ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 21, 1996 TAG: 9601230025
SECTION: YOUR WEDDING PAGE: YW-16 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SARAH COX
The experts advice to brides: Start getting ready for the big day at least two weeks in advance.
If you want to have anything special done - nail extensions, hair color, a new cut - you'll want to think about this ahead of time. Why? Because it takes some getting used to.
According to L'Image Nail & Spa owner Marie Johnson, getting ready for your wedding day can be a lot of fun. But it takes some thought. She advises not to get a facial for the first time the day of the wedding, because your skin might react adversely to the products. If you start one month ahead, your skin has a chance to become cleansed and moisturized and all ready for your wedding.
Hairstylist Remona Mitchell of Roanoke said she would prefer not to cut a bride's hair in a new way the day of the wedding.
"They're upset anyway. Some want a total and complete change. I think it's up to them, but I don't advise changing - you're going to look different anyway. Brides have a glow. I recommend being as close to normal as possible,'' she said.
L'Image offers skin care services, body care treatments, massages, hair removal, make-up applications, nail services and a full line of hair services, according to Johnson. They sell day packages, and will throw a mini-brunch for a wedding party that includes mimosas, food and a full selection of pampering for bride and her bridesmaids.
Johnson said the bride could invite her favorite hairdresser to come in for the day, and often that's the thing to do because the bride ends up happiest.
If all the bridesmaids attend such a pampering party, Johnson said it offers consistency - the bride doesn't have to confront a bad-makeup problem at the wedding. Nail color and makeup all match. Everyone is in a good mood. And the bride, more than likely, will remember to have a pedicure for her week at the beach.
"You wouldn't believe the number of people that forget about their honeymoon,'' said Johnson.
Johnson, who uses the Matrix line of makeup, said brides aren't used to applying makeup for photographs, which is different than applying it for daywear. Johnson, who said her salon does a lot of prom makeovers as well, said the thing to avoid is "huge makeup. That's not what you want. Someone who wears makeup handles it well, but someone who doesn't just wants definition. It's not the color that amplifies your features,'' but the shades.
Johnson said her favorite thing is to do whole parties, because everyone has so much fun. Maybe that's what the bride needs - according to Mitchell, brides are usually tense and nervous the day of their wedding.
With Mitchell admitting she's a perfectionist, and brides coming to her wanting to be perfect, the combination makes for a rather tense setting. But, said Mitchell, "I love it. Brides usually come in with no makeup, and when they leave they're gorgeous.''
Mitchell also offers makeovers as well as hair styling services. But, being the perfectionist, she insists on her clients sitting properly, with their heads back and perfectly positioned.
"I don't use the same scissors on everyone's hair. Even if I'm just going to do a braid, I'll redo the whole braid until it's perfect,'' she said.
Mitchell said styles have changed through the years - she's been styling hair for 14 years. Now, she said, it's fuller and softer. Styles seem to go hand-in-hand with dress styles, which this year are either romantic, or simple and elegant.
The day of the wedding, said Mitchell, it feels good to have a shampoo. She does this for the bride, but if she's attending to an entire wedding party, she said it saves time for the bridesmaids to already have their hair shampooed and dried.
"I'll even bring wine or mimosas and play soft music. A lot of times, I'll work by myself on Saturdays so I can do that,'' she said. She also said she often goes with the wedding party to the church to do last-minute touch-ups to the hair and makeup, making sure lipstick is still on and straight.
"The day the bride gets married, she's it. That day, she should be pampered in every way possible,'' Mitchell said.
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: TIM TREVILIAN. 1. Jeneva Smith gets her feet tended toby CNBby Nora Murphey of L'Image Nail & Spa. 2. Marie Johnson of L'Image
Nail & Spa handles the manicures of brides-to-be.