Crowning Glory
A bride walking down the aisle is magical, and her hair enhances the fairy-tale quality of the moment.
“A professional can do a much better job and make them look beautiful for their special day,” said Nancy Gifford, owner and master stylist at Double Image Styling Salon, 140 Bon Aire Plaza.
“The stylist can do more intricate work. We can ensure it will last. We have products to (make the hair) feel thicker and have more shine,” said Jody Bertoncello-Young, general manager and co-owner of Prima Capelli Salon, 1617 N. Main St. Ext., Suite B.
Kiera Rizzo, Prima Capelli assistant manager, marketing manager and salon wedding consultant, said some bridal parties arrive at a hair appointment with food and the ingredients for mimosas. They may bring a photographer.
“They deserve pampering on the day of their wedding,” Bertoncello-Young said. “It's like their own little party.”
Gifford recommends booking the wedding hair appointment as early as possible to get the desired date.
Rizzo said Prima Capelli has bridal parties almost every weekend from April to October.
“Some wait until about a month ahead, and then it's hard to get in somewhere, especially if you have a large party,” said Lorrie Kalkbrenner, salon manager at Capelli's Unique Hair Designs, Suite 209, 525 Beaver St. Ext., Mars.
For May or October weddings, she advised booking at least six months ahead because of coinciding high school proms and homecomings.
The size of the bridal party has an effect on other appointments the salon can schedule for the same day. Large groups take a big part of the day's schedule.
Rizzo said for 13 attendants plus relatives, hair styling can take all morning.
Kalkbrenner said the time of the wedding also factors into booking the appointment.
“Some brides are getting married at 10 a.m. That's going to be hard to find a salon that will accommodate that early,” Kalkbrenner said.
Rizzo said hair characteristics — frizzy, thick, long — influence the tools and time needed at the salon.
Salons encourage brides to schedule a trial run ahead of time.
“It's best if they have a picture or an idea of what they want,” Gifford said. “If they don't know, we'll bring things up from the computer.”
Rizzo said the bride may like a hairstyle online or in a magazine but it might not suit her.Stylists can try different techniques during the practice. They also can try a veil or any hair accessories.Even with a party atmosphere, there is still tension and anxiety on the big day.“Just making sure you're to your appointment on time is huge. If you're not on time it puts everyone behind,” Kalkbrenner said. “It's one less stressor than you really need to have. My stylists want to be sure to do the best they can.”Gifford tells brides to wear a button-down shirt for the appointment. She also tells them to wash and dry their hair before they arrive but not on the very day of the appointment.“If there's any dampness left in the hair the curls don't hold as well,” Gifford said.“Your hair needs to have a little bit of the natural oil in it. It will stay up better,” Kalkbrenner said.Salons do coloring and highlighting well in advance of the wedding day.Rizzo said brides have fun with balayage, a form of hand-painted highlighting. Ombre, another technique, offers countless combinations with one color fading to another such as magenta with wild orchid and purple.“Girls nowadays are not afraid to take a leap and do something trending,” Rizzo said.Gifford said many brides like extensions. The salon needs those ahead of time for curling. Bonded extensions and cuts also are done in advance.She said many styles today are very intricate and not easy to make. Today's popular “updos” can include curls, braids, twists and accessories.“Hair has been the same forever and ever. It's just different techniques that are used throughout the years. A lot of times old styles come back,” Gifford said. “Even short hair can be styled elegantly for a wedding.”The veil is the largest hair adornment.Kalkbrenner said crowns and bands can be put on at the salon, and the veil can be added later in the day.“We usually place the veil for the bride and anchor it in,” Gifford said. “We put it in for the day.”The bride's hair-raising preparation will start months ahead, so the result really is her crowning glory.“Everyone wants to be a princess on the day of their wedding,” Rizzo said.
