Hair, make-up and styling for your wedding dress

Hair, makeup, nails and skin, with the mistakes that most often go wrong on a white dress.

Book a fitting

When should the hair and make-up trial take place before the wedding, and should it match the wedding dress?

The trial should be one to two months before the wedding, ideally on the same day as a fitting with the tailor, so you save a trip. Bring the veil and a photo of the back of the wedding dress, because the hairstyle has to suit the dress and not the other way round. Take photos of the result from several angles, and write down what you want to change, otherwise nobody will remember on the day. Plan the rest of your timeline with our answers about planning.

What do hair and make-up for the bride cost, and what should I ask the stylist so the look suits the wedding dress?

The price of hair and make-up for the bride depends on whether the stylist comes to you or you go to the salon, and whether bridesmaids and mothers are also being styled. Ask for a total price including the trial, travel and an early start, because those are the three items that often get added on. Send her a photo of the wedding dress too, so she can suggest a style that suits it. If several people are being styled, give the stylist a schedule so she can set aside the right amount of time. Get the rest of your finances in order with our answers about price and budget.

Can I do my own wedding make-up, or should I get help so it doesn't end up on the wedding dress?

Yes, you can easily do your own wedding make-up if you usually do it and know what lasts. Practise it twice and take photos with flash, because that is where make-up that looks fine in the mirror can turn out too pale. Use products you have used before, and don't buy anything new the week before. Do your make-up before you put on the wedding dress, and hold a towel over the neckline if you need to touch anything up afterwards. Allow twice as much time as you think, and get help with the back of your hairstyle. Read about light and flash in our answers about photographers.

How do I make my bridal make-up last all day without rubbing off on the wedding dress?

Use primer underneath, powder on top and a long-lasting lip colour rather than gloss, and your bridal make-up will last all day. Avoid creamy products on the face if it gets hot. Foundation and powder easily rub off on a light wedding dress, so set the make-up well along the neck and jawline. Put powder, lipstick and blotting papers in a small bag and give it to someone you have with you, because you won't be walking around with a bag yourself. The hardest part is not touching your face. See what else belongs to the day in our answers about accessories.

Which make-up lasts if I end up crying at the wedding, and how do I avoid mascara on my wedding gown?

Waterproof mascara and eyeliner hold up best to tears, and a pencil is safer than a liquid line. Skip false lashes if you know you are going to cry, because they come loose with moisture. Dab instead of wiping, and use a handkerchief, not the back of your hand. That way you also avoid mascara marks on your wedding gown. Put a spare handkerchief in the pocket of your dress, or give it to the person walking beside you. If the dress has no pockets, our tailor can often sew them in.

Should my bridal make-up be heavier because so many photos will be taken of me in my wedding dress?

Yes, a little heavier than every day, because the camera flattens the face. But not much: a bride with too much foundation looks mask-like in close-ups. Avoid foundation with SPF and glitter, because it reflects the light from the flash and leaves white patches in the photos. Against a white wedding dress the face can also look paler, so a little extra colour on the cheeks helps. Ask to see the trial in a photo taken with flash. Get more advice for the photos in our answers about wedding photographers.

Which bridal hairstyle works best with a veil and the wedding dress?

An updo or a half-up style works best with a veil, because there is something to fix the comb into. If the hair is completely loose and smooth, the veil slips, and you need a small braid or a pad to hook it into. Show the hairdresser the veil itself, not just a picture, and ask her to put it in during the trial, so you know how to take it out again. Find your veil among our veils and bridal accessories.

I have short hair – which bridal hairstyles and veils work with my wedding dress?

For short hair, a sleek, sharp side parting, soft waves, or hair tucked behind the ears with a comb or a jewelled headband all work well. Short hair actually suits a big dress, because the neck and neckline get room. Choose a veil with a comb that can be fixed into the layers at the back, or use a flower or a headband instead. Do not get your hair cut the week before. See the range of bridal accessories in the shop.

Should I get extensions for the wedding, and when should they go in if the hairstyle is to suit the wedding dress?

Extensions only make sense if you want an updo your own hair can't carry, or if your lengths are thin. Have them put in two to four weeks before the wedding, not the day before, so they fall naturally and you can get used to them. Show them to the hairdresser during the trial. Bring a photo of the wedding dress too, so the length and style suit the neckline and the back. Remember that they show in close-ups if the colour isn't a perfect match. Find more hair and styling tips in our blog.

How long before the wedding should I have my hair coloured so the colour looks good against the wedding dress?

Have your hair coloured two to three weeks before the wedding. By then the colour has settled, the roots haven't grown out, and you have time to fix it if the result wasn't what you hoped for. The classic mistake is switching to a completely new colour the week before. A new shade can also look different against the wedding dress than you expected. Book the hairdresser at the same time as you book the trial, so both are timed right. Make an overall schedule with our answers about planning.

Which nail polish suits the bride and the wedding dress best on the wedding day?

Nude, soft pink or a French manicure works best, because your hands appear in the photos of the rings, and a bright colour steals the attention. A light polish also sits calmly against the wedding dress and the bouquet. Keep your nails short enough that you can do up zips and hooks. Have them done a few days before, not the day before, so there is time to fix a nail that breaks. Put a small bottle of polish in the emergency kit. Read more about the rings in our answers about wedding rings.

Is a spray tan a good idea before the wedding when the wedding dress is white?

A spray tan is only a good idea if you have tried it before, and it should be done two to three days before the wedding, so the colour has settled. Self-tan and spray tan rub off on a white dress, especially at the armpits, back and hands, and it cannot be cleaned out afterwards. Do a test a month before, and do not change shade just before. Avoid it completely if the dress is close-fitting satin. Read more in our answers about cleaning wedding dresses.

How long before the wedding and the final fitting of my wedding gown should I stop trying new skin treatments?

Try no new skin treatments in the last six weeks before the wedding. A new treatment can cause a reaction, and you can't plan your way out of that. If you want a facial, have it two to three weeks before, and stick to one you have had before. If it concerns the back, shoulders or décolletage that the wedding gown shows off, follow the same rule. Sleep and water are boring, but they work better than a quick fix the week before. Find more preparation tips in our blog.

Should I wear my glasses for the wedding photos in my wedding dress?

Yes, keep your glasses on if you wear them every day. It is you, and you need to be able to see your guests. If you have several frames to choose from, pick the one that suits the wedding dress best. Tell the photographer you wear glasses, so she can allow for reflections and angles, and wipe them before the posed photos are taken. If you want a few photos without them, take them off for two or three shots and keep them on the rest of the time. Read more in our answers about the photographer.

Should I lose weight before I buy a wedding dress for the wedding?

No, you do not have to do anything. Buy the wedding dress for the body you have now, because it is a dress that fits that looks good in the photos, not a number on the scales. If you lose weight anyway, the dress can be taken in, and a lace-up back follows you a couple of sizes. What goes wrong is buying too small and hoping, and that ends in a bad week before the day. Find your right size with our size guide.

What should I think about the day before the wedding so the wedding dress fits as it did at the final fitting?

Eat and drink as normal the day before the wedding, because an evening of salty food and bubbles makes a close-fitting dress tighter. Hang the wedding gown out so the creases drop, and lay out shoes, underwear and shapewear with it, exactly what you wore to the final fitting. Sleep well. And don't try the dress on in the evening, it does no good and could leave a mark. If you need a plan B, see our answers about emergencies.