The Pros and Cons of Getting Your Wedding Hair Done at a Salon vs. in Your Hotel Room

You're obviously ready to get primped and pampered on your wedding day—which is why you're hiring professionals for your hair and makeup—but where exactly will creating those beloved beach waves take place? If you haven't settled on the location of your glam room, we're breaking down the pros and cons of your options, below.

Should You Get Your Wedding Day Hair Done at a Salon?

Pros:

Who doesn't love the inevitable scalp massage that comes along with getting your hair done at a salon? So, yes, you can likely expect to get your hair washed, whether you go to a blowout salon (like Dry Bar) or a cut and coloring salon (like Spoke & Weal).

Additionally, going to a salon will guarantee you pretty much have endless stylists to work with, as opposed to one hairstylist coming to tend to you and your bridesmaids. Net-net, you'll get finished sooner and won't have to wait around for updos to be put into place, one by one. If you have a larger wedding party, going to a salon might be the right fit for you.

Cons:

You'll have to adhere to the salon's business hours, unless you can find a way around that. Any former bride or bridesmaid knows hair and makeup will start first thing in the morning—sometimes as early as 10 to 12 hours before the actual ceremony starts—and some salons don't open until 11 a.m. That's no bueno if you have photos scheduled for 1 p.m., considering you should allott at least 30 to 45 minutes per person for hair (and extra for you, the bride). It can also be an added stressor to corral your whole squad, plus any family members also getting their hair done, to the salon for their time slot.

Or Should You Get It Done in Your Hotel Room?

Pros:

You get to get started as early as you want if your hairstylist(s) come to you and your roomy hotel room—especially if you're spending the night with your bridesmaids or maid of honor. All you'll have to do is set an alarm, put on your robe, crank up your playlist and get pretty in the comfort of a cozy hotel room.

Cons:

If you have only a handful (say, five to seven) bridesmaids, it's understandable you'll only hire one hairstylist (and makeup artist, respectively) for the crew. But taking into account the fact that each of your bridesmaids will have to be beautified one by one, you'll likely be in getting-ready mode at your hotel for hours on end—which is fine if you're easily entertained, but can be a bore for some brides (and their bridesmaids). As long as you have mimosas and bites, though, we promise you'll be okay.

Oh, and the one last hindrance of a hotel room hair sesh? No hair washes or scalp massages (you'll likely be told to simply arrive with clean, dry hair), unless your bridesmaids are feeling extra nice that morning. Fingers crossed.