How to Build a Strong Bridal Foundation

The goal of any stylist working in the bridal sector is to create beautiful styles for brides that last through all wedding festivities, from early in the morning to late at night. “We go through desperate measures sometimes, adding an excessive amount of hair pins, using cans of hairspray, and praying to the hair gods for the style to hold,” says Anna Peters (@annas_hair_retreat), Sam Villa ArTeam member and owner of re:TREAT Color + Hair Design and Studio. “When all we really need is a very basic and strong foundation that’s strategically placed to act not only as a road map for the style, but also as an anchor to hold everything together.” These are the four bridal hairstylefoundations Peters relies on for strength, direction, and longevity.   

Ponytail—Acts as a focal point, condenses volume in areas of the head, and offers the most strength. 

Braid—Serves as a traveling anchor with the ability to be placed vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, and can travel across the head to offer the most support and strength across a style. 

Bun—Just like the ponytail, this foundation has a ton of strength, is a focal point in the style, and creates volume at the same time. 

Twist—The most delicate of anchors. And, like the braid, it can travel across a style offering support and volume. 

“When we place anchors within a style with an end result in mind, we can prepare for an easy transition from one look to another. It helps gain clarity on how to build the style and provides built-in support and strength for the style to last throughout the day and well into the night,” says Peters. See how to transition from a ponytail to a second look by following the steps below.  

First Look 

1. Divide hair into three sections: a large triangle in the front-top of the head off of a deep side part, and a large triangle in the back-nape with the bottom of triangle sitting at the hair line and pointing up towards the top of head. Everything in between is pulled up and into a smooth, high ponytail tied with a cord for maximum hold. 
    
2. Set two triangles with on-base curls—the back directed up towards the center ponytail and the front triangle set diagonally off of the side part for maximum volume.  Use a Sam Villa Artist Series 2-in-1, 1-inch Marcel Iron and Wand in the Marcel setting. Curl ponytail vertically in the same direction. 
    
3. Brush through the triangles with a Sam Villa Artist Series Finishing Brush, join them to the center ponytail, and tie off with a cord to secure. Brush through to polish all curls. Accessorize and fluff. 

Second Look 

1. Release the cord and drop out the front and back triangles, which are already prepped with a wave pattern. 
    
2. Secure a ponytail at the top of the bottom triangle. With the front ponytail, create a swooping side-swept style to one side and wrap it back and around the top ponytail. Join the hair in the ponytails, and following the wave pattern, design hair to swoop back and forth across the back of head and up and around the bottom ponytail. 
    
3. Use anchors as a foundation to pin the style along the way and to act as a road map for where to move the hair next. Volume and soft movement can be created here with strength and security, thanks to the foundation and anchors set up ahead of time. 

“I encourage you to start using these foundations in your styles for longer lasting results.  Your brides will be so pleased!”