After the excitement of getting engaged, you start planning for one of the biggest moments of your life. You must plan everything from the wedding theme and venue to the bridal dress and makeup. Once you have these big details decided, remember to take time to choose the perfect bridal hairstyle too. Let's take a look at some tips for choosing the best bridal hairstyle for your wedding. 

Tips to Choose Your Bridal Hairstyle

1. Choose a Bridal Hairstyle Based on Your Face Shape

As you start thinking about your bridal hairstyle, it's important to consider the best style for your face shape. If you have an oval shape, you can basically try any hairstyle – buns, waves, curls, fringes, and chignons. For those with a square shape, the best styles are a low bun or hair down with effortless curls, which will soften harsh angles. 

If you have a heart-shaped face, you can try a variety of hairstyles from keeping your hair down to big side braids. No matter which style you choose, it's recommended that your hair is textured (i.e. curly, wavy, etc.), which will help perfect your look. For those with a rectangular face, an elegant bun with side sweeping curls is a great option. This will emphasize your cheekbones and add some width to your face. If you have a round shape, try out a sleek ponytail or keep your hair down with a deep side part. This can help create the look of higher cheekbones.

2. Coordinate Your Hairstyle with Your Wedding Theme and Dress

After months of planning your wedding theme, dress, and makeup, you can use this information to guide your search for the perfect bridal hairstyle. It's a good rule of thumb to choose a hairstyle that compliments your dress, rather than competes with it. If you have a very detailed dress, a sleek ponytail or elegant bun are great options. On the other hand, if you have a more simple, rustic gown, consider rocking loose, natural curls or big braids with a beautiful headpiece or flower crown. If you have a ball gown, a chignon or French twist look stunning with this dress style.  

3. Create an Inspiration Board

One of the best tips to follow is to create a wedding hairstyle inspiration board on Pinterest. This is the perfect way to collect the hairstyles you like. You can then envision how these styles would look with your dress, makeup, wedding theme, and venue. While there are dozens of styles to try, professional hair experts often find that the same classic styles are just repeated over the years. You can still choose a classic style and add some personal flair with accessories for a unique look.

4. Do a Hair Trial

Just like with your makeup trial, it's necessary to do a hair trial with your local hair stylist. Before the appointment, it's helpful to have pictures of your wedding dress, theme, makeup look, and jewelry ready for the stylist to view. You can show them pictures from your inspiration board. Based on your preferences, face shape, and hair type, your stylist will help you choose the best hairstyle for your special day. If you choose a style that requires hair extensions, your stylist can help you decide if this is the best option or if there is a similar look that can be pulled off without any extensions.  

5. Popular Bridal Hairstyle Trends

Over the years, hairstyles continue to focus on modern versions of classic styles. This includes elegant low updos to big glam waves. Check out these popular trends below, which may help inspire you to find your perfect hair do.

  • Chignons or Low Buns: this is a great option to keep your hair out of your face all day, show off any details on the back of your dress, and maintain your hairstyle.
  • Curls: Curls are a versatile option for any type of dress look. You can go with loose curls for a simple look, beachy waves for a beach wedding, or more dramatic and romantic with vintage curls.
  • Hair Down: You can never go wrong with down hairstyles, which look effortless and natural. Many brides choose this style because it feels most like them. Instead of just having your hair down, you can do a Brazilian blowout, soft waves, or relaxed blowout. To add some flair, do a pinned half-up, half-down style.
  • Half-Up, Half-Down: A half-up, half-down hairstyle is a great option if you can't decide which style to choose. This will keep the hair out of your face, but will still allow you to create a formal look for your wedding. Many brides-to-be will straighten or curl their ponytail for a classic style.
  • Natural: Natural hairstyles are another popular option for brides. You can do any hairstyle with a natural look that highlights the natural texture in your hair. This is a great choice for outdoor and more relaxed wedding themes.
  • Ponytails: Ponytails are a fun option that is versatile. You can do a sleek, high ponytail or a relaxed, low ponytail for a soft, romantic vibe.
  • Updos: Ah, the updo. This is easily one of the most popular hairstyles because you can do so much with this broad style. It's easy to add bridal hair accessories to a braided design, bun, or twists, creating a whimsical look that will be sure to turn heads. A big perk to updos is that they keep the hair off of your neck and back, which is great for outdoor summer weddings. 

As you can see, there are several factors to consider when deciding the best bridal hairstyle for your wedding. Remember to consider your face shape, wedding theme, dress, and venue, as well as the location. For outdoor weddings in summer, you will likely appreciate a hairstyle that keeps your hair off your face and neck and minimizes frizz. For indoor weddings, you may have more flexibility with hairstyles that don't depend on the weather conditions. If you are ready to choose your perfect bridal hair, contact All Dolled Up. Our experts would love to help you achieve your wedding hair goals in the Wilmington, NC, Myrtle Beach, SC, and Charleston, SC communities.