How-To: 4 Upstyles For Wedding Season

Bridal styling is a skill that’s needed any time of the year, but in the summer months, it’s more relevant than ever. That’s why @hairandmakeupbysteph, aka BTC’s go-to bridal styling guru, took the BTC “On Tour” stage for a second year and graced us with four gorgeous bridal styling how-tos. 

The looks ranged from elegant to ethereal, and they were created using a mix of classic curls, wispy waves and plently of light, face-framing texture. From our show to your salon, here are the four looks Steph created while hanging with us in LA, PLUS tips to go along with each one!

Products Used

Hair

Volume Spray 25

Kenra Professional

1. Braided Chignon

Tip #1: Start In The Back
Because brides always want their face-framing pieces to be absolutely perfect, Steph suggests starting your upstyle in the back and moving toward the front. If you start in the front and work your way back, the front pieces can sometimes get lost!

Tip #2: Keep Those Pins Closed
Steph never opens her bobby pins. Why? “When you open your pins, they tend to get too much hair in them and you don’t get a tight, secure hold.” Instead, Steph slides the pin into the updo, twisting and weaving it to catch on different sections of hair. You can also get the pin a lot closer to the scalp this way, which will make the style feel tighter to your client.

2. Side-Swept Twist

Tip #1: Silky Hair? No Problem
If your client’s hair is feeling really silky, Steph suggests spraying it with Kenra Professional Volume Spray 25. “It provides a decent amount of hold,” says Steph, “but it has a dry finish, so it’s easy to work with.”

Tip #2: Make Bulk, Not Frizz 
When pancaking, or expanding braids or twists, make sure to hold the braid very loosely. You will create frizz (instead of bulk) if you hold it too tightly. Also, start at the bottom and gradually work your way up toward the top of the braid.   

Watch The Entire How-To

3. Pulled-Back Mermaid 

Tip #1: Backcombing + Heat = Wisp Perfection 
To create those wispy, romantic, face-framing and top sections directed away from the face, Steph first backcombs a section (a LOT.) She then goes over the section with a flat iron, curling away from the face, which cuts through the backcombing and creates a slight bend. “This gives me nice separation that’s not super curly,” says Steph.

Tip #2: Detail Around The Face
And the secret to making sure your all-back looks still look pretty and undone around the face? Always leave out about ½ inch around the hairline for detailing. When you reach the end of your updo, sweep these pieces back and pin in place using shorter, lightweight pins (Steph’s favorites are MetaGrip Bobby Pins). And for extra wispiness, run your fingers through the front and pull up on it.

Watch The Entire How-To

4. The Vintage Bride

Tip #1: Conceal Short Layers
When creating a chignon on your brides who have super short layers, Steph says making sure the layers don’t fall out is as easy as backcombing like crazy, then smoothing the top. If some of the layers still fall out after you’ve created the chignon, simply roll them inward and tuck them underneath, concealing with a bobby pin.

Tip #2: Steph’s Vintage Waving Technique
For a retro, wavy look that’s still soft around face, Steph curls the hair away from the face, using a combination of a flat wrap and a twist wrap. “The combination of the two breaks up the curl just enough that you end up with a wave instead of a ringlet,” says Steph.

Watch The Entire How-To

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