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Anne Matthews answers all your Hair and make-up artist related questions |
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How can I jazz up my short hair?
Q. I've got short hair, which I really love, but there's little I can do to style it differently. I want it to look feminine and pretty on my wedding day next September so I don't know whether to grow it or just add an accessory. What I do know is that I don't want to wear a tiara. Any suggestions?
A. Anne Matthews says: There are so many different types of hair accessories available that will work well on short hair as well as longer locks. If you want to go for something a bit different, Bellapacella (www.bellapacella.co.uk) offers some amazing headwear designs, which are made to order.
As you are getting married next year, the other alternative is to grow your hair. On average, hair tends to grow half an inch per month, so by next September you should have shoulderlength locks and more style options. |
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How can I get those '50s style lips?
Q. I know that you should accentuate either the eyes or the lips. I wear fairly dark eye make-up every day, but have decided for my wedding that I would like to have strong lip colour to match my 1950s theme. I'm fair skinned with blonde hair. What shade of lipstick will suit me best and how can I make it last all day?
A. Anne Matthews says: You are right; it's best to accentuate either your eyes or lips. For that '50s retro look lips work best in stronger colours, particularly a vibrant red. The best thing to do is to take a trip to MAC and ask one of the make-up artists to try a few different shades on you to fi nd the best one for your skin tone. |
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How can I get my make-up artist to do what I want?
Q. I had a make-up trial recently and I really don't feel that the make-up artist listened to my wishes. I asked for something glamorous, but natural, and ended up with heavy dark eyeshadow, false lashes and bright red lips. I want to go for a trial with another artist, but am worried that I will end up with the same result. Do you have any tips on how I can get my wishes across?
A. Anne Matthews says: I would suggest doing as much preparation as possible beforehand. This way you will have a clear idea of what you want so at the trial you and the make-up artist will have something to work towards. Try going through bridal magazines and tearing out any pictures of looks that you like.
Do remember, however, that while professional make-up may appear heavier than normal when you look in the mirror, it will be light and natural in your photos. |
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How can I get my hair in tip top condition
Q. My hair really seems to suffer in the winter, becoming dry and brittle. My wedding is in early spring and I'm worried that my crowning glory is going to look dull and lifeless. How can I help my hair out over the winter?
A. Anne Matthews says: The most important thing to do is to use a good shampoo and conditioner and I would recommend a salon brand such as REDKEN. If you start now with a weekly conditioning treatment, by spring you will see a big difference.
Another tip for shiny hair is a home-made conditioning mask. Here is my recipe: Blend together two tablespoons of olive oil, one ripe avocado, one egg and a large scoop of your conditioner. Apply this mixture to damp hair and leave on for at least half an hour before rinsing. This will certainly add shine and strength to dry hair.
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Back to brown
Q. I'm getting married in six weeks and at the moment my hair is a shade of red. I would like to revert to my natural mid-brown colour, but my hair won't grow out in time. What can I do?
A. Anne Matthews says: If your hair is in resonable condition you can simply have it dyed back to your natural colour. However, I would strongly recommend youi visit a reputable salon as it will be a fairly lengthy process. The initial tone will fade quite quickly, so have it done as soon as possible and then have a top-up application one week before te wedding so that it looks shiny for the big day. |
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How can I create romantic curls?
Q. I'd really like to have wavy hair and a few curls for my big day, but my hair is poker straight. Should I give up now or is there any way I can have the waves I want that'll last all day?
A. Anne Matthews says: There are many ways to archive curls on straight hair. GHD's straighteners create a fabulous wave, but for a more defined ringlet, a small curling iron is the best option.
Making the curl last all day is about the preparation. I always start with a strong mousse on slightly damp hair which is then rough dried to add texture and volume. To curl, take a small section of hair and grip it in the curling iron for as long as possible before releasing it and then finishing it off with a blast of hairspray.
Fingers crossed, your lovely curls will last all day long. |
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Similar styles
Q. I'd really like my bridesmaids to have similar hairstyles on my wedding day, and ideally this would be a French pleat. Unfortunately one of my bridesmaids has very fine hair that isn't the easiest to style. Is there any way around this, or am I being unrealistic wanting them all to have the same style?
A. Anne Matthews says: No you are not being unrealistic at all, in fact there are many ways to add volume and length to hair. A French pleat requires a lot of backcombing and this alone creates volume and height even to the finest of hair.
Another way of adding volume is with a hairpiece. Balmain does a fantastic range of clip-in hairpieces, which will work with most up-dos to increase length or volume. They can be matched to the natural colour so nobody will realise that the hair isn't real.
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Hair raising problem
Q. Please help me. I'm getting married in three weeks' time and made the mistake of asking my bridesmaid to dye my shoulder-length hair blonde for me. It's gone from mousy brown to an unflattering yellow and is really, really dry. Im so upset as both the colour and texture are dreadful. I wanted to have my hair put up for my wedding, but I feel like I need to get it all chopped off now. What can I do?
A. Anne Matthews says: Anne says Do not despair. Visit a reputable salon armed with some photos of the colour you want to achieve and start by having a consultation with a stylist who has lots of experience with colour. They should be able to correct it, but it won't be straightforward or cheap. A really good conditioning mask - phyto do a fantastic one for very dry hair - will get your your hair back into good condition. Apply the mask once a week leading up to your wedding day and by then your hair will be restored.
Dramatic changes to your haircut or colour are not a good idea leading up to your wedding day. |
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