Photo: Courtesy of Chloe Melas
Meet Chloe Melas, the Senior Entertainment Reporter at HollywoodLife.com and host of VH1's morning show The Gossip Table! Chloe is in the midst of planning her New York City wedding, and she's going to share each step of the process. From her bachelorette party to the honeymoon and everything in between, stay tuned for the reporter's wedding chronicles. For her latest installment, Chloe talks about the oh-so-important, but often overlooked, beauty trial.
Besides your dream dress, your hair and makeup are the second most important part of your wedding-day look! You want to look fabulous in your pictures, because, of course, they will live on forever. You don't want to have to say to yourself in 10 years: "Why did I wear purple eyeliner?" or "Why did I put paper butterflies in my hair?"
Being a co-host on VH1's The Gossip Table I'm used to getting the glam treatment on a daily basis, but most of my girlfriends don't know which eyeshadow shades wash them out or which length of false eyelashes is their fave (yes, there's more than one). That's why I urge every bride-to-be to have a bridal beauty trial before your big day! In my opinion, it's more important than your food tasting and you'd be surprised at how many brides don't have one.
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I enlisted my glam squad, celebrity make up artist Julie Tussey and celebrity hair stylist, Leah De Ment, to help give you our top dos and don'ts when it comes to your beauty trial and wedding-day hair and makeup. Be sure to read them before heading to the salon or makeup counter!
When it comes to crafting your most romantic wedding-day hairstyle:
Chloe says do "Bring any clip-in hair extensions, jeweled headpieces, and anything else you're planning on pinning in your locks to the trial so you aren't springing it on your hairstylist the day of!"
Leah says don't "Attempt three different hair styles for your wedding day to ensure the perfect style for your dress."
Chloe says do "Look through wedding magazines and Pinterest to get ideas. Once you're inspired you should then bring your favorite photos with you to your trial!"
Leah says don't "Change your cut or color in the two months before your big day."
Chloe says do "Find your hair and makeup artist six months before your wedding date, you'll need the time to test out looks!"
Leah says don't "Condition your hair the morning of your wedding."
Photo: Courtesy of Chloe Melas
As for achieving that ultra-glam, fresh-faced, or smoky makeup look you've dreamed up:
Chloe says do "Make sure that you exfoliate before your wedding day... everywhere. You don't want to be flakey, especially if you're using a foundation you've never tried before. You want to get several facials in the two months leading up to your wedding. I promise your makeup will look so much better on smooth, clear skin!"
Julie says don't "Let anyone in your bridal party wear red lipstick! I have seen in some cases [bridesmaids] try to subconsciously upstage the bride and they often do it through their makeup. One sure shot is for them to pull out that red lipstick. Instead, have them wear a soft variation of a pink or peach. Red lipstick is reserved for the bride only!"
Chloe says do "Bring your specific lipstick or eyeshadow of choice (if you have one) to your trial and again on your big day. Make sure that your makeup artist writes down or photographs the products she uses on you during your trial so that you're not trying to remember 'that pretty pink lipstick' that you tried on four months prior."
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Julie says don't "Be too tan! No orange spray tans or sunburns! If you really want a little natural sun, please wear the appropriate SPF and bathing suit, so that you don't have tan lines!"
Julie says do "Make sure to get a mani and pedi. Choose a nice pretty blush or neutral nail so it looks clean and not harsh. You don't want to take away from your pretty dress!"
Julie says don't "Don't try to cover up a tattoo with makeup! If you don't want to show it then please choose a dress that doesn't expose it. Keep in mind a tattoo can be retouched by your photographer after."