As you plan your big day, one of the most important things is looking gorgeous. The perfect wedding dress, plus stylish hair and make-up are key to getting the look.
Will you have a long dress with a train? A veil or a fascinator, or simply flowers or diamante clips in your hair? And do you want white, ivory, cream, champagne or something more colourful? Beading, lace, or plain? Taffeta, silk or chiffon? Strapless, backless, princess or sexy? So many choices, it can seem overwhelming.
Tempo took a walk down the aisle with our beautiful model Bhavya in tow, to find out about the latest styling and fashion trends and tips for brides-to-be.
WEDDING HAIR
Flick through any bridal magazine and the trend is for soft, feminine hair; glamorous updos, or long hair with relaxed curls. It is not structured and formal, but harks back to classic looks of old. Think of the elegant big updos of classic movie stars such as Grace Kelly or Brigitte Bardot, with a modern twist.
“That 1940s or 1950s look is popular, with a bit of height at the crown, but it is much more up-to-date,” says Sarah Gray, colourist and stylist from Ktizo. “Curls are a lot more messy, not as perfect. And it looks as if you haven’t done your hair, but you have.”
GHD straightening irons are used to make smooth-shaped tendrils and curls.
The secret for any successful updo is lots of hairspray (L’Oreal Techni Up is good), strategically placed hair clips, and setting the hair before you start. “Setting the hair is a huge thing,” says Gray. “Preparing it is one of the most important bits of hair up. It is about getting hair to sit right, and getting the hair to do what you want it to do.”
The best bridal do for a wedding depends on a number of things; the personality and taste of the bride; her face shape and hair; the theme of her wedding; and what she is wearing.
“You can do a lot with short hair too,” says Gray. “You can get height and lift it, or do a blow wave, or use hair pieces and extensions.”
Under a veil or fascinator, short hair can look especially stylish. “Brides bring in a lot of their own stuff they want us to use,” says Gray. “Jewellery and brooches, fascinators and beautiful clips.”
Tips:
If you are going to get colour, get it done a week or two before the wedding.
Get a colour that suits you, and don’t do anything too different. Your wedding is not the best time to experiment with a completely new colour or look.
If you are thinking of a dramatic colour change, do it a good six weeks before the wedding so you can get used to it, then update colour just before the wedding if you need to. Deep shiny colours can make the hair look healthy.
Get a conditioning and shine treatment about six weeks beforehand, to prepare your hair to look its best on the big day.
Get a trial before your wedding, so you are sure of what you are getting. Take in photos of what you are after, or work with your stylist on the look. A bridal hair up from Ktizo costs $130 on average, and a practice is about $85. If you use a hair piece, it costs $50 to hire, with a $50 bond.
WEDDING MAKE-UP
There are generally two kinds of bride, says Ktizo makeup artist Hannah Carter. “Some prefer the natural look, with neutral colours, and then you get the more glamorous look with smoky eyes and bright red lipstick. And some people want fake eyelashes.”
Like hair, wedding make-up depends on the wedding is it laid back, perhaps outdoors, or is it high glamour? If you are going dramatic, focus on either the eyes or the lips. “Glamorous 1950s red lips are really in,” says Carter. “It looks great with swept back hair and simple eyes. But if you are going for a smoky eye, have a nude lip.”
In either case, with a long day ahead, not to mention photographs and a few tears, it is important to start with a good foundation to last the day.
Carter says it is also important to focus on eyebrows, emphasising them with light feathery strokes of an eyebrow pencil. “It adds a really structured look to the face and makes an amazing difference.”
Big no-nos include frosted eye shadow, which not only looks retro, but reflects off photography lights. A matte look is often better for pictures.
And avoid using a dark lip liner with a pale lipstick. “It’s very ’90s and not a good look,” says Carter.
Tips:
Begin your skin preparation well in advance of the wedding. To have your skin glowing on the day, get facials a few months out from the wedding. Drink lots of water and have lots of fruit and vegetables to help skin to be fresh and clear.
“A healthy diet is really important,” says Carter. “Get lots of good oils in, eat fish and avocado, which are good for the skin, nails and hair. It makes a big difference to have soft smooth skin, not too dry, as make-up will last longer.”
Getting a manicure and pedicure is the final touch, and brides often go for soft pinks or nudes, or get a French manicure, with artificial nails for extra length (after all, you want your hands to look fantastic.
An article from Stuff.co.nz