ABOVE: Katelyn Draper, owner of Lakeside Salon and Spa in Fairmont. The salon usually does hair for several wedding parties every year.

FAIRMONT– There are so many important details that go into planning for and preparing for a wedding day. From selecting and decorating the venue to choosing a photographer to capture the special day. Brides also want to ensure that their hair style is one that will hold up and make them feel beautiful on one of the most important days of their life.

Katelyn Draper is the owner of Lakeside Salon and Spa in Fairmont. The salon, located at 1506 Albion Ave. in Fairmont, will celebrate its four year anniversary on March 10.

The salon does more than just cut and color men’s, women’s and children’s hair. It also offers waxing, gel manicures and pedicures and brow and eyelash tinting.

In addition to Draper, the salon has six other women who are skilled and trained in a variety of services. It also brings in people who specialize in other services from time to time.

Draper, who has been doing hair since 2008, admitted that doing wedding hair is one of her favorite things. The salon does hair for several wedding parties each year with the busiest season being in the summer.

“One of my favorite things to do for weddings is updos but everybody kind of does their own thing,” Draper said.

She said that over the years, styles have changed somewhat. Whereas women used to want a lot of braids, sparkles and intricate styles, Draper said it’s really minimalistic now.

“It’s more elegant and smooth and simple now. A non-curly bun is really in,” Draper said.

She said some women just opt to keep their hair down or pin a little bit of it back to keep it out of their face.

However, that’s not to say that Draper and the rest of her staff at the salon cannot do other styles. Women can bring in clips, headbands or other accessories to have inserted into their hairstyle. Some will bring in their veil and work out a style which includes it.

Draper said many brides will come in a week or more before the wedding to undergo several hairstyle trials so they know exactly what they want come their wedding day. This takes the stress off the bride and the pressure off the stylist.

It’s customary for a salon to do not just the bride’s hair, but all the women’s hair in the wedding party including the bridesmaids, mother-of-the bride and mother-of-the groom. At Lakeside Salon and Spa it is no different.

“If needed, if there’s nine girls who need hair done, another girl would help out and one person would do four and the other would do the rest. We’ve definitely taken over the salon sometimes with weddings,” Draper said.

Many brides will also have a makeup artist scheduled to do her makeup and that of her bridal party. While Lakeside Salon and Spa doesn’t have a makeup artist on staff, Draper said they’re able to make referrals and she opens up the salon to have a makeup artist come in and do makeup while the women wait for their hair to be done.

“There’s a few girls who we know and they’ll bring in all of their stuff and their lights and set up,” Draper said.

She said that the wedding party will usually come in early in the morning to get their hair and makeup done before they get dressed and proceed with photos and the rest of the day.

“They’re usually in and out of here by 11 a.m.,” Draper said.

While many parties choose to utilize the salon space, Draper and the other stylists can also travel to the wedding party and set up in a hotel room or a home to style hair there.

As for the groom, Draper said they typically come in about a week before the wedding to get a haircut. While it’s not typical for a groom or men from the wedding party to get their hair styled the day-of, Draper said they could always add some pomade.

Interested people can check out Lakeside Salon and Spa online and book through the website or by calling the salon at 235-6878.

*Editor’s Note: This article ran in a Bridal Guide which was inserted in the Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 edition of The Sentinel.

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