She’s more than a bride. She’s the art director of her big day.
Taking cues from show’s like TLC’s “Four Weddings” and WE TV’s “My Fair Wedding” and sites including WeddingWire, Pinterest and The Knot, modern brides focus on the details that set the scene they envision, down to hairstyle and accessories.
And when it comes to hair, this season two big bridal hair trends are buns and braids, feminine styles that create a sophisticated yet easy look.
“Brides are going beyond tradition and getting away from the strict formality to a style that still has an element of tradition but includes touches of their creativity,” says Gia Peebles, master stylist and owner of Aura Salon and Boutique ( aurasalonandboutique.com) on University Drive in Durham.
For instance, the thick rope braid, softer French braid and loose fishtail are being worn with a little twist, styled to one side or pinned in circles, Peebles says.
Meanwhile, “the bun is a timeless look: You saw them 20 years ago and you see them today, so a bride won’t look back and say, ‘Why did I have that done?’ ”
The trick with either hairstyle is to make it whimsical, not tight and stuffy, says Maria Josette Navarro, lead stylist at Anjolique Bridal and Formal ( anjolique-bridal.com) in Huntersville, a Charlotte suburb. She might curl the entire head, then pin the hair up loosely so it’s not “too done.”
“A lot of the bridesmaids I’m seeing, they’re wanting a braid across the forehead and a lot like fishtail braids. Or we can leave the front down, and I pull pieces to the back and add it to the braid. It adds more interest, rather than just a plain braid.”
Some brides are choosing both hairstyles.
“They might do something like a braid for their engagement photo and then half-up and half-down on their wedding day,” Navarro says. “A lot say their fiancé likes it down, so they go with half-up half-down for the ceremony.”
Hair accessories are part of the trend, too. “That takes it from everyday or ordinary,” Peebles says. “The hairstyle might be something you see every day, but it’s the accessory that elevates it to something special.”
Some popular choices are brooches for the hair, dainty headbands, hairpins adorned with beading, rhinestones or pearls, flowers (real or faux) and feathers.
“Hair accessories are a necessity. Every girl has to have one,” Navarro agrees. “They can be incorporated into any hairstyle.”
Sheon Wilson ( sheon@SheonTheStylist.com) is a personal stylist and creator of the Refresh Your Style makeover feature.
