dreams for the day of your lifetime!

* Special thanks to the stylists of Halcyon Aveda Salon in La Jolla for creating our bridal looks!