Happy Halloween from DIY Divas!  Now, on to the fun.

This week we are featuring DIY Hair pieces, which can cost upwards of $200 if you purchase them from a retailer.  Rachel, our ever-crafty coworker, has found a way to completely bypass the bridal boutique and instead make gorgeous, chic hairpieces that are perfect for a bridesmaid or even a bride!

Step 1: Head to your nearest craft store and peruse the faux flowers section.  You’ll be surprised at how realistic and beautiful many of them are.  Once you’ve found the perfect flower, you’ll also need a hot glue gun, a small square of felt cut into a circle with a hole in it, and a little clip (also available at any craft store).  You can also purchase any sort of adornments to add to your flower, such as feathers, lace or jewels.

Step 2:  Open the clip and slide it through the hole in the felt.  This will be the back of the hair piece where you’ll attach it to your hair.

Step 3:  Place a dollop of hot glue on the back of the felt between the clip and the felt.  This assures that the clip will stay on and not detach in the middle of your wedding!

Step 4: Take the hot glue gun and use it to attach your flower as well as any additional accessories you’ve purchased to your felt backing.

Step 5:  Finally!  You have a beautiful hair piece worthy of a princess.  I love the look of this one with the exotic feathers.  It’s very vintage and modern at the same time.

Today’s brides have a lot more options to look gorgeous on their wedding day. Take your hair for example.  Do you want long voluptuous locks like Jessica Simpson or Beyonce, but don’t have the length to do it? Well, some brides are wearing hair extensions to achieve the look they want.  One bride on Weddingbee recently used extensions and her hair looked gorgeous.Would you do these faux hairdos for your big day?

Check out a couple of examples that impressed us:

1. Looking cute on Jessica Simpson, these hair clips from HairUwear go from day to night. Perfect for that wedding day switcheroo I recently blogged about, they are created by Jessica Simpson and her famous hairstylist Ken Paves.

2. It’s hard to believe, but these bridal up-dos are actually extensions. Extensions.com has a variety of bridal hairstyles with info on ways to do it for your big day!

Finding the perfect hairstyle for your wedding day can be just as daunting as finding your dream dress.  Up-dos, waves, braids, curls–it’s hard to keep track of all the possibilities.  That’s why we’ve gathered together some great resources to help you find your ideal do:

-Find hair to fit any style, from bohemian to romantic, beach casual to glamorous with Brides.com.

-Follow these guidelines from Wedding Bells to make sure your hair is ready for the big day.  Among the many tips, the site advises that you make sure your hair compliments your dress and that you make any drastic changes to cut or color well before the wedding so you have time to repair any mistakes!

-See a hairstyle you love but can’t quite envision it on yourself?  No problem!  Visit The Hairstyler, upload an image of yourself, select your hair color, and try on any of 8,000+ available hair styles!

-If you’re feeling star struck, take the advice of celebrity hairstylist Ken Paves.  Oprah.com has his tips for gorgeous wedding hair and celebrity bridal secrets.

-If you’re looking to add some sparkle to your already glowing hair, look no further than Hair Comes the Bride.  With everything from hair pins to hair extensions, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for.

I loved my rhinestone hair clip from Ficcare so much so that I insisted on using it. Regardless of my hairstyle, I knew I wanted a hairstylist who could find a creative way to use this gorgeous clip.

Though I was happy with my hair clip, it took me a long time to decide what I would use to decorate my hair. From tiaras to crystal detailed bobby pins there are so many glamorous ways to style up your do. Here’s a few I love.

HEADBANDS. This Swarovski Crystal Headband brings back sweet, childhood memories.

HAIRPINS. Delicate hairpins add pizazz to any hairdo. Check out these jewels from Lynn Litwin.

TIARA. When I tried one on for the first time, I felt like a princess. Even if you aren’t planning on getting one, I say at least try one on. You may be surprised.

Photos: Rhinestone hair clip, Ficcare
Swarovski Crystal headband, Etsy
Hairpins, MarthaStewart.com
Tiara, Brides.com

I confess: I was just a big mess when it came to figuring out my hairstyle. I went through four stylists before I found the right one! Instead of getting what I asked for, my hair down with curls, I got various interpretations of what I wanted. Here’s a tip: if you don’t have a regular hairstylist like me, ask your friends and family to refer you to someone, or check out Yelp to read other people’s reviews of stylists in the area.

I was fortunate that after four tries, I finally found someone who did it right. I paid a lot, however, to find her. All the hair trials were costly, but I’m glad I did them because I was really happy with the way my hair turned out.

Another good idea? If you’re looking for a makeup artist, check out your local department store. I had my makeup done at the Bobbi Brown counter, and I loved it! I was already familiar with their makeup, and they don’t charge for trials.

Here’s a few photos of the hairstyle that I didn’t like along with the hairstyle that I did, showcased at the cupcake-eating part of my reception.