life
WEDDINGS
Pampering?
Ten to one you’ll want a
one-to-one
It is those final touches which are so, so crucial
to the bride on her big day. Hair, makeup, hands,
feet – indeed all those areas which might not be
on show but which have to be right to make you
feel more special than you’ve ever felt before.
It is a fact that most hairdressers who are
salon-based do not do home visits. So, if you
want to have your hair finished on the day by
your usual stylist, make sure you book them in
plenty of time.
Genevieve Sanders, proprietor of Level Hair and
Beauty, Ryde, advises a minimum of two to three
consultations. “You want to develop a look. Some
girls come with a set idea of how they want their
hair to be, then when we try it out she says ‘It’s
not really what I was looking for.’ Which is fine,
we can take it from there and try something else.”
Paul, of Matt & Paul Studio in Ryde, agrees that
two consultations before the final appointment
on the day is ideal. “The first is to work out
ideas. The second is to deal with any alterations.
A girl might say: ‘Actually I wanted more height,
or to try it half up and half down. Once a client
brought in an album of 70 pictures! It was a bit
frightening, all those eyes staring at me! But they
all had one look in common, and we worked on
that.”
Finding a hairdresser to come to your home
needn’t be the stab in the dark it used to be.
Recommendations are the best way of choosing
somebody, of course, but if you can’t get hold
of any personal testimonies, take the following
path. Go to yell.com, have a look at the websites
of any stylists in your area and check out the
testimonials.
Or try one-to-one pampering. Sharon Cronnolly
runs Bride-To-Be, an all-in-one bridal pampering
service, and she began specialising in weddings
when she found she was one of the few people to
offer ‘hair-up’ services. She has been doing bridal
hair for nearly nine years now.
Because Sharon offers a complete one-stop-shop
service she tends not to come to client’s homes –
though this can be arranged – but can devote her
salon entirely to the bride. “I offer a one-to-one
service which is entirely private. So as well as
makeup, you can have an all-over body massage,
a manicure, a wax or a tint – or all of the above –
40
as well as having your hair done.”
Sharon recommends planning your
look months in advance. If you want a
particular skincare routine establish it
early. Use her tanning services, but take her
recommendation about how big a gap to leave
between treatments.
“Most girls find it reassuring to have a
pre-trial,” says Sharon. “That way you really
get to see how you’re going to look. If you
find the makeup isn’t quite what you had
in mind we’ve got time to have a re-think.”
Tiaras are available to try with your hairstyle,
and these can be hired or sold to the bride.
Sharon isn’t just a wedding pamperer,
she offers pampering services on a more
workaday basis. So she’s well versed in getting
a lighter, daytime look for those who are a
bit glamour-shy. For more information have a
look at www.iwbridetobe.co.uk
Level Hair & Beauty, 4 St Thomas’s Square,
Ryde: Tel: 01983 812244.
Matt & Paul Studio, 147 High Street, Ryde:
Tel 01983 615861.
Bride-To-Be, Hillside Farm, Crocker, Niton:
Tel 731214
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