Your wedding is just weeks away and you’ve prepped and preened for months. You’ve booked your highlights, nailed your bridal manicure and got your fitness regime is down to a T, so what else is there left to do? Well actually there’s plenty – if you really want to push the boat out in time for your big day that is. For the bride who mean business we’ve created a master list of highly effective, lesser-known treatments that you didn’t know you needed. Until now.
By Rebecca Hoffnung
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1 Hair extensions by The Hippy Club
Designed by Louise Smith, a hairstylist at one of our favourite Liverpool salons Voodou, The Hippy Club offers a fresh, new take on extensions for girls who want to look real. Made of 100% Remy hair and available in lengths up to 25 inches (that’s pretty long!) these stylish extensions exude a cool Cali-girl vibe that would work beautifully for a more laid-back, bohemian bride. Designed to be easily styled, curled or plaited, it’s possible to use them to create layers, shape and texture as well and length. Book in before the big day and have dream hair on your honeymoon as well.
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2 Microblading
Whether you prefer them feathered, arched or big and bold; eyebrows are arguably one of the most important features of the face, so it’s crucial they’re in good shape for your wedding. Microblading, or eyebrow tapestry is a relatively new semi-permanent technique designed to fill in and accentuate sparse eyebrows, creating a natural looking shape with impressive accuracy. Taking around 2 hours to complete, this extremely meticulous process uses a very fine blade that deposits pigments into the skin using a light, hairstroke technique to give the appearance of real hairs. There’s no downtime and results can last up to a year.
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3 Acupuncture
We don’t have to tell you that wedding prep is a stressful business. Many brides (and grooms) struggle with stress-related bouts of acne, IBS and even aches and pains in the run up to the big day. It might not be a treatment you’d think to include in your wedding prep plans, but a rebalancing, calming session of acupuncture could work as hard for your skin as it does your emotional and physical health. We’d suggest you try it in monthly sessions in the run up to your wedding, and then amp it up to once a week in the month prior to really feel the healing effects.
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4 Laser teeth whitening
All brides know the importance of having healthy-looking white teeth on their wedding day, but if you haven’t embarked on a 6 month whitening programme and are scrambling for last minute treatment ideas, laser teeth whitening is a great option. Proven to have the the most effective and long lasting results, laser teeth whitening has the power to make your teeth over 4 shades whiter in just one session. Faster and safer than other techniques, blue laser whitening combined with non-peroxide whitening gel is relatively pain free, designed to gently wash away stains with no negative side effects. Importantly, it won’t leave you with painful sensitivity on your wedding day – but to be on the safe side just be sure to leave your mouth a few days to heal, and you’ll be able to enjoy glistening pearly whites for months to come.
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5 Alpha Vital Facial by Chelsee Lewis
There’s facials and then there’s a Chelsee Lewis facial. Bridal skin requires a skilled hand and a strategic approach and Chelsee has both. We’d recommend her Alpha Vital Facial, a resurfacing treatment that helps banish the tired top layer of skin on your face that often blocks out the natural glow from beneath. Ideal if you’re looking to lift and brighten your complexion in the run up to your wedding, this highly effective treatment is perfect for dull and tired skin that’s in desperate need of a serious moisture boost. Designed to bring out your natural luminosity, this anti-ageing treatment restores smoothness and youth to the skin, with results you can see almost immediately. Using powerful fruit acids, it gently regenerates your skin and increases cell turnover (that's a good thing by the way) which results in a plumper, softer complexion. So don’t faff around with other less intensive facials, if you want a one-stop-shop with real results, this is it. And if you’re feeling super spoiling, why not book in for a full course? Your skin will love you for it.
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6 Olaplex Hair Conditioning Treatment
Wouldn't it be great if you could get rid of split ends and damaged hair without going for the chop? Now you can boost pre-wedding hair growth and fuse broken strands of hair back together with an Olaplex treatment. It might sounds too good to be true but we promise you it isn't. Especially beneficial for coloured hair, this fortifying range of salon conditioning treatments works from the inside out to strengthen, condition and quite literally reconnect the hair strand structure where split ends and breaks have occurred. Already a huge hit in America, Olaplex is now taking UK salons by storm, transforming the strength and texture of coloured hair. Kim Kardashian raved about it after she dyed her hair platinum last year. Ask your stylist for a consultation today.
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7 Russian Volume Technique Lash Extensions
Hands up who wants to go mascara and false lash free on their wedding day? Russian lashes are the holy grail of lash extensions giving far more defintion, shape, volume and length than any other kind of lash extension. Originally developed in Russia and also known as 3D lashes, this flutter-flattering lash technique creates a full, fanned out look that enhances and elongates the shape of your eyes. Achieved by applying up to 5 lashes on one individual lash strand as opposed to most standard double strand treatments, Russian lashes take roughly an hour to apply, and last for weeks with very little upkeep required. Ideal if you want to boost volume while still maintaining a natural look, as well as avoid running mascara on your big day, these a-list lashes will add instant glamour to your look and will stay firmly in place well after the honeymoon is over. No panda eyes – guaranteed!
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8 Stiletto lift Botox
So you’ve bought your dream shoes and you want to dance in them all night without stiff, aching feet – believe it or not, Botox might be the answer you’re looking for. Also referred to as the ‘stiletto lift’, many high-heeled lovers are opting for this treatment, where Botox is injected into the front ball of their foot to give extra cushioning and volume when teetering around in high heels. And if you’re concerned about sweating in your wedding dress, there’s Botox for that too! When carried out by an expert, a few injections in your underarms has the power to temporarily block the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate sweat glands, allowing severe sweating to be dramatically reduced. Who knew this little miracle worker could do so much? Now used for a lot more than just filling in fine lines and wrinkles, Botox has been proven to help numb pain and stop excess sweating, making it a great alternative treatment for keeping you in check on your wedding day. Want to find out more? Why not book in for a consultation today.
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9 Facial threading
Want your face to be smoother than a baby’s bottom on your big day? Facial threading is a cheap and easy option to help eliminate stray hairs from your cheeks, lips and jaw. Most of us recognize threading as just an eyebrow shaping technique, but it’s also a great way to remove excess facial hair if you’d rather avoid toxic creams and hair removal gels in the run up to your wedding. Quick and relatively painless, threading not only rids your face of unwanted hair, but it also leaves your skin feeling extra smooth and supple, making it the treatment you didn’t even know you needed to get wedding-ready skin.
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10 Bridal 'blow-try' by Aer Blowdry Bar
Ok, admittedly a blowdry isn’t exactly a breakthrough for brides, but Aer Blowdry Bar in South Kensington is just so fun and luxurious we had to include it on our list. With a seriously trendy minimalist interior, flexible blowdry menu and friendly staff, it's the perfect place to kick back and experiment with cool, bridal hairstyles. We love the add-ons here; pick from an express or regular updo as an add-on to your blowdry to get a look that's totally bespoke to you.
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