As wonderfully romantic as they are, weddings can very quickly become one of the most expensive pursuits you have ever embarked on. From venues to flowers and photographers, it all adds up. It is hardly surprising if you want to save money with a few DIY options along the way.
As the average wedding reaches costly heights of around $33,000, this is a route that more and more couples are choosing to take. The question is, what elements of the big day can you reasonably do yourself without compromising on your big-ticket must-haves?
For many couples, elements like table decorations and flower arrangements are obvious places to start. Equally, brides are increasingly DIYing certain elements of their wedding-day looks, including wedding dress personalizations and, as we’ll be discussing here, their hairstyles.
This latter option might seem daunting considering that you want your wedding hair to look a little better than your standard scruffy up-do. But fear not; it is entirely possible to take care of your own wedding hair and love it, and we have some simple styling tips to make that possible.
Step 1: Choose An Achievable Style
The first thing to bear in mind here is that you will never be able to achieve the same intricate, carefully positioned styles as a trained expert. Technical elements aside, your arms simply can’t reach far enough around to manage all of the details a style like this requires!
Luckily, there are plenty of easier wedding styles that still look amazing, but that are easy enough for a bride to manage on her own. A classic bridal bun is perhaps the most obvious of these, and can be amazingly easy to achieve with a few hair pins (of which you will need plenty!), but will still look surprisingly sleek.
Other styles worth considering include:
- Knotted or looped buns
- Curled styling
- French braids
- Half-dos
- And more
When considering your options, simply think about which style achieves the right look, and seem easily attainable to you.
Step 2: Prep Your Hair As Much As Possible
Just because you are not working with a stylist on your wedding does not mean you need to totally wing it where your hair is concerned. In truth, the more preparatory steps you take, the better. It is certainly worth taking time out to visit your hairdresser during the week before your wedding. Even if you just head in for a trim, this step will ensure healthy, glowing hair that is at its best. If you want to go all out, you could also book in for a coloring, or even a keratin treatment or perm to keep styling in order!
It should also go without saying that it is always worth washing your hair before going in with a wedding up-do, though you might be surprised to find that you could be better off doing this the day before. That way, your locks will have plenty of time to dry out, calm down, and get ready for the best up-do you have ever achieved.
Step 3: Less Is More For Products
Hair stylists often use products to get a wedding style to look great and stay in place throughout the events of the day, but remember – you are not a stylist! If you go overboard with the hairspray, there might be no going back.
Admittedly, you probably will want to experiment with new products for the big event, especially if you want your updo to stay in place, but always do so sparingly. A quick squirt of hairspray should be all you need or, if you want to achieve an even more subtle look, you could use just a smidge of products like this natural hair pomade which is both nourishing and sure to keep your up-do in place. Even if you are going in with options like curling cream, try to keep it subtle or you risk a crisp, unnatural-looking style that will never look good in those wedding snaps.
Step 4: Do Not Be Afraid To Ask For Help
Even the simplest bridal styles can be difficult to get just right if you are doing things completely alone. This is especially true considering that you will want the back of your bridal hair to look as pristine as the front. Luckily, DIY wedding hair does not mean that you are stuck taking care of this element completely on your own.
Even if you do the vast majority of your wedding hairstyle yourself, asking a bridesmaid or two to tackle things like those awkward pins right at the back could be a huge weight off your shoulders. Alternatively, you could have a friend help you with every element of this style if you do not feel quite up to the task yourself, or like the idea of something like intricate braids at the back.
Sure, a friend might not be able to tackle things quite as well as professionally, but your overall hair look is sure to feel more meaningful, and well-placed, as a result of this helping hand from a loved one.
Step 5: Practice Makes Perfect (But Not Too Much!)
Brides-to-be are now incredibly lucky to have plenty of wedding hair YouTube tutorials to turn to, and practicing is the best way to get your DIY wedding hair just right. Ideally, you want to be in a place where you can quickly and efficiently get that style down. This way, you can avoid stress and setbacks on what is guaranteed to be a busy morning.
All of that said, you will also want to be wary of going in with too much practice! If you keep on going over the routine after you have the basics right, you are at risk of either over-stressing yourself, or feeling tempted to complicate things with additional steps. Neither of which will help!
So, make sure you are practicing just enough to get the style right, without the risk of overthinking!
Conclusion
DIY hair styling is a great way to save money on your wedding. Simply stay calm and follow these tips to make sure that you still love the end result!
