A Guide to Skin and Hair Wedding Prep

Last week I talked about deciding what to do with your hair and makeup on your big day and also how to find the right person(s) to do this. As promised, today I am going to talk about wedding preparation for both skin and hair.

In terms of hair, it may be that you have decided to grow it for the big day, if this is the case, try to get into the habit of using a hair treatment at least once a week, and always use a conditioner afterwards. A great product to build strength is Philip Kingsley's Elasticizer. It's slightly different because it's a pre-shampoo treatment which you leave on for 10-20 minutes.

It can be hard to fit in, but I used to dampen my hair with a water spritz, then apply the elasticizer, have breakfast and then shower. I did this 6 months before my wedding everytime I washed my hair and it really did make my hair stronger and hence, longer and thicker. You can buy it at retailers including Marks and Spencers, John Lewis and online at QVC and Amazon.

When your hair is wet, very gently tease out knots with a wide tooth comb or tangle teezer. If your hair is long and prone to knotting a little oil applied to the ends can help (I like to use Davines Oi Oil which you can buy online or direct from salons), or a leave in conditioner can also work well, but just use on the ends otherwise it will be hard to style your hair.

For both skin and hair a good diet is vital. All the obvious things such as fresh vegetables, cooking from scratch and avoiding too much processed food and alcohol will do wonders as will drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day. You can also buy specific vitamins for nails, skin and hair which may help if your diet is lacking in nutrients.

To get your skin in its best condition, start having facials. These are vital so that your beautician can assess your skin and recommend any targeted treatments you may need. Before my wedding I had some milia removed (small white bumps that looked like white heads). I was then advised by my beautician that good exfoliation and facial masks would help avoid these coming back, and she was right!

A good skincare routine will keep your skin looking good. Cleansing, toning and moisturising day and night is essential. At least once a week apply a face mask suitable for your skin requirements and exfoliate twice a week.

For coloured hair have your final colour or highlights done about 10-7 days prior to the wedding and for cuts allow 3 weeks (this allows time for it to grow out a little but still be in great condition). Generally for bridal hair, we advise brides not to wash their hair on the day as day old hair will stay up better as well as hold a curl more effectively.

Have your last facial no more than 7 days prior to your wedding. If you have any last minute breakouts I cannot recommend Sarah Chapman's 'Skinesis Spot Stickers' enough. They are fiddly to apply but once on you can apply makeup on top to cover the blemish. At night remove your makeup, cleanse, tone and moisturise and then apply another sticker. By the next morning your spot will be gone...they are amazing, and I always have some in my kit for any emergency requests from my clients.

So now your hair and skin are glossy and glowing, it's time to talk pre-wedding treatments, including LVL lash lifts, gel or acrylic mani/pedis, faux tan application and cosmetic procedures. If there is anything else you would like me to discuss in next week's blog, do let me know.

Until then, Lipstick and Lashes!

Nikki

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