10 Wedding "Up 'do" Hairstyles

Brides have all sorts of things to worry about, including their hairdo's for that big day. There are several traditional hairdo's that a bride can wear on her wedding day. This article explores the Up 'do's for that big day. These are perfect up 'do's that can accent a beautiful wedding dress or accentuate the bride's special features.

There are many styles of up 'do's that are appropriate for a wedding or any formal event. You can have the sophisticated look, the classic up 'do's, and even partial up 'do. It is important to practice and sample a few different hairstyles to find the one that is perfect fort you on your special day.

Classic Bun: This is a very classic look and depending on your veil and dress style maybe the perfect hairstyle for your wedding day. This can be done with just about any hair type. Mainly for those with medium to long hair. You will first want to wash and apply a conditioner to give your hair a little extra shine. Pull the hair back and smooth it out into a tight ponytail on the crown of your head. The hair can then be wrapped around the ponytail in a circular pattern and set in place with lots of bobby pins. You will want small and large bobby pins to ensure that this do stays put all day. Finally spray with hair spray and for a glitzy look apply shine or a glitter hair spray.

Wispy Bun: This is a variation to the classic bun. If the tight up 'do is not for you, then for those with medium to long hair try a softened look to the classic bun. You will still want to shampoo and condition the hair, but you will also want to blow dry and set your hair into large rollers. After taking out the rollers pull the hair back loosely into a ponytail about one inch below the crown of your head. Then loosely wrap the hair around the ponytail in the same circular pattern securing it with bobby pins. This do will probably have some hair that falls down around the face or back of the neck, this is perfectly fine. Just put a tight curl into these strays and spray the entire do heavily with hairspray.

Partial Bun: You may not want all of your hair up in a bun for your wedding day, or your hair may not be long enough for a full bun. In this case follow the directions above for either a classic bun or wispy bun but only pull the front half of your hair back into the ponytail. Wrapping the portion of hair in the ponytail around the hair tie in the same circular pattern securing it with bobby pins. Finish off the bottom portion of hair with a curling iron. Be sure to spray well with hairspray.

Sophisticated Ponytail: Celebrities have put a new twist on a ponytail making it look glamorous and sophisticated. This look is achieved in a variety of ways. Their are the loose ponytails and the tightly pull ponies with hair wrapped around it. Here I am going to give the directions for the loose ponytail. You will want to start with clean conditioned hair and blow dry. Place large roller into your hair to give it extra body. Then pull the hair back in a loose ponytail to the back of the neck about one inch above the hair line. Take a small group of hair and wrap completely around the hair tie to hide it. Use bobby pins to secure this hair in place. This hair style is suggested only for those with long hair for the desired look.

French Braid: This is a classic look that you will need some help to achieve. Most can not French braid their own hair perfectly. After washing, conditioning and blow drying have someone French braid your hair. You will need a brush and comb for this hair style. When finished with the braid for a more formal look tuck the end under the braid at the back of the neck and pin with bobby pins. Be sure to spray well and curl any strays tightly.

Wispy French Braid: This is a vintage look that is a beautiful way to accent a vintage wedding dress. This one is much like the French braid from above but you will also want to put your hair into large rollers for extra body. The braid should begin tight for about the first 2-3 inches and then loosen through the crown of the head and go to a tight braid again at the last portion after the end of the hair line. The tail of the braid should be tucked under as above and pinned with bobby pins. Spray heavily and there will be wisps of hair that will need to be tightly curled around the face.

Pinned Curls: Pinned curls look glamorous but are very easy to do. You prepare the hair with a shampoo, conditioner, blow dry and large curlers. Use a shining mouse or gel on the hair as you set the curls in place. Start the do by pulling the hair back into a barrette where you want the style to be. This can be done one inch above the hair line at the back of the neck or at the crown of your head. Simple take the hair into about one inch widths and using the shining gel smooth it out so there are not fly aways. Place the end of the curl near the barrette and pin in place with small bobby pins. You can continue this process until all the hair is up around the barrette. When placing the hair be sure to hide the barrette with the hair.

Pinned twists: This a variation of the pinned curls. You follow all the above directions except when placing the hair around the barrette first twist the hair and then pin it near the barrette. You will also use smaller portions of the hair about 1/4 inch wide to make the twists. This is a great style to finish with a little shining spray or glitter hair spray.

French Twist: This is also a timeless hair style with lots of glamor. Simple prepare the hair with shampoo, conditioner, blow dry and place in large curls. Then pull the hair back to the base of the neck. Next take the hair and twist it up. This is like a reverse ponytail. Take the hair and pull the hair over it in the same direction that you twisted it in at the base of the neck. You can then tuck the extra hair into the perfect fold that you made. Pin with large and small bobby pins and spray heavily with hairspray.

Wispy French Twist: This is for those with really long hair. Follow the directions above but instead of tucking the hair into the fold let it fall back to make a ponytail like thing. You will want to pin this hair to stay down and in place with bobby pins loosely place around the hair that falls back.

Finding the perfect up do for your wedding can be a challenge but enjoy the experience and have fun experimenting with different styles. Be sure to take pictures of each do so you can look back and make a better informed decision about the do that is right for you on your wedding day.