You should always aim to look your best at a wedding because you never know who you’re going to meet there. Here you’ll find some simple and easy ideas on making the perfect wedding hairstyles for long hair. It doesn’t have to be hard, you can do it yourself and still look amazing.
1. Bun
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One of the most elegant wedding hairstyles is a bun, especially if you want to expose the neckline of a dress. This simple style is best suited for more detailed dresses. Simply brush your hair up into a high ponytail and twist the hair around, securing with hair grips.
You can also plait the hair before twisting it around to add a little something extra. For wedding brownie points, add a fastener, flower, or a pretty clip next to the bun, matching the color of your dress or accessories.
Depending on the style of your dress and the wedding, you can make the bun formal (brushed and secured tightly and set with hair spray) or more relaxed (loose hair falling from it and secured loosely). The bun is a versatile classic, especially for keeping long hair away from your neck on a hot summer wedding.
2. Side styles
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A great choice for long hair is to sweep it into a side do. There are many options here, for example, brush the hair over and secure with a fastener and curl the loose hair or make a long side plait with a bow (for example). Having the hairstyle to the side of your face adds a little something different to a conventional middle hairstyle and adds elegance.
3. Loose curls
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One of the advantages of having long hair is that you can experiment with different hairstyles and one of the best ones is curls. Prior to a wedding, have a go with your curling tongs and try loose and tight curls to see what works best for you, and how much ‘staying power’ the hairstyle has.
Remember that once you have curled your hair, you need to ‘commit’ to this style, which means a long day at a wedding and lots of hair spray and grips to keep it looking neat and tidy. Fortunately, if the wedding theme or your dress is more relaxed, you can keep the curls loose and less rigid, but if the wedding is particularly formal, it is recommended to use tighter curls and to section off the hair equally before curling.
Test out hairsprays that help the style stay in place, but look light/invisible on your hair. You can add a side grip or a flower to this style to accessorize.
4. Straight and sleek
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Long hair looks simple but effective when left to hang loosely. The look is best when you wash and dry thoroughly, and then run the straightening iron over the hair (using a heat protectant spray first). Finish with a light spritz of shine spray.
To add some variety to this style, take a few inches from each side of your hair (center parted) next to your temples and plait them back towards the back and middle of your head before linking the two plaits into one plait that hangs down the back of the hair. This looks great with a fastener or flower where the two small plaits meet, and still allows your long hair to cascade down your back.
Volume
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Luckily, with long hair comes lots of texture and volume (or at least enough hair to be able to create this volume if you have fine hair). Add to hairstyles by creating a bouffant with the top section of the hair and spray in place – you will get a great 50s vibe.
Style
Before you consider hairstyles for a wedding, think about the venue, the bride and groom (unless, of course, you are the bride, in which case anything goes), the season and the dress you will be wearing. All of these factors can make a difference to how you choose to style your hair. If you opt for a dress that lies off the shoulder, try out styles that keep the hair away from the neck and elongate it.
If the dress is particularly detailed, think about a simple hairstyle or if it is very plain, dress up your look by making your hairstyle fancier. If the wedding function is formal, you will want to reflect this in the way in which you wear your hair, with a ‘prim and proper’ feel – i.e. no loose fly-away hairs, while if it is a laid back affair, you can exercise a little less caution and do not need to be overly concerned if your hair style drops a little during the day.
Be prepared
Avoid a hair nightmare, by doing a hair trial before the big day. Try your dress on to ensure you have picked the right style and practice doing it yourself a few times so that you feel confident you will get it right. On the day, get ready well in advance and really secure the hairstyle you have opted for.
Hair, particularly long hair, can take a lot longer to prepare than how long you first anticipate – so wash, dry and style early to avoid the last minute panics. In your handbag, carry a pocket mirror, spare grips/clips and a mini hairspray for any adjustments during the day.
Should you DIY or go to a salon?
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If you do not normally style your own hair, why not take a trip to the salon? They can help inspire you with lots of different ideas for long hair and take out the worry of not getting it quite right. Alternatively, if you know how you like to wear your hair, there is nothing wrong with doing it yourself (just remember to practice beforehand).
The Internet is full of hairspiration ideas to get your imagination flowing ahead of a wedding, especially for long hair – where most hairstyle up dos are manageable. Have fun and experiment! Think about is your face shape, and check out our long haircuts for women infographic.
So there we have it, some advice to consider before styling your long locks for a wedding. But how do you style your hair for functions? Do you have long hair and some style secrets to share? Please let us know in the comments below.