For brides and bridesmaids, make-up and hair styling is a vital part of the big day.

Most brides opt to call in the professionals, but for those who are confident with make-up a DIY look is an option.

Just remember to stick to natural shades, and always do make-up in natural light.

Anything other than a basic hairstyle is best left to a hair stylist. Clip-in human hair extensions are an excellent tool to give extra length and body to the hair, and can be dyed to match your hair exactly.

Many brides wear hair accessories like flowers, headbands or clips, so consider these when choosing a style for the day.

Pre-wedding

Take extra good care of the skin on your face and body in the months leading up to the wedding.  Consider getting a course of mild glycolic facials or microdermabrasion in the months before the wedding to renew skin and give a lovely glow (talk to a beauty therapist about your options). Make-up will look much better on the day if skin is in great condition.

Be cautious when using any new products or having treatments. These are best avoided in the weeks leading up to the wedding in case of allergic reaction or breakouts. Stick to your regime and be gentle with your skin.

Book in a trial run for your wedding make-up and hair a few months prior to the big day. Finding pictures for inspiration will help your make-up artist and hair stylist understand your vision. When deciding on a look, consider the time of day; a slightly more dramatic look will suit an evening wedding while most brides who wed during the day opt for a natural look.

Waterproof mascara is a must. Eyelash extensions or false lashes are fabulous to accentuate the eyes, and look great in photos.

Have your brows shaped and any waxing done the week before the wedding.

Hair should be coloured a week or two before if required. A trim or cut a few weeks before to get rid of any split ends will mean your hair will look healthy and will be easy to style. Weekly conditioning treatments at home in the months leading up to the wedding will help to improve the condition of your hair. Try a Kerastase mask.

If you choose to have a light spray tan, it’s a good idea to trial this a month or so before the big day to make sure the product and colour suits your skin. For those just wanting a hint of colour, a gradual tanning moisturiser applied for four or five days before the wedding will give a very natural glow and is a fool-proof way to give colour to the skin.

Choose a natural colour for nails like a pale pink, peach or beige, nails should be done a day or two before. DIY glue on nails are an easy way to get length and a no-chip French polish. Try KISS professional nails.

Avoid sun bathing or tanning; there is nothing worse than bikini strap tan lines or lobster red skin on a bride. Opt for self-tan and protect your skin with a broad spectrum sunscreen.

On the day

Cleanse and moisturise skin as usual prior to make-up application. Hair should be washed the night before in preparation for hair styling and left free of product (unless your hair stylist requests otherwise).

Prepare a small touch-up kit for the big day. It’s essential to have pressed powder on hand for touch ups as any shine on the face will show in photos. Other handy items to have on hand include: lipstick or gloss, concealer for any spot touch ups, Clear Eyes, a mini hairspray and tissues.  

Lipstick will need touching up every few hours, as will powder. A light dusting over the t-zone will keep shine down and prevent make-up from slipping and shifting. Put your bridesmaids on touch-up duty to make sure you look flawless in your photos.

By Stephanie Coulter

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