Diaries of a Bridal Stylist
I don’t really keep a diary
of my on-location hair-ventures. Where would I find the time? I’m a buffalo
rancher, a novelist and an on-call stylist, for goodness sake!
It’s never dull doing hair at
weddings. On top of whatever family fun (read: drama) unfolds, there is always at
least one member of the bridal party or the bride’s family who needs my help
after I’ve finished the pièce de résistance on my bride. They materialize out
of the hairspray mist saying things like, “Can you help me? My curls won’t stay.”
Maybe they’re enthralled
with the fabulous hairstyle I’ve just created, but I suppose it’s possible they
killed too many brain cells the night before, if you get my meaning. As in too
many toasts during the rehearsal dinner.
Suffice to say, I’m the
first responder to all hair related wedding emergencies when I’m on location.
And I love it. I did a wedding last August where I was just going to do the
bride’s hair. One of her bridesmaids came up to see how things were going and she
looked like her head had been dipped in shellac. I pulled the bride’s sister
aside and asked if it would be okay for me to offer to help. I mean, that poor
girl’s hair was going to be memorialized in photos for posterity. Long story
short; I put on my cape and flew in to save the day. Well, the hairstyle,
anyway. She was happy. The bride was happy. Ahhh. All’s well that ends well,
right?
What about you? Are you engaged?
Would you like a few tips from an old pro for your big day? If not, skip the
rest of this blog. But if you do, read on sister:
1. Do a trial run, even if you have to pay for it.
Everyone’s hair is different. Don’t leave your big moment to chance. It’s
likely someone’s going to drop a wad of cash on the photos. Oh, and bring your
veil and any additional bling you want to wear in your hair. Think of it as a
dress rehearsal without the dress. My brides often take off their veil for the
reception and want to add a pretty comb or a clip for the party. The stylist
needs to take that into consideration when planning your ‘do.
2. Use photos rather than relying
on a verbal description to let your stylist know what it is you’re after. That
includes a photo of your dress, so he/she can get a feel for your style. Share
a little about the venue, as that can also play into things.
3. Bear in mind that your
hair may not be suited to a particular style. It may be much thicker or a
different texture than that in the photo you like. If you can isolate what it
is about the particular style you’re drawn to, a good stylist can find a way
(barring the need for a bonafide miracle) to get a similar effect. For example,
if you want an updo that voluminous, but your hair is thin, your stylist can
use a hair donut to create a fuller look. We have all kinds of tricks up our
sleeves.
4. Pad your time. I just did
a wedding last month, and I had to drive through a snowstorm to get to the location.
I planned in extra time to get there.
5. As things come down to
the wire, set aside some personal time to decompress. Reading a good story can
do that, so be sure to take a look at mine. Okay, that was just a shameless
plug.
Whatever they may be, I hope
your dreams come true. May your life be blessed with love, laughter and a
double-shot of adventure.
Changing Sky
After walking away from her job as a teacher,
Skylar Biondi drives a brown truck and delivers packages. It keeps her busy and
out of the bars. Skylar closely guards the painful truth about why her romance
with a Colorado Rockies pitcher ended suddenly. She relives the past in her
dreams, only to wake to the brutal reality of being alone.
Former army medic, Enrique Avalos, keeps his
distance from Skylar, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his ex-wife. When she
sets up a contest to name the cat he rescued from a dumpster behind his
motorcycle repair shop, new business begins to flow in, forcing Enrique to
bolster his armor.
While on her route, Skylar comes across
nine-year-old Mia and knows she’s in peril. When Enrique spots Skylar skulking
around at night, he assumes she’s casing the neighborhood. Can Enrique and
Skylar set their differences aside in time to help Mia?
In this warm, sometimes heartbreaking tale, an
extraordinary confluence of events leads three people from different worlds to
the doorstep of a journey none of them could have foreseen.
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Gorgeous hairstyle. To be able to do that is an "art."
ReplyDeleteThanks, Angela!
ReplyDelete