5 DIY Bridal Hairstyles in 5 Steps or Less
We show you step-by-step how to create five DIY-friendly ‘dos without sacrificing style.
By EW editors / Photography by Faye Sadou
Let’s face it, you can’t always have your wedding cake and eat it, too. Budgeting plays a key role in wedding planning, and one of the easiest areas to cut costs is beauty. With a few instructions, you can create your own look without sacrificing style, looking like you stepped straight out of a salon.
Laurent Saint-Cricq, co-owner of LMG Studio in Beverly Hills, Calif., shows us five DIY-friendly ‘dos, all featuring five steps or less. Remember, practice makes perfect, so try these looks out a few times before the big day and you’ll undoubtedly be the best tressed at your wedding.
Princess
Soft waves and a braid give an enchanting essence to any bride.
Create large curls with a curling iron. | |
With fingers spritzed with defrizzer (we used LMG Studio Smoothe & Soothe), smooth out curls so they aren’t too tight, creating a gentle wave effect. | |
From just above each ear, create a braid, being sure to leave a piece of hair at the crown of the head for the next step. | |
With a bobby pin, join the two braids and cover the ends with the piece of hair leading down from the crown from step three. |
Neo-Classic Angel
A traditional updo is updated with textures to create a contemporary look.
Create large curls with a curling iron. | |
Using only the hair from below the ears down, create a French twist. Use a strong styling mud (we used LMG Studio Modeling Paste) to keep twist in place. You should have all of the hair above the top of the twist still loose. | |
From over the right ear, take a piece of hair about 1.5-inch thick and create a braid. Tuck braid under twist and secure with bobby pin. | |
Halve the loose hair from step two. Using only the back half, take the loose hair and smooth it over and around the twist, combing so that the twist and hair blend together. Secure with bobby pins and use heavy hairspray to set. | |
Using the remaining hair on the front of the head, backcomb to create volume and height, then use a bobby pin to secure it down at the very crown of the head. |
Side Twist
Wistfully romantic, the side twist is perfectly disheveled for a playful but sophisticated look.
Create large curls with a curling iron. | |
With fingers spritzed with defrizzer (we used LMG Studio Smoothe & Soothe), smooth out curls so they aren’t too tight, creating a gentle wave effect. | |
Loosely gather hair as if creating a side ponytail, then twist and pin into place. Spray with a volumizing hairspray. | |
Grab bottom of ponytail and tuck it up and under; pin into place. |
Antoinette
A glamorous style that is as modern as it is timeless.
Brush out hair so that it is smooth, with no flyaways. Use a defrizzer or smoother, if necessary. | |
Using only the lower half of hair, create a low, right-of-center ponytail and curl in large ringlets. Tuck ringlets up and under pony, securing with bobby pins, in same direction as pony. | |
Curl hair to the right of ponytail and wrap to merge with pony cluster. | |
Using a hair smoother (we used LMG Studio Smoothe & Soothe), smooth hair over the top of the head and merge into ponytail and curls to create an unbroken cascade of hair. | |
Adorn with hair ornaments, if desired. |
Classic Elegance
With the hair swept completely away from this face, this polished look is the epitome of the classic bride.
Smooth hair with a polish (we used LMG Studio Smoothe & Soothe) so that it is sleek and pull into a ponytail at a height just above the ears. | |
Take a piece of hair from the ponytail and wrap it around the base of the pony to cover the hairband. Secure with bobby pin. | |
Holding the ponytail at the bottom, roll pony up and tuck it under, fastening with bobby pins. | |
Add a hair ornament, if desired. |