Wedding Day Glow: Bridal Tips/ Hair & Makeup

Sizzling down the aisle can take on a whole new meaning here in Florida. Summer heat, beachside winds, salt air and humidity…..well, it's enough to bring on the shine when what we want is glow! And those ever dreaded frizzes……just when we wanted soft, shimmering curls or a smooth, soft updo! With the summer wedding season in full swing, thank goodness the ever fab Maura Emerson, owner of Salon Beauty of Maura at Tangles in Downtown Melbourne took the time to share some of her tips that will be sure to turn heads and bring out a big Mr. Groom smile as you make your bridal debut!

So, let's get started with our guest interview!

First, thank you Maura for taking time out of your busy day to share some of your wonderful hair & makeup tips. My brides will now be even more beautiful on their wedding day! Oh, and I love your shop here in downtown Melbourne. The light in here is fantastic!

Question: Maura, I photograph lots of beachside weddings. One problem that my brides seem to have is deciding whether to wear the hair up or down, especially when they have long, pretty hair. Sometimes they are torn because they like their hair down but worry about it looking "messy".

Answer:

Definitely the wind can be troublesome on the beachside. I often recommend half up, half down if the bride is not comfortable with updos.  However, one misconception is that updos have to be stiff and unnatural looking.....and glued with hairspray. 

Quite the opposite. Beautiful, soft updos are secured with pins. Even big, loose buns are elegant and can be pinned securely and lightly sprayed.

Question: Ok, but what about the frizzies? (I have a personal interest in this one today!)

Answer: Keratin treatments make a huge difference!  Brides should have a keratin treatment infused approximately 1 month before her wedding. Definitely smooths out the hair and fights against humidity. 

Question: Sounds like getting one's hair "wedding ready" is a process. How far in advance should a bride start with her hair prep?

Answer: Starting with the engagement, brides should staring growing her hair into long layers (especially if she is planning an updo) and then she should have a "dusting" (light trim) every 4 to six weeks. Well placed highlights  are better than (too frequently) coloring the hair. Over processing the hair should be avoided.

Question: So………..what about coloring? When should that be done in advance of the wedding?

Answer; Approximately 2 weeks before the event coloring and a cut should be done. Do it too early, regrowth will start to appear, yet we want enough time to make adjustments, if needed.

Question: Those are great starting points. Now what are some of the current trends? It seems like when I got married, there weren't a lot of choices (hair up or hair down!) and creativity was lacking. But I look at your approach, and i see so much art, creativity and style. 

Answer: In recent years there has been a trend toward positive self expression. Ten years ago, we were seeing brides who didn't want to offend so they played it safe. These days, brides focus more on celebrating with the people they love the most and they bringing more moxie to table. Today's brides are very glamorous and smart about what makes them feel beautiful. 

Question: What you just said………..I love it! Sort of defines where we are as women today, right? Independent, smart and beautiful! Before we move on to makeup, just one more hair question. I read in another interview recently where you talked about infusing personal style into a bride's hair style. What do you mean?

Answer: There's a little theatre involved in creating a successful bridal look. Currently we've created festive presence by infusing luxuriant sensibilities with whispers of pin-up girl, surfer, punker & starlet. 

Question: What a cool description, Maura! Now, let's talk makeup!  I'm no makeup pro, but like most girls, I took a keen interest in lip gloss and such from an early age, oh…….let's say…….age 3!  Of course, that was only a few short years ago! But seriously, wedding makeup is tricky, right? So different that everyday makeup?

Answer: Well, throw out old notions of "less is more" when it comes to wedding makeup. Skillful aestheticians know that a little color will make your pictures pop. It's still true that "too much of a good thing is a bad thing" and this does apply to make up. Pure tones in lip color---a saucy red, hot pin, or true coral---will beautifully set off a white or neutral colored gown. Often a thin line of iridescent white or pink carefully applied directly beneath the brow and black or brown eyeliner will provide just enough natural looking contrast, if blended properly.

Maura, I  can't thank you enough for sharing these tips with my brides. You definitely are really good at what you do! I notice that you have such a calm, reassuring presence. Such a great quality when working with brides. The wedding day can be so stressful and our roles go far beyond just creating beautiful hair/makeup, and in my case, beautiful photographs, but one of friend and helper on the wedding day. I can tell that you get that, too! 

Maura's bio: Extensive! Let me start by saying on a personal note, she is one rocking artist & painter, as well. During the interview she shared a few photos of her collages. Amazing! But coming from 3rd generation of artists, her talent was inevitable. Maura has been in the beauty industry 27 years. A graduate of Brevard Community College with a degree in cosmetology, she was a sought after promotional freelance makeup artist in Seattle, WA. She also studied salon business at Redken's T-Spa in Tampa and furthered her education in hairstyling in Chicago with some of the world's most prestigious hairdressers. She specializes in haircutting, color, special occasion hair are well as corrective and creative makeup. She takes inspiration from city streets, nature,and listening carefully to her clients. She grew up in Cocoa Beach (waaay cool!!).