Photography: Mike Nail
Ashley and Andre Smith are the exact opposite from the bored married couple in the 2005 movie “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. They are fun, exciting and share a noticeably strong bond with one another. I have known Ashley since we attended the same high school together in Durham, NC and we still keep in touch to this day. When she told me of her engagement I was so excited for her because she was deserving. I was even more excited when she asked me to style her hair for her engagement photos, bridal shoot and wedding day.
The Engagement Look
During the consultation I learned that Ashley wanted to add length to her hair and have a style that was still soft and natural looking. To achieve the look I installed extensions for added length by doing a partial sew-in. Leaving a small portion of your own hair uncovered to naturally blend with the extensions will allow you to create a natural part. Ashley wanted a soft wave curl but with as minimal maintenance as possible, I suggested she consider a pre-curled hair type. Pre curled extensions allow you the ease and freedom of curly hair
without the excess time spent in the morning curling the hair yourself. Granted, over time any pre-curled hair will require some maintenance to revitalize the curls but it is not necessary everyday.
The Bridal Shoot
Prior to the bridal shoot date, which was about one month after the engagement shoot, I secured the extensions by re-tightening. Ashley wanted to keep the softness of the loose curls but wanted to try gathering the hair to one side for a different look. Using hair pins I was able to pull the hair all to one side and still show curls for added softness. The pinning of the hair achieved a more formal look for the bride.
The Wedding Day
HERE COMES THE BRIDE!! The wedding day was finally here! Prior to the big day, the extensions were shampooed and dried to remove excess oil build up from the hair. For the wedding, Ashley chose to wear a veil during the ceremony and wanted all of her hair down. The day of the wedding I arrived at the beautiful Peninsula Club located in Cornelius, NC ready to style hair. As a result of all the manipulation done to the hair since day 1 of the initial sew-in, the curls required revitalization. I sectioned the hair into small sections and curled the extensions using a small (1/2 inch) marcel iron. After the hair was curled and styled I used a holding spray to maintain the curls throughout the remainder of the evening.
While on site I had the pleasure of working with an up and coming make-up artist, KenDreeka Carrington of Facial Xpressions and a down to earth photographer Mike Nail of Mike Nail Photography. I truly had an amazing time from beginning to end!
Thanks Ashley for choosing me on your special day and I hope you enjoy the post!
