Big - Day Beauty
Ivette Manners
One of your biggest decisions for your wedding day will mostly likely be how you’re going to do your hair and makeup. This is the one occasion when you want to look your best ever. Here, we offer tips and advice to help you look gorgeous on your special day.
Mane-ly You
“Bridal hair is going toward a more natural, fresh look,” says celebrity beauty expert Darrell Redleaf, who has worked with some of Hollywood’s hottest stars including Scarlett Johansson and Cameron Diaz. “Fancy updos are dated. Now, it’s all about wavy, soft, and feminine hair; not hard and over-sprayed.” When choosing a style, select photos of models that have the same coloring and hair type as you do. “Many brides make the mistake of going to their stylist with ideas and pictures of what they think they want, but the look isn’t for them,” says Redleaf. Be realistic, and practice ahead of time to make sure you’re comfortable with the hairstyle you decide on. Try three of your favorite styles and take a Polaroid or digital photo of each one. Post each photo on your mirror, and for a week take a look at all three. The one you’re drawn to the most is the look you should go with.
The classic chignon with a few tendrils is timelessly chic, soft, and great for traditional or outdoor weddings (if the wind blows, your hair will stay in place). Veils also come into play when deciding on a hairstyle. Large veils look best with simple styles. The sides pulled back softly in a pretty comb, for example, looks great with a large veil.
Just about every bride wants long hair for her wedding. “Short hairstyles are rarely seen on brides,” says Redleaf. “Add some length with extensions or a hair piece, or start growing out your
hair several months before the wedding.” Shoulder length hair is also a modern and young look.
When you’re getting married, it’s okay to break some beauty rules. Get rid of those preconceived notions and limitations that you can only wear a certain hairstyle depending on your face’s shape. It’s your wedding, so wear what works best on you. Straight, blown out styles, however, tend not to look good for a wedding – it looks a bit off. But, styles with wave and movement work on everyone.
To prep your hair for your wedding, deep condition it two days before. Hair that’s too conditioned will be flyaway and do nothing, warns Redleaf. Then wash your hair the day before and use a light conditioner only on the ends for detangling.
Put Your Best Face Forward
“Cheek color, minimal eyes, and pretty lips is a very clean look,” says makeup guru Robert Bolanos, who has styled celebs such as Kim Cattrall and Jessica Alba. Many brides think they need to go with a very made-up face for their wedding, but you should actually keep your look soft and true to what you normally look like. You shouldn’t try a new look the day of your wedding.
When choosing your colors, stay away from orange or coral-based makeup. Also avoid anything that is too dark or matte because they show up badly in photos. Go for pink hues, like berry for your lips and mauve for eyes and cheeks. These shades show up well in pictures. The key to choosing the right colors for your complexion is to find the right hue. Any color family will work for any complexion, but lighter shades should be used on fairer skin tones, and darker hues should be used on darker skin tones.
Most makeup artists agree – you should avoid using shimmer and not go heavy on the bronzer. Light reflects too much off of shimmer and too much bronzer will look artificial, both of which do not translate well in wedding photographs.
Get your skin ready days before your wedding. Exfoliate and scrub a week before and stay away from products you have never used to avoid any breakouts or other skin irritations. “Get your eyebrows waxed two days prior to your wedding date,” advises Melina Cavalieri, a New York-based make-up artist who has worked her magic on models strutting down the runway during Fashion Week. This ensures a more natural look on the day of. Clean eyebrows also make it easier to apply eye shadow and make your eyes stand out. Then, the night before, apply a hydrating mask.
You don’t have to deepen or change your makeup after the ceremony for your reception. But you may need to touch up. “You might need a little powder, and need to reapply your lip liner and lipstick,” says Romero Jennings, senior artist for MAC Cosmetics, Other than that, your makeup should still look flawless if you’ve worn a good foundation and primer. “I also tell brides to put two tissues in the top portion of their dress. So, if she’s crying at the altar she can sneak a tissue and dab her eyes dry.”
Make sure you also do a practice run with your makeup. Now, you’ll be jaw-dropping gorgeous.