Wedding Day Prep 101

To ensure the best results for your wedding hair and makeup it is important to make sure you and your bridal party's hair and skin is prepped appropriately. Taking care of your skin and hair in the lead up to your big day will also ensure your morning is stress-free and breezy when it comes to getting ready. Below are some tips to follow in the lead up to your wedding day.

HAIR

  • The night before your wedding, double shampoo your hair and only condition the mid-length to ends of your hair Freshly washed hair is a MUST when it comes to achieving a flawless bridal hairstyle. The theory that ‘dirty hair is easier to style’ is a lie and is only advice to follow if you’re going to the salon for a scalp bleach as your natural oils protect your scalp from the bleach

  • Use high-quality, salon brand shampoo and conditioner - supermarket brands like Pantene and Tresemme contain heavy silicones that make it harder for your hair to hold a curl or achieve long lasting volume and lift at the root. If you have been using supermarket brands in the lead up to your wedding, never fear! Wash you hair with a clarifying shampoo like Head & Shoulders or Bumble and Bumble ‘Sunday Shampoo’ to remove excess build up of silicones

  • Do not straighten/curl or apply any styling products/oils to your hair after you have washed it before your wedding. Heat treating your hair after it has been washed will change the hair cortex and make it difficult or near impossible to curl or style a second time unless it is washed again.

  • For down-styles and waves, visit your hairdresser at least a month before your wedding for a fresh trim to ensure you don’t have any frazzled ends!

  • If you suffer from dry or frizzy hair, do regular weekly rich conditioning treatments in the lead up to your wedding. I like the Briogeo 'Don't Dispair, Repair' mask to ensure your hair is moisturised from within - this will help your style and curls hold longer and keep frizz at bay.

SKIN

  • Do a gentle enzyme/chemical exfoliating treatment the night before to remove any dead skin build-up. This will help your makeup apply smoother and look radiant. My favourites are the Goldfaden MD ‘Doctor’s Scrub’ or the Dr Dennis Gross ‘Universal Peel Pads’

  • The morning of your wedding, apply a hydrating sheet mask and leave on for at least 20 minutes. Some of my favourites include the 111SKIN ‘Meso Infusion Overnight Micro Mask’ or the Charlotte Tilbury ‘Instant Magic Facial Mask’

  • DO NOT get your eyebrows/face waxed within 5 days of your wedding! Makeup will not stick to freshly waxed skin - instead opt for threading or plucking

  • Exfoliate your lips gently with a sugar scrub or toothbrush the morning of your wedding - this will help your lipstick last longer. I recommend the Fresh ‘Sugar Lip Scrub’ or simply mix a little bit of granulated sugar in with your favourite lip balm and give your lips a little scrub a’ dub!

  • A lash lift will make applying false lashes difficult - opt for lash extensions or just false lashes instead. All makeup services include individual false lashes which give a seemless finish, and are still comfortable whilst elevating your eye makeup look. If you’re into lash extensions - opt for a hybrid set that emphasises your eye shape. I recommend testing lash extensions out at least once before you decide to get them for your big day.

Madeline Smithwedding day prep, skincare, skin care, haircare, hair care, wedding day hair, diy wedding hair, diy wedding makeup, wedding day checklist