fashion

I’m not a high-maintenance girl and I certainly wasn’t a Bridezilla: I literally burst into laughter when a bridesmaid revealed, right before the ceremony, that she mistakenly bought the wrong color of dress!

However, after a distressing appointment at the hair salon earlier that day, I learned that even laid-back brides can experience a little wedding-day drama. The style looked great during the trial a few weeks before, so why couldn’t the stylist get it right on my big day?

While there was nothing I could do about the stylist’s grumpy attitude, hindsight has revealed that I could’ve done a few things differently, and that a hellish wedding hair experience is avoidable if you plan ahead and follow these five easy tips during your trial appointment.

1. Bring photos. Verbal descriptions and hand gestures (no matter how animated) aren’t gonna cut it when it comes to sharing your vision with your stylist. Pull up your wedding hair Pinterest board, or bring in tear sheets from magazines. It’s the only way you can be sure that you’ve accurately communicated what you want.

2. Bring your veil and/or hair accessories. You might love the ‘do on its own, but will you still love it once you add your veil or hair accessory? It’s important for the stylist to see your veil or the size of your accessory so they can determine whether or not it will work with the style you want.

3. Will you need extensions? Extensions add a little va-va-voom to any bridal style, whether your hair is up or down, curly or straight. If you want a full side bun, but have fine hair, for example, you won’t be able to achieve the look without extensions. Discuss this with your stylist before your trial because you’ll have to bring them to your appointment. Most salons don’t stock extensions and you don’t want to find out on your wedding day that you need them (trust me).

4. Speak up! If you aren’t head-over-heels obsessed with your stylist’s creation, now is the time to speak up. Trials are a brainstorming session for you and your stylist to work together to get the exact bridal look that you want. Do you like the way your fringe looks? Are there enough curls? Too many? Do you want the tops of your ears covered or exposed? Is your hair pulled back so tight that your head looks like bowling ball?

5. Bring a friend…and a camera. It never hurts to have a second opinion from someone whose taste and opinion you trust. Your friend doesn’t have to love the look (you do) but it’s good to have moral support and collaborative input. Plus, they can snap pics and you can see if the style flatters your face/profile from every angle. Bring these photos to the salon on your wedding day; they’ll be a helpful guide for your stylist if a hair crisis is imminent.

As featured in the summer issue of 2life Weddings digital magazine: