Make-up and Hair Stylist Erica Gray brings us her top picks for Bridal Style in 2016.
For spring 2016 bridal hair, think volume, texture and accessories! Inspired by runway looks from designers like Rodarte, Miu Miu, Monique Lhuillier, and Reem Acra, I created three looks on our model, Morgan, an Austin bride to be. The makeup for these three looks was kept the same except for the lip color.
For spring weddings, clients should look fresh and glowing. Loose pigment eyeshadows in shimmering gold, bronze and copper emphasized Morgan’s deep blue eyes (the gold pigment was also lightly swept along her lower lashline.)
Eyeliner was skipped altogether, and I chose a volumizing mascara, since her lashes are naturally long. I used a deep shade of bronzer to contour her beautiful bone structure under her cheekbones and along the sides of her forehead, temples and chin. A soft pop of peach blush on her cheeks was used to brighten her face and balance the contouring.
Look 1: The textured, low boho
Boho looks will continue to be popular this spring, but runways this season traded in braids for a different take on bohemian. Models wore their hair parted in the middle, and hair was either left down or pulled back low on the neck (fastened behind their ears or pulled into a low ponytail.) The key to this look is texture (and a lot of it!). Designers such as Rodarte and Miu Miu showed hair that was loosely crimped, which is a little too edgy for bridal hair. Instead, I focused on creating a lot of “roughed up,” textured volume with hair spray and light backcombing. Matte metallic accessories often accompanied these looks, so when I fastened the front part of Morgan’s hair tightly behind her ears, I did it with oversized matte gold bobby pins (found at Target from Goody for only $3.99!). This hairstyle is perfect for brides who like the boho look but want to keep their hair modern, sophisticated, and sexy
Look 2: The accessory factor Brides have been ditching the veil for years, but this season, hair accessories, especially headbands, were everywhere. For Morgan’s second look, her hair was kept parted in the middle but, but I added a lot of volume on the crown of her head for a vintage, 1950s vibe. I pulled the rest of her hair into a low, centered ponytail full of loose curls. A delicate, wrapstyle silk headband was placed an inch behind her hairline to frame her pretty face. Metal headbands or cut flowers would also look beautiful used with this style. This look is dreamy and romantic. This hairstyle is also great for brides who want to show off their long hair while keeping it out of their face.
Look 3: Sleek volume Inspired by the simple elegance of Monique Lhullier’s bridal collection, the third look used volume in a completely different way. Morgan’s hair was parted to the side and brushed sleek with a little pomade to eliminate any frizz. I added a lot of volume to a low side ponytail in order to create a bun worthy of even the fanciest of wedding dresses. I finished the hairstyle with a light mist of shine spray to accentuate the sleekness of the updo. This look is perfect for both a classic and a modern bride, but it would look best worn at a more formal wedding. This updo was finished in ten minutes, so it would be a great style for a bride who wants to change looks between the ceremony and the reception.
Q&A From
Angela S: I want my bridesmaids to be happy, but I would also like their hair and makeup to look cohesive. What should I do?
EG: I am a big fan of giving the bridesmaids a few options of hairstyles to choose from. That way, the girls can choose something that makes them feel pretty but also gives you some control over it. In terms of makeup, if you have one artist in charge of makeup, the look will naturally be pretty cohesive, but there will naturally also be some variation from girl to girl.
Sarah W: I think I want false lashes, but I don’t want my lashes to look really fake. What do you recommend?
EG: Talk to your makeup artist about using individual lashes or demi lashes. You can enhance your lashes as subtly as you’d like!
Morgan P: How do I know what jewelry and accessories go with my dress?
EG: This is a little beyond the scope of hair and makeup, butusually, makeup artists and hair stylists have a good eye for these things. A good place to look for inspiration is on your wedding dress designer’s website or catalog. Another great place is Pinterest. There are so many pictures catalogued on Pinterest now that you might find pictures of the way your gown was styled by other brides. A general rule of thumb for accessories is to determine the focal point of your dress and don’t use any accessories that compete with that detail.
If you have any question about hair, make-up or accessorizing, please leave them in the comments and we'll get you some answers.
Erica Gray has been a makeup artist and hairstylist for 15 years. She started her career in NYC, where she worked backstage at Fashion Week for designers such as Marc Jacobs and Mara Hoffman. Her work has been featured in W, Maxim and Lucky Magazines, and her clients have included Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz. Erica also offers wardrobe styling and personal shopping. Her work can be seen on her website ericagray.com on Instagram at @ericagraybeauty and on Facebook at /ericagraybeauty.
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