Fashionably Fall Wedding Hairstyles

As autumn leaves fade from green to fiery reds and yellows, they aren’t the only things taking a turn for the hot this fall. For many brides, fall weddings mean opting out of blushing summery looks for the rich styles of the season. Up ‘n’ Down Styles Clyde Elezi, stylist and owner of New York’s The Drawing Room, has a style for each type of gown. For the classic, yet versatile A-line, he says that almost any style would work. “If your dress is strapless or has a lot of detailing we suggest wearing your hair up to show off the dress,” he says. Because ball gown dresses are so extravagant, a chignon or French twist adds simplicity to this bold choice. For the alluring mermaid silhouette, long romantic waves work best. Lucas Hawkins, a stylist at Chicago’s Beauty on Call, says, “If the dress has straps of any kind, you may want to go with a style a bit higher. If the gown is strapless, you could go with a look that’s down or lower up so your shoulders and back aren’t so bare.” For chilly fall evenings, a down hairstyle might work best to keep shoulders warm. Color Me Autumn For wedding colors, Carmen Wenthold, color director for Sassoon Salon in Seattle, recommends working closely with your colorist to select a color which complements your skin tone, eye color and the condition of the hair as opposed to following trends. “When fall rolls around, I encourage my clients to go darker and warmer. For blondes, lowlights are a great option; and for both brunettes and redheads, I recommend adding depth and richness with colors such as warm burnt sienna or golden ochre,” Wenthold says. For brides planning for drastically different color for the big day, Wenthold suggests creating a relationship with your colorist four months prior to the wedding. “You may need to work towards your dream color and that could require multiple color services to maintain the hair’s health and soft touch,” she says. “When you’re ready to get your color for the wedding day, book an appointment 1-2 weeks prior. Should there be stains on the hairline, they will be gone and re-growth won’t be a problem at that point.” Making It Work Whether it’s adding your own sparkle, or creating your hairstyle from scratch, at-home styling is a cinch. An easy at-home style can be done by rubber banding a low side-swept bun and roller setting the hair, for instant volume and body. “Another easy style would be to do low, loose curls with a large barrel iron and pull a small section on the top and sides back and pin [it] with a beautiful broach or clip,” says Gina Scalpone, senior stylist at Beauty On Call.