Dear fellow brides-to-be, as magical as this period in your life is, by now you know only too well just how much prep is involved. And no, I’m not just talking about the venues, decor, menus, sangeet dances and so on, but prepping your skin, hair, body, muscles, brows, etc. *Phew* There’s literally so much to do and not enough time!
As a Beauty Editor, one would expect me to have my bridal beauty routine planned and designed right down to every last threading session. Well my lovelies, sorry to disappoint you but I really don’t. Not because I wouldn’t love to look absolutely resplendent on my big day, but because as someone with a demanding job, it’s next to impossible to plan your wedding down to every last detail. And go for tri-weekly beauty and grooming appointments, while also working full-time! If you’re a working bride, I can sense you nodding your head in agreement. But of course I do have a checklist of beauty things that I have been following and will be following diligently in the weeks and days leading up to my wedding celebrations at the end of December.
So whether you are a working bride or just curious about a beauty editor’s bridal beauty checklist, here goes, just for you, lovelies!
Book That Makeup Artist
Me, at my makeup trial.
Ladies, the second the date is fixed, it’s important to book your bridal hair and makeup artist. Do your research, ask friends for recommendations and scour over Instagram to shortlist your favourites. Next, it’s important to meet them and do a trial to make sure you’re happy with how your base looks and the products they use. This is so imperative. It’s also smart to click pictures to see how the makeup looks in different lighting. I met Shradha of Doll You By S and was super happy with my trial. I can’t wait to meet her once all my outfits are finalized to carefully decide each of my looks.
Skin
As someone with sensitive skin, I’m pretty apprehensive about trying fad treatments and experimenting with products. I’m sticking to the same doctor that I’ve been going to since my years of combating teenage and early adult acne – Dr Rohini Wadhwani, the founder and medical director of Skin Essentials in Bandra, Mumbai. Here are the treatments that I personally prefer, to bring me closer to bridal-ready skin.
- Microdermabrasion – The treatment involves tiny, exfoliating crystals that are sprayed on the skin for smoothness, brightening up dull skin as well as fading acne marks and scars.
- Oxygenating visible radiance skin treatment – A 90-minute treatment that helps flush out impurities from the skin, leaving it clean, nourished and super hydrated.
- Regular facials – Doing them too often can lead to breakouts, but a facial once in awhile, particularly about 2 weeks before the wedding is what I will follow for healthy, clear skin.
Hair
Being such a beauty junkie, I’m guilty of experimenting with my hair a lot in the past, particularly with colour. My plan is to leave it alone till my pre-wedding colour session. In the meantime, I am trying my best to keep it healthy and prep it for D-day. Here’s what I’m doing:
- I am growing out my hair for the wedding but I do make it a point to get a trim every 3 months. It really helps keep the ends healthy.
- Avocado hair masks – A mashed avocado with a few drops of olive oil is a great at-home hair mask for soft, lush hair. I leave it on for an hour before washing my hair. I try to do this on the weekends or whenever I find the time.
- Hair spas – I like to try different kinds of hair spas at the salon. Doing this once a month helps strengthen my hair and reverse damage.
- Head massages – You can do this at home or at the salon, either way, it’s awesome for strong and healthy hair growth.
- Colour treatment – I’m planning a balayage treatment to make my locks look Pinterest-worthy about 15 days before the celebrations begin.
Nails
Definitely a gel manicure! This way you don’t need to worry about chipped polish during the festivities or on the honeymoon. Be sure to get a mani-pedi the day before all the functions begin.
Getting In Shape
What bride doesn’t want to look toned and fabulous in her stunning wedding lehenga? As someone who absolutely hates the gym, I’ve finally found a trainer who pushes me to workout while also making it fun for the group. Yashna Lalla, of Studio Releve makes us work it out with a combination of floor pilates and high-intensity cardio. She’s also a certified dancer so she loves to mix it up with some surprise dance sessions too. While I’ve been working out with her since the past 6 months and already feel better in shape than I’ve ever been, being a fellow bride-to-be, she plans on stepping up our workouts and doing so more frequently come October.
If keeping fit is a struggle for you, like it is for me, I do suggest joining a fun class like zumba or pilates to make working out a bit more fun. Trust me, it really helps.
Hair Removal
I think laser hair removal is a great idea. I’ve done it for my arms and think it’s pretty life-changing.
- If you haven’t already, I do suggest laser hair removal. Since it’s a treatment that requires multiple sessions spread across a few months, please start as soon as possible.
- Brows – go to your regular lady to clean them up about 3 days before the shaadi functions begin. Now is not the time to change the shape but, if you do want to do that, please do so a few months before the wedding. In case you’re not happy with the shape, at least they can grow back in time.
- Waxing – get that waxing session out of the way 4 days before the D-day to allow the redness to settle. If you’re planning a bikini wax for the very first time, try it a couple of months in advance first. You don’t want a rash or irritation down there after a first-time wax to interfere with your wedding night plans.
Wellness
Image: Shutterstock
What you eat or drink makes such a difference to your skin, hair and overall health. Of course, working in an office full of women with midday sugar cravings, this is easier said than done. But I try my best to balance out the bad with some healthy eating habits. I’m a stickler for drinking 3 to 4 litres of water a day along with a fresh cold-pressed juice daily. I love guzzling coconut water too, which is great since it’s super cooling. I’ve also started making it a point to munch on fruits as much as possible. Oh and I’ve also cut down on alcohol, I tell myself that I’ll more than make up for it during the wedding! *Wink*
