Wedding Day Hair Prep Guidelines: What to Do Before Hair Services

Nov 17

Your wedding day is one of the most meaningful & most photographed days of your life. As your hairstylist, my goal is to help you look and feel your absolute best. But beautiful bridal hair doesn’t start the morning of the wedding…it starts looooong before you say “I do.” Let’s talk about how proper prep can make all the difference.

Come With Clean Hair
A clean canvas is always the best canvas. And no… dirty hair does not hold curls better—sorry about it! In fact, in my experience, dirty hair actually makes styling harder. It doesn’t hold curl well, it doesn’t tease properly, it can smell when heat is applied, and honestly… it’s just not fun to work on.
So when your stylist asks for clean, product-free hair, trust her.
The only exceptions? A light heat protectant or leave-in conditioner after shampooing or before blow-drying to help prep and smooth the hair for styling.
Starting fresh helps your style last longer, look better, and feel cleaner.
Inspiration Photos
I know those big, voluminous glam waves look SO GOOD in photos—but let’s be honest for a second. Does the hair color in your inspo pic match yours? Does the person have the same hair density? And… is the image even real, or is it AI?
All important questions.
Talking with your hairstylist will definitely help set expectations, but the best thing you can do is choose inspiration photos that are close to your texture, your color, and your natural density. This helps us accurately visualize what that style will look like on you.
And one more thing—most of the bridal hairstyles you see online are created with extensions. So if your dream look has extra volume or length, keep in mind that clip-ins may be part of achieving it.
Steam Before Hair & Makeup
We’ve all been there we finish a gorgeous makeup application or hairstyle, and then suddenly hear the dreaded, “I’m going to steam my dress now!”
Wait… pause!
Steaming requires being up close to the fabric, tugging, adjusting, and working with a ton of hot steam. That steam doesn’t just hit the dress—
it hits your hair (hello frizz and fallen curls) and your makeup (bye-bye flawless finish).
To keep everything picture-perfect:
- Steam dresses the night before, if possible.
- If same-day steaming is unavoidable, assign someone else to steam in a completely separate part of the room—or even better, a different room.
- Only the person who’s getting hair or makeup done last should be near any steaming.
This tiny bit of planning keeps your beauty look intact and stress-free on the morning of your wedding.
Wear The Right Top
I know, there are so many little rules and prep tips for your wedding morning that you probably never even thought about. And here’s one more that almost no one considers: what you wear while getting your hair and makeup done.
The right top makes all the difference.
The best options are a button-up, a robe, or something off-the-shoulder or stretchy enough that it won’t brush against your face or hair when you take it off. This prevents smudged makeup & flattened curls.
There have been so many times where I’m halfway through styling someone and suddenly realize they’re wearing a crewneck sweater..and I’m like, “Take that off immediately!”
Wearing the right top keeps your glam intact and makes the whole process so much smoother.
Hair Needs To Be Completely Dry
The best time to wash your hair is the day before the wedding or two days before at most if your hair doesn’t get oily quickly. What we want to avoid is same-day washing, especially when the hair isn’t fully dry.
You’d be surprised how often someone sits in the chair with damp roots or ends without realizing it. This delays the service, and many bridal stylists don’t offer blow-drying for the bridal party — some don’t even bring a blow dryer at all (hello, I used to be one of them).
Starting a style on damp hair pushes the entire timeline back and can throw everything off for the morning.
To keep things running smoothly (and ensure your style lasts!), wash your hair ahead of time and make sure it’s completely blow-dried before your scheduled time.
Clip-In Extensions
If you’re wearing clip-in extensions for your wedding day, make sure they’re washed and fully dried beforehand. Fresh extensions usually come with a shiny, waxy coating that makes them super smooth, but that coating also makes it harder for them to hold curl and product. When it’s washed off, your style lasts longer and looks more natural.
I can work with brand-new, right-out-of-the-package extensions, but it’s definitely not ideal.
Here’s the easiest way to wash them:
Fill a sink or plastic tub with water and a bit of shampoo. Dunk the extensions in and gently run your hands from the top (where the clips are) down to the ends to work the shampoo through—no scrubbing or roughing up the hair. Rinse really well, then lay them flat on a towel to dry or hang them up. You can also give them a quick blow-dry for extra fluff and volume.
Designate Someone To Answer ?’s and Run Errands
Last — but certainly not least. The more weddings I work, the more little things I find myself adding to this list. And while this one isn’t technically “hair-related,” it’s definitely hair-adjacent.
I know how hard it is for brides to truly sit back and relax on such an important day. You’re being pulled in every direction, asked last-minute decor questions, and expected to make decisions nonstop. But here’s the truth: you shouldn’t be the one handling all of that on the morning of your wedding.
Assign someone…. your mom, maid of honor, sister, or best friend, to be your go-to person.
Any timeline questions? They go to her.
Need eyes on the decor? Send her to take photos so you can approve from your seat.
Coffee runs, missing items, quick errands? All delegated.
When the bride tries to manage these things herself, it pulls her out of the chair, delays the schedule, and creates unnecessary stress for everyone. When it’s your turn in the chair, that time should be your moment of calm, stillness, and excitement as you get ready for the walk down the aisle.
Protecting that space makes the entire morning smoother — and ensures you actually get to enjoy it.