It is every little girl’s dream to look like a princess on her wedding day and hair is a very important part of that look. Akossa Mphepo asks Christie Tsokalankhuku of The Beauty Box for some pre-wedding hairapy (hair therapy) advice.
Christie, who has styled a lot of brides and is a renowned salon owner in Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre, says first things first; if you would like your hair to be in tip top shape during the wedding, you ought to start caring for it four to six months in advance.
“You will have to retouch your hair every six weeks as well as have treatments (deep-conditioning) every two weeks. You also need to trim it regularly to get rid of split ends,†advises Christie.
In addition to this, if your hair is fragile, it is best to stay clear of styles which pull too tight and run the risk of ruining your hairline. If you have a receding hairline, try a treatment such as Doo Gro or hair fertiliser by Organic Root Stimulator. Organic Root Stimulator also make a scalp scrub which fills out bald patches and receding hairlines, which means that if you treat your hair religiously, you will most likely end up with a full head of luscious locks on your big day.
After you’ve got your hair sorted, you need to work out what kind of style would be ideal.
“I think a lot of people do not consider their face shapes when selecting a hair-style for their wedding day which is unfortunate. If you have an oval face, for example, it is not advisable to pull your hair up because you might look funny. Rather, consider leaving it down and add beautiful accessories to make it look glamorous.
“If you have a round face, you can get away with pulling all your hair up. However, make sure that your hair-piece is big and full to balance out the look,†advises Christie.
Great tips to ensure your hair is perfect on your wedding day:
- Take several photographs of hairstyles you like to your stylist when planning your look. Tear pictures of looks you love from bridal and hairstyling magazines or print hair style examples from the web.
-  Bring a friend along with camera to capture the look from all angles so you can print photos and refresh your stylist’s memory on your wedding day.
-  Consider wearing beautiful hair jewellery under your veil so you continue to sparkle even if you remove your head piece at your reception. Remember to take them to your hair stylist when planning your bridal hairstyle.
- Consider not wearing a veil at all! Delicate flowers tucked into flowing curls, a string of freshwater pearls or lace ribbon woven through a braid can create a simple yet elegant look.
