Hair, Make Up & Beauty

A combination of beautiful hair, skin and make up are what gives a bride her radiant appearance on her wedding day. In saying this, one generally cannot go without the other, and it is important that you select a professional hair stylist and make up artist, who are experienced in weddings in order to achieve a truly exquisite look.

Hair

Although choosing a hair style for your special day may seem a simple task, you may be surprised at just how difficult it can be when it comes to actually finding something that suits you and the theme of your wedding. With so many choices of bridal hairstyles, the task may appear somewhat daunting. Weather you settle on an up-style or a flowing natural look, the main thing to avoid is a bad hair day for your wedding. By following a few golden rules and by ensuring that you look after your hair, especially in the months leading up to your wedding, you can ensure that you’ll be looking your best on your special day.

Choosing a Style

Possibly the most difficult decision to make is deciding on a style itself. There are so many styles that look fantastic on brides in the magazines, but will they suit you? The magazines may perhaps be the best place to start.

Have a browse through some bridal books or on jump online and collect some pictures of various styles that appeal to you. Keep them aside to discuss with your stylist. An honest stylist will be able to discuss what will work best with your face shape, length and texture of your hair, style of dress and any accessories that you may be wearing for your wedding. They will also be able to advise you on the styles to avoid.

By having an idea in mind and taking along some magazine or internet clippings with you, your stylist will be able to work around your ideas and create something that suits both your face shape and wedding theme, and leave you with a style that is truly stunning.

Similarly to the way that a certain wedding dress will look better on a certain body shape, different hairstyles suit different face shapes.

Understanding your face shape is an important part in choosing your wedding hairstyle. By determining your overall face shape you will be able to identify the perfect hairstyle for you.

Oval Shape

If you have an oval shaped face, your face is well proportioned with your jaw and forehead being of equal width. The oval shaped face is the most versatile when it comes to hairstyles.

Best Choices:

• Virtually any wedding hairstyle will suit an oval face.
• Up-do’s (not too high, as it will make your face appear long).
• Long wavy or straight styles.
• Long layers cut level with the cheekbone.

Best to Avoid:

• Short layers that add height to the top of the head.
• Styles that fall onto the face, hiding the oval shape. This can make the face appear fuller than it is.

Long/Oblong Shape

Those with long faces tend to have high foreheads and long chins, with the overall length being greater than it’s width.
Best choices for wedding hairstyles include those that add width rather than height.

Best Choices:

• Long layers around the face.
• Curls (especially in the layers around the face) to add volume and shape.
• Medium and short length styles.
• Swept fringes.

• Half up, half down – providing that the hair that is up is not too high, and the hair that is down is predominantly positioned towards the back of the head.

Best to Avoid:

• Long straight styles, as it will further elongate the appearance of your face.

• High up-do’s.

Round Shape

Those with round faces tend to have a full circular shaped face. The main aim is to create less volume to the face.

Best Choices:

• High up-do’s.
• Long straight styles.
• Long swept fringes.

• Wispy tapered styles.

Best to Avoid:

• Curls

• Styles that allow hair to fall around the face

Square Shape

If you have a square shaped face, your features are angular and you have a broad forehead. The aim of styling for a square face is to choose a style that will lift the facial features and detract from the broad forehead, creating a more oval appearance.

Best Choices:

• Curls or waves to soften the angular appearance of the square shaped face.
• Styles with layers that start at the jaw line and continue downwards.
• Sleek, swept fringes.

• Styles which part at the middle, creating a different angle.

Best to Avoid:

• Heavy or blunt cut fringes.
• Long bob styles.
• Parts in the centre of the forehead.

• Geometric styles.

Heart Shape

The prominent features of a heart shaped face are a wide forehead and narrow chin. The aim is to create a sense of balance by utilising a style that provides width around the chin area, and by drawing attention upwards towards the cheekbones and eyes.

Best Choices:

• Styles with layers that fall around the cheekbone and chin level.
• Soft curls and waves.

• Styles that add width to the lower half of the face.

Best to Avoid:

• Short, blunt cut fringes.
• Slick pulled back styles.
• Choppy layers.

Your bridal hairstyle not only needs to suit the shape of your face, it should also complement the style of your wedding gown. Take this into consideration when deciding upon a hairstyle in order to make the most of both your wedding gown and your hairstyle. One should not overpower the other.

Long Sleeved or Collared Gowns

In order to ‘show off’ the detail of your long sleeved or collared gown, it is best to choose an up-do. This will allow the collar to be visible, and prevent your hairstyle from over powering your gown. If an up-do is not a style that you feel will look best on you, perhaps consider a style that is half up/half down.

Strapless or Off The Shoulder Gowns

Generally speaking, most hairstyles will look good with a strapless or off the shoulder style gown. There is one factor to consider however, and that is that this particular style of wedding dress can leave you looking a little ‘bare’ up top. You can avoid this by dressing your décolletage with some stunning accessories, or by choosing a hairstyle that allows some hair to fall down towards your shoulders and neck. This does not necessarily mean that you should choose to wear your hair down, or even in a half/half down style. A few strands allowed to loosely fall towards your shoulders, should be enough to soften the look.

Ball Gowns or Cinderella Style Gowns

A formal gown such as a ball gown or Cinderella style gown, calls for a formal hairstyle. Any up-do is perfect to complement this style of gown. It is important however that you do not over-do it when it comes to your hair. Keep with the formal theme, however make sure that the style does not overshadow the beauty of your gown.

Modern, Elegant or Simple Style Gowns

Simplistic and elegant styled gowns call for a similar hairstyle. Styles that are worn down look fantastic and work best with this style of gown.
If your gown is very simple, you can afford to accessorise by ‘jazzing’ your hair up a little. This will prevent your overall look from being too underdone. Remember however, that you want your hair to complement rather than overshadow your gown.

Another point to consider is your accessories. Similarly as your hairstyle should complement your wedding gown, it should also do the same when it comes to your accessories.

Veils and Tiaras

If you have opted to wear a veil or tiara on your special day, you need to ensure that it will work with your hairstyle. One should not overshadow the other, especially your veil – you do not want it to hide your hair.
Another consideration is the length and weight of your veil. If you have a cathedral length veil, that extends all the way down to the ground, you will need a hairstyle that will be strong enough to hold it’s shape for the entire day and strong enough to enough to support the weight of the veil without it falling out!

Jewellery

If you have chosen to accessorise with jewellery, you should ensure that your hairstyle complements the style. It is important that you follow a similar theme from your gown, to your jewellery and accessories, right through to your hairstyle. Try to avoid your hair overshadowing your jewellery or visa versa. The main aim when choosing your accessories/jewellery and your hairstyle is to ensure that everything works together.

Hair Accessories

In recent years, hair accessories have made a come back. They can add sparkle and colour to your hair, and also have the ability to ‘dress up’ your gown. Hair accessories come in a wide range of shapes, styles and colours from flowers, to precious gems and sparking crystals.

Once again attempt to match your hair accessories with the style of your wedding gown to ensure a consistent theme. If you have embellishments such a crystals on your gown, then follow this through to your hair, accessorising with crystal pins or clips.

Floral detailing calls for flowers, which especially look great when scattered amongst curls.
Modern styles call for simplistic accessories. You cannot go past a single lily or frangipani worn in the hair to accompany a slinky dress worn for a modern beach wedding.

In the months leading up to your wedding, it’s a good idea to prepare your hair, to ensure that it is in the best possible condition in order to achieve the best possible look. Visit your hairdresser at least every 6-8 weeks (in the months leading up to your wedding) to have a regular trim, even if you want to grow your hair. This will help you to avoid split ends and prevent the hair from look tatty. Invest in a quality salon shampoo and conditioner and have regular treatments.

You should always book in to have a trail hair styling session with your stylist. This is very important and will ensure that you choose a style that suits you, and that you and your stylist are clear on what you want and what your stylist will be provide on the big day. Depending upon your chosen stylist, you may need to book in anywhere between three and twelve months. Popular bridal salons that specialise in weddings will certainly book well in advance, so it is important that you book in early. It is recommended that you book in for your trial anywhere from one to four months prior to your wedding.

Always take along any pictures, accessories such as a headpiece or veil, and a picture of your gown to your trial. This will assist the stylist to choose a hairstyle that complements all of these items.
If you colour your hair, it is important that you do not opt to make in drastic colour changes in the weeks leading up to your wedding. Attempt to stay with the colour that you have, and have it re-coloured a week or two before your wedding.

As previously mentioned, it is the combination of good hair, skin and make up that gives a bride her radiant glow on her wedding day. Just as you should to choose a good hair stylist, it is also important to do the same when it comes to your make up.

Choosing a Make Up Artist

It may be equally as daunting in selecting an experienced make up artist that you trust to apply your wedding make up as it is when choosing a hair stylist. Try to choose a make up artist who works for a reputable company, or who has been referred to you by someone who has recommended their services. It is important that they are experienced in bridal make up to ensure that you achieve a professional look that will be evident as you walk down the aisle, as well as in your photos.

Ask to see a portfolio of their work (including bridal make up) so that you can be sure that they are capable of creating a look that you desire. Many hair stylists and make up artists work together, so it may be possible to have both done by the same person or in the same salon. This will obviously save you time on your wedding day. In saying this, many hair and make up artists will be happy to come to your home (or hair salon) to prevent you from having to travel from one place to another on the day of your wedding.

Ensure that you book a trial in order to gain an impression of how the artist works and that he or she is able to achieve a look that you are happy with. Discuss your ideas and needs and ensure that you take along some pictures to any appointments so that you know you’re both on the same wavelength.

When it comes to choosing the ‘look’ that you wish to create, it is important to remember that whilst you may have an idea of the colours and general style that you would like to create, you should listen to the advice offered by your make up artist.

If you have selected a reputable artist, you will know that they are experienced and will be able to offer professional advice when it comes to choosing the best look for you.
Similarly to when choosing your wedding gown to suit your skin tones and accessories, you should also take this into consideration when it comes to your make up.

Cool or Warm?

Most people tend to have either a cool or warm tone to their skin. By understanding which skin tone you have, you will easily be able to select make up that will complement your colourings and give you a more beautiful appearance and a healthy glow on your special day.

People with cool toned complexions have pink, violet or blue undertones, and those with warm tones have golden or yellow undertones. These two types of skin tone are further broken down into four categories of colourings – summer, autumn, winter and spring tones.

Summer and winter are both examples of cool tones. As mentioned above, cool skin tones have pink, violet or blue undertones. Although they are both examples of cool tones, there are some subtle differences between the two.

Summer

People with summer complexions are usually natural blondes with pale coloured skin. They generally have pale coloured eyes and have a pink or blue undertone. They generally have little contrast between their hair, skin and eye colour. Brunettes may also have a summer complexion.

Best Colour Choices:

• Soft neutral colours or whites
• Soft pastels (especially dusky pinks, mauves, and pale blues)

Best to Avoid:

• Intense colours
• Bright or stark whites
• Earth tones
• Ivory, beige

Winter

Like those with a summer complexion, winters have blue or pink/rosy undertones. Unlike summer complexions however, winters may be pale or porcelain white, olive or dark in tone. Winter complexions have great contrast between their hair, skin and eye colour and have depth to their skin colour. People with winter complexions are usually brunettes with dark eyes, however natural blondes may fall into this category.

Best Colour Choices:

• Intense, rich colours
• Stark, bright whites
• Icy pastels

Best to Avoid:

• Earth tones
• Ivory, beige, or cream tones
• Orange or gold tones

Spring and autumn are examples of warm tones. People with these complexions have golden undertones.

Spring

People with spring complexions are usually golden or strawberry blondes, redheads or those with auburn hair colour. Their skin is usually a pale peach; ivory or creamy white tone with subtle golden undertones. Their eyes are pale in colour, usually blue or green.

Best Colour Choices:

• Ivory
• Cream, beige tones
• Golden, yellow tones
• Earth tones
• Greens, aqua’s and clear blues

Best to Avoid:

• Bright or stark whites
• Dark or dull colours

Autumn

People with autumn complexions are usually, redheads or brunettes with dark eyes and their complexions have golden undertones.
Autumn complexions have depth and colour to their skin tone.

Best Colour Choices:

• Ivory
• Cream, beige tones
• Rich browns
• Golden tones
• Earth tones

Best To Avoid:

• Bright or stark whites
• Bright colours
• Pastels
• Blue tones

By taking into account your complexion and skin tone, you will be sure to find a colour scheme that suits your complexion and gives you a radiant glow on your wedding day.

A few things are for certain on your wedding day and they are that you will be doing a lot of smiling, a lot of kissing and a lot of posing for photos. It is obvious that you will want to make the most of your wedding day make up to ensure that it stays in ‘ship shape’ condition throughout the day.
Professional make up artists use a few tricks of the trade to ensure that your make up will look its best throughout the day.

Apply a Base

A base applied under all make up will assist to help make up last longer. Several products are available including foundation bases, eye make up bases, and lip bases and are a great way to get more out of your wedding make up.

Foundation

Choosing a good foundation will enable you to achieve a flawless look and conceal any blemishes. Avoid shine by applying an oil control base under the foundation and a loose powder over the top. Touch up throughout the day with a pressed powder. Concealer may be used under the eyes to avoid any dark circles, and may also be applied to any blemishes.

Eyes

Use an eye make up base underneath your eye shadow to ensure that it will last longer. Once applied, begin with a neutral eye shadow over the entire lid to soften and even out the skin tone, before applying the main colours. Powder based eye shadows are a better choice than cream based as they are less likely to cause crease lines and generally last longer.

A white eyeliner may be used to widen and brighten the appearance of the eyes.
You should always apply two coats of mascara, allowing the first coat to dry completely before applying the next. If you’re the ‘teary’ type, you should consider a waterproof mascara and should also apply an oil based concealer beneath your eyes to prevent your makeup from wearing off.

You may consider an eyelash curler or an eyelash perm, or eyelash extensions to enhance the length and appearance of your lashes. These can create an exquisite look.

Lips

You can count on the fact that you will be doing a great deal of kissing on your wedding day. Apply a moisturising lip balm to you lips half an hour before applying any lip colour to avoid your lips from drying out.
Then, using a colour that is slightly darker than your lipstick, apply a soft pencilled lip liner to the outline of your lips. Then fill the lips with the liner.

Apply on coat of lipstick, using a lip brush and blot very gently with a tissue. Apply a second coat and then gently press a tissue between your lips (do not blot).

To ensure that your lip colour lasts even longer you may apply a top coat, or alternately apply a thin layer of pressed powder to a tissue using a large brush. Press the tissue between your lips. This will help to set the lip colour.

Like most things associated with your wedding, your skin also requires preparation in the months leading up to your special day. In order to look your best and have a truly radiant glow on your wedding day, you should prepare to be pampered!

Skin Care

As soon as possible, start to plan a beauty regime to ensure that your skin has time to detoxify and to adjust to any new skin care products. Visit a beauty therapist or day spa and discuss your skin care needs in terms of treatments and pamper packages. Monthly facials at a salon or day spa will have your skin looking great when accompanied by a regular regime at home.

Cleanse, tone and moisturise your face morning and night to keep your pores clean and give your skin the moisture it needs. You should also exfoliate once or twice a week to get rid of dead skin, for a clean base for your makeup.

If your skin is prone to blemishes or conditions such as acne or rosacea, it may be worthwhile visiting a dermatologist or skincare specialist to advise on the best treatment options. Mud wraps and specialised body treatments will allow your body to detoxify and leave your skin feeling invigorated and silky smooth.

Ask your day spa about special bridal packages. These are also a great idea for your hens day/night. It is important that you don’t have any facial treatments during the week of your wedding. This is to prevent any reddening, breakouts or reactions to skin care products.

Waxing

In terms of waxing, it’s a good idea to have regular waxing in the months leading up to your wedding. This will ensure that hair growth is finer and assist in the prevention of ingrown hairs. It is very important that you do not have any waxing done within 3-4 days of your wedding, especially on your face, in order to prevent reddening and break outs.

Tanning

Try to avoid too much sun in the months leading up to your wedding. Sunburn may leave your skin reddened and prone to peeling which would obviously be a look that most brides would want to avoid.
With increasing attention on the effects of sun damage and its associated link with skin cancer, spray tan application and alike have become increasingly popular. Spray tanning is a safe and easy way to achieve a natural golden glow for you wedding day. A good exfoliation with the use of a loofah prior to application is recommended to avoid patches. Most beauty salons, day spas and specialty tanning salons will be able to assist you when it comes to planning your tan.

De-Stressing

Not only is it essential to take care of your skin, however your mind and spirit have a major impact on your general appearance.

Planning a wedding may be stressful and tiring. You need to ensure that you are looking after yourself in terms of sleep, exercise, and diet. Lack of any of these things will show when it comes to your wedding day. Burn some essential oils, read a book or have a long soak in a hot bath every now and then to take time out, de-stress and relax.

Massages, manicures and pedicure are also a great way to help rid your body of tension and stress associated with pre-wedding planning. Try to take a break every now and then and spoil yourself to one of these delightful treatments.

If you’re having trouble getting to sleep at night, try some herbal tea.

With all of these things in mind, and a little preparation, you can be assured of looking your best and displaying a ‘bridal glow’ on your wedding day.