My wedding in the English countryside was everything I dreamed of – intimate, beautiful, and filled with love. As a beauty journalist, I had an absolute blast indulging in all sorts of treatments and products in the months leading up to the big day. But, despite my usual adventurous approach to beauty, I found myself succumbing to the pressure to appear “naturally radiant” as a bride. I let my hair grow long, embraced a regimented eyebrow routine, and even tried whitening strips. On my wedding day, I felt beautiful and authentically myself.
However, as I drove back to London, an irresistible urge washed over me – the need to break free from the traditional “bridal beauty” constraints. I wanted to do something bold, something that felt like a fresh start, a celebration of my individuality. The internet calls this the “post-wedding chop,” a trend where brides embrace dramatic haircuts after their wedding. But for me, a simple bob just wasn’t enough. I craved vibrancy, something unapologetically unnatural.
I reached out to my longtime colorist, Emaly Baum, and we decided on a big transformation: I was going red! We carefully selected an ultra-bright, auburn red – not too copper, not too fiery, something in between. Emaly explained that going from brown to red is often quick and straightforward because red pigments deposit easily onto darker hair. This meant I could achieve a vibrant result in a single application, minimizing both time and damage.
However, I had previously dyed my hair blue-black, leaving my ends uneven. So, Emaly started with a bleach wash – a gentler alternative to full-on bleaching that uses a diluted solution to lift color while minimizing damage. It took only about fifteen minutes! After that, she applied the dye and finished with a gloss.
We decided to leave my cool-toned dark brown eyebrows untouched. The striking contrast between the warm-toned red and my dark brows added a boldness that perfectly matched my desire to break free from the norms. The whole process, from start to finish, took only a little over two hours – a far cry from the ten-hour platinum dye session I once endured!
Walking out of the salon, I felt more myself than ever. This wasn’t just about a change in color; it was a powerful statement of individuality. I was rejecting the constraints of bridal expectations and embracing a new chapter, one filled with love, adventure, and unwavering enthusiasm for exploring all things beauty.
