Q&A Fashion & beauty Look and feel your big-day best with help from the professionals DOWN TO YOU I normally wear my hair down, so I don’t feel I’d look like me if I wore it up for the wedding. How can I elevate a hair-down look to make it bridal, switching it up for the big day? Victoria Spicer from Tory B Hair (www.torybhair.co.uk) says: Leaving your hair down can be equally fantastic for your special day as having it up. You only have to glance at those red carpet Hollywood A-listers to see how stylish and elegant it can be but there are a few key points to note. Firstly, condition: Keep your tresses well hydrated in the weeks running up to the wedding with conditioning hair masks. Avoid heated styling tools and eat well for all those hair-boosting nutrients such as B7, which is often said to be best for luscious locks. It’s all about prep on the day, so don’t skimp on humidity-defying products to keep the frizz away, such as a soft hold mousse and strong hold hairspray. Alternatively, opt for a hair oil to add a touch of gloss but avoid applying to the root area as it can sometimes be greasy by the evening. Get that just-stepped-out-of-a-salon look with a knock-out professional salon blow-dry in the morning and it should hold well into the night. If you’re wearing it down then think about how your veil will be held in place or opt for something elegant and simple such as a tiara, headband or flower crown, which could be removed later on in the day. BE-YOU-TIFUL I’m not used to seeing myself in a dress, let alone something so grand as a wedding gown! I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed by the prospect of shopping for the one. Do you have any advice for me? Cathy Keen at 14 & Sixpence (www.14andsixpence.co.uk) says: You’re completely normal! After all, a wedding dress is something most of us only get to wear once. There are so many options out there, so it can be daunting for anyone. Book an appointment with a boutique that will spend one-to-one time with you, and have a look at its website to see if the dress styles are something you feel may work. Go with just one or two of your closest friends or family members – it can be overwhelming to see yourself in a dress, let alone with too many opinions on what you should wear too. Once you try on your first dress, you’ll feel loads better. The boutique will guide you, but I’d start with something simpler, not too full, and one that has a neck line you know you’ll feel good in. Then together, it’s about finding out what you might change to make it feel more you. Maybe try a fuller skirt, more sparkle, different straps and so on. Soon, you’ll start to feel great. The right dresses will make your figure look fabulous, which will in turn give you more confidence. Your wedding day is the opportunity to wear the dress of your dreams, one to showcase the most beautiful version of you. There’s nothing more gorgeous than a woman who feels good about how they look. Your sparkle is so much more important than the sparkle on the dress! Marius Muresan on Unsplash 68
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