When you have curly hair, walking into a salon for a trim can be stressful (we’ve been there”>, so just imagine the anxiety over finding someone to style your hair better than you can for the most photographed day of your life. It can be a nightmare and if don’t want to end up looking like the bride of Frankenstein, then you should find a hairstylist and schedule a bridal hair consultation well before your big day.
A bridal consultation is a bit like a job interview, so you want to come prepared to ask the right questions. Here’s how to get the most out of your bridal consultation.
Before scheduling the consultation, ask if they regularly style textured hair
You want someone who styles textured hair regularly and not occasionally. You want an expert handling your tresses on one of the most important days in your life. You also want your pictures looking great, so working with a stylist who is experienced is the difference between you looking like a curly goddess or looking like a French poodle.
Know if you want your hair curly or straight hair
Knowing this will allow you to determine how to wear your hair on the trial run. Will they wash it or will you wash it and you have him or her straighten and style? It’s necessary to know because curlies are used to doing their own hair and it’s ok to be squeamish on allowing the hairstylist to do everything. However you plan on walking into the salon on your wedding day is how you should walk into that salon on your trial run, so discuss the details and expectations thoroughly.
Bring hair accessories you plan to wear
This includes any hair pieces. You want them to see what they will be working with on the trial run and the final day. Stay open to ideas, especially if you plan on adding hair and discuss how you want your added hair or accessories worn.
Bring a picture of your dress
This is necessary to determine what style will look better with your dress and to give the stylist a vision of what you want for your look. Certain hairstyles look better with certain necklines, materials, and style of dress so don’t make the mistake of not giving the stylist the whole picture of your look on your day.
Remove all added hair
How can they determine what they are working with if they can’t see your hair? Even if you want to wear a sew-in they need to see your tresses to know the condition of your hair and its thickness, texture, and curl. Some stylist won’t do certain styles if they feel your hair is in bad shape, so allow them to see what they will be working with.
Get your hair in good shape
You want to put your best foot forward and have your hair healthy when you go to the consultation. A bridal hairstylist is more apt to feeling good about working with your head if it’s in good shape and not breaking off at the edges or littered with split ends. Do a deep conditioning treatment or a protein treatment if it’s been a while or lay off the heat to give your hair a break.
Go with freshly washed or at least clean hair
Ok, it doesn’t have to be washed that morning but don’t go to the consultation with a two week old twist out. You want to make a great first impression with this stylist. They are not just trying to impress you but you need to let them know you care about simple things like hygiene. Remember this person may not even know you so what picture are you painting for this person?
A wedding hair consultation is extremely important for curlies so don’t skip it thinking the trial run will suffice. They need to know what you want, the condition of your hair, the time it will take to create the style, and what you plan on wearing prior to the trial run. Expect a consultation fee and the average is 15% of the trial run hairstyle visit. It’s worth it to make sure your wedding day has your tresses looking amazing!
