Yet another decision you’ll have to make as your big day approaches is what you plan to do with your hair. Whether you’re particular about how your locks look, or prefer a more natural approach, experts agree that your wedding hairstyle is not a decision you should leave up to the very end. Especially if you plan on coloring, cutting, or altering your hair in any way, it’s best to give yourself some extra time in case you change your mind. To help ensure your wedding hairstyle is truly everything you’ve dreamed of and more, we asked top stylist to share their best-kept secrets for getting the best ‘do for the day you say “I do.”

RELATED: THE BEST HAIRSTYLES FOR EVERY WEDDING DRESS NECKLINE

Start focusing on hair health, stat.

It’s important that your hair is in the best, healthiest condition it can be on your wedding day. To ensure this, Gina Rivera, hairstylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, recommends developing a good hair regimen that you can adopt as soon as you start planning your wedding. “The last thing you want on your big day is frizzy, damaged, and unruly hair,” she says. The pro suggests using a hair mask at least once a week all the way until your big day.

Schedule your hair trial several months before your big day.

Wish so much on your to-do list, the last thing you want is to is wait until the last minute to decide on your hairstyle. Instead, you want to give yourself time to feel confident in your selection or, perhaps, to consider other options. Upon meeting with your stylist, have a discussion about your current hairstyle, your ideas for your wedding day, and how to achieve these in the coming months. “If you dream of long, flowing locks, you may need extensions to get that look and you can experiment with clip-ins for a temporary look and you can also add tape-in or sewn-in for the months leading up to the wedding and beyond,” says Kacey Welch, master colorist out of the Roil Salon in Beverly Hills and creator of Kacey Welch Method.

Don’t go too drastic with cut and color too close to the wedding.

The months leading up to your wedding is not the time to try out a new hairstyle unless you’re 100 percent sure you’ll love it enough to have it for your big day. If you’re looking for a change, Welch suggests consulting with your stylist about his or her recommendation for a natural change you can make subtly over the course of your engagement. “If you long to have bleach blonde locks, or stark black hair, or even add some blue, but that’s not a color you’ve tried before, don’t rush into it for your wedding day,” she says. “Being natural will leave you with the memories and photos that you can cherish for years.”

Consider how your hairstyle will go with your wedding dress.

If you wear your hair up or down on a regular basis, you might consider a similar look for your wedding hairstyle—but the biggest factor to consider should be your wedding dress, according to Temur Hamilton, lead stylist at Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Salon. “If you’re wearing a traditional wedding dress with fullness in the skirt, your hair should be at least half up without too much volume in order to complement the style,” he says. “If your dress is more modern and less full, it’s nice to have the hair down in a wavy and romantic style.”

Don’t try to do something complicated on your own.

Wedding DIYs are a great idea, but not when it comes to your hair. “Go ahead and do your own masks at home, but leave the complicated stuff like extensions and coloring to professionals,” says Welch. “When you try to do it yourself things can definitely go wrong, and you don’t need more stress during this time.” If you’re budget conscious, she suggests talking to your stylist about your concerns, as he or she may be able to cut some corners to settle on a reasonable price that works for you both.

Keep the season in mind.

If you are getting married during an outdoor ceremony in the summer, Hamilton suggests considering a style that keeps the hair away from your face and off of your neck. “If you’re getting married in the winter and know that you can get away with your hair being down from the ceremony to the reception, by all means go for it,” he says. You’ll also want to switch up your hair products for the season as wall, since you may need more frizz-taming products in the humid summer months and a nourishing leave-in conditioner in the harsh, dry winter.