Wedding Blog - it’s a bride’s life - real brides blogging ’til “I do!”

You’ve probably come to the conclusion that being Miss Sparkly Bride – I love to add *sparkle* whenever possible!~ So, although I am planning to wear a veil to our church wedding ceremony, I wanted to make sure I still had something special in my hair for the reception!~ I have two options… headband or hair comb. Let’s be honest.. there is beautiful options out there for both, and either would add a perfect amount of sparkle for an evening reception!..  Take a look at some of my favorites!~

Combs……

Decisions… decisions!~ Which do you prefer?! A headband or a comb?!

Photos: Headband 1 :: 2 :: 3 Comb 1 :: 2 :: 3

Loose waves in a low bun is exactly what I want on my wedding day. Inspiration below…

Photo Credits: Hair 1, Hair 2, Hair 3

The real secret behind how to get healthy hair is that there isn’t one. There simply is no miracle cure or quick-fixes for damaged hair. It can only be repaired over time, but the great news is that your accidentally abused hair will respond to changes!

In order to have healthy beautiful hair for your wedding, you need to start weeks if not months earlier to repair any damage that has been done to your hair.

In and After the Shower

• Use cooler water to wash and rinse your hair the last time. The first mistake a lot of people make is rinsing your hair with hot or warm water. Hot showers are fabulous, but not for your hair. The next time you shower, wear a shower cap or pull your hair up into a pony tail where the water can’t reach it until it’s time to wash your hair. Then, let down your hair and use cold water when washing and rinsing your hair. It closes up the hair cuticles if you rinse with cold water, locking in moisture.
• Wash your hair the recommended amount. Clean hair is healthy hair. Wash every other day so the oils in your hair can nourish your hair. But don’t get grimy. Massage shampoo into the scalp. Do this for about 40 seconds, wash out thoroughly and then repeat once more. Pour conditioner into your hand filling the palm, rub from the tips of your hair to the root covering all your hair. If you want softer silkier looking hair leave the conditioner on for a few minutes. You can give yourself a deep conditioning treatment by sectioning the hair and covering it in conditioner. If you notice this causes your hair to become flat and unmanageable, only apply conditioner to your ends.
• Know your shampoo ingredients. Does it have a harsh lathering agent like ammonium lauryl sulfate, or a gentle one like sodium laureth sulfate? If so, change your shampoo to a gentler one.
• When you dry your hair, don’t rub it with the towel. Wet/damp hair is the weakest state. So, if you rub/dry it with a towel, there are major chances some will fall out. You can blot it. You could also dry it with a blow dryer, but not too often, or it will get extremely dry. Never leave hair wet/damp when you go to bed since your hair can fall out at that time too.
• It is best to let your hair dry naturally; but if necessary use a heat protection spray which you spray on the hair while it is still wet and then blow dry, this will also protect hair from curlers/straighteners etc.
• Dry hair carefully. Do not wring it with the towel- blot instead. Also do not brush your hair while it is wet- instead use a wide-toothed comb. Take your brush and brush a small chunk of the front of you.
• Spray-on and leave-in conditioners help: leave-in conditioners penetrate deep into your hair cuticles and heal them more completely. So using them at least once a week will make all the difference. A spray-on conditioner is another great idea. It conditions your hair and makes it look manageable and beautiful.
• Brush your hair properly. Don’t brush your hair too often or too much. Avoid brushing your hair while wet. Wet hair is stretchier and has a tendency to “snap”. However, it is fine to detangle wet hair that is saturated with conditioner with a wide-toothed comb.
• Decide on the detangling tool(s) that are best for your hair. Generally, the thicker, coarser, or curlier the hair, the wider the comb teeth or brush bristles should be. People often claim that the best brushes are made of natural bristle like a boar bristle brush. They do help to spread the natural oil throughout your hair and they are softer on your hair. They are not as good for detangling however! If you are blow drying your hair, you should use a round brush with straightening bristles.
• If you notice your hair is becoming dry wash it less frequently, so the natural oil balance can be restored. Instructions on shampoo bottles are designed to make you use it up and buy more– adjust the amount you use according to you hair care regime.
• Organic shampoos are good to use- they are usually gentler and healthier for your hair.
• The best shampoos are ones you have tried and make your hair look good. Buy shampoo designed for your hair type and needs. If you are willingly to spend extra money, go to a salon, talk to a hairdresser about recommended shampoos and conditioners, and purchase one.
• You can usually tell when it’s time to wash your hair, because it will start getting oily at the roots. If you wash it too often, it causes frizz. If you don’t wash it often enough, that causes dandruff.

Styling and Care

• To get more shine, volume, and bounce in your hair, use hair creams, olive oil, or (this really works!) mayo and an egg.
• Use heat tools only after applying heat protection (curling irons, hot rollers, straighteners, etc.) Heat can fry and damage your hair so try not to use them too often.
• Apply styling products to hair strands and not the scalp as they can dry your scalp and cause irritation and dandruff.
• Have a trim every six to eight weeks to remove split ends.
• Style your hair at most four times a week to avoid damaging it. A simple braid or an elegant one can be worn on days when you don’t want to or shouldn’t style your hair.
• Wear hair accessories. Clips or barrettes can complement beautiful hair. Coordinate them with your outfits or your personality.
• Use hair ties instead of rubber bands or elastics. They cause tangles and knots and rip out hair.
• Protect your hair: When you expose your hair to the sun it sucks even the healthiest hair’s moisture out and keeps it looking dull. Instead, wear a hat to cover your hair or even a cap or a scarf is a good idea. If covering your hair isn’t your style, try tying it up in a knot, bun or braid. An alternative, is to “feed” your hair when out in the sunshine – find a moisturizing sun screen that you like to apply to your skin, and put some in your hair when you go hiking! The sun protective factor (SPF) will protect your hair from being sun burnt, just like it does your skin! And depending on the emollients in it, can actually help your hair get a nice “hot oil treatment,” too!
• Do not overuse shine products to control frizzes — they often contain silicone that can coat your hair after just a few applications and can prove harmful.
• Invest in good styling products and supplies. Ask a professional which ones are good for your specific hair type.
• When using hairspray, make sure you wash out thoroughly as it will damage the cuticle in the hair; this is how split ends are caused.
• Don’t dye, perm, or relax your hair too often! Doing this makes hair less healthy. Use a good ammonia-free hair dye with olive oil to keep it healthy and deep condition after. A good alternative to dying your hair is henna. Not only does it make your hair brown or red, but it’s also really good for your hair.
• Do not brush your hair too much. This can cause oil and grease to build up.

Additional Tips:

• Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase–cotton pillowcases make hair look dry; they suck out the moisture and can cause frizz.
• Eat healthy foods that aid the hair in staying strong and lustrous. Your diet can also prevent hair loss.
• Thoroughly rinse hair before swimming so it doesn’t absorb the chlorine, and thoroughly wash hair afterward to get rid of chlorine.
• To prevent damage, wet your hair with tap water before you swim. The more wet your hair before you swim, the less salt water and chlorine it will absorb.

For more tips check out WikiHow

photo 1, photo 2, photo 3

I am starting to think about how I would like to have my hair done for my wedding. I have medium/long hair so there are many options available for me. I was thinking about leaving my hair down and doing something with spiral curls because I love the elegance of it, but my hair never holds curls for long. So now I am looking at having a classy up-do. I think having my hair up will be the best option for me because I won’t have to mess with it and if I get hot (which will probably be inevitable because I live in Florida) it will already be off my shoulders.

My mother is a hairstylist so I will be taking pictures of what styles I like over to her house a few times so that we can practice, practice, practice. Then, come the morning of my wedding, I will be able to sit in the chair and we will both know exactly what I prefer my hair to look like.

Browsing Onewed, I found several styles that I really like.

I was in fifth grade when I decided to relax my hair.

I’ll never forget how much I begged, pleaded, practically groveled with my parents to get my beautiful waves and curls relaxed so I can have straight, “manageable” hair. Every time I asked, I was met with “Are you sure?” or “Give it some time, so you can really think about it” and since I had been asking since I was in kindergarten I’d also get “Wait until you are older.”

So when I finally felt my silky smooth straight hair I was elated. I loved it! I could easily run a comb through it and I could finally do my hair in all the styles I see in magazines and on TV.

Then in college, something clicked. After years of getting my hair re-relaxed every 6-8 weeks or so, and after all of my beautiful length had been lost from all the breakage from the relaxers, I decided to embark on my journey back to my natural hair.

That was over 5 years ago and I haven’t looked back since.

My hair has grown back in and broken back off since, as I am still learning how to care for my natural hair, but I have years of catching up to do. It has been quite the spiritual journey for me so, it’s important to me to rock my afro for my wedding. When I met Greg, I took it as an opportunity for a fresh start. Even though I still straightened my natural hair without relaxers, I had never worn it as a “fro” until the day Greg and I met in person. I was nervous on so many levels and I had planned to straighten my hair that night but I just didn’t have enough time to get to that step. I will never forget how his eyes lit up when he saw me and I asked him what he thought about my hair (I had warned him before he pulled up). He told me he loved it. And he truly does, I’ve worn my hair natural with confidence every day since and when the topic of my wedding hair came up he said he would love nothing but to see me coming down that aisle all done up with my “fro”. Brought tears to my eyes. My hair is much shorter now, easier with two young kids, but it’s a reminder of the love and support my future husband gives me and I’m so happy to be marrying him.

I thought I’d use this post to showcase some gorgeous, natural hairstyles that would work for any natural bride.

The Bridal Cafe

Chocolate Brooms and Bouquets

Elite Bridal Concierge photo courtesy of Luke Eshelman Photography

Top Left: Thank God I’m Natural
Top Right: Chocolate Brooms and Bouquets
Bottom Left/Right: African American Wedding Hairstyles

Also from African American Wedding Hairstyles

Color Mi Natural