With the royal wedding less than a month away, the fashion world is buzzing in anticipation over what Meghan Markle might wear on her big day. On the other hand, the beauty industry is wondering what kind of hair, makeup and nail look the American actress will opt for—and one that meets royal standards.
While Markle may have a stricter set of rules to follow for her wedding day—flashy nails are off limits for the British monarchy—more brides are starting to experiment with fun nail and makeup trends. Danielle Candido, lead educator for Morgan Taylor Lacquer & Gelish, is predicting a lot of fun and atypical nail trends for the upcoming wedding season. "Textures will be big, like small crystals and lace," Candido says. "In terms of art, I think florals and bright accent nails will also be hugely popular."
Lucky for nail artists, this year's runways were chock-full of inspiration. Unlike past seasons, where elaborate equated to better, the nails took a minimalist approach and seemed to deliberately complement the outfit they were paired with—a trend that can easily translate for off-the-runway looks. For weddings, Candido visualizes the bigger picture before deciding on looks for her clients. "I take into consideration the overall theme of the wedding, the dress style and the personality of the bride," Candido says. This way, she guarantees that the look suits her bride perfectly and still maintains a level of uniqueness.
Bridal Fashion Week isn't just about scouting the best dress or nail look, though. It's also the ideal place to jot down makeup inspiration for your future clientele. Janell Geason, Aveda global artistic director, makeup, predicts that this year's runway makeup trends will carry seamlessly into wedding season. "Think red carpet, natural, barely there looks with shimmer, lots of lashes and soft lips," Geason says. "And, of course, pink. It's a trend everywhere and it's not going anywhere anytime soon."
To achieve these on-trend looks, Geason has a few go-to products that she swears by for all spring and summer brides. "Toning mists are great to refresh the skin, and be sure to layer makeup with sunscreen for outdoor weddings," she says. Some other necessities include blotting papers for quick touchups, pressed powder for unwanted shine and powder shadows instead of cream shadows to avoid oil buildup.
Even though Geason says dewy skin is in, it's all about creating the glow from within. She suggests choosing a matte foundation over a dewy foundation, simply for staying purposes, and then using a glittery highlight on the points of the face where the light hits naturally. "For the lips, gloss is fine if you don't mind touching up throughout the day or evening," Geason says. "Matte lipstick lasts longer, but also tends to look a little dry. I prefer to use lip primers, lip liners and long-wear lipsticks for my brides."
As with any appointment, consultation is key for both nail and makeup looks. "Listen to your guests and offer ideas and solutions, but let them guide you on their vision." Geason takes the dress style and color into consideration, along with the overall feel of the wedding before deciding on a makeup look. "The more information you have, the more likely you will be able to create their vision."