One Month Before Your Wedding: In-Office Procedures
If you decide to get facial injections, do it at least a month before your wedding to prevent bruising or potential bad placement (you don't want a droopy eyelid in your wedding pics). And "remember, it doesn't work overnight," says Evans. It takes between three days and up to two weeks for it to kick in. If you do bruise easily, allow at least six weeks to make sure everything has settled down and your muscles have had time to respond to the treatment. "You want to look natural and show your true emotions on the big day," says Evans.
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One Month Before Your Wedding: Whiten Teeth
Looking to brighten those pearly whites? Get your teeth professionally whitened two to three weeks before your wedding for best results, according to Gloub-Evans. However, if you're planning to do at-home whitening, start five weeks to a month before. Should the at-home results disappoint you, you can still get a pro whitening treatment done a week or two before the big day. "Touchups should be done a week before the wedding, giving the pores in the teeth enough time to close (this takes 48 hours) so the bride can enjoy whatever food or beverage (dark or light) that she wants at her rehearsal dinner and wedding reception," says Gloub-Evans.
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Two Weeks Before Your Wedding: Get a Facial
"Don't panic right before the wedding and decide to get an overly aggressive cosmetic procedure," says Evans. For one, if you've been following your dermatologist's advice, your skin should already be in good shape. And two, your skin could react to new treatments (think red, blotchy, broken-out, not pretty). Schedule treatments for at least two weeks beforehand, though you can do a basic at-home facial mask one week before. She also recommends getting an extra exfoliating treatment a month to two weeks before the big day to make skin really glow. And if -- horror of horrors -- you wake up with a gigantic zit a day or two before your big day, swing by your dermatologist's office for a cortisone injection to deflate it in a hurry.
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Two Weeks Before Your Wedding: Get a Straightening or Relaxing Treatment
"Straightening treatments/relaxer should be [done] a week or two before the wedding," says Grmolyes. "That way the treatment can settle into your hair and appear more natural," she says. If you also need to have color done, have your hair straightened/relaxed first, wait a couple of weeks and then do color -- in order to prevent damage.
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A Week and a Half Before Your Wedding: Color Your Hair
If you're getting highlights, get them a week and a half before your big day, recommends Grmolyes. She says they tend to be a bit more difficult to get perfect. But if you're aiming for all-over color, a week is plenty of time, she says. You want your hair to be freshly colored, yet leave enough time to fix mistakes.
It seems the second that princess-cut diamond (or funky sapphire) is slipped on your finger you're expected to launch into full-force bridal mode. Well-meaning friends and family ask you about the date, venue, and, of course, the dress. To say it's overwhelming would be a huge understatement.
While we can't help with Aunt Myrna's pestering, we can do something to lighten your load and make the planning process a bit easier. How? We can tell you exactly what beauty treatments you'll need (and when you should schedule them) so that you look amazing on your big day.
We covered all the bases by getting beauty tips from cosmetic dentist Jeff Golub-Evans, DDS, dermatologist Susan Evans, MD, celeb makeup artist Joanna Schlip and hairstylist Ange Grmolyes. These experts told us exactly when to do all your beauty prep, from facials to pedicures. Mark these dates on your calendar, show up to the appointments, and you'll be able to tell your well-meaning (if a little overbearing) future mother-in-law that you've got everything covered.
