8 Essential Beauty Rules Every Bride Should Know
We reached out to a few bridal beauty experts to find out what brides should and shouldn't do right before their wedding. Here's what we found:
Photo: Olli Studio
Be kind to your skin
"Wear plenty of sunscreen or even hats to avoid getting sunburned. This happening could drastically alter her makeup look (foundation in particular) that she may have already been matched for."-Shauné Hayes of Shauné Hayes Makeup + Hair Artists in Washington, DC
"Avoid heavy face creams or anything oily, even if you have dry skin. The makeup may have difficulty adhering."
-Ashley Stone of Beauty Entourage in Rye, New York
"Do not get a sunburn, laser hair removal or any chemical peel services done within a week of your wedding. Also, trying new products on your skin is not the best idea, just in case you have a reaction or breakout."
-Natalie Lavin of Hair and Makeup I DO in Boca Raton, Florida
"Make sure you apply sunscreen every morning, no matter what your makeup routine is. Some foundations include a sunscreen. Make sure it’s at least a SPF 15 or above."
-Kathy Schultz of Blend Make-up Artistry in Washington, DC
Let your makeup artist handle a breakout
"Sometimes breakouts happen. If you should get a pimple, first step: don’t panic! That means use all your superwoman powers to not squeeze, poke or otherwise disturb the bump. Your makeup artist’s awesome skills can cover redness, but not texture. So leave it alone!"-Kathy Schultz of Blend Make-up Artistry in Washington, DC
Protect your hair
"Most brides avoid cutting their hair altogether because they are growing it out. This in fact will result in split ends that will break and become dry and brittle, which is not ideal for curling. A clarifying shampoo once a week is great to keep the hair from building up on products and becoming dried out."-Ashley Stone of Beauty Entourage in Rye, New York
"Make sure you are getting your tips trimmed about every 3-6 months for healthy ends, especially if you are planning to wear your hair down. I would advise not getting any Keratin or smoothing treatment done to your hair within a week of your wedding. The hair will become too smooth and difficult for the stylist to work with."
-Natalie Lavin of Hair and Makeup I DO in Boca Ration
"A serious cut should still be avoided because it can cause a drastic difference in the outcome of the finished style."
-Shaun Jenkins of Shauné Hayes Makeup + Hair Artists in Washington, DC
Don’t color your hair right before the wedding
"I typically recommend when receiving a color service before your wedding date, do it two weeks prior. This will allow the color to settle and look more natural instead of freshly done."-Ashley Stone of Beauty Entourage in Rye, New York
"Drastically coloring the hair right before the wedding isn’t necessarily a good idea because there is the possibility of something going wrong."
-Shauné Hayes of Shauné Hayes Makeup + Artists in Washington, DC
Don’t get a wax right before the wedding
"The Blend team recommends not scheduling your facial or eyebrow waxing/threading a week or less before the wedding. Don’t take any chances of red marks or sometimes irritation or even burns appearing days before the big event."-Kathy Schultz of Blend Make-up Artistry in Washington, DC
"I have had this happen to several brides who never broke out from waxing or threading in the past. I remember one bride in particular when I walked into her hotel room that morning, she had redness, bumps and swelling around her eyebrows as a result of having gotten them waxed the day before. Makeup took care of the redness but not the texture from the bumps and swelling."
-Shauné Hayes of Shauné Hayes Makeup + Hair Artists in Washington, DC
Spray tan the right way
"Don’t go overboard with the spray tan, Orange is NOT the new black!"-Natalie Lavin of Hair and Makeup I DO in Boca Raton, Florida
"Airbrush tanning should be done 2-3 days before an event."
-Ashley Stone of Beauty Entourage in Rye, New York
Rest up and hydrate
"You’d be surprised what a natural glow hydrated skin has."-Kathy Schultz of Blend Make-up Artistry in Washington, DC
"Drinking lots of water is great not only for your skin but also for your body."
Natalie Lavin of Hair and Makeup I DO in Boca Raton, Florida
"Lack of sleep and hydration will catch up with you by the time the wedding day arrives. Tired eyes, puffiness, under eye darkness or bags are all things I have seen a bride experience on the day of the wedding but were never issues in the months leading up to the big day."
-Shauné Hayes of Shauné Hayes Makeup + Hair Artists in Washington, DC
Don't stress
"Stress can cause lots of damage to your skin, hair, and the rest of your body."-Natalie Lavin of Hair and Makeup I DO in Boca Raton, Florida
"You’ve done all the planning, picked all the colors, dresses, flowers, china; now it’s time to LET IT GO! The day of your wedding is all about you. Have fun with your bridal party while getting ready, rehearse your vows, write a last-minute note to your groom, and just be in the moment. Let the rest be handled by the pros (or a trusted friend)."
-Kathy Schultz of Blend Make-up Artistry in Washington, DC
