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Undone: The Beauty Routine
Glamorous, photo-friendly, long-lasting wedding hair and makeup. It can often take hours — and maybe a couple mimosas — for it to get perfectly into place, and some serious layering of products and pins to keep it there.
So what happens at the end of the night, when the party is over? Two bridal style experts share their best back-to-yourself tips.
Makeup
With all the “super staying power” makeup on your face, the removal process may sound a little overwhelming, says Megan Garmers, founder of MG Hair & Makeup, which provides beauty services nationwide. Garmers advises starting with your eyes and use an all-in-one eye makeup remover, such as Almay’s Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover Pads to clear off waterproof mascara and eyeliner, eye shadow sealer and color; this works great for long-lasting lip color. Once eye makeup is mostly gone, Garmers recommends finishing the job and wiping the entire face clean with Alcone’s Makeup Remover Cloths — no rinsing necessary and they come in convenient, single-use packages.
Emily Hudspeth, a Richmond, Virginia.-based hair designer and makeup artist, also is a fan of wipes — her go-to is Neutrogena Make-Up Remover Cleansing Towelettes, which work on waterproof mascara — followed by a mild cleanser and moisturizer like Cetaphil.
If you’re pressed for time or energy, the wipes-only method is much better than nothing, Hudspeth says: “Sleeping in your makeup — even beautiful wedding day makeup — is never a good idea.”
Hair
Bobby pins and hairspray are an updo’s best friends. Just as your trial run will show you how well they’ll hold up your look, it also will be a great opportunity to see how they impact the process for taking your ’do down, notes Hudspeth. “Tell your stylist if you want your style to stay put overnight — I kept mine up for the day-after brunch and a photo session — or if you prefer a style that can be taken down without much work,” she says. “If you opt for easy takedown, know that it may not hold up through the event.”
If you’re less concerned with fast and easy, simply plan to start removing pins near the bottom of your head and work up, Garmers says. The opposite process will cause the loose hair on top of your head to complicate the rest of your work below.
The next step is deciding if you can deal with sleeping on a mop of kinky locks and crunchy curls, or if you’d rather bathe. “The shower police will not show up at your door if you don’t shower that night,” Garmers says, “however, taking a shower before brunch the next day would be a good idea.” To remove all the product, she advises trying your best to brush out your hair before getting in the water. Start near the bottom of your hair and work up, taking more hair with each stroke. Then, to help break down product that was meant to be waterproof and humidity-resistant, use conditioner first. “Finally, use your shampoo to wash your hair clean,” Garmers says. “You’ll look like your old self again, except now you’re married!”
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