clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Olsen Favorite Mark Townsend's Dos and Don'ts of Bridal Hair in 2015

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Hairstylist Mark Townsend's client roster reads like a who's who of Hollywood, for real. The go-to for just about every celebrity It girl (Kirsten Dunst, Dakota Johnson, and Jennifer Lawrence, to name a few), this mane master is one of the few trusted with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's enviable locks (he just did the power duo's hair for last night's CFDA Awards) and was the mastermind Kate Bosworth's ethereal look on her wedding day. This is why we couldn't think of a better expert to ask what's in and out for bridal beauty.

Here, Townsend reveals his hair dos and absolutely-do-nots for the modern bride. Take notes, follow him on Insta for additional inspo, and be sure to book a coveted appointment with him at Sally Hershberger salon when he's in town on June 10th, 17th, and 24th!

A photo posted by Mark Townsend (@marktownsend1) on

DO

-Do start weekly deep treatments on your hair six months before the wedding. Also, be sure to choose weekly treatments that are right for your hair type and texture. If you have dry hair with a little damage, look for conditioner with natural oils like coconut, almond, or macadamia which are full of moisture and fatty acids to rebuild the hair. If the hair is a little dry, add raw, unrefined coconut oil to your conditioner. Leave in for five to 30 minutes. Start applying on ends, working up to two inches from the roots.

-Do dust the ends (cutting a quarter inch or less). Brides feel like they have to grow their hair for their wedding, and split ends cannot be repaired. As soon as you set the wedding date, get the ends trimmed. Continue to get a trim every 12 weeks leading up to the wedding.

-Do switch to a satin pillowcase. Cotton pillowcases (no matter how high the thread count) cause friction in the night, resulting in tangles. Cotton absorbs moisture from your hair and skin.

-Do your research! Have lots of images of hairstyles that catch your eye. Then, narrow down the images as you decide on your dress, keeping in mind what will create the best silhouette with the dress and whether or not you are using a veil. Regardless if you are using a hairdresser you've had for years or someone new, visuals are always good.

-Do take photos of the trial from all angles, making sure that the hairstyle looks good from each angle.

-Do hair color a week and a half before the wedding day to avoid any last-minute hair disasters. This offers enough time where you won't have regrowth, but you will avoid any disasters.

-Do stay true to you. If you are most comfortable with your hair down, half up is your best option. A bun is also a great option, as it can be taken down for the reception.

DON'T

-Don't experiment on your wedding day. You don't want to look back and regret it. Go for timeless, classic, and nothing too trendy.

-Don't ever put your hair in a towel turban. It rips your ends, causes breakage around the hairline, drys out the ends, and causes tangles.

-Don't wait until the last minute. Planning is key.

-Don't forget to bring an emergency touch-up kit that includes a natural bristle toothbrush and a reusable mascara wand for flyaway hairs. Spray hairspray on the toothbrush to tame flyaways around the part, and on the mascara wand to touch up the hairline, ears, and the back of the neck. Your kit should also include five to ten bobby pins, dry shampoo in case you sweat, and an extra hold hairspray.

-Don't rely on the comb of the veil to hold the hair. Sew jewelry or the veil into hair using embroidery needles and invisible thread. I used this trick on both Portia de Rossi and Kate Bosworth on their wedding day. Portia wore a beautiful broach that I sewed into the hair, and since it was so windy on Kate's I ended up sewing the veil into her hair with the embroidery needle.

-Don't forget to wear sunscreen on the scalp if it's an outside wedding.

-Don't forget texture! There is nothing more romantic than soft texture in the hair.