While hiring someone to do your bridal makeup & hair has become the norm, sometimes it can be expensive and maybe unnecessary for brides who feel confident in doing their own glam. For some, the option to do their own glam may be a better choice. This way, brides can have more freedom with their bridal look and save money on their bridal glam. Here are some tips and tricks on how to make doing your own bridal makeup & hair a little less intimidating.
Makeup
Evaluating Your Makeup Bag
Before the big day, it’s important to start with some research on your skin. Take a look at your daily makeup routine –– which products do you love and which products do you want to replace for your wedding day makeup? And more importantly, check those expiration dates, as many of us fail to recognize when our products are past their “use by” dates. Lastly, which products last all day for you? Your wedding day is lengthy, so find that hidden gem of a long-lasting concealer and toss the foundation that sweats off after a few hours.
Products & Makeup That Lasts
Once you have taken inventory of what makeup you already have, it’s time to make a list of what products you are in need of. While yes that includes makeup, it also includes prep products to keep the makeup in place all day. Moisturizer? Primer? Setting sprays? Finding which products fit best for your skin will help with the lasting wear of your makeup.
“It all comes down to good skincare,” said Lissa , a bridal makeup artist in Lancaster, Pennsylvania who started her business, Beauty by Lissa, in 2021. “So having a good skincare routine is super important up until the wedding day.”
This is a good time to review any wedding makeup tips you’ve saved on TikTok or other social media platforms. Look around on social media for products that makeup artists and former brides recommend. Again, look for products that are good for long wear, such as cream blushes and contour, as well as products that will assist with keeping your makeup in place.
“I think one of the most important things is having an eyeshadow primer [Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion or MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot Eyeshadow] to prevent eyeshadow from creasing throughout the day, especially if it’s the summer,” said Lissa. “You don’t want your eyeshadow creasing or your mascara transferring to the top of your eyelid.”
Having a good prep routine can be super helpful in getting the makeup look you want on your wedding day as well as keeping it all looking stunning throughout the whole day.
For a skincare recommendation, Lissa suggests the Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentré as a hydrating product to use before putting on makeup and it also doubles as a primer.
The Makeup Process
Now, it’s time to practice. Take your time with this step –– watch tutorials, take it step by step and practice multiple times. Don’t be afraid to ask your makeup guru bridesmaid to help you with this part.
After your practice attempt, wear the makeup for the whole day and see if it all stays in place. Take this as your trial run and see what product you may want to swap out or if there is a different blending technique that might work better.
For some more bridal makeup tips, here is what Lissa has to offer:
1. Do not wear SPF on your wedding day. This is something that many brides probably wouldn’t think about, but your face will reflect the lighting and flash which can make you look white in your photos.
2. Makeup By Mario has lots of good products to choose from for your wedding makeup. Lissa especially loves their eyeshadow palettes, which has a range of color options.
3. To achieve that “baby doll pink” look, try Laura Mercier’s Blush Color Infusion in the shade “Strawberry.” This color is very popular with brides currently, according to Lissa.
4. For setting powder, the Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder is a good product and affordable.
5. Looking for good makeup that is equally good for your wallet? e.l.f Cosmetics has lots of makeup dupes to choose from. Many of these products have circulated on social media for their similarity to more expensive products.
6. Practice your makeup look in natural lighting. This change from interior lighting to natural lighting can help give you a better look at the makeup shades you are applying and how they really look on the face.
Hair
Know Your Hair Type
Before even deciding on a hairstyle for your wedding day, decide what works with your hair and what you know doesn’t. Hair doesn’t hold a curl? Maybe stay away from the curling iron. Hair won’t stay straight in the heat? Maybe embrace your natural curls or waves. Also, what is the weather going to be like? What kind of aesthetic does your venue have? All of these factors can play a role in what hairstyle you end up choosing.
It’s best to start practicing early before your wedding date, in case you decide to instead book a hairstylist.
“You would want to practice and play around about a year to 6 months prior to your wedding, so that you can make the decision, yes, I like how it looks and how my hair is or no,” said Kendra Martin, who’s a Lancaster, Pennsylvania bridal hair stylist (Upstyles by Kendra Martin) who specializes in boho-bridal hairstyles.
Picking the Perfect “Do”
When it comes to your wedding day hairstyle, it’s crucial to first research some different hairstyles and see which one you think you are able to do on your own. Beginner hairstylist? Maybe stick with something clean and simple with your hair down in curls or blown out. A little more familiar with doing your own hair? Maybe look into those cool updos you have saved on your “Wedding Day” Pinterest board. Either way, it’s best to begin by knowing exactly what look you are going for. Another thing to consider is how your hairstyle can complement your wedding dress neckline. How can you tie both of these together nicely?
At a loss for inspo? Check out some YouTube video tutorials to see how others do it. Watch the whole video before beginning on yourself, so you can really see how the process unfolds.
Keeping Every Strand in Place
Similarly to your wedding day makeup, your hairstyle has to stay intact for the entire day. Your hair products on the big day are going to be your best friend. Choose products that you feel comfortable with.
Here are some tips and products recommendations from Martin to help with the bridal hair process:
1. RedKen Iron Shape 11 Finishing Thermal Spray is her go-to for heat protectant, but this brand also has other good products for hair styling.
2. Elastics can be better to use over bobby pins because they can hold the hair better and for longer. But, if you do decide to go with bobby pins, Diane Bobby Pins are stronger than your typical drug store options.
3. Keep in mind that one product by itself can work great, but when mixed with other products can bring a totally different result. Martin recommends to keep in mind what products you are using and notice how they interact with each other in your hair.
4.Dry shampoo can be useful for creating workability in hair when it might be too silky.
5. Always start with dry, clean hair with minimal or no product in it.
And most importantly, practice, practice, practice! Go over your entire glam a few times before the big day, so the process can feel more like muscle memory. If you do choose to do your own hair and makeup on your wedding day, these tips and tricks can help you feel more confident and beautiful on the big day, as well as give you a little insight on “do’s” and “don’t’s” from professionals for wedding glam.
Photos by: Lissa Benoit & Kendra Martin
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