How to Prepare Your Hair for Your Wedding Day (Wedding Hair Prep Guide)
Alright, bride-to-be — let’s talk about the bit of wedding hair prep no one really tells you about. You’ve probably got your hairstyle saved. Maybe a few versions of it. Maybe an entire Pinterest board. But then the questions start.
Do I wash my hair the night before?
Is dirty hair actually better?
Should I put a product in it?
What do I do with my extensions?
Totally normal! The way you prep your hair the night before can make a big difference to how it behaves on the wedding morning.
As a hairdresser who specialises in wedding hair, these are the little things I want my brides to know before the big day — so here’s exactly how I’d prep yours.
First things first: yes, wash your hair
Let’s get this one out of the way. Dirty hair does not style better.
I know, I know. We’ve all heard that one before. But for wedding hair, I’d much rather start with clean, properly prepared hair than work through a few days of oil, dry shampoo and old styling product.
Ideally, wash your hair the day or night before your wedding. Shampoo twice, then use a small amount of conditioner through the ends. Nothing complicated.
We just want your hair clean, light and ready for styling.
And please blow-dry it
Once you’ve washed your hair, blow-dry it completely. This is one of those little wedding hair prep things that really does matter. Leaving your hair to air-dry can make it sit flatter through the roots, and for some hair types it can get oily a little quicker too.
If your hair is naturally wavy, curly or prone to frizz, a professional blow-dry before the wedding can be a really good option. Just don’t straighten it afterwards unless your hairdresser has specifically asked you to. We want some natural movement left in the hair.
And please don’t turn up on the wedding morning with damp hair.
You don’t need to put loads of product in it
It’s easy to think your hair needs a bit of extra help the night before.
A little dry shampoo.
Some texture spray.
Maybe hairspray for good measure.
You can leave all of that to us.
When it comes to preparing your hair for your wedding, less is more.
Hairspray, dry shampoo and texture spray from the night before can affect how your hair behaves when we start styling and how well the finished style lasts.
If you normally use a leave-in product or heat protectant while blow-drying, that’s fine. Just avoid heavy oil-based products or loading your hair up with styling products.
Keep it simple — clean and dry is exactly what we want.
Wearing extensions? Prep those too
If you’re planning to wear clip-in extensions for your wedding hair, they need a little prep as well.
If they’ve been worn before, give them a wash and use a small amount of conditioner through the ends.
Then make sure they’re completely dry before the wedding morning.
And if they’re brand new, don’t assume they’re ready to go straight out of the packet.
New extensions can be super shiny and silky — almost like doll hair — which can make them harder to curl and blend with your natural hair.
Prepping them beforehand gives us much more to work with on the day.
Don’t throw freshly washed hair into a messy bun
I know it’s tempting!
Your hair is washed, you’ve got a million other things happening and you just want it out of the way. But putting freshly blow-dried hair into a messy bun can leave dents and bends through it.
And if it’s still even slightly damp when it goes up, there’s a good chance parts of it won’t be completely dry by morning.
If you need to tie it back, go for a loose ponytail with a soft scrunchie or an elastic that won’t leave a dent.
And one thing you probably wouldn’t think of — the dress steamer
You might be wondering what steaming your dress has to do with your wedding hair.
More than you’d think.
Steam adds moisture to the room, and that extra humidity can encourage frizz and affect freshly styled hair.
If you can, steam your wedding dress and bridesmaids’ dresses the night before.
If something needs steaming on the wedding morning, get it done before hair and makeup starts and preferably in another room.
It’s a small detail, but your hair will thank you for it.
Your Night-Before Wedding Hair Prep Checklist
Shampoo your hair twice.
Lightly condition the ends.
Blow-dry your hair completely.
Don’t leave it to air-dry.
Leave the straighteners alone.
Skip the dry shampoo, texture spray and extra hairspray.
Avoid heavy oil-based products.
Wash and fully dry your clip-in extensions if needed.
Don’t put freshly washed hair into a messy bun.
Use a loose ponytail and soft scrunchie if you need it tied back.
Steam dresses before hair and makeup begins — and not in the same room.
Want to Keep This Handy for the Night Before?
You’ve already got enough to remember in the lead-up to your wedding, so I’ve put all of this into a simple Wedding Day Hair Prep & Product Guide you can save and come back to when you need it.
Save it to your phone, send it to your bridal party, or keep it with your wedding-week notes so you don’t have to remember everything yourself.
Then You Can Leave the Rest to Us
Your wedding hair prep really doesn’t need to be another complicated thing on your to-do list.
Wash it, blow-dry it, keep the products light and give yourself a good base for the morning.
Then you can leave the styling to us.
At Refined Bride by Phillipa’s Hair Retreat, I’m a hairdresser specialising in wedding hair, helping brides across Northland, NZ and the Bay of Islands create hair that feels beautiful, lasts the day and still feels like you.
So if you’re planning your wedding and wondering who you can trust with your hair on the day, have a look through my bridal hair services and see if we might be the right fit.
Planning your wedding hair?
Xoxo, Pip
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