Thinking of wedding hairstyles, these adjectives should come to mind: natural, refined, soft, elegant and fresh. Yet so many styles end up hard, tight, severe and most of all, COMPLICATED. Why so complicated, people? It’s like the minute a girl puts on a white dress, 17,000 pincurls and 8 cans of hairspray appear out of nowhere.

With that in mind, I’ve created some Hair Thursday Rules for Wedding Hair:

1. A bride’s hairstyle should never resemble a fried calamari appetizer, a peacock or a platter of curly fries. What’s that you say? You need examples? Well, have at it.

2. High and tight updos can result in a super severe look- many times making a bride appear older than she really is. (Quelle horreur!) Lower and looser is the best bet for a fresh and youthful look.

photos courtesy of instyleweddings.com and brides.com

3. Hair adornments should be kept to a minimum. A couple of little flowers here and there or an elegant antique brooch can be positively lovely…however, a gigantic rhinestone tiara? NO. I love the adornments in the following photos.

photos courtesy of theknot.com

4. Most importantly, be yourself. Don’t let your stylist/mother/sister/friend tell you what you should do. Hell, don’t let me tell you what to do either. Remember, it’s YOUR day. Have fun! Just like in Singles, be the Super You. (Is it ridiculous that I quote that movie on a weekly basis? Do you realize it came out 17 YEARS AGO? Holy shit, I’m old.)

With these rules in mind, I’ve scoured the internet for some fun, fresh and lovely wedding styles. Maybe one will be right for you! (Click on a specific photo for info.)

We’re not quite finished with weddings yet. Our next Hair Thursday participant just happens to be a bride looking for her perfect hairstyle…will I get it right? THE PRESSURE. Check back on Monday to find out.

It doesn’t have to be ALL hair all of the time around these parts. Take a gander at some of my beloved, tried-and-true beauty products.

1. Kiehl’s Lip Gloss in Goldenberry – First off, I want to eat this stuff straight from the tube. It smells damn good, but more importantly, it’s the perfect ultra-sheer pink with a touch of gold. Kind of like…a GOLDENBERRY! How novel.

2. Sephora Complete Lip Balm – Part of my nighttime OCD ritual involves slathering this perfect balm all over my lips. Love it.

3. Dove Sensitive Skin Face Cloths – Simple, non-scented cloths that gently exfoliate my skin. (Apparently, I’m not the only fan since my local Target is ALWAYS sold out. Bastards.)

4. Neutrogena Anti-Wrinkle Anti-Blemish Lotion – This lotion is a godsend for my mild rosacea. I have NO idea how it gets rid of my redness, given that’s it not specifically formulated for rosacea, but it does. Run, don’t walk, to the nearest drugstore.

5. Redken Blown Away 09 Blow-Dry Gel – If I’m in a blow-drying mood, this gives my hair the perfect amount of flexible hold while completely eliminating frizz.

6. Pureology Real Curl Creme – Most days I’m a wash-n-go girl, and this curl creme defines my waves perfectly. If you are a wavy/curly girl who likes to air-dry, you should definitely try this.

7. Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream – One word. SHINY.

8. Chanel Blush in Tempting Beige – When a Chanel associate tried to sell this shade to me, I must admit I balked. Beige? BEIGE? Who in the hell besides The Golden Girls wears beige blush? (Um, I DO. And it’s hands-down the most beautiful shade my fair/light skin has ever seen.)

9. GHD IV Styler – Pretty penny, but worth it. Not only does it straighten in a flash, but it renders my curling iron obsolete.

10. Chanel Glossimer in Pagoda – A perfect, your-lips-but-better gloss. Looks downright amazing paired with NARS Dolce Vita lipstick.

11. Amazing Cosmetics Concealer – This stuff isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a serious concealer and a little goes a LONG way, but it makes my undereye circles disappear completely. I only use a tiny pinprick amount, so the tube should last until 2045.

You know, eleven is such a odd number, don’t you think? We should make it twelve. Tell me the ONE product you couldn’t exist without. Skin, makeup, hair…you name it!