Mirror, mirror on the wall: Kerine Davis' do completes her picture-perfect look. - Contributed Photos

Say to her, 'Your wedding day's here', and the bride will invariably plunge into hair-raising hysteria, worrying that the ring, dress, flowers and virtually every part of the ceremony will go to pieces.

But don't go pulling out your hair just yet - you'll need it.

Whether straight or curly, kinky or soft, hair - second only to the dress - is part of the centrepiece of the wedding day.

Nicola Walsh, cosmetologist and stylist, says going to the salon a couple of weeks before the wedding and crafting a game plan is a good way to start the process.

"Many clients come in a week or two for consultation. They want to get an idea regarding styles they can choose.

"We go through styles appro-priate for facial features and dress types. Doing this ahead of time can settle a bride's mind," Walsh told Saturday Life.

Newly hitched Kerine Davis - just over four weeks into marriage - agrees. She explains that she had a hairstyle in mind long before her wedding day.

"I knew what I wanted. I think it's safer that way. When I went to my stylist, I just explained to her and then she added to it," she said. It came out wonderful and I really loved it!"

Doing it the right time

A side view of the finished product.

Davis, who had a morning wedding, says she had her do done the night before.

"That was a bit tricky, but I thought it best. I didn't want to take the chance in the morning."

Davis says she manoeuvred well and the style lasted throughout the ceremony and reception, and was still in good shape a week after the wedding.

Kerry-Ann Simpson, stylist at Head of State Beauty Salon in Angels Plaza, Spanish Town, says very few of her clients come with predetermined styles.

"They have the updo idea in their minds, but not a set style. They go through books and we work from there," she said.

Simpson, who has been a stylist for more than 13 years, adds that sometimes the brides-to-be need treatment options to prepare the strands for the stress of the do.

"If it's not a hairstyle that's done regularly, then preparation has to be made, especially if the hair is damaged (dry or weak). In that case, a conditioning or hot-oil treatment can be suggested. These can be continued long after the big day, so the health of the hair can be maintained."

Styles

Davis during a styling session ahead of her wedding day.

Simpson says most women choose updos.

"They go with any dress and I find that with our climate, most women don't want the hair on their backs. They prefer styles that won't weaken or droop."

Low-neckline dresses, she explains, can carry off updos, but in her experience, it's not a cast-in-stone rule. "The bride just works with what she likes and it always comes off beautifully," said Simpson

If the client is sporting a low-cut hairdo, Simpson suggests extensions and accessories.

"It happens, but I hardly see brides going for very low cuts. Most want something that grabs the attention. A client of mine had her hair low. She asked for her hair to be curled, then I added extensions and a nice flower for effect."

Walsh supports Simpson's view, adding that extensions are very popular. She said most women use them because they're flexible and add flair.

"If a client has unprocessed hair, then she might choose to process it or straighten it with a flat iron (what we call pressing) and then add extensions," said Walsh.

shaunette.jones@gleanerjm.com