How fabulous would it be to wave a magic wand and you have your dream Wedding hairstyle….it’s not quite as simple as that though is it?  Let us help you plan your perfect look…

The first step is to consider what makes you feel special and to understand the thickness and texture of your hair.  Do you have enough hair for the look? Don’t worry if you don’t as you still have options such as hairpieces and paddings that can be added in to give you extra length and thickness.

Chat to your hairdresser and start a program in planning your hair cuts, colours and treatments,as some hairstyles may require forward planning for example if you are a blonde and having a hairstyle to the side, you will need to make sure you have enough blonde highlights at the nape of your neck and it may take time to build up to just the right colour…don’t leave it to the week before your Wedding.  You may like to visit our boutique New Farm hair salon and receive $25 off your first visit.

Start an inspiration board, look in bridal magazine, Pinterest, Wedding catalogues, celebrity pictures, photographers albums etc.

Some softer look Wedding hairstyles with loose curls may be more fragile… are you ok with the hairstyle changing shape during the evening?  Or should you choose a hairstyle that will be guaranteed to survive all the dancing, weather and celebrations.

Remember if your hair is all the one length, if you choose to have a down hairstyle, it may drop over the duration of the day, or possibly not last as long.  Some of the boudoir Bridal hairstyles are more suited to hair that is thicker, has natural wave or hair that has lightened.

If you would like a down hair style, and are worried about the longevity, you may like to have a style that is up for the ceremony and then styled in such a way that you can remove some pins and the style can be down for the reception, that way you have the best of best of both worlds.

Are you wearing hair veils, fascinators or hats and are you planning on wearing them all night?  Think about you’re your hairstyle and hair accessories work together.  For example… if wearing a veil and you chose a high bun, the best position for your veil would be behind the bun.

So how do you decide what face shape you have…here is a guide and some ideas for planning…

What does Love mean to us…

I got thinking the other day, why do we do what we do…our day to day job is working with one of the most special parts of a woman’s life, and we feel so grateful that our Brides choose us to be with them on the most special day….

We quite often think that for everything to run smoothly, we need to be working with other amazing Wedding suppliers who think like we do….

We have decided to chat each month with one of our favourite people and today we have chosen Ben and Lisa Clark, from Ben Clark Photography two very talented Brisbane based Wedding photographers. At the Powder Room we like to make sure that we run our timing to work in with the Photographers, so that when they arrive everything is running smoothly.

We’d love to share with you Ben’s thoughts about Weddings and what Brides ask and should be asking, thanks Ben for sharing:)

We love this shot that Ben has captured from the action on a Wedding day of the girls being prepped and watching “Sex in the City”…

 Your first memory of falling in love…. 

 My first memory of falling in love was with my BMX bike, we were inseparable ! Spending every weekend together and going on long trips. We had many good years together before we started to drift apart…  

 Your favourite bride story…

 I’m a sucker for an emotional wedding, I have so many favourite stories it’s hard to pick just one, but how about a groom story ?

Dan wrote his beautiful bride Jasmine a letter to be opened at each milestone in their lives together, Dan sealed all of his letters to Jasmine and had one of his grooms men deliver  them to her on the morning of the wedding.

Needless to say that the first letter was dated to be opened that day and many tears of happiness were shed ..

and this is a little pic of the beautiful Jasmine:)

 A quote you love…

 I have two children and one of our favourite sayings is “you get what you get and you don’t get upset” – Everything happens for a reason .. 

If you’re not happy with where you are in your life then only you can change that .

 Top 3 items to do on your Bucket List…

 Hmmm That’s a toughy .. 

1.Go on a long Cruise with the family would be nice !

2.Take Lisa and the kids to  the USA and drive the West Coast stopping for ice cream along the way !

3.See my kids grow up and marry their true love – sounds a bit lame but that’s the truth !

 What do you feel is special about what you do?….

 What I do is sooooo much more than take pictures at a wedding, as I mentioned above I’m sucker for an emotional wedding and the images that I capture will be looked at by family and friends for generations to come.

I love becoming part of the family for the day, I’m often asked at weddings how long I’ve been friends with the bride and groom as on the day I feel a part of the wedding, I’m not just a service provider, I’m part of the couples day.

 Someone that inspires you… 

 I’m inspired by motivated people that show a true love of what they do and aren’t afraid to be different and Love Life !

 5 questions most frequently asked by brides…

 1.what happens if it rains

2.will there be one or two photographers

3.How long do we need for photos

4.What happens if you’re sick 

5.Do you shoot at our reception ?

5 questions brides should ask…

 1.Are your albums etc Australian made or are they made overseas .. ?? – ANSWER – Yes all of my albums are made locally in Australia

2.Will it be you that shoots my wedding ? –

ANSWER – Yes if you book me you get me, not some guy you’ve never met ..

3.What happens if you’re sick on my wedding day –

ANSWER – It hasn’t happened yet but it would have to be pretty bad to keep me away .. In saying that I have an extensive network of Wedding photographers that are close friends, we cover each other if needed ..

4.When will my album be ready ? –

ANSWER – Your design will be ready within 3 weeks of your wedding day and your album once approved will be ready in 4-6 weeks !

5.Can I buy you dinner ? –

ANSWER – Sure ! If I’m shooting your reception then yes I tend to get hungry too and no one likes to see a hungry photographer …  :O) 

Long Flowing hair is really back in the spotlight! It’s not only glamorous but offers endless styling options, and guess what it suits almost everyone!!.  The key is to have a great hairdresser that understands what you are trying to achieve on your Wedding day.  It’s really all about cutting layers to frame your face, for example starting the layers at the chin to soften a strong jaw or to add volume through the back of your hair .  To make a round face appear slimmer, consider keeping each section longer.

Did you know that The Powder Room has two Premier artists Karen and Carlie that can help you plan you perfect Wedding day look…that way we get to know you and your look so much better in the lead up to your day.  Our intimate studio is located in New Farm, just 15 minutes from the Brisbane CBD.

Beyonce’s hair is sexy and seductive and the soft waves enhance by the slight variation in colour…

Another consideration is to have your hair blow-dried with as much fullness and then add some soft waves at the bottom of the hair…this works best on hair that is slightly highlighted and that way the hair isn’t so silky soft.  One way to keep the volume at the root area is to use a mini crimper to crimp a few hidden root sections, then teasing them lightly creating va va volume.  Another must have is a thermal setting spray, which is activated by the heat on the tong, ensuring the soft bouncy waves last all night…above image by Headmaster in London…

If you are looking for a down style to stay all night and don’t like the feel of too much hair on your face, consider a few little braids…an amazing look if you really want to play up your eyes…image created by Headline London

Now that you’re all grown up, let’s ditch the Cosmo Quiz and take The Powder Room’s exclusive “what foundation are you?” quiz.  Brides to be commonly ask Powder artists which type of foundation application should I choose for my special day? Sooo much to think about in planning a Wedding… Another question we are asked a lot is “What does it feel like?”…really it’s quite relaxing to feel the soft massaging spray on your face…maybe you could think about that it’s like a mini facelift…he he:) You may like to ask yourself the following questions before considering Airbrush make up and or course you can chat to your Wedding day make up artist at your Pre Wedding trial.  Powder Room trials are when we get to know you and we allow double the time to that of the Wedding day to ensure you are absolutely happy.

Q1. Is your wedding in

        1. hot, humid weather

         2. cold, dry weather

Q2. Is your skin:

1. oily, combination, prone to breakouts or pigmentation
2. normal or dry

Q3. Would you like your wedding day makeup to look:

1. Amazing
2. Amazing

Q4. Do you prefer:

1. a flawless matte foundation finish
2. a flawless dewy or luminous foundation finish

Q5.  When having a night out dancing, you make touch-up trips to the ladies

1. Regularly – you just can’t seem to get rid of that shine!
2. Not often, no matter how much you dance your makeup mostly manages to stay put and shine-free!

I met Katherine a few Saturday’s when she came into our BRidal Bridal studio to have her hair and make up done, as she was to be a Grooms woman for her best friend.

Katherine also came in earlier in the week and had her colour touched up to everything was perfect!!!  I actually squealed with glee as I was excited to create something gorgeous for Katherine, as I loved the touch of pink in her hair. You can imagine how amazing Katherine looked with a tailor made dark grey suit created by Wil Valor.   To create the look there was a hair padding used in the back and also one little hairpiece to add a little extra hair…shhh don’t tell anyone, it’s a girls secret:)

Our Latest Collection….featuring our new looks from The Powder Room creative team…check out the behind the scenes video on how we created the looks….The three looks show a Royal Kate Look alike, a Vintage 20′s style look and a red carpet Glamour.  Kate’s dress was created by Paddington Weddings, and the Vintage and Red carpet looks dresses by Karen Willis Holmes.

Featured in the video you will see the hair artists using hair paddings to create the looks.  This ensures that the looks last all day and night….

Featured in the video you will see the hair artists using hair paddings to create the looks.  This ensures that the looks last all day and night…

*Hair paddings picture supplied by Sharon Blain…The Art of Hair

We would love to meet you and chat about your Wedding day and if you haven’t booked your Wedding venue as yet, why don’t you come and check out Hillstone St Lucia as a venue, such a gorgeous place to get married!!!  Karen, owner of The Powder Room and Creative Director will be there on the evening.  Karen is Powder Room’s Premier hair and make up artist and looks after Bridal parties in The Powder Room’s boutique studio in New Farm.

Lots of Brisbane’s most discerning premier Wedding artists will also be at the event…

A few little things you may not know about Powder Room!!

*Powder Artists only spoil one Bridal party per Wedding day, so we don’t run late for you on your Wedding day.

*The same artist that you meet at your Pre Wedding trial is the same artist that looks after you on your Wedding day.

*Your Pre Wedding trial takes double the time to that of the Wedding day, so we can explore your prefect Wedding day look…and don’t forget about our Powder Room Promise, for peace of mind.

*We have a team of 20 artists, so we always have back up, and have never let down a Bride in 15 years or Powder Room

How to get your Hair in the right condition for your Wedding day is a question we get asked by our Brides all the time…..

The majority of Brides are growing their hair so that they can have as many choice in choosing the Perfect Wedding day style.  Getting your hair in excellent condition isn’t something that you should just think about in the last week before the Wedding.  If you want that lovely smooth hairstyle, then it does take time and planning.  Yes, your hair artist can use shine sprays, and pomades to help you hair look polished, but the colour, cut and condition are just as important.

If you are not sure of your hairstyle choice then it is better to keep growing your hair as you can always cut your hair after you have your Pre Wedding trial.

Another factor to consider is if you are a blonde, and thinking of having an upstyle or down hair style, as extra styling product is added the hair can look darker than what is normally is…so you may like to have extra highlights.  Normally upstyles are created on hair that is least one day pre washed, so that the hair isn’t too soft and flyaway to create the upstyle, this also contributes to the lighter hair colours looking darker than wheat they normally would.

Think about if your hair is going to be all up and how much of the back or nape of your head is visible as to if you need to have extra colour, eg more foils added.  Foils may be better built up over a few appointments so that they don’t look too thick or like a block colour.

It’s also not advisable to change your hair colour dramatically too close to the Wedding, eg changing from blonde to dark, not only may this be to much of a shock it may also be not the best for the condition of your hair.

A treatment program is a great idea in the lead up to the Wedding day…especially a treatment after your colour in the salon can have the most impact, as your hair cuticle layer is open and in the optimum condition to impact your hair.  A home treatment program is also advisable.

The Powder Room has two hairstylists, Karen and Carlie who can look after your Pre Wedding hair care if you would like to come in see us in the lead up to your Wedding day.  We can also help you with advice about what type of hairstyle that may suit you, you may like to view our Real brides Gallery on our website..

If you would like to visit our salon for the first time then we would like to give you a gift of $25 of your first visit:)  Check out our pricing PDF

Carlie has been with The Powder Room as a Wedding hairstylist for 2 years now and is always soooo excited about her Brides, she loves to hear stories of how her Brides met their Grooms, and loves…looking at their engagement rings:)  Carlie is also great with ensuring that you aren’t in the salon all day having your hair done. We know you are busy and even though you love having our hair done, you also want to fit lots of other things into your day especially when planning your Wedding too!!

Karen is the owner and creative director at Powder Room, and has been hairdressing for 25 years.  Karen has many clients that are previous Brides that keep coming back after their Wedding day.  It is especially lovely when we start to see little babies being born:)  Karen specialises in Blondes and looking after the condition of your hair in the lead up to the day.

The 2012 Oscars was truly another great evening of glamorous fashion and beauty….and the stylists at The Powder Room love to see how the celebrities have their hair and make up…

We loved Emma Stone’s red carpet look, the colour of her dress was complimented perfectly with a subtle hint of rose petal shadow on her lids.  The simple effortless swirlee bun at the back was stunning, especially as Emma’s hair colour is a statement in itself.

Berenice Bejo, from “The Artist” is another gorgeous chic redhead…and look really is a simple braid and a low textured bun..we love the way the braid lifts of the face…creating that perfect silhouette, showing of Berenice’s stunning face shape…we could really see this look being a Bridesmaids favourite.

Penelope Cruz’s look for the Academy Awards was so refined and romantic, softly waved and hair pinned into a faux bob…The look was completed with the 50′s diamond cluster earrings. Penelope’s eyes were softly smokey in matt tones and nude lips…

Tina Fey’s look was kind of old Hollywood with a modern twist, the essential part is to add in a hairpiece to create this voluminous updo!

We are always asked by our brides-to-be, “Should I get a spray tan for my wedding day?” or “What do I need to know/think about when organising a tan for the day?” So here are a few tips from one of our stylists who is a tan-professional

How do I plan the perfect spray tan for my wedding day? 

Everyone has seen an unattractive spray tan, no one wants to look orange on any day but especially not on your wedding day!  The first step is to prepare your skin for your spray tan – using an exfoliating glove, exfoliate your skin every day for seven days prior to your spray tan; moisturise your whole body as often as possible (dry patches will go darker); do all hair removal at least 24 hours before your spray tan to ensure that your pores close before the spray tan is applied.

How do I rinse my tan off?

Have a luke warm, 30 second shower or until the water runs clear, don’t use any body wash, run your hands over your body very quickly to avoid water run marks, pat dry with a towel from head to toe, do not moisturise after your first shower (especially if it is an express tan).

How do i know if the product/brand will be appropriate for my skin tone and type?

There is a huge variety of tanning products on the market and choosing the correct product for your skin can be tricky.  Tanning products are available in various “base” colours for example, green, purple and red.  The spray tan consultant will analyse your skin and determine which base is best suited to your skin, aiming to counteract your natural pigment.

How do i keep my spray tan lasting and avoid patchiness?

It is important to moisturise as much as possible after your tan has developed and been rinsed off (not within 12 hours of getting your tan).  Hot water and chlorine dry out your skin so it is best to avoid these for the week after your tan.

What questions should i ask my spray tanner?

Spray tans are now available in 8 hour or express tans, ensure that you know which tan you are getting so that you know when to rinse it off.  Ask what it should look like before and after rinsing and what to do if you make a smudge in the tan before rinsing.

What else do i need to know?

Spray tans do not contain SPF protection so don’t forget to apply sunscreen! It is best to have your spray tan done two days before your wedding or special event.  Remember to relax while your spray tan is developing, avoid activities that cause you to sweat or get the spray tan wet.  Wear dark, loose clothing without a bra after having your spray tan applied.