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Wedding hair and makeup ideas for the big day

Wedding hair and makeup ideas for the big day


Denise
Denise Updated:
25th of July 2022

After your wedding dress, your wedding hair and makeup are one of the defining factors of your bridal look. If you're stuck for inspiration, here's our handy guide to deciding on your bridal hair and makeup...

Your wedding hair

  • There are so many styles to choose from when it comes to wedding hair that it's easy to become overwhelmed. We recommend that you take your wedding theme into consideration - for a relaxed, boho day, a fishtail plait or mermaid waves with fresh flower accessories would be perfect. For an elegant black-tie affair, why not try Hollywood curls pinned to the side, or a chignon paired with sparkling pins? Pinterest is your friend - search your wedding theme with 'hair' and you'll see brides who rocked their look. 
  • If in doubt, match the neckline of your dress. Strapless dresses work well with loose hair, or half-up, half-down styles, while high or busy necklines work better with updos. If in doubt, take a picture of your wedding dress to your hair trial, and your hairstylist will be able to advise you. 
  • Work with your natural texture. Hair has a mind of its own, so it's often best to stick to a style with the hair's natural tendency. For example, if your hair is naturally curly, choose a wavy or curly style. It means your 'do will last throughout the day and your photos will look good from start to finish.
  • If you want a style with lots of body and volume or a complicated updo, but you naturally have short or fine hair, then you may want to consider clip-in extensions to help you get your dream look. Chat to your hairstylist about this, as they'll be able to help you select some to exactly match your hair shade. 
  • When booking your wedding hairstylist, remember that it'll be cheaper to have both your hair trial and your bridal appointment in a stylists' salon than have them come to you, especially on busy days like Saturdays. Be sure you have enough time to get to the salon in the morning and then back to your bridal suite to change into the dress. 
  • See more wedding hair ideas here!

Your wedding makeup

  • No matter whether you're doing your own makeup or hiring a makeup artist, the key to getting the right wedding makeup is to look like you, but on your best day. If you naturally don't wear a lot of makeup, then now is not the time to start experimenting with your look - you want your fiance to recognise you as you walk down the aisle! Chat to your makeup artist about how much makeup you usually wear (take photos if need be), and they can create a look you're comfortable with. 
  • Having said that, bear in mind that your makeup is likely to be slightly heavier than usual in order to show up properly in the wedding photographs. Very natural looks tend to wash out on camera, especially when paired with a white or ivory wedding dress, so you may end up looking like you're not wearing makeup at all in the photos! With this in mind, pair extra attention to defining the eyes (individual false lashes are a great way to achieve this), and choose a lip colour that's one shade darker than usual. 
  • If you're doing your own wedding makeup, then the normal contents of your makeup bag may not be suitable. You'll need long-wearing products that are sweatproof and waterproof (trust us - if you don't cry the mascara off, you'll sweat it off!), and your foundation and setting powder should contain no SPF in order to avoid flashback in photos. 
  • Like your wedding hair, we recommend looking to your wedding theme to help you decide on your wedding makeup. If you're having a vintage wedding, then you can't go wrong with a classic red lip and winged liner, while brides having a rustic, romantic day may prefer to stick with pink tones on the lips and cheeks with subtle shimmer on the eyes. If you're having a festival wedding, why not go all out and include glitter and a bright lip?
  • See more wedding makeup tips here. 
Find someone to help you look incredible on your big day...
Denise

About the author


Denise

With a previous career as a hairdresser, Denise is an expert in the bridal beauty category. She knows exactly how to find beauticians and hairdressers you can really trust to make you look amazing.

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