Q&A Beauty

Local experts offer advice on how to look your big-day best

Lift Off

My long hair is generally quite flat and lifeless, but I love the idea of wearing my hair down on my wedding day. What can I do to give it more volume?

One of the easiest ways is to get some layers put in it. If you’ve got collarbone-length locks or longer, then longish layers are best with the shortest being chin or jaw length. This way, you take weight out of the hair but keep the length while creating body.

Having a fringe put in is also a great way of achieving more volume. Because a fringe is made up of hair taken from the top of the head, you’re removing weight there and pushing it to the front.

Blow-drying your hair properly is a good idea too. So, dry using a small, round brush dry from roots upwards. People think a big brush is the best way to create body, but actually a smaller size is better as you can get right in at the root lifting from the scalp. Blow-drying hair with your head upside down is also a good trick. Remember, you’re trying to defy gravity, getting the hair away from the head. The MDLondon Blow with a large nozzle and a really good bristle brush will give you a fantastic blow-dry with flyaway- and frizz-free shine and lots of volume!

You’ll want to look for resin-based blow-dry products containing PDP VA core polymers such as mousse, blow-dry sprays, and hair protection sprays. These can go hard or a bit crispy but as long as you’re constantly moving the brush while you’re drying you’ll avoid the worst of this. But bear in mind that you do need some of that crunchiness as it’s this texture that supports the volume. I love a product called Sugarlift by Wella EIMI.

Dry shampoos and texturising sprays are good at supporting volume too. I use Umberto Giannini Texture Boost on myself and on my clients. You can use it throughout the day, so if you feel your hair getting a bit flat, just flip your head forward and spray it in at the roots whenever you need to. Above all, you don’t want anything oily on the hair – no oils, no serums, nothing greasy as they’re heavy.

Another good method for creating body is adding waves. If you put a curling tong through sections of your hair it creates push against other sections and that in turn creates volume. But if you don’t put enough wave in at the roots the hair sits a bit flat, so make sure you concentrate the tongs at the root, which is where you want the lift.

On the big day, put medium velcro rollers in your hair and leave them while you have your make-up done. Try a bit of backcombing at the roots too, teasing the hair with a wide-toothed comb.

You could do one of these things or all of them and it will help you. I guess what you don’t want is unrealistic volume so that it looks like a parody. You want to find a happy medium where the hair is healthy looking, so I’d recommend experimenting before the wedding until you find that sweet spot.

Michael Douglas www.mdlondon.co.uk

What hair and make-up styles would you suggest for a summer wedding?

There are lots of styling options for summer weddings, but one thing to remember is that it’s likely to be warm and if your hair is around the back of your neck, it will make you feel even hotter. Depending on the style of your dress, I would recommend wearing your hair up. This will help keep you cool, and you will be less likely to touch your hair, meaning it will hold well throughout the day and into the night.

If you’re planning on wearing it down, go for a half-up style so your locks don’t feel as heavy. Consider loose tousled waves and more relaxed curls adorned with fresh or dried flowers.

Keep in mind, large barrel curls and Hollywood waves are harder to maintain throughout the summer months and are likely to drop down faster than in the cooler season.

When thinking about your make-up, remember that your skin is likely to be oilier in the summer months. A lighter application and a matte finish, I find, works well.

A warm, bronzed and golden style looks beautiful in the sun giving you a radiant and sun-kissed glow.

Laura Glanville www.wishboneandcomb.com

www.makeuplocker.com

07760 223629

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