Wednesday, May 6, 2009

because i am doing hair for a wedding this weekend.




Spring/Summer Aisle Style: A Look for Every Bride


If The Bride is wearing a…


One-Shouldered Gown…
…she likes to make an undeniably chic statement. Amy Abramite, Creative Director for Maxine Salon in Chicago, says to stick with the asymmetrical theme if your bride chooses to bare a shoulder during her nuptials. “An asymmetrical bun with the bang smoothed straight back and off the forehead would look beautiful,” Abramite says. And virtually any hair texture will work for this look. Straight, wavy or curly--it’s all appropriate!Abramite suggests making the bun visible on the side where the shoulder is bare, keeping the bulk of the weight below the ear in the nape area. This will balance the hair and the dress so the overall look isn’t too heavy on either side, she notes. “If an asymmetrical bun is too unconventional or ‘trendy’ for the bride, suggest a symmetrical bun that sits in the center of the nape of the neck just below the occipital bone instead,” she says. With either style of bun, the fringe can be worn smoothed back off of the forehead or swept to the side. If the bride chooses to go with a side-sweeping bang, it must sweep toward the direction of the bare shoulder to offset the look for balance, Abramite notes.

Dress with Short Hemline…
…she probably has great gams and wants to show them off on her wedding day! Or she wants to keep the event on the casual side. Just about every designer sent a short dress down the runway this season so be prepared with plenty of options for those brides who like to go against the norm. Celebrity, editorial and television stylist Charles Dujic says that if your client plans to wear a short dress, keep the look casual but soft and pretty. If she has short hair, a side-swept, piecey fringe is a great option, he says. “Add a slight bit of volume at the crown by back-combing, but make sure to keep the hair soft and loose,” suggests Dujic. “Then try adding a headband to give it a whimsical vibe.” For long haired brides-to-be, Dujic suggests creating random waves that bounce naturally off of each other for a beautiful effect. Use 1- and 1¼-inch curling irons to create soft spiral curls, alternating the direction of each curl and the irons. “Don't curl the ends of the hair, but instead give them a slight bend so the whole look feels organic and natural,” he advises. Next, ask your client to flip her head over so you can separate the curls by running them through your fingers. Add styling crème for definition, then have her flip her head back over so you can finger place the hair. “This look is polished, yet casual enough for the shorter length hemline of the dress,” Dujic says.

Strapless Gown....
…she’s versatile, sophisticated and (hopefully) has toned arms! A strapless gown lends itself to dozens of hairstyle options, but the first thing to note is the texture of the dress, says celebrity and editorial stylist John Francis of Chris McMillan Salon in Beverly Hills and Argyle Salon in West Hollywood. If it has a lot of embellishments and textures, opt for a cleaner, sleeker look with the hair. For simpler dresses, add an accessory to the hair to give the overall look more interest. If your client has short hair and is wearing a strapless gown, Francis suggests blow drying to produce lots of body and some texture. Dujic suggests a soft, sculpted look with waves for brides with chin length hair or shorter. To create this chic look, he says, first make a deep side part. On the heavy side, shape wet hair with styling gel into openly spaced finger waves. On the other side of the part, slick hair into a simple C shape around the ear, then dry it completely under a hood dryer. Then gently brush it out and add a bit of silicone to the finished look. Comb it back into shape. “The waves will move and be soft, and will have incredible shine,” Dujic says.


Dress with a High Neckline...
…she might be channeling Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn. This style calls for a look that’s playful but sophisticated and doesn’t interfere with the beautiful neckline of the dress. “One thing to remember is that the style you create will be in the bride’s photo album the rest of her life,” says Ginger Boyle of Planet Salon in Beverly Hills. Boyle suggests styling hair into a chignon to keep the look sophisticated. “You can create luxurious textures, with more or less detail depending on the type of dress,” she says. Another option for long hair is to style it into a sleek, classic shape that sweeps upward for a stunning effect. “The exquisite simplicity of uniform curls can add a sense of ease and nonchalance to the look,” Boyle says. You can also add detail with braids as long as you’re strategic with their placement. It’s important to maintain balance, she advises. For brides with short hair, a dress with a high neckline frames the face, so the best approach is to keep the hair higher up on the crown, Boyle says

For clients with long hair, Dujic feels that the bare shoulder look of a strapless gown is the perfect opportunity to style hair into a 1940s-inspired look. Start by setting sections in barrel curls with a 1¼-inch curling iron, and pin each curl into place until cool. Remove pins and brush out the hair with a cushion brush, forcing the waves back into place after brushing. For a fuller look at the bottom, back comb underneath then smooth over the hair to disguise. Loosen up the bottom of the hair a bit to give the look a modern spin.Francis agrees that long hair looks great with a strapless gown, but you have lots of styling options for long-haired brides. You can pull the hair into a classic updo, into an updo with texture or you can create a half up-half down style. A beautiful accessory can add the perfect finishing touch, he adds.






♥More Hot Bridal Hair Trends

If your client likes to be the first to wear a trend, there are plenty of modern styles you can offer. The French twist is making a big comeback, says Boyle. “Instead of at the back of the head, the twist is placed on top of the head or in pairs for a more modern look,” she says. Accessories like fishnet-patterned hairnets in white or scattered jewels are all the rage on the runways today. For your really daring brides, looks that are reminiscent of the eighties are also on trend; bigger hair styled higher up on the head was a prominent runway look. Anything that harkens back to the 1920s or 30s, like the Louise Brooks bob, is another strong catwalk trend. “Visible hairpins and hair that is a touch messy and undone is also really trendy,” Boyle adds.First and foremost, every bridal expert stresses the importance of a great consultation. The hairstyle depends so much on the bust line, texture and cut of the dress as well as the texture, color and length of your client’s hair. “Work with your bride to determine what she likes, her initial ideas and how you can make her feel most like herself,” Francis says. “Remember first and foremost she’s a bride and should always look her best without looking like someone else. Beautiful and classic is always a great way to go.”


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