Living North Weddings take the stress out of wedding day hair with their countdown to perfect tresses.

The wedding season is about to hot up and one of the biggest worries for many brides is what to do with their hair.

Living North’s resident hair expert Gary Hooker and his partner, Michael Young of the Hooker & Young salon group, have put together a hair check list and countdown diary to help with any wedding hair dilemmas and make sure your hair looks perfect on your wedding day.

So what are Hooker & Young’s top hair tips for getting your look right on the big day?

Gary says: "Preparation and practice are two essential ingredients for getting hair just right and it is best to visit a salon for trials. Take as much information into the salon as possible including the length of your dress, tiara, colours and pictures of any styles that you like.

"Hairdressers are not mind readers and so you will need to tell the stylist exactly what you are thinking of. Many customers ask for their hair to be put up and then are not happy with the finished look so it really is a matter of trial and error.

"Also don't be afraid to ask a different hairdresser within a salon to try out different styles as they will all have alternative ideas and suggestions. If you can bear all this in mind then you will be well on your way to achieving a fabulous look; and it will all be a little less stressful on the day."

Hair check list:

Avoid hairstyles that are too trendy. They will date very quickly and then you will find yourself hiding the wedding photographs.

Opt for a full dress rehearsal before the day to ensure your hair works well with the dress.

Use just a few hair product essentials to keep hair in place during the day.

Shiny, well-conditioned hair is always a winner, so prepare and treat your hair beforehand. A series of intensive treatments can really help to rebalance the hair’s moisture levels and give smoother results.

Countdown to your Wedding Day hair

10.) Six to twelve months before - choose and book your hairdresser for the wedding, consultation and dress rehearsal. Chat to him/her to ensure you are confident in their ability and experience. Decide if you want your hair done on the big day in-salon or at the wedding venue. Many hairdressers offer a combined hair and make-up service.

9.) Three months before - visit the salon for a consultation of at least 30 minutes. Take your mother or a friend and bring details of your dress. Your hairdresser will need to know if it's simple or fussy, slim or full and most important, what type of neckline it has.

8.) Three months before - book appointments for the rest of the wedding party - bride's mother, bridesmaids and the bridegroom.

7.) After your consultation, draw up your pre-wedding hair and beauty plan - a schedule to get your hair in great shape in time for the wedding, including timings for colour, cutting, perms etc.

6.) Two weeks before - try a dress rehearsal or trial run. Your hair will be the right length so bring your head dress, tiara, veil and mock-up flowers. There is still plenty of time to make adjustments to ensure your look is perfect!

5.) One week before - this is the time to have any colour work done.

4.) One day before - have your nails done. Persuade the groom to have is hair cut and his nails buffed today.

3.) The Wedding Day - allow plenty of time and don't be late for your appointment if it's at your hairdresser's salon! Your mother and bridesmaids should also be on time for their appointments!

2.) Do your make-up first, soft and feminine.

1.) Then your hair!

For more information about Hooker & Young, visit www.hookerandyoung.co.uk.

The article Wedding tresses originally appeared on 999 Today