| Jennifer
Anniston left her tousled hair down and covered it with a delicate
elbow-length veil. Rebecca Romijn topped her updo with a tiara and
a cascading veil of Chantilly lace. But what if you're not a celebrity
bride with a team of stylists? Trying to coordinate your veil with
that perfect Juliet topknot can leave you French twisted. Don't worry
-- we have all the tips you need to choose a fabulous hairstyle that's
just right for you.
All Swept Up
The formal updo, with its clean lines and timeless elegance, is
a favorite wedding day look and works well with a variety of veils.
If you've got your heart set on an updo, remember:
When choosing a hairstyle and veil, take your face shape into account.
If you have a rounder face, sleeker styles with longer veils will
look best on you. Fuller styles and veils flatter narrow faces.
Talented stylists can adapt most styles to suit the shape of your
face.
Veils that hang longer than your waist, like the fingertip, chapel
and ballet styles, are heavy. Tighter styles hold up better under
all that tulle, so if you are wearing a long veil, choose a coif
with less volume up top. A chignon, where the hair is gathered into
a roll at the nape of the neck, is a good bet. Another option is
the Juliet topknot, where the hair is twisted into a tight coil
at the top of the head.
Do you love the drama of intricate updos, with lengths of hair woven
into an elaborate creation on the crown of your head? Don't despair,
this style CAN work with a longer, heavier veil. Instead of covering
your hair with the veil, consider piling your hair on TOP of your
veil. The veil will cascade down your back, adding romance and sweetness
to your style.
The French twist, where the hair is gathered into a low pony tail
and then swept into a roll along the back of the head, is a classic
and versatile look. Brides that choose the French twist are in luck
-- this style looks gorgeous both with long veils and with shorter
styles, from the floor length veils to the wispy flyaways, which
are only about a foot long.
Letting Loose
If you've decided to leave your long locks down for that romantic
look, remember that tousled shouldn't mean tangled. Be sure to set
your hair and use either hairspray or gel to give it structure and
prevent flyaways. Hair left down can work with most any length of
veil, but the rule of thumb is that your veil should always be longer
than your hair so you don't look messy.
Also remember that the longest veils may be
too heavy for hairstyles with lots of body, so try a sleek look
if you're wearing a long veil.
Updo or Up Don't?
A good compromise between the sweetness of hair left down and the
elegance of updos is any of several in-between styles, where the
hair from your crown is swept back and the rest of your hair is
left down. Whether you gather the hair from your crown into a bun,
or pull the top layer back with twinkling combs, an in-between style
is a lovely compromise in the great debate between up and down.
And if you are still undecided, remember that more and more brides
are wearing an updo to their ceremony and taking their hair down
for the reception.
Chic Short Cuts
Styling is key for brides with short hair. Shorter styles have a
tendency to look messy, whether you iron it, dress it or slick it
back, make sure that you win the fight against bed head. One look
we love for cropped cuts: Tiny crystal-tipped hairpins strategically
placed throughout the hair to add sparkle.
Brides with short hair look especially lovely
with short veils. Picture a tuft of snowy white tulle fluttering
from the crown of your head. But don't think a smaller veil is your
only option -- cascading veils can look fabulous, too. Dress your
hair up with a tiara or halo of flowers, and you'll be gorgeous
in a veil of any length.
Topping It Off
Tiaras are still far and away the hottest accessory for bridal hairstyles,
but combs, clips, barrettes, jeweled hair sticks and hairpins are
popular as well. All accessories can look great with a variety of
hairstyles and veils, but remember to use them sparingly. Too many
twinkles can distract from your face.
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