Southern Weddings

Welcome, my friends, to the dog days of summer. Y’all may know that I’m summer’s biggest fan, but I’m also well aware that the heat waves warping your sight aren’t hair + makeup’s best friend. There’s nothing quite as disappointing as spending time prettifying your hair and face only to have it fall and melt when you walk into the heat. Summer weddings are a beautiful thing in the South flowers and greenery are lush, colors are bright and nighttime receptions bring lightning bugs and a cool breeze. However, to look as fresh and fabulous at the end of the day as you did at the beginning, there are a few things to keep in mind. I asked makeup expert, Pamela Lesch, and hair expert, Tanesha Dupree, to share their tips and tricks to beat the heat. We’ve worked with these two ladies on our Williamsburg and Charleston photo shoot, so we had the chance to see these tricks in action! V4 will prove that they work!

Hair

Tanesha advises that brides keep it simple during the hot and humid days of summer. “Cool twists, braids and ponys are a sure fire way to go from hot summer day to cool summer night without worrying about a bad hair day. Messy buns are also my all time favorite.”

Image credits: Kate Mcluckie via 100 Layer Cake, Jose Villa via 100 Layer Cake, Julie Lim via Southern Weddings,

She suggests staying away from the heat tools and playing up natural texture. “Mix beach water with your favorite conditioner in a spray bottle for that beachy Blake Lively look. Or create texture by using a little mousse on your hair before putting it into two-strand twists. Let them air dry while you do laundry, or eat breakfast. Take them out, tousle a bit and you’ve got instant texture.”

Image credit: Maile Lani via Southern Weddings.

Looking for something a little more polished? If you can’t get your curls to stay with an iron, do what Tanesha does. “Try spraying the hair with a medium hold hairspray before you curl each section. After you’ve curled the section pin it up with a clip or bobby pin to allow the hair to cool and set. Do that for every curl. When all the curls are pinned allow an additional 15 minutes to cool and then take them down, style and spray again with hairspray (preferably something that fights humidity).

Image credit: Leigh Miller via Southern Weddings.

And for you naturally curly girls who want to banish frizz on your big day, here’s the key. “After shampooing and conditioning, blot your hair with an old t-shirt just until it’s no longer dripping wet. Take your gel or cream and put it in your hair. Comb it through with a comb, not just your fingers, so the product is evenly distributed through the hair. Now here’s the kicker: DO NOT TOUCH YOUR HAIR AGAIN UNTIL IT’S COMPLETEY DRY!! If you do this you will have frizz free curl.”

Image credit: Ozzy Garcia via Snippet and Ink.

Makeup

Pamela suggests that if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned environment for as long as possible! But if you do have to go out into the heat, keep these tips in mind.

1. Your wedding day is the time to use all water-proof products, especially eyeliner, mascara, and foundation. (Look for the words “waterproof” and “long-wearing” on the bottle.) I prefer a cream/gel eyeliner that is stroked on with a slant-tip eyeliner brush. A long-wearing foundation is key. There are tradeoffs with waterproof mascara. The number one reason we use it is so that it stays put on our lashes during a possible onslaught of emotion. However, most waterproof mascaras don’t provide the volume or length that so many of us crave. That’s why I highly recommend false lashes, either individual bundles applied at the outer corners of the eye, or a full strip that’s close to matching your own lash length. If you use a good lash glue and ensure that tears don’t mix with the glue when applying the lashes, they will last all day and night!

2. Try a makeup setting spray that has a matte finish. You’ll need about 4 spritzes of these sprays over your completed makeup application, soon after you’ve got your makeup on. There are even setting sprays made especially for sensitive and oilier skin types.

Image credit: Kallie Brynn via Southern Weddings.

3. Be mindful of your makeup. This is special occasion makeup, be careful of your face when hugging and kissing your guests. Go for the shoulder hug or maybe even the air-kiss with a slight cheek-touch. It may sound corny, but it goes a long way to ensure the longevity of your wedding-day makeup.

4. If your eyes mist up, try to catch the tears before they falls. Keep a tissue or handkerchief handy, and remember your makeup mantra for the day: Dab and Blot; don’t Rub or Swipe. The ol’ D&B keeps the integrity of your makeup application in place.

5. Your handbag must-haves: Lip gloss or lipstick and a powder compact, if you are prone to shine. The lips are the first to fade and you’ll need periodic lip reapplication. The compact, when used to dab and blot at shine, will keep it at bay for an hour or two, depending on how prone you are to shine. Often cheeks and blush soften before the night is over. You don’t have to bring a blush along, there’s always the tried and true slight pinching-of-cheeks to put a little color back into your face.

Image credit: Julie Roberts Photography via Southern Weddings.

6. Lastly, if it’s really hot, apply cold towel compresses to the back of your neck if you are able to sneak off to a restroom. When your neck is kept cool, most of your face will follow suit and perspiration and makeup-fade will be kept to a minimum.

We hope these tips come in handy for you as the summer peaks! Big huge hugs and thanks to Pamela and Tanesha for sharing their secrets with us!

Written with love by Nicole