Wedding Hair.

I made it. I was engaged for 513 days, I planned my dream wedding, and I lived to write about it. Happily, I can say that the day was everything I hoped for and more. Phew.

Returning to this blog after the wedding has required me to think less about my wedding. While I daydream about that unforgettable day quite frequently, I finally feel like I can write about something else. Almost. Many of you have written me for wedding details so I've decided to come back today with just that. Starting with my hair.

Wedding hair. Yet another detail to consider on your journey to the big day. The most important hair style of your life, since you will be looking at the photos for the next hundred years. Think of the money you will be spending on photos! Do you want all of that to go to waste when you hide your wedding album like an old middle school yearbook? No you don't. No pressure though.

When I started thinking about it, I wanted the hair style I chose for my big day to check off the following categories:

1) I wanted to look like me.
 It could not be a style that I would be trying for the first time. I had to feel comfortable in it.

2) The hair should fit my dress and accessories.
I wore a statement accessory and a dramatic dress so I knew that I wanted a simple hair style that wouldn't fight the rest of my look.

3) The hair should do the setting, and the occasion, justice.
Nothing too casual for the black tie evening affair.

My first thought was to wear my hair all down. It covered off on the first category- in my everyday I usually wear my hair down. However, since my normal 'undone' look often ends up in my face, I quickly crossed this off the list.

I thought about wearing it half up, but it made me look like a Disney princess in my dress. No thank you.

Then suddenly, my inspiration: the 2012 Golden Globes. (Interestingly enough, my wedding dress was inspired by the 2011 Golden Globes!) Charlize Theron, Emma Stone, Sarah Hyland, and Stacy Kiebler walked the red carpet in my must-have look.

The winning 'do? A low-side chignon.

Fresh, romantic, and slightly undone. More formal than hair all down, yet not as harsh and formal as hair all tightly up. Undone modern glam is my go-to everyday look of choice so this was a perfect fit.


Here is the final look at my hair (and makeup) trial.

Michelle DeVoe at Demiche did a beautiful job.

Finally, when it came time to decide on a hair style for my beautiful bridesmaids, I realized the low side chignon was a style I loved for everyone. Turns out we all part our hair on the same side, so everyone was happy with their final look. They looked stunning.

Treat everyday like you are on the runway.

I'm Not Really a Surfer.

Working with clients, I always recommend that once you find a basic that works for your style and body type, you should stick with it. It could mean finding the brand of jeans that always fit you off the rack (J Brands for me, they are all I own now), always reaching for that fit-and-flair dress silhouette if you are pear-shaped, or the perfect blouse (love Equipment, see post here) that you buy in ten different colors and patterns. This 'stick with what works for you' rule extends beyond clothes. Right now, I'm talking about hair.

Ombre hair. Balayage. Have you heard of it? This hair trend has been around since it took Hollywood by storm back in 2009. Some trends come and go and some stick around for a while. For me, this is one trend that will stick around for a while, because I can't let it go. Why? Because, I had ombre hair long before ombre hair had its name. It's something that works for me, so I'm sticking with it.

The main characteristic of the ombre effect is hair that is darker at the roots and gets lighter toward the ends. There are several versions of it, from subtle to dramatic, for blondes or brunettes. I have been highlighting my dark brown hair for ten years. While away at college or traveling, as my blonde hair grew out, my roots would be dark and the ends would be light. While living out in Los Angeles, I started seeing some of the top celebrity hair colorists in the business and this is where I learned about ombre hair. Waiting for my appointment with Negin Zand at Sally Hershberger or Lorri Goddard-Clark when she was at Neil George Salon meant dealing with roots. But these skilled artists would intentionally color my hair so that that the time in between appointments only made my hair look better. Low maintenance color they called it. I was in love.

Two years later and I am not ashamed to say that I still am in love with the effect. I don't worry about my roots and I love my dark to light hair because it works for me. I love that it never looks too perfect and that it always balances out my polished outfits. I love that people still mistake me for a California girl even though I've been back in Massachusetts for a year. Today, I will see the talented Michelle Rozopoulos at Philip Ciampa Salon in Andover, MA for my upkeep appointment. I can't wait. She always does an amazing job and is the only person I trust on the east coast with my hair. I've already followed her to three salons and must say she is worth the trip.

Here are some beautiful examples of my favorite hair.

The blondes. (Love that hot pink lipstick Lauren Conrad is wearing! See post here.)

The brunettes.

And something in between.

So, what are your thoughts about ombre hair? Be honest. Love it? Hate it? Over it?

Treat everyday like you are on the runway.

Old Faithful.

When I was little, my mother used to bathe my sisters and I and then line us up to comb out and braid our hair one by one. Back in the days before leave-in conditioner, this was the best idea she had for three daughters with curly waist length hair (other than the high buns we needed to wear to ballet class, of course). The humidity and the "frizzies" were always cause for battle in my house. Sometimes, we won, and sometimes the hair won.

Fast forward twenty five years, and there are many new solutions on the market for curly unruly hair. However, I am constantly reverting back to old faithful. When the humidity factor is through the roof, or the heat outside is unbearable and my long hair feels like a winter hat on my head, I go back to my braid. These days, there are many new ways to braid hair, some I know, and some will take me watching a couple more how-to videos on YouTube. Here are some of the gorgeous creations that are inspiring me lately. Enjoy!

Do you love these beautiful creations as much as I do? Whether your style is tomboy or glamour girl, the braid is here to stay. It's always a fun and thoughtful alternative to the messy bun or quick ponytail.

Treat everyday like you are on the runway.