The look of love (From Living Northeast)

The look of love

12:49pm Thursday 5th March 2009 in

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Andrew Jose is one of Britain’s top hairstylists.

Here, he offers advice for brides on how to find the perfect wedding day style for both hair and make-up.

Choosing a hairdresser

IF YOU are getting married near home, it should be easy to organise a hairdresser. However, if you need to find a new one, make sure it is someone you feel really comfortable with. When you have a trial, take a picture. Hairdressers will charge according to the work they can do in a certain amount of time, so ask about this.

Choosing your look Think about how you want to look, Do you want to look like you do now, or do you fancy yourself as a princess or a film star? Your natural looks may have worked for you so far, but you might always have wanted to go for the Audrey Hepburn or the Grace Kelly look.

Hair colour

Whether your hair is natural or you have been experimenting with some colour for years, an approaching wedding day is likely to send you into a panic about what colour it should be. Many brides’ first reaction is to go natural – but going back to your natural hair colour is not necessarily the right move.

Finding the right colour is something you should discuss with your hairdresser as early in your wedding planning as possible. It is important to consult the professionals, as subtle highlights or lowlights in just the right shade can bring out the colour of your eyes and add extra sparkle. Steer away from bold colours, which may date in your photos.

Some people have a second colour in their eyes (flecks of gold, for example). If you match this with highlights in your hair, your eyes will look amazing. Looking at your skin tone will also help.Working together

You don’t want your hair to compete with your dress. When choosing your hairstyle, make-up and entire bridal outfit, you want to think in terms of a single theme – that way the focus will be on you. Everything should complement you and each other. Make sure that your hair is worn off your face and that your make-up is fresh.

There are two rules to looking good on your wedding day: start early and stick at it. Department stores often offer free beauty consultations, especially for brides-to-be. This is a good place to start. Discuss any skin problems and find out which of the good-quality preparations will suit your skin. Regular cleansing, toning and moisturising will keep you blemish-free and looking healthy.

Make-up matters

If you opt to do your own make-up on the day, make sure you buy any new cosmetics early on and practise. When you are trying out make-up, it’s important to wear something the same colour as your wedding dress or take a piece of material in the same colour which can be draped to get the same effect.

If you fancy a new look – something more glamorous perhaps – a make-up lesson from a beauty salon is a great way to pick up a few new ideas and techniques. Alternatively, if you think your hands will be shaking too much on the big day, or you just like the idea of some last-minute pampering, book a beautician to come to the house. Just make sure you fit in a practice session beforehand.

At your fingertips

Your hands will become the focus of attention when showing off your newly-acquired wedding ring. So be careful to avoid doing anything that will cause nails to split and break and take extra care when shaping them. Use a load of hand cream in the weeks leading up to the great day, to get them super soft and smooth.

And the day before the wedding, have a professional manicure.

Don’t overdo the diet

You may have decided to lose a few pounds before your wedding day, but don’t set yourself unrealistic targets. It’s difficult to stick to a diet at the best of times but when you’re stressed out, it’s even harder. Chances are, you’ll lose weight anyway, rushing around doing all that organising.