Our fashion + style maven Marissa is back, and this week she’s tackling styles and accessories for short hair brides! Take it away, Marissa! — Emily
Thanks, Emily! (Doesn’t she give the best introductions?)
Let’s jump right in, y’all! Do you remember the Jennifer Aniston “Rachel” cut, the Nicole Richie bob, Victoria Beckham’s posh pageboy or the famed Farrah Fawcett feathered flip? Yep, I’ve had all of them! (OK, maybe not the Posh!) Haircuts help define our personal style. So, as opposed to showing you styles that might require growing one’s hair out, we thought it would be fun to focus on styles and accessories for those short-haired brides who plan to keep it cool on their wedding days (pun intended)!
Let’s start with the super short-haired beauties. With very short hair, it is sometimes hard to affix long veils, which is why I suggest opting for lightweight fascinators, ornate headbands or birdcage veils. If you’re looking for a more traditional look with a long veil like Jen Fariello’s gorgeous bride below, bobby pins can be your best friend. Spraying the hair with an inexpensive hairspray and then crisscrossing the pins over the top of the veil’s comb creates an anchor for a heavier veil to hold onto.
Image credits clockwise from top left: Gia Canali, Abby Rose Photo, Chudleigh Weddings via Style Me Pretty, Lauren McGynn, and Jen Fariello.
Oh, the bob, how I love thee! This chin-length cut always looks so polished and sophisticated to me. This haircut is great for brides with oval or heart-shaped faces. It’s also the perfect canvas for a bird cage veil or large flower. Hair at this length is easier to secure your favorite accessory to. Quick tip: placing the fascinator or base of the bird cage veil on the same side as your part can create a more balanced aesthetic than placing it on the opposite side. Also, don’t forget to add a generous amount of pomade or anti-frizz serum to tame flyaways.
Image credits clockwise from top left: Kim Ashford (see more of this darling wedding here), next two photos Lauren Larsen, Merge Weddings, Scott Piner (see more of this Southern beauty here + here) and Rebekah Westover.
And last, but certainly not least, is the long bob. This modified version of the traditional bob brushes right along your collar bone. It’s a long time celebrity favorite due to the versatility and universally flattering style. This cut can be curled for a more modern look, or blown out straight to create a soft face-frame. With its versatile length, the long bob can be pulled into a low updo near the nape of the neck for a dramatic stunner; another stylish option is to tease hair at the root and pin at the back of the head. (Didn’t I tell you bobby pins would be your best friend?) This will create a secure location to attach a longer or heavier veil like The Image is Found‘s glowing bride below. Quick tip: to avoid hair looking like it’s hot off the curling iron, have your stylist curl the hair from top to bottom without the clamp. This will create a looser, more natural curl.
Image credit clockwise from top left: The Image is Found, Project Wedding, Jose Villa for Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding, Melissa Oholendt and Lauren Larsen.
What would a short hair inspiration post be without a few inspiring accessories? I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites below:
A. Candy Band B. LoBoheme “Claudine” ($130), C. Twigs & Honey Style No. 023 ($65), D. Ban.do Crystal Swirl Bobbi Pin ($130), E. Handle & Spout Five Flower Set ($65), F. B. Poetic Pretty Little Veil ($50), G. Untamed Petals “Eden” Flower Girl Halo ($48), H. Tessa Kim “Dawn” ($89), I. Twigs & Honey Whimsical Bridal Halo ($160), J. Twigs & Honey Tulle Sheer Birdcage Veil ($40), K. BHLDN Feathered Corsage Birdcage Veil ($300), L. Tessa Kim Tulle Birdcage Veil ($129), M. Emersonmade 3″ Wild Rose Clip ($42), N. Untamed Petals “Aurelia” ($115)
Until next time, here are few tips to remember: do your homework, bring in photos of what you want to your stylist, ask a ton of questions and get your final trim and color touch-up at least two weeks prior to your wedding. No matter how you plan on wearing your hair, be sure to go in for a trial and take a ton of photos to bring with you on your big day.
How about you? Will you be keeping it cool with a short style at your wedding? Will you be growing out your short locks for a glamorous updo? Let me know by leaving a comment in the section below. Either way, I know you’ll look beautiful!
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