Avoid these wedding hair and makeup mistakes!
Do you want to look flawless on your wedding day but are afraid to make mistakes with your makeup and hair? You are not alone.
Your makeup and hair will be the focal point of your wedding day look, aside from the dress, that people will see when you come down the aisle. And the most important part: the photos that you will have for a lifetime!
This is why you want a foolproof way to make sure your wedding day hair and makeup are flawless, and will look beautiful in person as well as in photos.
1. Don’t let that friend of a friend who is watching a lot of makeup tutorials do your wedding day makeup! Wedding makeup and hair mistake number 1.
I’m not kidding. I have seen this happen, and it’s a tragic mistake. It will stress you out on your big day, holding up the mirror and having her fix everything.
2. DO NOT SKIP THE TRIAL!!! This is a major wedding hair and makeup mistake!
If you are going to hire a professional makeup and hair person for your big day, don’t skip the trial. Repeat: don’t skip the trial!
This is critical not to leave this most important part of your wedding day look until the day of. You are going to want at least one trial. Take photos. Take friends and relatives.
Just make sure you establish this look ahead of time so that you are not guessing at it on the day of! I have seen brides do this, and it adds unnecessary stress to a time that will already be exciting enough.
3. Don’t skimp on great skincare, drink plenty of water, and moisturize before your makeup! Wedding hair and makeup mistake number 3.
Okay, it would be a fatal mistake to arrive at your wedding day with flaky, peeling, or dry skin! See my blogpost for great tips for perfect wedding day skin.
Facials are a wonderful idea in the weeks leading up to your wedding, as well as regular exfoliation, and drinking lots of water.
4. Make SURE your foundation matches perfectly.
Again, start experimenting with foundations in the weeks before the wedding, making sure that you take selfies and show your friends and family. You will know right away in the photos if the foundation matches correctly.
5. Don’t overdo the foundation.
If you are doing your own makeup, take time in advance to try different foundations and different ways of applying. Sheering them out with primer or moisturizer is a good way to get a more natural, dewy look. And be sure to take some selfies to see how your foundation will look in pictures.
For tips on flawless DIY wedding makeup, see my blog post.
If you are hiring a professional makeup artist, the same thing applies. Be sure to impress upon her your desire for dewy, natural looking foundation, and take some photos and show family and friends as well. This is very important.
6. Don’ t overdo the blush.
I know “blushing bride” is the goal, but this can go too far. Get some color, but don’t overdo! You don’t want to look unnatural. This is where looking natural, with just a little bit of color, can be the ideal. I still love Nars Orgasm. It’s gorgeous, and just right.
7. Don’t skip the false lashes.
This one is controversial. I know a lot of brides say they would like to look natural and like themselves on their wedding day. I do understand. But having done 100s of brides I really really think that false lashes take the wedding day look to the next level.
Nothing sets you apart from your ordinary everyday self than some lashes. The eyes have it. They do. And they will see you in all your radiance from the back rows. I like to use these wispies on my brides. They are lovely.
These don’t have to be heavy. There are many soft and natural lashes out there. You will thank me for convincing you to wear them.
Also, in photos this is an absolute necessity. Otherwise you can end up looking washed out in your wedding day pictures.
8. Don’t forget to use waterproof eyeliner and mascara!
Make sure your makeup artist is using these waterproof products, and don’t skip on the eye primer as well. All of this will help your makeup last longer
9. Don’t forget to exfoliate and MOISTURIZE those lips before the lipstick.
Nothing looks worse than matte lipcolor sitting on dry, cracked lips. And believe me, I have seen other makeup artists do this and it makes me crazy.
After the scrub and prep I like to use a moisturizing balm before the lipstick. I apply this at the beginning of the makeup session and give the lips a chance to hydrate, so that by the time the lipstick goes on the lips are soft and smooth.
10. Don’t forget the setting powder, and powder touch up!
Best tip for looking good for the camera, and make sure you alert one of your friends or bridesmaids to look after the touch up kit, and to keep her eye on you when your lips need a touch up, or when you look even a little shiny. I always use Laura Mercier loose powder. It’s translucent, silky, light, and gorgeous. Perfect.
11. Don’t use so much hairspray that the style looks sticky!
You will want your hairstyle to stay, don’t get me wrong, but you don’t want that sticky look, and trust me, there are hairsprays out there that will make that unfortunate outcome happen.
The best hairspray for a no stick look: Sebastian Shaper Fierce. It will give your hair some shine as well.
12. Don’t have bobbi pins that are showing!
Work with your wedding day hairstylist to make sure that is the case, and the best thing to do is have other bridal party members take a walk around your final hairstyle and make sure all pins are hidden. It’s important to get a 2nd opinion for your big entrance.
13. Don’t overlook the pins when securing your headpiece and veil.
No one wants a headpiece that is sliding down or over during the vows!!
Now, this is the last step, and I haven’t been to a wedding yet when everyone wasn’t in a giant rush to get the headpiece and veil on. But don’t let this be an afterthought.
Wedding veils are a lovely idea, and there are many reasons to wear a wedding veil. The wedding veil has a rich history and tradition.
I like to gather all wedding party members around to get consensus on exactly where the headpiece and veil look best and then I anchor the heck out of it with pins.
Make sure it feels like it is on there firmly and isn’t going anywhere, and then once again, get consensus from everyone that it looks centered and even!!
14. STEP into your dress.
Dear god, after all of this work do not put that dress over your head!
IF you cannot step into your dress make sure your face is covered when you pull it over your head, with like say, a pillowcase or something.
I hope some of these tips help. As a wedding hair and makeup artist who has helped hundreds of brides with their beauty on the day of, I know what some of the mistakes can be.
I have seen other artists make these wedding day hair and makeup mistakes. I don’t want any of these to happen to you!
You will want to feel like a celebrity on the red carpet when you come down that aisle. Make sure your makeup and hair are absolutely perfect.
If you are doing your own wedding makeup be sure to check out my blog about how to do your own flawless wedding day makeup.
IF you are searching for the perfect wedding hairstyle, check out my blog for how to do that.
As alway, feel free to reach out and let me know what subjects you would like to see me cover in a future blog post.
Hi there! My name is Stacy Lande, and I am a Los Angeles based hair and makeup artist. I have been transforming women into the most glamorous versions of themselves for their weddings and events since 2009.
