7 Tips to Avoid Any Wedding Day Hair and Makeup Regrets

Ever wish you had a fairy godmother to help you plan your wedding? Enter our new video series, Aide of Honor, dedicated to helping a young couple, Kaitlyn and Matt, navigate the planning process with ease. Created in partnership with Samsung, the series showcases how the new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best way to immortalize wedding planning milestones and memories, as well as help you stay organized and make decisions along the way. Watch the full video on Kaitlyn’s hair and makeup trial here.

You have a vision for the wedding dress, the venue and the flowers—now it’s time to tie it all together with the hair and makeup. Whether you’re someone who never leaves the house without a full beat and blowout, or you prefer an au naturale approach, your bridal look is all about being comfortable in your own skin. And no one knows how to deliver what you want better than the hair and makeup pros you select for your dream day. So, we caught up with everyone from master stylists to lead makeup artists on the best ways to achieve the vibe you’re going for, without any mishaps or regrets to speak of.

Don’t leave your hair and makeup to the very last minute, because experts book up rather quickly, especially during busy wedding months. “Many of them are already booked up to a year in advance. If you wait until the last minute to book, you risk your first choice being unavailable,” says Ashley Nichole Gibson, owner and lead makeup artist at Paraposh.

Gibson emphasizes that real-life referrals from friends and family make everything easier. It’s also just as important to hear what friends and family didn’t like about their experience, so you know what to watch out for. Don’t have a personal referral? Ask other industry professionals such as wedding planners, photographers and florists. “They know who their previous clients have liked working with and are aware of stylists that are experienced, well-respected, and reliable,” adds Gibson.

This might seem fairly obvious, but it’s a must to ensure you feel comfortable with your team and that everything goes smoothly on your big day. However, what you may not know is that a bridal trial will cost you. “While this is generally not included in the price of your wedding day package, it’s a good time for you to ask questions about what products they use and why, and how well they listen to what you want,” says Gibson. If you can swing the extra cost, Becca Raziuddin, Director of Artist Education at Blo Blow Dry Bar advises to do a trial with more than one hair stylist or makeup artist so you’re not locked into the first one you book.

It can be tempting to try something new from your Pinterest board, but Dawna Jarvis, master stylist and business strategist advises to stick with what feels like you. “Your wedding day isn’t the time for a complete style overhaul. Pick something that’s you, amped up a notch. You want to look in the mirror and still recognize yourself,” she says. That means, don’t wear your hair down if you typically wear it pulled back, and don’t try a heavily-contoured makeup look if you’re more of a BB cream and lip balm person.

Perhaps the easiest, but most important way to prep both hair and skin is to hydrate in the days, weeks and hours leading up to your wedding. “The more water you drink, the plumper your skin will look and the more hydrated your hair will be,” says Kenna Ehman, co-owner and master stylist at Kenna Kunijo. Hydration will make your makeup sit better and will give you a glow that no products can.

When it comes to hair, Jarvis emphasizes cleanliness. “Don’t show up with super dirty hair—it’s a nightmare to style. But too clean isn’t great either; it slips and slides all over the place,” she says. “Aim for that sweet spot where your hair is clean but still has some natural texture to it.” Treatments are also fair game, but Ehman advises against getting a haircut too close to your big day, “Your hair will look its best when it doesn’t have such a fresh, blunt end look. Instead, go in for a clear gloss, deep conditioning treatment and/or scalp treatment about three weeks before,” she says.

Your wedding day is a marathon, not a sprint, so planning for touch-ups between the “I do” and the party is a must. “The ceremony and reception are almost two separate events and you want your hair and makeup to look great for both,” notes Raziuddin. “Sometimes hair can fall and makeup can smear during the ceremony so having someone there for touch-ups is always advised,” she adds.