It's the hottest bridal hair look right now, with zero signs of cooling off: Half-up, half-down styles with cascading waves.
That's according to bridal styling specialist Caralee Pridemore, who says that "for the past two years, a majority of my clients want to wear their hair down.
"But they’re also loving texture, unstructured waves, and an element of interest," she says, "such as a fun twist, braid, or accessory."
Part of the style's appeal is it can be personalized with an endless variety of design elements. Finished looks run the spectrum from "barefoot on the beach" to "royal wedding."
Pridemore, who exclusively styles for brides, is a Sam Villa ambassador and author of the "Hair Guidance for the Modern Bride" guidebook. "The half-up, half-down trends we’re currently seeing will continue through the winter," she says, "with accents like a half-up bun placed higher on the head, so they can be seen from the front.”
Pro Tips for Half-Up Half-Down Bridal Waves
- Even when they have the same curl pattern, no two half-up styles are alike. Brides can make the style their own through accessories, braids, twists, flowers, buns, etc.
- Long hair is a must for this look. If the bride doesn’t have the length, add extensions. (For the styles shown at the top of this page, the blonde and redhead both wore extensions.)
- To really set the texture for a long day and night, hold each curl in your hand after it comes off the iron until it is fully cooled. (For this step, Pricemore uses a Sam Villa Artist Series 2-in-1 Marcel Iron and Wand 1.5".)
- It takes about 90 minutes to set/ place curls away from the face . Then, either brush out for a more relaxed look, or keep the curls undisturbed for a more defined polished style, depending on the bride.
- A half-up half-down style with extensions is a very time-consuming process, Pridemore says, so two major considerations need to be factored in. One: 3 or 4 people at the most can be accommodated in a tight prep time. Two: For both the trial run and day of the wedding: "charge accordingly for these styles, as they take longer to do."