How to Do Your Own Hair & Makeup for Weddings
Steve & I have been to multiple weddings every year since 2011. In addition to working part time as as an assistant wedding coordinator, I have been a bridesmaid 7 times, and none of my sisters are even married yet. LORD HELP ME. Weddings are amazing, and joyful, and beautiful, and fun, but they are also expensive as hell to attend or be part of. One way I've learned to cut costs: teaching myself to do my own hair and makeup. This may be a no-brainer for some, but feeling more confident in my own abilities has been worth it to me in the long run. And it has saved me from paying for hair & makeup services more than a few times. If you want to save money for your next shindig, here's how to do your own hair and makeup for weddings.
Watch Youtube Videos, Instagram Tutorials, or Read Beauty Magazines/Blogs:
This is how I've learned the most. Finding people through blogs, youtube, magazines, and websites has been so, so helpful. Here are a few favorites:
- My sweet friend, Carrie Dayton, is a Youtuber who started out with a focus on beauty. I love the videos about her daily makeup routine, and she always has the cutest hairstyles.
- My uber-stylish internet friend, Nicole Caruso. I love her style overall, but pay special attention to all of her makeup tips (she's a professional makeup artist). We are planning a makeup-themed Instagram Live soon, so stay tuned!
- I've also learned a lot from watching Jaclyn Hill's early stuff, and Kristin Johns' videos.
- My fave magazine to check is Allure, and my favorite site is Rose Inc., a new venture from Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
Scour Pinterest for Unique Hairstyles & Tutorials
I love love love Pinterest, and it's great for hair and makeup inspo. You can even find step-by-step tutorials with visuals, which has been super helpful. Check out my beauty board for ideas, or use it like a search engine for the look you want to create!
Keep It Simple
For me it's about finding a look that is polished and pretty, but isn't so unlike my normal look that it's impossible to create. I stay away from super-involved looks or hairstyles to save time and stress. For hairstyles, it helps that I've found a straightener that I love, learned to use a curling wand, and can complete the look with styling cream and texture spray I used to splurge on a blowout, but now I stick to this routine and save $45+ a pop. As far as styling goes, I usually just pin it back with bobby pins, but you could totally get more creative with a Pinterest-y look. My mother-in-law braids her hair for a lot of special occasions and I love love love the way that looks. With makeup it's the same approach: find products in my budget that I love, and practice looks that make me feel comfortable and confident.
Find Your Holy Grail Products
You might have and love products that you swear by, but in case you are on the lookout for something new, these are my favorite to use. I've included items for every budget, but all of these things can be found in Sephora/Nordstrom/Ulta or CVS/Target/Amazon.
- Primer: Makeup Forever / Becca/ MAC
- Highligher: Marc Jacobs/ Burberry/ Glossier Haloscope
- Concealer: Tarte/L'Oreal
- Foundation: Bare Minerals/Nars/ L'Oreal
- Bronzer: Nars/Hoola/Butter Bronzer
- Blush: Tarte/ Glossier Cloud Paint
- Lipstick: Tarte/ MAC/Glossier/L'Oreal
- Eyeshadow: Tarte/ E.l.f.
- Eyeliner: Kat Von D/ L'Oreal
- Mascara Primer: MAC/ L'Oreal
- Mascara: Dior/ Tarte/ Clinique/Maybelline
- False Lashes: MAC/ Ardell
- Eyebrow Pencil: Anastasia/ Kat Von D/ NYX
- Eyebrow Gel: Glossier Boy Brow
- Styling Cream: Living Proof
- Texture Spray: Living Proof
- Hairspray: Verb/ Ouai
- Straightener: Proliss
- Curling Wand: Remington
Here's everything visually, if you prefer to browse that way. Just click on a product and it will take you through![show_boutique_widget id="760749"]Ok. I hope this has been a little bit helpful! Here were my two most recent looks for our October weddings.My red dress was found here. Black dress is from TJ Maxx. Shoes I grabbed here. If you'd like more posts like this delivered right to your inbox, you can subscribe here. 
xo,Katie