Choosing a hair style for your big day can be a challenge for many brides.  Let's face it - hair is a very personal thing, and an important element of our personalities and identity.  Throw in a wedding day, and the pressure to find your perfect "do" can cause some major stress!

The latest trends in bridal hair will have you sighing with relief - natural styles with beautiful accessories are in.

Loose, Natural & Lovely

One of the big trends we are seeing right now is a genuine movement away from severe wedding hair like tight buns; instead, relaxed tousled hair is making major waves.  Many brides favour looks such as the "half-up, half-down" which is a simple look to achieve.  The front of your hair is pulled back at the crown with bangs or face-framing loose curls, and the rest of your locks cascade down over your shoulders for a very natural and pretty look.

Extensions

For those of us that are a little challenged in the length department - temporary hair extensions are a continued trend for brides to add length and volume.  Celebrity stylist Ken Paves recently joined up with singer Jessica Simpson to create the "HairDo" line - a collection which includes 21-inch long human hair and synthetic clip-in hair extensions.  There are long and mid-lengths in straight or softly waved textures. Affordable, lightweight and easy to attach, these virtually undetectable extensions can be put in and taken out in a matter of minutes!

Accessories
There are some fabulous hair accessories making their way into the marketplace for brides that want to add a little "wow factor" to their look.  Clip in feather headpieces available in both whites and a bold array of colours can give you a fun & whimsical look, or consider adding a beautiful crystal brooch (perhaps a family heirloom) to a loose, tousled chignon to add sparkle and elegance.  One of the hottest trends right now is the birdcage veil - for brides who want a non-traditional look, a demure little birdcage veil can be the perfect accent to a simple gown.  You can find some great options at veil designers like Veil Trends.
images by VeilTrends

Partner with your Stylist

Carla Naylor, owner and lead artist for Faces By Carla, a Toronto-based makeup and hair consultancy works with many brides to finesse their wedding day look gave me her advice for how to work with your stylist effectively and get the dream wedding hair that you desire:

* Book a hair trial/consultation well in advance so that you have time for find the appropriate talent to meet your specific needs. Great talent is always busy, so don’t wait until the last minute.
* Select a hair style that works best for the shape of your face, skin tone, lifestyle and wedding dress/theme.
* If you require hair extensions for a specific look, do discuss this when you arrange for your consultation. Emailing a picture of your current hair as well as the hair style you desire helps the stylist to decide the right course of action.  Be realistic - extensions can be very expensive and take time to put together.
* Bring a magazine tear or picture on the trial day so the stylist can easily replicate the hair style and there is no guesswork involved.

by Cynthia Martyn