Pretty Woman



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Pretty Woman | Who knows the most common beauty quandries brides face better than the hair and makeup artists who primp them into princesses? We asked local artist Ashley Perryman to field brides’ most common questions. Oh, and for a little inspiration, check out Ashley’s work in our fashion feature

Answer: Extensions are definitely worth checking out—just do a trial run before your wedding day.

The Mane Thing
Should I use extensions to make my short hair look long?

Answer: Extensions are definitely worth checking out—just do a trial run before your wedding day. See if your stylist makes his or her own, or if they will add the ready-made variety (like Jessica Simpson and Ken Paves’ line, Hairdo, available at ULTA Beauty). Just be sure to get add-ins made of 100 percent human hair, as synthetic hair can’t take curling or styling (it actually melts when exposed to extreme heat).

Bat those beauties
Should I use false lashes to enhance my eyes?

Answer: Yes! But be careful. Choose natural lashes such as Ardell’s Duralash Natural Lash or InvisiBand Babies (available at Sally Beauty Supply) and make sure your choice enhances your natural lashes but doesn’t look over-the-top. For comfort’s sake, give them a test drive.

Long-lasting lips
What type of lipstick should I use to ensure it lasts through all the hugs and kisses on my Big Day?

Answer: Store-bought long-lasting lipstick tends to be dry and grainy, so try making your own version for the best balance of moisture and pigment. Start by applying a thick layer of foundation to your lips, then lightly powder and line them. Next, apply lipstick followed by a shiny gloss like Smith’s Rosebud Salve (available at Stella Nova). This homespun version of long-lasting lipwear will keep your pout perfect all day long.

Minimal Minerals
If I don’t usually wear makeup, how can I dress up my look without looking overdone?

Answer: Even if you don’t usually wear makeup, it is a good idea to wear a little for photos, but not so much your groom doesn’t recognize you. If you hire a makeup artist, bring magazine clips to give them light-handed ideas. If you’re doing it yourself, a good light-touch mineral-based makeup line like La Bella Donna (available at Elysium Salon in Mount Pleasant) should do the trick.

The Big Cover-up
How can I cover up nerve-related breakouts?

Answer: Treat the breakout instead of just covering it up. But this doesn’t involve minor surgery in your bathroom the eve of your wedding! Rather, cover your index finger with tissue and dab on spot treatment like Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment (available at drugstores), which won’t over-dry skin. Next, use non-irritating cover-up like Shu Uemura Foundation (available at Sephora).

Wax on, Wax off
Should I do anything to my eyebrows before my wedding?

Answer: Given how your brows frame your eyes, it’s a good idea to get tweezed or waxed at least a week before your wedding. But if you have sparse eyebrows, don’t draw them on like a cartoon character. Instead, fill and groom them with Smashbox Brow Tech (available at ULTA Beauty), a part-powder, part-brow pomade kit.

The Wedding Row

March 4 2019
Even though Anna, a Wilmington native, and Bobby, who is from Mount Pleasant, dated for over four years after swiping right on each other, they never really talked about getting married … they just...

March 1 2019
Kitty and Kyle met during their freshman year at Clemson, but they didn’t begin dating until they got to know each other as study partners a few years later. After two years, a move to Charleston,...

February 28 2019
Bissell and Jack may live in Atlanta, but Charleston has played a large part in their relationship, from their dating days through their engagement and now with their wedding. Bissell’s mother is...

February 27 2019
Today’s styled shoot takes place on the patio of 5Church, a downtown church-turned-restaurant that doubles as a wedding venue. Nicki Paige, owner of wedding planning company Nicki Paige Collection,...

February 26 2019
Christa met Andrew when she first moved into the same Charlotte, North Carolina, townhome complex as him in 2013. For a while, they were just passing acquaintances, until he asked her out for drinks...

February 25 2019
We’ve got the world of modern dating to thank for this gorgeous celebration at Boone Hall Plantation. Christiana and Bud met on Tinder, and after chatting on the app for a while, they met up for a...

February 22 2019
Nadja and Ryan both grew up in Sarasota, Florida, but they didn’t meet until they were in college (and on her 21st birthday, no less). A decade of dating later, he surprised her with a 10th...

February 21 2019
We so want to be friends with these two Charleston high-school sweethearts. Ask when they met and Jackie will tell you it was went they were 15 years old, she was in braces, and neither could drive...