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Apr 04, 2024

THE BRIDE GUIDE

There is a lot to consider before choosing your hair for the big day. The dress, its neckline, the weather, if you’re wearing a veil or hair accessory... The good news is there are no rules: from a traditional up-do or a sleek chignon, to Cool Girl luxe waves, anything goes for the modern bride. After all, it’s your day. 

To make sure you pick a look you will always love, here’s Sam and Team McKnight’s ultimate Bride Guide for the hair of your dreams, not just on your wedding day, but for happily ever after.

THE BRIDE GUIDE

"I'm always asked when. When should I have my trial, when should I have my wedding hair colour, when should I have my hair cut, when should we start on the day. Lots of whens! So here’s an easy timeline to follow to keep your hair in its best shape leading up to your wedding day and beyond.”

YOU’VE SAID YES

Now if I had a wedding favour for the number of times I’ve had someone recently engaged tell me they were now growing their hair for their wedding… Don’t change what’s working for your hair just for one day! If you love your current length and are happy with your style, there’s no need to grow it out long. Now's the time to focus on keeping or getting your hair into great condition. Healthy hair will always look chic and glossy, while length can be achieved with clip-in extensions if needed; whereas split ends and parched lengths will look lacklustre and struggle to hold a style.

YOUR HEALTHIEST HAIR YET

Invest in great hair care for long-term healthy hair. A great cleanser, conditioner, and treatment set will give you a multitude of hair health benefits. From shine to repair, straightening to prolonging colour vibrancy, and of course, to keeping split ends at bay or mending them.

For finer hair types, choose our Light Cleanse and Nourish duo for gentle yet hardworking cleansing and leave-in conditioning. If your hair is thicker and in need of some TLC, or if your hair is coloured, our hydrating Rich Cleanse and Nourish is packed with colour-protecting Quinoa Pro and strengthening Plant Keratin to keep your hair soft and nourished. For healthy volume from the first step of your hair routine, our Cool Girl Volume Cleanse and Nourish are formulated with Fermented Rice Water and Voluminis™, proven to give up to 30% more volume and thickness.

Depending on your hair needs and cleansing routine, a treatment every 3rd cleanse tends to suit most. Our Deeper Love is clinically proven to strengthen hair x10 after only six uses and mend 50% of split ends after one - the perfect prescriptive hair repair solution! If your hair is fine and you are searching for volume, our Bigger Love provides all the benefits of Deeper Love while also delivering all-over volume and thicker strands.

TALK TO YOUR STYLIST

Book in with your hairstylist and let them know the wedding date so you can start working towards your optimum hair health, style, and colour. Now's the time to inquire if they provide wedding hair services or ask friends for recommendations.

GET INSPIRED

Begin to collect beauty inspiration. Whether you are saving social media posts, coveting red carpet looks, curating your own Pinterest board, or poring through wedding magazines and blogs. Save your favourite styles to inspire your look. Keep an eye out particularly for styles where the person has similar hair to you.

THREE MONTHS UNTIL YOUR WEDDING - YOUR TRIAL DAY

How to decide on your hairstyle for the big day can feel like a momentous question. There seem to be rules about pairing updo’s with high necklines, and loose hair with backless or corset gowns. Honestly, rules were made to be broken. Your wedding hair look should be what makes you feel good: it's your best self. Your partner wants to see you, not another person walking down that aisle - so if you never wear your hair up, or if wearing your hair down will drive you crazy on the day, stick to what you feel your very best in.

Aim to have your trial 3 months before the wedding. It gives you time to finesse the style, your cut, and colour. It’s best to have your wedding outfit chosen - and don’t forget to bring photos with you to the trial. Take pictures of yourself wearing the outfit, from the front and back, as showing your hairstylist the neckline will help inform them of a style to suit and flatter you most.

Bring images of your favourite styles - and also styles that you don’t, as this can help your hairstylist know what to avoid. Hair accessories are a great way to bring a personal touch to your look, so if you have them picked, bring them with you. Wedding hair accessories can be anything from a beautiful ribbon, or a family heirloom such as a necklace to be intertwined through your hair, to a simple, lace swatch of fabric pinned with a brooch. Feel free to bring anything you love; your hairstylist can often find a way to incorporate it into your hair.

For a veil, now is the time to test how it sits; if the comb is sturdy enough, and how it will be removed without damaging your ‘Do if you want your hair to be loose after the ceremony.

CHOOSE YOUR STYLERS

Take this opportunity with your hairstylist to discuss what hair stylers you will be needing for the big day. If it’s an elegant up-do you are after, make sure to shop our Easy Up-Do Texture Spray which will provide grip without slip. For luxe waves, misting our Modern Hairspray before tonging will keep your look lasting all day and into the night, as well as protect your hair up to 230°C. If you want to keep your natural texture the centre of attention, smooth Dressed To Kill into your waves, curls or coils for a defined, defluffed and defrizzed finish. If less is more, smooth through our Love Me Do Nourishing Shine Oil into your strands for an extra glossy, photo-flash finish. Find the perfect set of stylers for your day here.

TWO WEEKS UNTIL YOUR WEDDING - YOUR MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENT

Do not, I repeat, do not make any drastic colour or cut changes before your wedding day. This is your maintenance appointment, ensuring your colour and haircut are all in tip-top shape for the big day. Two weeks gives you enough time in case there are any tweaks or amendments that need to be done.

ONE WEEK UNTIL YOUR WEDDING - TREAT YOURSELF

A treatment mask this week is the perfect opportunity for a little R&R. Take 5 minutes (or longer if you can find the time!) and apply your treatment mask through your mid-lengths and ends and give yourself a scalp massage with your fingertips or a scalp tool - or you can even use a wide-tooth comb, wiggling down from the front hairline down to your nape of the neck. Begin in the middle and repeat moving to the side until you reach your ears. A scalp massage is incredibly beneficial for tension release, and the increase in circulation can improve hair growth and hair health, as well as relax you for the coming week.

YOUR WEDDING DAY

Today's the day! Make sure to start your day right with the perfect cleanser and conditioner duo for your hairstyle. If a blow-out is on the cards, make sure to protect your hair with our Save The Do style starter. If you are using heat on your hair, our heat-protecting Modern Hairspray is a must for keeping your style in place all day long and into the night.

Whether you have a professional taking care of you and your bridal party's hair, or you are styling your own, always factor in delays. Feeling rushed won’t get you to the church on time. A pro hair stylist will work backward from the ceremony, asking questions such as what time you will need to leave, if there is a photographer taking pictures of those last few moments, and any final touch-ups.

For those sharing your special day - a few mini stylers such as Lazy Girl Cleanse Cloths, or Mini Cool Girl and Mini Happy Endings are pocket-perfect to throw into clutches for quick bathroom spruces. Don’t forget to ask your hairstylist for a few extra hair grips and pins - just in case.

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Maintaining is always easier than starting from scratch - so don’t let all that time spent taking care of your hair health on your wedding journey go by the wayside. Keep up the good work, and you can have fun discovering some new post-wedding looks.

If you are heading on your honeymoon, our Sundaze Sea Spray protects hair from UV damage, prolonging colour vibrancy and ensuring your best beach hair yet with instant texture and definition.

A leave-in conditioner such as Light Nourish doubles up as a heatless styler when smoothed through hair before braiding or double twists. Leave hair in throughout the day and remove before heading out and combing through with your fingers for effortless, nourished beach texture. Don’t forget to take a mask with you - our Mini or full-size Deeper Love and Bigger Love Treatment Masks will keep your hair feeling all loved up.

FURTHER READING

Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist
Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist
Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist

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Happy Endings Nourishing Balm
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Cool Girl Volume Cleanse Shampoo
Cool Girl Volume Cleanse Shampoo
Cool Girl Volume Cleanse Shampoo

Marie Claire's Best Volumising Shampoo 2024

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