DIY Bridal Hair and Makeup: Expert Secrets for Your Perfect Wedding Look

With the astronomical cost of weddings, more brides are taking a DIY approach to their big day. According to recent search trends, there’s been a significant increase in searches for “DIY bridal makeup tutorial” by +57% and “how to do bridal hair” by +257% reflecting the growing desire for brides to take control of their wedding day beauty routines and save some money along the way.

To help, Beauty retailer, Cult Beauty has teamed up with the industry’s leading experts, Melanie Barrese from By Terry, Laura King from Larry King Haircare and Sarah Dixon from ghd, to provide everything you need to know to perfect your DIY bridal hair and makeup.

DIY Bridal Makeup: Expert Tips and Tricks

Whether you’re going for a natural glow or a classic finish, here are some top tips from Melanie Barrese, By Terry’s Global Education Director to ensure you look your best on your big day:

1. Start with a Flawless Base

On the day, prep your complexion with your skincare routine before applying a primer to ensure your makeup is long-lasting and sits seamlessly on the skin. Barrese recommends using a hydrating primer that offers grip while enhancing your natural glow.

2. Build a Soft, Radiant Foundation

Apply your foundation lightly with a soft, fluffy brush to buff it into the skin for a balmy glow. “Apply foundation in light layers,” says Barrese, “so you avoid going too heavy, too quickly.” This approach ensures a natural, radiant finish that looks flawless in photos.

3. Add Warmth with Blush and Bronzer

Start with a brightening blush like the Brightening CC Blush Pen in Rosey Flash, then layer on bronzer such as By Terry’s Sun Powder to add warmth to the high planes of your face. “Dot on some highlighter for an extra touch of radiance, which always looks striking on camera,” adds Barrese.

4. Create Eye-Catching Eyes

 For eyes, creamy eyeshadows like Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon are great for easy blending and long wear. Use a brown eye pencil to define the eyes softly, then apply natural eyeshadow shades like soft peaches, tans, and browns to enhance your natural beauty.

5. Perfect Your Lash Line

Take a creamy pencil, such as the Crayon Blackstar, and apply it across your lash line, blending the pigment for a fuller, diffused finish. Curl your lashes and add waterproof mascara for long-lasting wear, ensuring you don’t have to hold back on those happy tears.

6. Brighten the Under Eye Area

Clean up the undereye area by applying concealer in the inner corners where discoloration is most prominent. Use light layers, focusing on problem areas like around the nostrils and chin, to blur imperfections and shape the face.

7. Set Your Look

Once your makeup is complete, use a setting powder like By Terry’s Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder Loose to set your look, mattify the T-zone, and keep your skin hydrated. Finish off with a setting spray such as the Hyaluronic Glow Setting Mist, which locks in your makeup and offers a hydrating boost for up to 16 hours.

8. Finish with Lush Lips

Line your lips first to increase the longevity of your lipstick. Barrese suggests choosing classic shades like soft pinks or nudes to enhance your natural lip color, followed by lipstick or gloss to finish the look.

Top DIY Bridal Hair Tips from the Experts

Laura King, Co-owner and Managing Director at Larry King Haircare, and Sarah Dixon, Key Account Educator at ghd, have shared their professional insights to help brides achieve salon-worthy hair at home:

1. Personalised Hair Accessories

Accessories like personalised hairpins, combs with initials, or vintage-inspired pieces can transform even simple hairstyles. Laura King suggests, “Custom hairpieces can make a simple bun or braid feel truly personal and special. Look for artisans who can match your theme or personal style.”

2. Mix Sleek and Tousled

Combining different textures in one style—like sleek roots with tousled, beachy ends—adds a modern twist and dimension to your look. Sarah Dixon adds, “Mixing textures is a great way to add interest. Use a smoothing serum at the roots and salt spray at the ends for that lived-in yet polished effect.”

3. Practise a Two-in-One Look

Many brides want to change up their look from ceremony to reception. Practise a two-in-one hairstyle, like a down style for the ceremony that can easily be pulled into a chic updo for the reception. King recommends, “Plan a style that’s versatile. For instance, start with loose waves that can be pinned up into a romantic bun later—just a few well-placed pins can totally transform the look.”

4. Micro Crimping for Volume

Micro crimping at the roots can add subtle volume without teasing or backcombing, which keeps hair looking sleek and fresh throughout the day. Dixon says, “Use a micro-crimper at the roots under your top layer. It’s a secret stylist trick that adds invisible volume and hold, perfect for fine hair.”

5. Heat-Free Curling Techniques

Not only is it gentler on the hair, but heat-free curling methods like sock curls or flexi rods can create effortless waves without damage, perfect for those planning a longer hair journey before the big day. Laura King mentions, “Heat-free techniques are great for preserving hair health. Try setting your hair overnight in foam rollers for soft, romantic curls.”

6. Enhance Your Natural Hair Texture

Instead of fighting your natural hair texture, work with it. Embrace natural curls, waves, or straight hair with the right products to enhance and define what you already have. “Sometimes the best style is simply enhancing your natural texture,” says King. “For curly-haired brides, a curl cream and diffuser can bring out the best in your curls without the fuss.”

7. Stay Inspired by Your Dress and Venue

Your hairstyle should complement not just your personal style but also your dress and venue. Think about the overall aesthetic—boho braids for a rustic setting, or a sleek chignon for a formal ballroom. Dixon advises, “Let your environment inspire your hair. A windswept updo might suit a beach wedding, while a structured style could feel right at home in a grand estate.”

“Weddings are deeply personal, and we’ve seen more brides wanting to take the reins on their beauty look, ” says Trifonia Asmar, beauty expert and writer at Cult Beauty. “Our mission at Cult Beauty is to empower every bride with the rolls, products, and knowledge to create a look that reflects their unique style while feeling confident and beautiful on their big day. DIY bridal beauty isn’t just a trend, we feel it’s a movement towards self-expression and celebrating who you are.”

For more expert tips or to shop for your DIY bridal beauty essentials, visit Cult Beauty’s website. Explore more bridal makeup tips here and bridal hair advice here.