One of the most common complaints I hear, is from brides with short hair who believe they won’t find anything to suit their hairstyle but I can honestly say that I’ve never yet had a bride with a hairstyle that was unworkable, no matter how long or short.
Solving the problem is all about a little imagination, confidence and of course, a good hairdresser!
I can’t find anything light enough to stay in short hair
I would never suggest to a bride that having a lighter hair decoration will mean it will stay in shorter hair styles, this will of course help but it inevitably comes down to the hair fitting you choose. If you feel you would particularly like something light in your hair I would suggest a feather hair decoration such as the diamond feather band or butterfly pin. Not everyone is a fan of feathers in their hair and if this is the case, a small but intricate comb such as the Crystal Lily comb is an effective alternative.
I’ll only be able to have an Alice band style and I want something more grown up.
I find most brides will have already tried on hair decorations and tiaras whilst they are selecting their wedding gown and when it comes to brides with short hair they will normally have been given decorations mounted on Alice bands. Alice bands often make brides feel too young or not elegant enough as they are very much associated with children’s styles. Being told that a band or tiara is the only style available for short hair is simply not true; I use small, one inch wide hair combs a lot for shorter hair styles which are light, comfortable and neat in appearance.
I’m worried my decoration will fall out on the day
There’s no need for a hair decoration to fall out so long as it has been secured properly. Alice bands and tiaras in themselves are securely fitted around the head itself. With a decoration on a comb as I have mentioned above, the trick to securing it into short hair is simple. First of all you will need to create a small curl or knot with a twisted piece of hair. Then secure this with two Kirby grips which are secured over each other in a cross shape. The comb decoration is then pushed into this cross. If the hair decoration is small this will usually be enough to ensure it doesn’t fall out of the hair. For larger pieces, these can be secured further by pinning down the outer edges of the decoration into the hair using the same ‘crossover’ technique with Kirby grips at each point of contact.
Because I have short hair I can’t carry off anything very large.
The size and style of your hair decoration is dependant on your dress style and what you feel comfortable wearing more than your hairstyle. If you are wearing a ball gown dress, a larger more dramatic hair decoration may compliment your overall look better then something smaller. For example, the Crystal Waves hair decoration is a very large piece which could be adapted through the bespoke service to suit short hair by using individual strands of silver pinned into the hair rather than one large decoration on a comb. A sheath or empire line dress may be better complimented by a tiara or smaller decoration such as the Crystal Butterfly Comb. Please see my article ‘Which hair decoration will suit my dress?’ for more information.
If you are still feeling daunted by the prospect of choosing a hair decoration, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always happy to offer more personal advice by e-mail or an informal telephone conversation where we can discuss your exact style and concerns.
Article written by Angela Kerr Designer Jeweller, 16th March 2008
Last Updated: March 16, 2008