A Bride's Guide to Head-to-Slipper Beauty

From hair and skin to last-minute slimming services, a pre-wedding checklist of all things pretty!

Feb 3, 2010

by Carolyn Anger

Your big day is nearly here and with the venue secured, cake ordered and dress picked out, it's time to think beauty. Here's your head-to-toe guide to pretty hair, bronzed skin and everything in between. With a timeline of when to start your diet plan, schedule your hair trial run, all the way through to when to book that last-minute waxing service, you'll be on your way to wedding day beauty bliss.

Head: Moisture Surge Treatment

For unruly tresses resistant to style, bring on the heat! Prep hair for processing about a week before at The Spa at Four Seasons. Their high-tech, Ionic Resuscitation Treatment uses negative ions to neutralize strands forcing the cuticle to lay flat. The result? Glossy, frizz-free hair prepped for curls, flat iron or picture perfect up-do. Cost: $95 for 60 minutes.

The Spa at Four Seasons Resort at Scottsdale Troon North: 10600 E. Crescent Moon Dr., 480.515.5700, fourseasons.com/scottsdale.

Hair: Color, Cut & Style

Runner up to the dress, bridal hair calls for a trio of primping services. Dolce Salon & Spa advises brides-to-be to schedule a style trial run with one of their wedding team experts about a month out for plenty of time to switch it up or try a new style. For healthy, fresh color, the cut and highlight touch-up should come about two weeks prior to the wedding day and style the day of the wedding. Cost: Bridal Up-do and Trial $120 and up, Highlights $70 and up, Haircut and style $45 and up.

Dolce Salon & Spa:
3325 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler
6166 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale
8385 W. Mariners Way, Peoria
480.722.0500
dolcesalonspa.com

Skin: Go Deep

To avoid a day-of breakout disaster, take care of skin issues about a month in advance. For uneven skin texture, sun damage and tricky spots, try the Non-Surgical Peel and Facial at Spa Lamar. The power-packed resurfacer uses natural fruit enzymes and vitamin A to whip skin into shape and keep it smooth. Also includes a custom 30-day post-peel home care system ($90 value) to keep skin in the clear post treatment. Cost: $200 for 55 minutes.

Spa Lamar: 5115 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480.945.7066, thelamar.com

Face: Glow On

For a healthy glow without the breakout, opt for a nourishing facial the week of the wedding. Spa Avania at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale's Creme de Choc Facial is completely custom to every skin type and is infused with a mix of rejuvenating creams to keep oily, dry and sensitive skin in check. Free of extractions and deep cleansing, the facial balances skin without pulling impurities to the surface for a healthy flush. Cost: $230 for 90 minutes.

Spa Avania at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch: 7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd., 480.483.5558, spaavania.com

Waxing: Brow & Bikini

Whisk away sneaky hairs and leave your bushy brows to the experts at Bliss Scottsdale. Special germ-free wonder wax sticks only to hair so the pull is almost pain free. Schedule a Brow Wax three to four days before and don't forget a Basic Bikini for the honeymoon! Cost: Brow $30, Bikini $35.

Bliss Scottsdale at the W: 7277 E. Camelback Rd., Scottsdale, 480.575.0164, blissworld.com

Body: Bring on the Bronze

Out with the blushing bride and in with the bronzed goddess bride. A healthy glow pulls the whole look together and works wonders for those few last pounds that just wouldn't budge. Go sun kissed with Joya Spa at InterContinental Montelucia's Spray Tan. Comes complete with a full body exfoliation for long lasting color two or three days before wedding. Cost: $145-$155 for 50 minutes.

Joya Spa at InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa: 4949 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley, 480.627.3020, joyaspa.com

Feet: Soften Up

For pretty feet ready to take on the dance floor, a scrub is in order. Aji Spa at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort's Shegoi Ch OnhGet (salt pedicure) buffs dry skin with and exclusive body polishes mixed with indigenous herbs to deeply exfoliate. The treatment is topped off with a paraffin dip and rich body butter to keep heels soft and prepped for final polish. Cost: $70-$90 for 50 minutes.

Aji Spa at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa: 5594 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler, 602.225.0100, wildhorsepassresort.com

Nails: Icing on the Cake

Glossy polish ties up all the loose ends. Dash into to Defon's Hair Salon for a quick Polish Change a few days for pretty nails and no chips. Cost: Polish Change Hands, $12, Polish Change Feet, $15.

Defon's Hair Salon: 4225 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, 602.952.8660, defonshairsalon.com

Sidelines: Pre-Honeymoon Slimming Services

Before you pack for your post-wedding escape, here are some lumpy bumpy skin solvers for your hot honeymoon swimsuit.

Hit the weights and cardio with Personal Training Sessions at the scenic Alvadora Spa at Royal Palms.

Alvadora Spa at Royal Palms Resort & Spa: 5200 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, 602.977.6400, royalpalmshotel.com

Slim down (without the downtime) with cell-shaping ZERONA Non-Invasive Body Contouring at Vital Solutions MD.

Vital Solutions MD:
14354 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale, 480.477.6334
4220 E. McDowell Rd., Mesa, 480.289.3690
vitalsolutionsmd.com

Give your diet a hormone boost with the Releana HCG Diet at Red Mountain Weight Loss and Tucson Medical Weight Loss.

Red Mountain Weight Loss:
4150 W. Peoria Avenue, Phoenix 602.863.4046
8550 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, 480.991.4159
1635 N. Greenfield Rd., Mesa, 480.854.4872
redmountainweightloss.com

Tucson Medical Weight Loss: 2941 N. Swan Rd., Tucson, 520.399.7625, tucsonmedicalweightloss.com

For more bridal resources, visit Arizona Weddings Magazine & Website at arizonaweddings.com. Be sure to get your copy of the magazine for the complete Spa & Beauty Guide!