In July, I had a beautiful, intimate wedding in the English countryside with my boyfriend of seven years. As a long-time beauty enthusiast, it was exhilarating to indulge in a variety of treatments and products carefully curated in preparation for my big day (I heartily recommend Sofia Visan for the facial and Shelby Samaria for the haircut). Throughout my career as a beauty journalist, I’ve always tried extreme things: cutting my hair in a trendy mullet cut, bleaching my eyebrows, and testing the staying power of bright blue eyeshadow. And yet, in the year and a half leading up to our wedding, I felt overwhelming pressure to play it safe and avoid experimenting.
We’ve all been conditioned to think of the archetypal bride as someone who embodies timeless radiance, exudes natural beauty, and is polished to perfection. Don’t get me wrong: I wholeheartedly rejected many expectations of being a bride. I refused to fix my crooked teeth and would hiss and growl at anyone who brought up dieting. But I can’t deny that I was drawn to a more disciplined, natural approach to my previously constantly changing beauty routine. I grew my hair out for the first time in years, established a dedicated eyebrow grooming routine, used whitening strips, and got soft, golden highlights in my hair. On my big day, I felt beautiful and my truest self. That being said, I vividly remember packing my bags into my car to return to my home in London, sitting in the passenger seat, and suddenly being overcome with an irresistible urge to ruin it all.
The post-wedding chop is the internet term for the trend where brides get a dramatic haircut after their wedding. It symbolizes a fresh start and beginning, while also celebrating freedom from the traditional “bridal aesthetic.” But after having short hair my entire adult life, going back to a bob just wasn’t dramatic enough. After months of trying to highlight my most natural beauty, I was craving a hairstyle that was vibrant, bold, and unapologetically unnatural. I texted Emmalee Baum, a longtime colorist at Manhattan Beauty Supply, and together we decided on a big transformation: dye my hair red.
I quickly learned that not all reds are the same, so I brought along a Pinterest board with some of my favorite shades and Emaly helped me choose the one that best suited my hair’s natural color and lifestyle. We chose a very light auburn. Not coppery enough to look reddish, not so fiery red that it looks DIY, but somewhere in between. Emaly explains that in general, dying hair from brown to red is often quick and easy, as the red pigment is effectively deposited on top of dark hair without bleaching. This is especially true if you choose a semi- or demi-permanent dye. This means you can get vibrant results in just one application, achieving a bright, striking color while minimizing time and damage. However, touch-ups are a must, as reds fade quickly. So it’s important to be prepared for frequent salon visits.
