Congratulations! Perhaps you got engaged over this past Christmas season or New Years, or maybe you’ve been engaged for a while and are starting to plan….whatever that might be, it’s a journey that can be extravagant or simple.

You’ve met your person. You got engaged.  Now it’s time to plan your big day!

As I post this, I’m days away from my own big day! The planning is mostly done and now it’s just a waiting game!  We started the process of bringing me to my wedding hair.  I’ve been blond forever (ok, not forever but more than half my life!) and that’s not going to change for my day.  I have also had purple in my hair for 6 years and so that’s not going to change either.  However, I want MORE hair.  I’ve got some self inflicted damage to my hair (sigh) so length isn’t a strong suit for me.  A few years ago I had to cut a significant amount off because I caused so much damage from heat and styling tools (smack my hand!). While I have been growing it, I still didn’t give up blonding it, nor my heat tools, I have made significant changes to accommodate my desire to use them.  Lower heat setting, heat protectant products, using heat tools less often. And while my hair has grown significantly, it’s still not what I would wish for it. 

Welcome to the world of professional stylists who can give us what we dream of! Now, of course, these dreams don’t come simply or cheaply but they can often be achieved.  The key is great communication with your stylist and listening and understanding what they’re telling you you need to do to achieve it. 

For me? I’m getting extensions, regular hair cuts, colouring and using heat protectant and the proper products to keep my hair as healthy as it can be for my big day!

Here are some tips I have for those leading up to their special day. 

1. You might be thinking of making a big change for your big day, like going blond after being dark, going dark after being blond, a big shape or length change.  And while these seem really fun, and totally can happen, you also need to take into consideration “will you look like you when you look back on your photos and video”? Or will you think Wow that doesn't match my perception of me! 

2. Big changes aren’t always easily done and all in one day.  Remembering that low and slow can result in healthier hair rather than fast and heat so you may need multiple appointments leading up to get your desired result. 

3. If you DO decide to make a big change, reach out to your professional stylist and consult with them about what will get you where you want AND maintain the beauty, integrity and health of your hair..  The last thing you want is to damage your hair right before your big day.

4. Consult as far in advance that you can.  This gives you and the stylist time to come up with a plan, and execute it.  It also gives you time to maintain AND live in your new look.

5. Your stylist should be your go to for information - be open and use lots of visual aids to convey what you’re looking for. Keep in mind that many photos on the internet (think Instagram) are heavily filtered so that perfect, too perfect, platinum blond may not ACTUALLY look like that and is difficult to achieve. Also keep in mind that celebrities have unlimited access and money to achieve the looks they’re going for BUT that doesn’t mean even they are immune to the “in between” stage look.

6. Think about what style you want for the look of your day. Not every stylist offers wedding upstyles or updos, and you want to find one that can offer you what style you’re looking for.

7. Do a trial run for your wedding day hair in advance (or at the timeline advice of your stylist) and speak up.  If there is something you want different or a little tweak, say it.  Professional stylists are amazing but even the best of the best aren’t mind readers and if you don’t say anything they won’t know! 

8. Want longer, fuller hair? Consult with an extension specialist and understand extensions and installation is an investment (real hair, length, type and colouring all come into play in cost of the extensions plus the installation time and cost) but it can be quite a dramatic way to play up what you already have!
(PS we have a hand tied extension specialist on our team! Corina is our extension specialist and one of our blonding specialists)

Extension and colour by our stylist @corinamaria.hair

Whatever your journey is for planning, we wish you all the best with all the excitement that is heading your way!!