Beauty routines should go hand-in-hand with your hair care and styling options ahead of your wedding day.  Start booking trials with makeup artists several months in advance and gain inspiration from magazines, Pinterest, Instagram, and your recently married friends.

This article features our top wedding hair and beauty tips to practice ahead of your wedding day.

Most bridal beauticians will arrange for a rehearsal session ahead of the day and this is usually combined with a hair-styling practice. You may have one person doing both elements, and the rehearsal will allow you to get some idea of how much time you will need to allow for the real thing.

Most brides would like to work this into their timetable for the day but sometimes the schedule will not allow it. Certainly worth finding time for it and treating yourself in the week before the wedding.

Traditionally, henna art was strictly the preserve of the Asian bride but if you are using henna then make sure your timetable accommodates.

Speak to your beautician about this and be realistic on timing. Most brides will arrange an appointment for the day before for hands and feet – maybe combined with a massage…

The wedding smile needs to be perfect! A couple of professional teeth whitening sessions will put a sparkle on the photos without any airbrushing! Avoid offerings that contain bleach even if the price is enticing – sensitivity to temperature is not a good idea close to the day.

Decide in advance whether you want your hair long for your wedding, or if you’re sticking with your shorter style if that is the norm for you. You may want to cut your hair two months before to allow your hair enough time to grow again, but most brides will have a final trim and/or colour 3-4 weeks prior to the day.

Finding the right person to look after your hair on the day is critical – s/he will be with you while you are getting ready and needs to be a calming influence rather than providing an independent element of drama! Screen-grab lovely wedding hair ideas that you see on social media as you come across them so that you can show your wedding hair stylist – the same goes for wedding day make-up ideas.

Book in a hair trial – this can usually be done at the same time you book in to have your make-up trial. If you’re not happy with the trial the first time around, book in to have another. You’ll want to look back at your wedding images in years to come, and love the hair and makeup style you chose.

When shopping for your wedding dress, play around with headpieces and veils, particularly if they don’t have a hair-style confirmed. You may change your mind if you find the right headpiece.