Her Hair Glows Like Magic
-Karen Vander, Copyrighted HotBridesOnline.com

To look your best on your wedding day, we recommend the following:

3 months prior to your wedding

• Start a monthly skincare regimen with facials. Look for a salon that specializes in microdermabrasion and chemical peels.
• Consult with a hair-care / color specialist to make sure your hair is perfect.
• Book all appointments for the "big day." Make sure your hair stylist and make-up artist are available on your wedding day. Schedule your trial appointments.

1 month before the wedding

• Hair Extensions are great for long and flowing hair
• Eyelash Extensions are perfect for that open-eye look
• Facial (Microdermabrasion and chemical peels)
• Professional eyebrow shaping
• Trial Airbrush make-up and hair style (Make sure you bring your headpiece or pictures of how you might like your hair and make-up to be)
• Manicure and Pedicure
• Color, Cut, and Waxing

1 – 2 Days before the Wedding

• Manicure and Pedicure – Fill In
• Spray Tan (Optional)
• Waxing services
• Blowout for rehearsal dinner (great for the night before the wedding since updos are preferred with hair clean and dry)
• Massage for Bride and Groom

For the Groom

• Haircut
• Sportsman's Manicure
• Sportsman's Pedicure

Wedding Day

• Hair
• Make Up
• Touch Up on nail polish

In the event of a wedding, everything takes a back seat to the bridal gown. Unless you're Rapunzel, that means your hair is included.

That shouldn't rule out the possibility of you going all out on your wedding day hair-do, however. It's just that certain details of your dress, like the neck and hem lines, need to be considered so everything about you looks well put together, not thrown together. After that, everything else—from the jewelry to the veil, follows.

The hair is still any occasion's crowning glory though; more so during your wedding day. To make it glow with the rest of you, everything starts with washing and conditioning your hair preferably a day before the wedding. This is because newly-washed hair tends to get poufy, while conditioned hair might prove too slick for more difficult hair styles (not such a big problem if you plan to let your hair hang down, though). If hair is limp, take care to condition just at the tips and not at the roots to avoid a washed-out look. Damaged and severely dry hair needs salon treatment at least a couple of days in advance. As well, if you want highlights done, make sure to book for an appointment with your colorist early on so you can discuss details of your dress and accessories to go with your new streaks.

Then consider the length, texture, and volume of your hair. For shoulder length hair or longer, a formal wedding calls for an upswept hair style. This can range from a demure chignon that sits prettily at your nape, or a more complex series of French twists that need the dexterity of a professional stylist (and more than a handful of bobby pins). While the former can be done to both fine and coarse hair, the latter works best for thicker hair. Upswept hairstyles look great with high-necked dresses, but also stunning with off the shoulder ones.

If you don't want the severity of an upswept ‘do but still want to maintain an air of formality, go for the half-up half-down style. This means gathering the front section of your hair back, tying or pinning it with a pretty hair accessory, and then letting the rest of your hair fall on your shoulders or back. Letting a few wispy tendrils lose or curling the tips of your loose hair with an iron can instantly add a romantic touch to an otherwise common hair style.

Alvina Valenta - Style #AV9700
Creme silk duchess satin ball gown. Draped bodice with modified sweetheart neckline. English Rose silk duchess satin band with bow and streamers at empire waist. Covered buttons and loops over zipper at center back. Chapel train.

For a more casual affair, you can literally let your hair down. Just make sure it's neatly combed, spritzed in place, and the parting is sleek and perfect, not unruly. You might still need to visit a stylist for a more polished look if you're not confident handling a brush and blow dryer yourself. If you have straight hair and want to go for waves, make sure you don't end up with tight curls or nobody, not even your own mother, will recognize you on your big day! Same goes with curly-haired brides who want to tame their hair: a heavy hand with the straightening iron won't make you a blushing bride but a red-faced one. Go for the middle ground: waves or loose curls that are perfectly formed and in place. When your crowning glory is ready for its final touches, a tiara or a veil will make great, timeless accessories.

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