10 Tips for Perfect Wedding Make up
So you’ve chosen your dress, the flowers and the cake, you even chosen the perfect hair style what about your make up?
1. Basic Skin Care
A solid regimen of skin and nail care is the best way to get that ‘total look’ you are after. Talk to a beautician regarding a skin and nail care plan. This may mean regular facials starting two months before the wedding. Also don’t forget your nails. Start having weekly manicures approximately 8 weeks before the wedding. Well kept nails are stronger and more likely not to break.
2. Choosing a make up artist
The skill of the make up artist comes with experience. Talk to the artist about where they trained,.A make up artist should know about highlighting and shading, and how lighting affects the make up and how to apply make up for photography. Ask what they have done in the past and if they have photos of their work to show you.
3. Where to find a make up artist
The best way is by referral, but there is the yellow pages, Internet and bridal magazines. If this fails, try department stores – most of the girls behind the cosmetic counters are trained in make up application as well as many beauticians.
4. What look to go with
What style ultimately depends on your personal preference, but you need to consider:
- The time of the ceremony – is it day or night? Lighter more natural make up is suitable for daytime with more dramatic looks saved for the evening
- Is the ceremony inside or outside? Lighting plays an important part in the choice of the make up application.
- How long do you need the style to last? Will you need someone to touch up your make up, or will it last?
5. At the Trial
Have pictures from magazines to help your make up artist design a look for you. Also have your head bridesmaids with you to give her opinion of the make up. Talk about:
What make up brands they use?
Mention if you have any skin problems eg sensitive skin or allergies.
Colors that you have chosen as the make up should compliment the dress and flowers. Warm neutral tones create a natural look which is often advisable.
6. How to choose a Hairdresser
The best advise I can give about choosing a hairdresser is to talk to a couple of hairdressers and listen to what they have to say about your hair and what they would do with it. They should talk about your hair history, what type of Colors you have had in the past, what type of cuts you have had and what you did or didn’t like about them, and generally get to know you and your tastes in style.
7. The Trial
At the trial you should talk about the dress and the image that you are after. Have pictures which you have found in magazines to help your stylist design the style for you. Also have your head bridesmaids with you to give advice. The cost will vary from hairdresser to hairdresser so make sure that you get prices before hand.
Things to look out for during a trial with a hairdresser are:
- The cleanliness of their equipment. If they are salon based this also means the salon. Tidy hairdressers do tidy work.
- How well organized the hairdresser is. Is the equipment ready to go or arranged in an orderly manner and packed well in their bags.
- Are they interested in you and your wedding? Did they ask about the dress etc?
- Have they suggested hair styles for you. Did they give you advice on your hair, not just the styles for your wedding but on hair care, as well as cutting and coloring advice?
- Are they punctual? You need your stylist to be running on time on your wedding day.
8. Who goes first?
I always start with the bridesmaids making sure that a good communication is maintained to allow for changes in the hairstyles as we go. Then I do the mother of bride and any other relatives who are booked in, then comes the bride. The bride should be done last or near to last to make sure that she looks fresh. Last but not least the flower girls, only because of their age. Flower girls hair tends to be fine and wispy, and often does not hold styles well, plus they sometimes get impatient!
9. Pre-wedding cut / color
Your Pre-wedding cut I feel should always be done by the hairdresser who is going to do your hair on the day of wedding. This takes away any chance of the hair being cut too short, and the hairdresser having difficulties with the style on the day. If you need to have a different hairdresser cut you hair, make sure they show you how much hair they are taking off before they start cutting.
Any co lour work should be done anywhere from one to two weeks before the wedding. Style and co lour changes are not recommended just before the wedding, and definitely not on the day.
10. On the day
The day of the wedding has arrived and you have to keep to a schedule. Try to wash your hair the night before, rather than on the day. You should allow approximately 40 mins for hair styling per person. What you should try to do is make a schedule for people to work by. Bridesmaid’s hair and make up should be done first, then the mother of bride, the bride herself and last of all the flower girls depending on their ages.
Also, try to make sure that there are no errands left to do. Having people rushing in and out is very frustrating for the stylists, and may cause your party to run behind schedule.
The most important thing is that you feel comfortable with the person who is doing your hair and make up. Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life so you have to start it being relaxed and well prepared.