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Did you ever decide to clean up your diet and correct your sleep timings on a Monday because you want to look great for an event the next Saturday? While this might be peak prep mode, your wedding courtship period is a good enough time to put in the work and actually see visible results in time for the wedding. Though the average courtship period after getting engaged is said to be 12-18 months, 9-6 months is all you need to implement a holistic beauty plan that targets all your concerns and meets all your beauty goals. If you are a bride-to-be who’s looking to carve out a bridal beauty calendar, we’ve got you covered!
Remember, six months before the wedding is the groundwork stage. It’s the time to assess the skin and decide what you want to enhance and what skin concerns you want to address. See a dermatologist. Instead of blindly going for pre-bridal treatments, it’s important to take a beauty approach that’s tailor-made for you.
Dr. Geeta Mehra Fazalbhoy, Dermatologist and Founder of Skin & You Clinic, says, “Ideally, 9-6 months before the wedding is a very good time to assess the skin, hair and overall health of the bride-to-be, rather than simply looking for a treatment that will give an immediate glow. I like to look at the person holistically: sleep, stress, nutrition, hydration, exercise, existing skincare and any underlying concerns like hormonal issues. Depending on the individual, I also recommend appropriate blood investigations for deficiencies or hormonal concerns rather than automatically prescribing supplements.”
At this stage, you should also establish the right skincare routine. And contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t have to be so complicated. Using a gentle cleanser, a good moisturiser, and a broad-spectrum sunscreen everyday is a good starting point. Speaking to your dermat should help you identify the right products for you, and understand if you need any targeted ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, retinoids or exfoliating acids.
And, because what you put inside your body is much more important than what goes on your face, a good diet is non-negotiable. Dr. Chetna Chhabra, Dermatologist and Clinical Lead at Clinikally, says, “If you want to lose a little weight, now is the time to do it in a healthy way. Work out daily and take a balanced diet. Crash diets can not only cause hair fall and reduce your skin glow, they can also affect your immunity.”
Mirroring this approach, Dr. Geeta says, “There is no scientific need for a ‘detox’ before a wedding. Crash diets, juice cleanses, laxative teas, extreme fasting or sudden food restrictions can actually deprive the body of nutrients and may affect skin and hair quality.” she adds. She also suggests consuming adequate protein, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, fiber, along with staying hydrated.
Much like the skin, your hair will also need some time to show results. Six months before the wedding, you should address any concerns like hair fall, thinning, dullness, damage, or dandruff. Start minimising the use of heat and harsh styling products. Sticking to the above-mentioned diet will also work on enhancing the hair. Additionally, if you want to change your hair colour, now is the time to try that. This will give you plenty of time to adjust the colour, work on the potential damage that it might cause, or even change your mind if you hate it.
If you wish to opt for laser hair removal, six months is an ideal time to start, since it requires multiple sessions. Alternatively, if you’re not opting for a laser treatment and wish to go for other hair removal techniques like waxing or hair removal creams, you can experiment with that on any body parts you might not have used it on, like the back or the bikini area.
Book a dental appointment for a check-up and cleaning. If you’re contemplating whitening, discuss that with your dentist. Cosmetic dental procedures like bonding and veneers also need time, so start as early as you can.
Identify concerns beyond the face, including back acne, chest acne, pigmentation, etc., and start the appropriate treatment/body care routine as suggested by your dermatologist.
Three months before the wedding is where all the treatments can come in. This is a good window for corrective procedures to treat concerns like acne, pigmentation, scars, and uneven texture at a deeper level, as opposed to simply camouflaging it. If you’re contemplating skin treatments like hydrafacial, chemical peels, lasers, and microneedling, now is the time.
“I generally consider the three-month mark an appropriate time to decide on procedures after a proper consultation with the dermatologist, because there is enough time to assess how the skin responds and to allow adequate recovery between treatments.” points out Dr. Geeta.
Reflecting on her experience as a bride-to-be, Dr. Chetna also highlights the importance of listening to your skin and prioritising recovery period. “As a recent fellow bride, I was even under a lot of stress. Too many people, too many suggestions. But, knowing what feels right according to your own skin type makes a much bigger difference. If you're planning professional procedures, keep them spaced appropriately and allow your skin enough recovery time.” she adds.
If you are taking any repair of scalp treatments, continue with that. This is also when you finalise your hair colour for the wedding. Additionally, while you’ll be getting your final trim before the wedding at a later stage, now’s the time to try it out in case you want to go for a more drastic haircut change like bangs or a bob.
Decide if you want to change your brow shape. If you’re considering brow lamination or lash lifts/extensions, get a trial now.
This is when harsh procedures and treatments should take a back seat, and the focus should lie on protecting the skin barrier. At this stage, you should stay consistent with your established skincare routine, and not experiment. Remember to be particularly disciplined with your sunscreen. “One month before the wedding, approach should become much more conservative as this is not the time to start a new retinoid, strong exfoliating acid, peel, laser or an unfamiliar facial. The closer we get to the wedding, the less tolerance there is for an unexpected reaction, breakout, irritation or post-inflammatory pigmentation.’ states Dr. Geeta. At this point, you should focus your energy on keeping your skin calm and well-hydrated, as opposed to trying something new in pursuit of extra glow. Prioritise sleep, water intake, staying consistent with exercising, and eating well.
Apart from taking care of your skin with healthy lifestyle choices and a good skincare routine, Dr. Chetna suggests being thoughtful with your make-up, in order to make sure that it doesn't cause skin problems. “This is also the time to finalise your make-up artist. While choosing one, don't just look at the finish of the make-up. Pay attention to the products and hygiene practices as well. If you have sensitive skin or known allergies, tell your makeup artist well in advance. Ask about the products they use and avoid anything that has previously irritated your skin. Make sure brushes, sponges and other tools are clean and properly sanitised. This is something I feel strongly about because I often see brides after their weddings with sudden acne, breakouts or skin irritation. Sometimes, the culprit is not the skin itself but heavy makeup, irritating products or unclean tools.” says Dr. Chetna.
Between one month and two weeks until your wedding is also when you should be getting your final trim. Avoid heat styling, dramatic procedures, and use deep conditioning masks weekly.
As for the body, body hair, lashes and brows, and teeth, stay consistent with the planned routine, and avoid anything new at this stage, unless it’s something familiar, or a natural remedy.
Given that you have been following a well-carved-out beauty plan until now, you would have developed a strong foundation, and now is the time to tone things down. “This is where many brides go wrong. The pressure to look perfect can lead to over exfoliation, multiple facials, new skincare products and last-minute procedures. Please resist the urge. Keep your routine gentle and consistent. And remember, stress itself can trigger breakouts and other skin concerns. So breathe. You've done the work.” says Dr. Chetna.
Much like the previous stage, this stage should also be about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, staying consistent with the skincare routine, and avoiding anything dramatic. Stick to what’s gentle, or familiar. Do not introduce any new actives or exfoliants. Dr. Geeta points out, “If a bride is planning a hydration, brightening or de-tan facial before the wedding, this is also the stage to keep the approach conservative and familiar. I would not recommend using this period to test an entirely new procedure or aggressive product.” Vitamin D, iron, B12, and other supplements can be consumed in case of deficiencies. However, more supplements doesn't necessarily mean better. Not to forget, they can have side effects sometimes.
At this stage, the more boring the better. Explaining this, Dr. Geeta says, “The final week should be deliberately uneventful. Gentle skincare, adequate moisturisation, sunscreen, good sleep and regular nutritious meals are far more valuable than trying to achieve a miracle glow in a few days. I would avoid aggressive peels, lasers, microneedling, unfamiliar products and any treatment with a significant risk of redness, swelling or peeling. Even waxing, threading or other grooming should ideally not be left until the last minute if the bride is prone to irritation.”
More often than not, the acne that a bride gets in the final week of the wedding is caused by factors like stress, and wearing too much make-up. “When it comes to make-up, hygiene matters just as much as the make-up itself. Whether you're doing your own make-up or working with a professional, use clean brushes and tools. Remove your make-up thoroughly at the end of the day, no matter how tired you are. And one important rule, Don't pick, squeeze or try to fix a last minute spot yourself.A tiny imperfection can become a much bigger problem once inflammation sets in.The goal in the final week isn't to do more. It's to protect everything you've already worked for.” says Dr. Chetna.
Now that you have a rough structure of your bridal beauty calendar along with the approach you should be taking at each stage, our pro-tip would be to keep it simple. “A healthy, calm and comfortable skin will always photograph better than skin that has been pushed through too many treatments.” says Dr. Chetna. More often than not, “overdoing it” is the biggest bridal beauty mistake rather than “not doing enough”.
Stressing on this, Dr. Geeta says, “The biggest mistake I see is the belief that more treatment automatically means better skin. The real bridal glow comes from starting early, understanding your skin, nourishing the body, sleeping well, managing stress and being consistent enough that by the time the wedding arrives, there is very little left to ‘fix’.”
Manifest’s September theme, Wedding 101, aims to take you through the basics of prepping for a wedding.