We sit down with bridal hairstylist Melanie Byrne (aka @the_marchhair) to take a peek at the most popular hairstyles for this wedding season.
When it comes to choosing the best hairstyle for your wedding day, there are a lot of factors to consider – will it suit your dress? Will it complement your face shape? Will it match the theme of your overall day?
But one of the most important things to remember, says bridal hairstylist Melanie Byrne, is to choose a style that you will feel comfortable and confident in.
“Choosing a hairstyle can be tricky, but it boils down to how you feel most like yourself. If you were to go on a night out and feel your most glamorous with your hair down, I wouldn’t suggest an updo on your wedding day.
“Also,” she warns, “do not do anything just because your bridal party, your mother or the girl in the bridal shop told you to. It doesn’t have to be one way or the other – we can always work with what you want.” So, with that in mind, here are the most popular hairstyles Melanie has seen this year.
Hollywood waves
“This year, softer hair has been really trendy,” says Melanie. “A lot of my clients want a Hollywood wave. They want that delicate, smooth look that is not as structured, which is probably the hair I’m best at. I love to do a soft curl!”
Sleek and sophisticated
We’ve all seen the sleek look on Instagram, but it definitely looks best on those with sharper cheekbones sporting a bold make-up or soft, glowy skin. “Sleek is very popular this year. I often go with a side or middle part and a low sleek bun or even a braided knot.”
Sleek in the front, party in the back
The best of both worlds, Melanie has had a lot of requests for hair that is sleek in the front, with soft curls in the back. “I section behind the ear with height at the crown and soft curls in the back – that is very on trend this year. However, I don’t think it’s for everyone. I’ve had a lot of brides try it in the trial, and then on the day they decide that it’s not really for them. That’s why I always recommend sticking to what you’re most comfortable with.”
Messy updo
“I’m seeing a lot of that ‘90s vibe, with soft, textured updos. My clients want it to look messy, like they just threw it up. But there’s a fine line between looking messy and like a hot mess on your wedding day. A lot of factors contribute to that – you have to have a particular hair type and you might have to have highlights or long layers in it to make it look more textured.”
Boho half up, half-down
“For my brides with short hair, I would suggest a short textured wave or a soft half-up, half-down. Those look so elegant and are quite effortless. For those with long hair, that don’t want a full updo, I also suggest half-up, half-down.” This style is definitely in Melanie’s wheelhouse (although I may be a bit biased as it’s the style she did for my wedding day).
Tips for making your hair last
1. If you run your hands through your hair a lot and you like movement, then Hollywood waves are not for you. You need a softer look and not too stiff. You should wear your hair down or half-up.
2. Keep a wide-toothed comb for touching up your curls throughout the day, and brush from the mid-length down – don’t go near the root. Just comb and fluff them up, especially if you’re in the wind or rain.
3. If it’s raining or windy, an updo is the best style to withstand the elements.
4. For your veil, a metal comb is better than a plastic one, but if you have plastic, then cut off a few of the tongs so that it doesn’t snag as much. I put them in from underneath with a pin or two so it’s not disrupting the hairstyle.
Image, left: Moat Hill Photography
About Melanie
Melanie Byrne, aka @the_marchhair, has had a unique hairdressing journey. At the age of 16, she started out sweeping hair in a salon then grew to become a hairdresser by the age of 21. However, due to a few health issues and taking time off to start a family, she took a break from hair.
At the age of 37, she decided it was time to return to her passion, but feeling a bit left behind, she took it upon herself to get up to speed. After signing up for a year-long course, she updated her hairdressing skills for her qualification.
At the time, her three children were aged three, eight and 11. “I had three young kids so I couldn’t afford to pay for loads of childcare. So, I took out a loan and got an au pair to come and live with us for those 10 months. This was quite a challenge emotionally; there was a huge amount of organisation involved and it was hard to leave my children.
“Because of all that, I knew I had to make the course work. It was a huge investment financially and in every other way. I had to borrow 14k from the credit union and I had to prove I needed the money to enhance my career since I had been out of the workforce for so long. There was so much depending on me doing this and making it work. So, I did.”
Bridal beauty
When she finished her course, she started freelancing, doing her friends’ colour and styling their hair. “At the beginning, YouTube tutorials were my life. People would send me what they wanted but I didn’t really know how to do it. So I would go onto YouTube and look it up. I had the basics of upstyling so I just built on that knowledge.
“As time went on, my confidence grew with that, because hairdressing isn’t just coming out of a course and knowing how to do it. You have to keep nurturing and you have to keep doing it to get better.”
Melanie dipped her toe into the world of bridal beauty about eight years ago when her friend asked her to do her hair for her wedding. “She believed in me, probably more than I believed in myself.” Melanie was a natural and her business soon took off.
During the first lockdown, Melanie started posting a lot of quick, how-to tutorials and gained a bigger following on social media as well as more bridal bookings. (Bookings tripled!)
“I knew I had a flair for upstyling and I loved it. I got more of a chance to be creative because I wasn’t as busy; I was at home and wasn’t doing hair. I’ve had more of a chance to nurture that with my daughter. Also, there was an increase in demand because everyone was moving their wedding at the time.”
Fast forward to today and Melanie has become a go-to bridal hairstylist in Leixlip, Co Kildare where she’s based and she’s loving every minute of it.
Image, right: Olga Hogan Photography
To see more of Melanie’s work, visit her Instagram page or to make a booking, enquire via email at [email protected].
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