Pre Wedding Hair Care
Wedding prep is the time where you start evaluating your life decisions. For me, that meant a few things:
Acknowledging that creating a charcuterie board is a fine hobby, but devouring it single handedly is not okay
Anything that smells as good as garnier fructise is probably NOT good for your hair and belongs in the trash
Wiping my face with a makeup wipe and calling it a day does not constitute as good skincare
Running off of coffee and wine as your two main sources of hydration (depending on the time of day, of course) will eventually take its toll
All of these decisions that I had never thought twice about were now under a microscope as I prepared for my day in the spotlight. I previously would have laughed if you suggested I forgo my nightly glass of cab sav or spend more than $8 on a bottle of shampoo, but let me tell you something…things change when you’re engaged.
Only problem is, it can get daunting to know which products are worth investing in, and which aren’t. Having no level of self restraint, I pretty much invested in it all (good bye bank account), and am here to tell you what was worth it, and what I wish I had done differently.
I’m going to dedicate this post to hair, because as mentioned above, I previously considered drugstore brands sufficient and have had my fair share of salon nightmares. Anyone who’s ever had a bad hair cut can attest to the fact that there is nothing more traumatizing than a stylist messing up your beloved locks. I have been the victim of a violent hair attack TWICE, so I was extremely cautious with who I could trust with my bridal ‘do.
If you watched my IG story, you saw that I had my hair RUINED by a stylist who over-processed a balayage treatment 8 months before my wedding. This resulted in an immediate call to my mom (duh), who rescued the day (cuz that’s what moms do). She brainstormed who we knew in the Charlotte area with beautiful hair and landed on our good friend Emily Maynard. *Emily, you don’t know us, but our time in front of the tv on Monday nights confirms that we def know you.
I booked an appointment immediately at Denise Antonacci salon and will never falter from them — honestly, if I moved to London tomorrow, I think I’d still fly back every few months for my hair appointments there. See below for a before and after of my hair (left is when it was ruined by another salon and right is after going to Denise Antonacci to save me):
So here’s my first tip:
Tip #1: FIND A STYLIST YOU TRUST MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING.
Ideally, you should go for a cut/color trial run to make sure you’re both on the same page and that you trust their capabilities. Then, you should get your final coloring done 3-4 weeks before the wedding. Do not try anyone new or any treatments for the first time right before the wedding! Also, it helped to have my wedding hair trial before doing my final balayage at Denise Antonacci, as I was able to show them my half-up style and we could place the highlights strategically.
It was at the salon that I was also introduced to quality products. My stylist told me she was going to be using her favorite shampoo — an oil-based, paraben and silicone-free cleanser called Shu Uemura. I smiled nervously and bit my tongue to keep from saying that an oil shampoo was not going to do any wonders for my oil-prone scalp. Sure enough, after rinsing it out and being guided back to the chair (again, biting my tongue as I’m convinced she forgot the conditioner), I ran my fingers through my wet locks and found them to be SO SOFT.
Tip #2: Invest in good products!
I love love love Shu Uemura (recently invested in their whole line)…the products soften and hydrate your hair, keeping it protected from the heat of a flat iron, coloring chemicals, etc. Also love Kerastase products. Their orange bottle (below) is my fav.
My other go-to product is Olaplex’s Hair Perfector, which helps restore and strengthen your hair. I apply a generous amount to my damp hair before shampooing and leave it in for at least 10 minutes before rinsing. It helps keep my hair smooth, shiny, and damage-free. Definitely recommend talking to your stylist and asking what products they’d suggest for your hair…everyone is different, and they can help guide you!
Tip #3: Get a smoothing treatment!
As far as treatments go….about 6 weeks before the wedding, I went back for a consultation on bridal services and was told that a brazilian blowout would be a great thing to get. I had two immediate thoughts: 1) That better not be anything like a brazilian wax, and 2) It also better not be anything like the Japanese straightening treatment I got when I was 13. Having had my hair fried to a crisp at a previous salon, I was terrified to do anything that would make it dead, stringy, or lose its natural volume. The (patient) stylists explained that a brazilian blowout is in fact good for your hair — it seals in vitamins to make your hair shiny, smooth, and frizz-free. Deciding to take a leap of faith, I got this service done and have since recommended it to my friends.
Depending on your hair texture and what kind of results you’re looking for, there are actually three types of treatments to choose from here:
The first is the brazilian blowout, as previously mentioned. It’s a great solution for wavy hair, as it will calm the waves down without straightening them, and makes the frizz totally vanish. Blow drying is usually a 45 minute ordeal for me, but this treatment also cut my blow dry time down to only 5 minutes! Plus, for an outdoor wedding in May, it kept me frizz-free, and didn’t interfere with my curled style. It lasted about 2-3 months and helped me get ready in minutes during the honeymoon which was AMAZING. *Tip: Get yourselves this blow dryer from Revlon. It’s $30 and cuts blow drying time in half while cutting out the frizz.
The second and strongest option is a keratin treatment, which is typically best for curly hair. It’s meant for straightening and preventing frizz, but it should be noted that it uses some harsh chemicals. When I got mine done a few years ago, I loved the results, but did have to endure some eye tearing from the fumes. If you’re looking for a straightening effect and are tired of using your flat iron every day, this is probably a good option for you. Results last around 2-3 months, depending on how often you wash your hair and if you use their recommended shampoo.
The third option is something I had never heard of before, but apparently it’s becoming one of the most highly requested pre-wedding treatments. It’s called Cezanne, and unlike a brazilian blowout or keratin, it is formaldehyde and odor-free. It’s known as more of a smoothing treatment than it is a straightening treatment, as it keeps your hair soft and free of frizz. Another amazing perk is that it lasts around 3-4 months (longer than the other two options).
Tip #4: Extensions!
This is where I insert my WISH I KNEW! I had inquired about extensions and was planning on doing the Great Lengths option all the way up until the last minute. Basically, I chickened out because I was afraid I wouldn’t want to do any upkeep after the wedding, and this also seemed like a good place to save money.
Although it wasn’t a huge regret, it is something I wish I had invested in. There are many types of extensions you can do, ranging from clip-ins to tape to sewn in to melted on the hair. These each come with their own level of cost, upkeep, and perks. Because of my half-up style for the wedding, placing a few pieces towards the front of my head would’ve really made my hair look super thick, voluminous, and given it that extra oomph. I also would’ve loved to have them for the honeymoon!
Basically, option #1 is tape ins, which last about 4-6 weeks and, as the name suggests, are taped into your hair. They lie flush against your head so you can’t see any bumps, and are easy to have removed, so you don’t have to worry about them damaging your hair when you’re done.
Option #2 is clip-in extensions, which are a temporary, non-adhesive option that let you take them out of your hair at the end of the night. If you’re looking for extensions just for one or two nights, this might be your best best.
Option #3 is a fusion extension, and also the ones I was referring to earlier called Great Lengths. As scary as it sounds, they are melted onto your hair to last longer and look seamless. They create a super full look, last 2-3 months, and are a great option if you have really fine hair, since the “melting” application allows the extensions to blend in with your hair.
I’m a huge proponent of looking like YOU on your wedding, and there is certainly a fine line between getting glammed up and all of a sudden looking like a totally different person! But it’s also your one special day, and you should look/feel your absolute best. For me, that meant balayage, a fresh cut, and healthy, frizz-free hair. I’d suggest booking a consultation with your salon to discuss what options are best for your hair, and when they would recommend starting them!
And if you’re in Charlotte, seriously do yourself a favor and go to Denise Antonacci. It unfortunately took a bad experience for me to appreciate how important quality hair care is, and there’s nothing better than trusting you’ll walk out of the salon looking fabulous each and every time!