Let’s face it, on your wedding day your look matters… some might say too much so, but we’ll never admit to that. You want a wedding look that WOWs but also one that you’ll be happy with looking back on in those wedding photos for years to come. That’s why bridal makeup is so transformative. The good news: it doesn’t just stop at the makeup, your hair also can be transformative. Not only your hair style, but the color and cut — the cut more so for the impact it has on the style, but your color, well that’s something special all on its own. Now some of us have colored our hair so frequently we couldn’t tell you what our natural color is if we tried, but that’s not to say that applies to everyone. I know a girl who literally has never colored her hair once, not even in middle or high school! But the day to day aside, sometimes for your wedding day, it’s just what you want. So whether you’re a regular in the salon chair for a color or this is your first time even considering it, this is advice you’ll want to know — all from a wedding hair artist — because when it comes to your wedding and your look, there’s no such thing as too much knowledge! So we’re talking timeline, finding a colorist, shade requests, and after-care for colored hair. Let’s dive right in!
Meet the Expert
Courtney Weidens is an experienced wedding hair artist at Elevate Hair Salon
The Timeline for Coloring Your Hair
Everything starts with the timeline because making sure everything is scheduled just so makes the wedding planning process that much easier. For coloring your hair, Weidens suggests getting it done two weeks before the wedding day so you have enough time to get used to it or adjust the color if necessary. The good news, she says, is that if it’s done right then two weeks in advance means you won’t have to come back, unless you want to adjust it of course!
Now if you need just a color correction appointment, because you want to “fix” bands or foils bleed, or maybe even want a simple toning, then Weidens warns the two week timeline may not apply here. She says this may need to be done in steps, depending on how sever the correction is, so she suggests getting a consultation at least one month prior to the wedding day, so you can book multiple appointments if necessary.
One last word on timing… Weidens tells us, “A good haircut is always suggested at your coloring service! You need a fresh cut so no matter what kind of updo or style you are doing for your wedding day it looks clean.” So that’s something you’ll want to make sure you book for also when scheduling the color appointment.
Related: Get the Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist (with timeline)
Finding Your Colorist
With so many professionals out there it’s hard to find the right one, especially if this is a new experience for you. You want someone experienced, but also who will listen to you and execute on your wishes… sometimes that’s a lot to ask for (not that it should be). That’s why we love Weidens advice — she says: “If you’re coloring your hair for the first time and are looking for a stylist that best suits you, I suggest looking at their Instagram account. This will give you an idea of their style and the type of clients they provide services for! Find someone that is approachable and send them a DM!” And of course, we always like to say to check comments because sometimes you’ll find exactly what the client thought lurking in a comment and nothing is better than that firsthand kind of testimonial.
Related: Find Your Perfect Hair Artist
Shade Requests
There’s nothing worse than thinking you want one shade and finding out just how wrong you were. We’ve all been there (if we’ve colored before), so when making shade requests, the best thing you can do is find some photos. For this Pinterest is great, or you can even look to your favorite celebrity magazine. Weidens confirms that this gives the stylist a much better idea of what you’re trying to achieve. And hopefully, if that color just won’t do it for you, they’ll be honest and tell you that, but that all goes back to finding someone you can trust (see above)….
Ultimately, our expert explains, “I always tell my clients not to make a huge color change before their wedding! Don’t go black to blonde or blonde to red! You want to look back at your photos in ten years and still love your hair color! Making drastic changes before your wedding will make you say ‘what the heck was I thinking!’.” And ain’t nobody needs that!
Proper After-Care for Colored Hair
Now if you just got your hair colored two weeks out from your wedding as suggested, you’ll want to make sure you take the proper after-care steps for protecting your colored hair (especially if you love it !). Weidens advises to rely on professional products. She says they’re the key to great after-care for a coloring service. “Heat protector is a must! And if your an everyday washer, stop! It’s fading your color faster than you want!”
And when it comes to those shampoo and conditioner choices, she shares, “Our salon uses Matrix color safe shampoo and conditioner, and it’s affordable! But if you are looking for something more high-end I always recommend Verb or Joico products! I love the Ghost shampoo and conditioner and follow it with all Joico styling products.”
Related: Must-know Pre-wedding Hair Treatment Advice
Photo courtesy of Vanessa Joy Photography
1 comentario
Finding a good colorist was the hardest thing in the world after I moved with my fiancé. I’m glad I now know it’s suggested 2 weeks out.