A New Look for a New Year

Your wedding will be one of the most important days of your life--and definitely the most photographed day. So, you'll need to get the perfect look. The dress, veil and make up are part of it, but your hair has the potential to be shampoo-commercial worthy. However, a great hair day on the big day takes some preparation.

Get Healthy

The luscious locks you've always wanted come with a price--and that price is keeping your hair in good health. Healthy hair will photograph better, especially if you plan to keep your hair down instead of pinning it up. You can best do this by:

• getting regular trims. Split ends can make your hair look dull and scraggly as it gets long, as it not only affects the ends; rather, it weakens the entire strand. Regular trims will help your hair grow strong and beautiful.
• avoiding excessive dyes and other chemical treatments. You might be a bottle blonde, and if you are, you'll need to make sure your hair can take the stress. Hair dye, especially treatments that bleach instead of deposit color, can strip hair and leave it brittle and prone to breaking. If you need a dye job for your wedding, do it a few weeks beforehand, so that you can give your hair some TLC before the big day. If roots are a problem, you can simply have them touched up a day before. 
• being selective with your heat styling. Heat is what draws the moisture out of a strand of hair, and may the source of frizzy, unmanageable locks. For a few months before the big day, keep the blow dryer, straightener and curling iron action to a minimum to make sure your hair is shiny and full for the wedding. 
• using hair masks and deep conditioning routines. If your hair is already damaged, you can use several natural treatments to bring it back to life. Eggs, for example, add shine and strength to hair, while olive oil and avocados help revitalize hair that has been over-treated or over-heated. 
• repairing sun and swim damage. Summer fun can end up being a big bummer for your hair health. If you are an avid swimmer, you can buy special shampoo that helps protect against chlorine damage and has SPF protection. Swim caps may not look great, but they can also keep your hair safe and dry during a swim. Remember, sacrificing a good hair day at the pool will mean a gorgeous hair day later. 

Get More

After you've gotten your hair into good shape, you can add thickness and length to achieve almost any style you want. Your hairstylist can give you hair extensions a natural look so that no one will know it is not your real hair. In fact, if you are getting your hair colored before the wedding, you stylist will likely dye the extensions the same color in order to make sure it is a perfect match. 

Real human hair extensions always look better than synthetic, so they are a better choice for your wedding day. Extensions can be also be removable instead of permanent if you prefer not to alter your look permanently. Permanent hair extensions use a fusion method which attaches them to your actual hair almost seamlessly, and if you care for them properly, they will last you about five months. 

Get A Pro

You'll only a have a few times in your life where you can justify getting your done by a qualified professional, and your wedding is one of them. If you can, have a practice run a few days before the wedding to work out any kinks and to let the stylist get a feel for your hair (thickness, length etc.). After this practice run, any anxiety you may have had about your wedding hair should be put to rest. 

To learn more about prepping your hair for the big day, visit Monaco Boutique & Salon.