Even though we're out of the traditional wedding season, this is 2011. People are getting married every month, day, and time you could imagine. Therefore, I think it's fitting to cover a question that I'm sure all natural brides will face at some point:
"Soooo....how are you going to do your hair?"
I recently got married (almost our 2-month anniversary, y'all!), and I was asked this question almost every time I talked about wedding planning. Sometimes the question was genuine. Sometimes it had a tinge of worry to it, and I'd know that the inquirer was really thinking, "I KNOW she's not going to walk down the aisle with that nappy head..."
I was able to just laugh it off, but I know for some, it may throw shade all over the plans you had for that cute twist-out or curly updo. So, what do you do if you're a natural-haired bride-to-be, looking for that perfect style?
A lot of sites have begun specific features on natural hairstyles for brides, and I was SO thankful for these resources when I was making my plans. Here are some great clicks:
Inspiration for Natural Hair Brides by Afrobella - gorgeous photos and ideas
Black Bridal Bliss - see her Tie The Knot Tuesdays feature to see real brides
Essence.com's Bridal Bliss feature - more amazing weddings and hairstyles
Natural Hair Brides - an amazing Tumblr site
Curly Nikki - look for her Natural Bride features for beautiful style submissions
Here are some photos for inspiration:
So, what did I end up doing with my hair on my day? Eh, some may say I sold out, but I chose the style I fell in love with. I had my hair blown out, flat ironed, and pin curled into a gorgeous retro style that just set my whole look off. It held up amazingly well in the summer heat, and the curls dropped beautifully in the days following the wedding:
All wedding photos courtesy of StarStruck Photography
Hair by Keren Chung of Pearson Lanes Hair Studio
Makeup by Faces by Pureness
As you can see, I went straight, but tried out so many varieties of natural curly styles during my planning. The best thing I learned was that there are a multitude of natural styles out there for brides-to-be, and curly hair can most definitely be formal and elegant, versus casual and carefree as it is usually portrayed.
If you're a natural, curly-haired lady looking for that ideal formal style, don't let anyone convince you that your kinks and curls aren't good enough! Â Overall, do what YOU feel is right, and go with the style that makes you feel the most comfortable and beautiful - your intuition won't steer you wrong!
Have you ever struggled to find a formal, natural hairstyle? For my married naturals, how did you style your hair for the wedding day? Have you had anyone attempt to deter you from a style choice? How did you handle it? And not to worry, more wedding details will be coming soon!