Your wedding hair and make up checklist

I see quite a lot of these checklist style articles pop up but hardly ever do they provide a realistic time line when it comes to your wedding hair and make up – so much so that I decided to create my very own wedding hair and make up checklist for you! Lots of artists, myself included can get booked up to two years in advance so don’t leave it too late. Have a read below and hopefully this will be able to give you a much more realistic time scale when it comes to preparing for your big day.

You’ve booked your venue…

Your date is confirmed, then its time to book your hair and make up artist! So many people are left disappointed when they try to book hair and make up services a few months before their big day, and so many people tell me that they never realised how important it was to secure the artist of their choice! I get booked up to two years in advance, don’t be fooled into thinking you need to know exactly what style or look you want to go for – you don’t, and we have plenty of time to figure that out. But it is important that you confirm and hold your date. I only book one bride per day so once it’s gone it’s gone!

12 months to go

If you don’t already, follow me on Instagram and facebook. You’ll be able to see first hand what kind of styles and looks my current brides are going for and it might even give you some ideas as to what you like or want. No two styles are exactly the same, each and every bride is unique so it’s important that you look at a variety of options before you start to think about what’s possible. Keep up to date with my social media and blog and get inspired!

If you don’t have a skin care regime then it’s time to get one! It doesn’t have to cost the earth and there are some great an inexpensive products from brands such at The Ordinary so be sure to check them out. . Something as simple as remembering to remove your make up with a cleanser each night and being sure to moisturise every day will make the world of difference. The key to good make up is good skin.

Have a good hair cut. Get rid of all those dead ends. There’s still time for it to grow a little so don’t panic about length. There’s no point having really long hair if the last five inches is broken and damaged. A good cut will make it look and feel so much better.

6 months to go

Decide on your hair colour. If you’ve changed your hair for the wedding, or even if you’re just maintaining an existing colour , now is the time to start thinking about your colour appointment timeline. Ideally you want your colour to be fresh for the big day so I’d recommend trying to line up your appointments so your final pre wedding hair cut and colour is the week before the wedding day itself.

Stick with the skincare. Be kind to your skin. Drink water, sleep plenty – and keep removing that make up!

Book in your trial/preview session. Dates get booked up in advance. Some brides like to try and schedule this session for the same day as a dress fitting where possible, so they get to see everything ‘come together’. If you have a specific date in mind then let me know, otherwise you can give me your top three and I’ll do my best to accommodate. These sessions are first come, first served. You can book a session any day Monday – Friday, and don’t forget I offer limited evening appointments too.

3 months to go

By this point you’re thinking about your preview session which is probably happening over the next few weeks. Take a look at the preview session pack available on my site for some useful advice. Preparing for your preview session pack and start to think about what type of things you like, and just as importantly – what you don’t. This makes a great starting point for the both of us and it can make you think openly about how you want to look. Do you have any accessories that you want to incorporate? Will they be ready and available for us to try at this session for you?

1 month to go

This month you’ll receive your final invoice from me. Like most suppliers, I take payment 30 days before the wedding day itself. At this point I’ll also want to check ( again! ) that all the details I have for the wedding morning are correct. Ill confirm timings, contact details etc. If anything changes then be sure to let me know as soon as possible so I can update my details.

The week before the wedding

The wedding day is almost here! You’ll hear lot of things this week along the lines of ‘I cant believe its gone so quick’ and you might even feel like ‘I just cant wait for this to be over!’ but try not to get too stressed – everything always falls perfectly into place I promise!

You’ve had your last hair cut and colour by this point so be sure to keep your hair in top condition by using a heat spray when using heated tongs and straighteners etc . If you’re thinking about having your first ever facial then now is not the time. The point of a facial is to ‘clear out’ your skin, releasing any toxins etc , and many ladies can find that it brings them out in spots as it draws all the impurities to the surface. Lots of brides make this mistake and then panic as their skin changes, save it until after the wedding – maybe treat yourself to one on honeymoon!

The night before the wedding

Wash your hair, dry it and then leave it in its natural state. Unless we’ve agreed otherwise then this is the best condition for me to style your hair. Remove any make up and clean your face thoroughly before bed. In the morning follow your usual skin care routine to the point of moisturiser and upon arrival I will do the rest. I’ll apply any necessary primers and potions to ensure that your make up glides on perfectly. And most importantly – TRY to get a decent night sleep! ……..I’ll see you in the morning!!!

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Survival guides for blondes

So it’s official. We’re stuck in lockdown and this virus means social distancing is the new norm. Until we’re told otherwise that means no visiting family and friends, no shopping, and no hair appointment.

I know you hate your roots, and I know you’ve looked at those box dyes as you make your online shopping order wondering what harm it could do but please….don’t.
Blonde hair is a commitment. It’s like dating the best looking guy in the class – it’s high maintenance and hard work. Everyone wants it, you know it looks good and it makes you feel great! But at the same time you’ll doubt yourself every few weeks when you see that first bit of regrowth and wonder why you ever even started on this ash toned journey! It’s a turbulent ride of toners and shades , lighter, darker, more golden, less warm…. And it’s exhausting. It’s also a financial commitment. You know you’ll be back in that chair every 8 weeks without fail because you have to keep on top of it, you cant possibly go out on Friday night with your roots half way down your head, and when did your natural hair get so dark!? If all this sounds familiar then trust me you’re not alone. Being a blonde is no easy feat – even if they do have more fun. I know the situation isn’t ideal, and lockdown means that on a daily basis you’re trying to find the best light for your office zoom call, so that they cant actually see just how ‘bad’ your hair looks but trust me, no body cares. We’re all in the same predicament at the moment and it’s certainly not worth you cheating on your honey and caramel toned highlights and reaching for the box of brown chocolate home hair colour…

So even if you can’t get to the salon, there are a few things you can do to try and make the whole experience a little easier….on your hair at least.

What are you using to wash your hair?

Are you sure you’re using the right shampoo? Does it suit your hair type and texture? Does it help to maintain your salon colour? Or do you simply but whatever’s on offer in Tesco that week as you grab your shopping? It always surprises me how many people will be pay over £100 for a beautiful hair colour, only to go home and wash it with a £2.99 shampoo they picked up on the high street. There is a reason that stylists will recommend professional products and it’s not just because they want to sell you something more expensive than what you can find yourself, its because they know what your hair needs. They know that the products they recommend are the best way to protect and preserve that beautiful colour or cut they’ve just spent the last few hours tending to so lovingly. They want your hair to look as good as possible because you’re a walking advertisement of what they can do. Have you ever walked out the hairdressers feeling like a million dollars with your new do, only to go home and wash it a few days later and you simply cant recreate whatever magic it was they did in the salon!? Next time you see your stylist take a bit of time to ask questions about what products they think would suit your hair best. In the mean time have a read online about your hair type, colour and style. You might even want to invest in something a little more special. After all, and as they say, ‘’ Your hair is the crown you never take off’ . You might just be surprised at how much information and advice you can find…and what a difference it can make.

Leave in conditioner

If you have a home use leave in conditioner treatment then great. Make sure you use the product as directed and follow the instructions to give your hair a little bit of TLC. If you don’t then there are plenty of DIY recipes to enable you to make your own. Failing that, even just something as small as leaving your conditioner in for a few extra minutes can make a big difference to your hair. When conditioning you don’t need to apply product to the roots, it’s the mid lengths and ends of your hair that need that little bit extra so take a wide tooth comb into the shower and once you’ve applied your conditioning product give your hair a good brush through to ensure its evenly distributed throughout your hair. And turn down that hot tap, rinse your hair with warm, or even better – cool water.

Use Protection.

Before you apply any heat to your hair you should always use protection. This might be in the form of a leave in conditioner balm that you apply before blo drying, or a heat defence spray that you add each morning before you get the straighteners out. Either way it’s really important to use a product that’s going to maintain your hairs integrity. Especially, and even more so, when you’re blonde. Blonde can often be dry, fragile and more prone to damage and breakage. Turn down the heat setting on the hairdryer or the tongs and give your hair a breather.

Embrace an accessory

If you’re just hanging around the house then maybe a scarf or headband can help you disguise the natural colours coming through at your roots. Adding an accessory might help detract your mind from your regrowth and might even give you that encouragement you needed to try out a new style or look ( safe in the knowledge that whilst were in lockdown there’s no way anyone’s going to see it! )

Give your hair a holiday

A heat holiday that is. If you can manage it then why not cut out the heat altogether. Do you really need to ‘do’ your hair to ‘Netflix and chill’ today? Let it dry naturally, embrace your natural waves and wear it loose. Use a comb to brush the knots out when your hair is wet and save your hairbrush for when it’s dry. Soaking wet hair is in a more fragile state than dry hair and tugging at it wont do you any favours. Always brush your hair from the bottom up, don’t start at the top and hack your way down and then wonder why you’ve got a brush full of hair!

Lockdown won’t last forever- but neither will your beautiful blonde hair colour if you don’t look after it! Support your stylist by buying a voucher for as soon as they open up again, or even put your name on the waitlist to be one of the first people to grab an appointment. Everyone’s going through hard times at the moment, don’t make it even harder on your hair by attempting a ‘quick fix! ‘

Look forward to seeing you all again soon!

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Real Bride: Emma, // Wedding Hair at The Old Kent Barn

Bride: Emma
Venue: The Old Kent Barn
Photography by: David Fenwick

When I first met Emma for her hair trial session she had a good idea about the look she wanted to create. She knew that she wanted curls and that a half up half down style was at the top of her list when it came to her wedding hair preference. So many brides are unsure of what they want exactly or what will suit them so a preview session is a our chance to have a play around and figure out exactly what you do and don’t like when it comes to selecting your bridal hair.

Another thing Emma knew was that she wanted to wear extensions. Mainly for thickness and length but also for a bit of additional colour and tone, we added a full head of clip in extensions to Emma’s beautiful locks on the day. This meant that even when the hair was styled into a half up half down design , it didn’t look thin or flat at all. It also meant that we were left with a beautiful, full and thick looking style that could easily carry some beautiful accessories too.

Emma’s beautiful curls were created with a ghd flat iron. When adding heat to long hair its important to make sure you use a good heat protection spray. It’s also important that you correctly prep the hair for any bride wanting to wear curls on their big day. You need to ensure that the style will last and the curls will hold so they can look just as beautiful in the very last photo as they do the very first!

A lot of brides worry in regards to their own hair thickness and length and clip in hair is a great, quick and easy way to achieve the style you imagine without having to spend months growing your hair. It’s temporary too, meaning that its low maintenance. The clips can simply be removed from you hair at the end of the evening with minimal fuss and with no professional knowledge or product needed. Added hair is a quick and effective way to create the most beautiful and intricate bridal styles , regardless of your own hair type. By adding colour we can give extra dimension to a twisted up style, by adding length you can have the Rapunzel locks you always dreamt of, and by adding thickness we can be sure that you look and feel really confident despite your otherwise fine hair.

Thankyou Emma for these beautiful Images and for choosing me for your big day. We got ready in the bridal prep room of the beautiful venue The Old Kent Barn. Emma’s photos really capture the diversity of this amazing venue – which offers everything from stunning countryside to gorgeous sunset photo opportunities. If you’re looking for a Barn venue for your wedding day then be sure to take a look.

If you’d like to ask any questions regarding hair extensions then please do get in touch. I offer all of my brides a free colour match consultation and can even source the best type of extension and the best quality hair for you. So many brides wear extensions to complete their wedding day hair look and you’d never even know they were there!

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10 top tips for your preview session

So you’ve booked your wedding hair and make up artist…

… Exciting stuff! For some brides to be the preview session is the first time they’ve ever personally met the person that will be making them beautiful on their big day. It’s really important that you’re fully prepared so I’ve put together my ten top tips in order for you to really get the very best out of your preview session.

1. Book your appointment.

Perhaps the most simple, yet the most important. Some brides leave it right until the last minute and struggle to fit in their session. If you have a specific date in mind then get it booked in – even if it’s a way in advance, it’s worth securing your slot so you’re not left disappointed.

2. Be prepared.

Make sure your hair is clean (preferably washed the night before) and your face is make up free ( or at least be prepared to remove your make upon arrival).

3. Arrive on time.

As simple as it sounds if you’re rushing in flustered and late then you’re not going to be in full ‘wedding’ mode! Lots of brides get nervous for this session and you might find yourself worrying things like ‘will she be able to do what I want? Will I look as good as I want to? Will the style I want even suit me?‘ Try to relax, together and by the end of the session, we will have rid you of all of those worries I promise!

4. Bring ideas.

If you need a bit of help with this then have a read of my‘Preparing for your Preview session’ guide on the galleries page. It’s full of lots of questions that you might want to get thinking about in preparation for our session.

5. Show me pictures.

It’s so much easier for us to understand one another if we’re able to look at something visual. You might describe to me a ‘smoky eye’ but I can guarantee you that my idea of what that is, and yours, will be different. This leaves much less room for error if I can see what you’re describing.

6. Think about your dress.

If you’ve chosen your dress because you absolutely love the intricate detail around the neck, do you really want a hairstyle that’s going to cover it?

7. Tell me what you don’t like.

As well as wanting to know what you do like, I want to know what you don’t. this helps me be aware of anything that you might not have mentioned before. Maybe you don’t like your hair to be pulled too tightly around your face, or you don’t like your ears on show.

8. Be open to try something new .

Throughout the session, I might make suggestions based on my own experience and knowledge. I might suggest we use a specific colour to ‘open’ your eyes and make them stand out, or a certain lip tone to compliment your skin. We need to find a balance between looking like you, but looking like the very best version that we can possibly create. If you feel confident then you’ll feel good, and if you feel good – you’ll look good.

9. Take pictures.

You not only need to look amazing when people see you in the flesh, but you also want your look to photograph perfectly. Chances are you’ve spent money on a professional photographer so you want to be sure that your ‘look’ is just as good on camera as it is in person.

10. Bring a friend.

Whether its mum or a bridesmaid – whoever. Anyone who knows you and what you like to look like will be able to give you an open and honest opinion on what they think of the look we create. Sometimes it’s a little overwhelming for you to see yourself in a way you never have before so having someone on hand to give a second opinion is always a good idea.

And one more for luck….

11. Be honest

If you don’t like something then say. Please don’t lie, and please don’t think I’ll be offended. I’d be more upset if you went for something that didn’t make you feel comfortable and then looked back on the photos of your day wishing that you hadn’t. Of course, I won’t let you look anything less than absolutely beautiful but if there’s something that just doesn’t make you feel 100% just say and we can change it.

Preview sessions can get booked up months in advance and whilst I will always do my best to fit you in at a convenient time the earlier you book the more chance there is for you to get the date you want! I general suggest somewhere between 4-8 weeks before the day itself, and if you can make that work with a night out or event then even better!

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A September Wedding at The Oak Grove, Kent // Gemma and Matt

On a beautiful day last September, I headed over to a lovely little place called the Green Farm House to get the beautiful Gemma ready for her big day. I caught up with Gemma and asked her if she wouldn’t mind sharing a few memories of the day with me…and a few photos of course! Taken by the wonderfully talented photographer that is Simon Hawkins ( who also happens to be my husband! ) … Enjoy!

Full name: Gemma Kent
Wedding Date:28/9/19
Venue: The Oak Grove
Photographer: Simon Hawkins

My wedding style was….

Woodland vintage boho

My wedding hair was…..

Amazing Mermaid updo

My wedding make up was….

Natural, pinks – perfect

The thing I love most about my wedding day was….

Marrying the love of my life and sharing our hard work and marriage with those closest to us!

My venue was perfect because…..

it suited our personalities and we fell in love the moment we first visited it was the most magical venue even at night in darkness.

My favourite photo was….

Our 1st dance as our little one got involved too! That was special magical moment as all of our guests got involved and held up their phone torches and it created a perfect picture. ( and of course our chaos flair pictures! Great fun!)

I chose Katie for my wedding hair and make up because …..

She made me feel confident in my choices and I had no worries and new my hair and makeup would be perfect on the day! And it was!

If I could give other brides one piece of advice it would be….

Stay calm and take a step back on the day breath and take it all it, watch everyone for a few minutes enjoying the day that you created as it goes so fast. I did this a few times it was great to stop and take it all in have a moment. Do this with just you and your husband and look around together instead of being busy all day talking away and before you know it the day has gone 🙂

Thank you so much Gemma! If you’re one of my past brides and would be happy to feature on my blog with the details of your day then please do get in touch!

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