Celeb Hairstylist Reveals the Most Common Mistake He Sees Brides Make on Their Wedding Day (Exclusive)

Julius Michael — a go-to hair guru for celebs including many Bravo stars — tells PEOPLE that brides often try to get too experimental

While many brides hyper focus on their wedding dress, their hair is just as important to achieving a picture-perfect look on their big day.

But it can be challenging for brides to select a hairstyle that will not only complement their dress and makeup palette but also their overall wedding aesthetic.

Julius Michael — a celebrity stylist who is a go-to for a long list of Bravo stars including Real Housewives and the Vanderpump Rules crew — tells PEOPLE that when working with bridal clients, he likes to use their "everyday hair style" as a starting point.

The industry veteran, who jokes that he's been doing hair "since blow dryers were invented," says one of the biggest mistakes he sees brides make is trying to get too experimental and going with hairstyles that they'll later come to regret.

"Stepping so far out of their comfort zone that when they look back at pictures it’s always, 'Ugh, what was I thinking with that hair?' " Michael explains.

Instead, he says, the goal should be to choose a hair look that will make the bride "feel the most beautiful" for their special occasion, while taking into account their dress, usual style and overall comfort level.

To ensure their hair turns out flawless on their wedding day, Michael recommends that brides shop around for the right stylist for the job and also do several trials ahead of their nuptials.

"Do as many trials as you can with different stylists until you find one who gives you the style you feel you’re most beautiful with," he advises.

Michael also suggests doing any necessary prep work ahead of the wedding. For example, if using extensions, brides should have them cut and blended with their natural hair.

"My favorite clip-in extensions, and the only ones I -

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recommend, are from Hidden Crown. I know they won’t melt on my hot tools and they’ll hold any wave or curl I add so I don’t have to worry that my look will fall when it comes time to cut the cake," he says.

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The stylist also recommends getting any color treatments done one week in advance of the wedding.

"You don’t want the added stress of getting your extensions, highlights or color done a day or two before your big day when you’ll have enough on your plate," he explains. "Plus, if you’re tweaking your color tone a bit you’ll have time for it to settle in before your big day."

As for the biggest wedding-day hair trends of the moment, Michael says they change by the day. "I do see a lot of down styles, which I love. Updos are classic and beautiful — some dress styles look better with an updo then a down-do," he shares, noting that he loves the versatility and timelessness of down styles.

"I haven’t heard a bride ever look back at pictures and say, 'Why did I leave my hair down?' " he continues. "I think most woman find comfort and power with their hair down, so on your most important day, why do a look you never rock?"

Michael says braided styles are another popular choice right now. "I’ve been seeing a lot of fun braid dos that I love."

Ultimately, he points out, it's about choosing the hairstyle that best suits the bride and makes her feel her most beautiful as she walks down the aisle.

"Your wedding day is your day to shine. It’s the day when all eyes are on you, so make sure the most important details are emphasized with your hair, your makeup and your dress," he says. "Your hair is absolutely your crown, so wear it proud!"

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