Preparing your hair before a big event.
Your Healthy Hair Guide
I'm not going to pretend I’m a great writer, in fact English was one of my less achieving subjects at school. However, I do have 16 years of hairdressing experience in and around Wanaka. Quite a few of those are in the wedding industry, so bare with me while I give you some helpful advice about long/ short term hair prep, extensions, colour, growth, accessories and choosing the right style for your Wanaka wedding or special event preparations.
The Long Game - Colour and Care:
Quite often weddings are planned pretty far ahead of the big day. If this is the case for you then you’ve got plenty of time up your sleeve to get your dream hair in order. If you don't already have your colour then start making a plan with your hairdresser. How do we get to the end goal? This might involve slowly pushing the hair blonder and brighter, working out the best toner for your skin tone and dress, trying out different depths and reflects in your brunettes, coppers and reds. Dimension is your friend. If you want your hairstyle to really pop, a few highlights or variations in colour will make the style and textures really stand out and look stunning in photos. The best advice for you will come from a trusted hairdresser, so make sure you have a thorough consultation, use reference photos and talk about maintaining the condition as well. This may include regular trims and treatments.
Growing your hair long?
T’s and T’s - trims and treatments, every 10-12 weeks to get rid of split ends and dry damage. Believe it or not, this will help your hair grow faster and healthier. Why? Because if you leave a split end, it will continue to split further up the hair strand, creating more damaged and unmanageable hair that needs to be cut off even higher.
Get treatments in your Wanaka salon with your colours and cuts. I recommend a bond infusion treatment like Olaplex, that will protect your hair from damage during a chemical service, and repair any existing breakage. This will enable your hair to be stronger, so it can grow long without breakage. There are three layers to the hair and all of them are important. The core. This is what your Olaplex or bond infusion treatments work on; this part is like the bones in your body, it holds everything up. The middle section. This is like the muscles. This part is best cared for with your mask style treatments. There are many different types to address. Whatever issue it is your hair might have, like dryness, damage, dullness, frizziness etc. And finally, the cuticle, which is the outside of your hair - the part we can feel, its like the skin. This is smoothed down using a conditioner, which can also be chosen depending on your hair needs. Conditioner is very important. If your cuticle is not smoothed down, it is not protected from environmental damage, and moisture can escape and colour will fade and the hair will be left dry and brittle. Take the time to talk to a trusted hairdresser and make a goal for your hair; create a plan and be consistent. Reduce heat styling where you can, and use the right products to care, protect, style and enhance.
The Short Game:
The wedding is fast approaching, it's time to lock in your hair style, here's some things to consider: What is your theme and what is your dress style? For example Boho, vintage, modern, sleek, rustic or beach? Choose a style that reflects the vibe of the wedding, but also consider how much hair you have? What will flatter the dress? What will enhance your facial features? What do you feel comfortable with? Play with your hair and work out where you like the parting. Do you need the shaping around your face cut and styled? If you're unsure you can always send me pictures and ask for advice or you can talk to your hairdresser, friends, family, get opinions, visit Google and Pinterest and do some research.
We don't always have to accept our hairs’ limits; there's always extensions. If you need thicker or longer hair you can look into extensions. I usually recommend human hair removables which allows us to place them according to the style, there are different types like halo, clip in and ponytail for a great range. If you're unsure please feel free to reach out and ask. You will need to colour match these as close as possible and potentially still need them coloured and cut to shape for the perfect match. I recommend checking out Superior Hair for purchasing great quality extensions in New Zealand.
Accessories:
Once you've worked out your theme, dress and style you can decide if any hair accessories would enhance your look. This might be something you've found in a shop or hunted down online. I like to keep a few options on hand which would be available for you to purchase if needed, or bring a few options if you're not sure how it will fit into the style. A popular choice is flowers, fresh is always stunning and you'll need to talk to your florist to arrange the right look. If you're looking for a florist that's great with hair pieces, I recommend Flowers By Alexandra. You can also use faux ones of your choice if this suits you better.
If you are having your hair coloured before the event the best time is about a week before, to give the colour time to settle.
On The Day Prep:
The best way to prepare your hair on the day of your Wanaka wedding or event is to:
Wash your hair the day of or the day before. Naturally oily or super fine hair types, and guests wanting a volume blow wave will need to shampoo and condition hair the morning of the event.
Let hair dry naturally or blow dry it. Make sure when the hair is drying it is parted where you want it for the style. Refrain from using hair irons as they flatten the hair too much and it becomes difficult to add any volume and curl back in.
Arrive with your hair product free. Oil based products can make the hair flat and limp and could affect your style lasting the day.
Where the bridal look is concerned there's a lot of decisions to make and it can be tough so I always recommend a trial. In a trial we can try out a couple of different looks, I can get to know you and your style -have in depth discussions, create a plan, look at pictures, and talk about accessories or try them out.
This will give you peace of mind that you've found your perfect look. I am always happy to answer emails with any questions you may have.
Please contact me for a free wedding hair consultation or bridal makeup advice at any time.