Grooms in Cornwall and Devon

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Grooming For Men

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Remember chaps - it's your moment in the spotlight too. Look every inch the dashing leading man on your wedding day with Wed's top-to-toe grooming tips...

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Remember chaps - it's your moment in the spotlight too. Look every inch the dashing leading man on your wedding day with Wed's top-to-toe grooming tips...

The grooming habits of the male have changed radically in recent years; a far cry from the classic shower and shave routine of old, the appearance-conscious male extends his grooming ritual to encompass toning, moisturising, exfoliating, eyebrow tweezing and facial hair shaping - he might even dip his toe into the world of manicures, tanning treatments and make-up.



This has opened the doors to a wonderful world of grooming and pampering for the soon-to-be-wedded male. After all, pre-wedding beauty treatments are seen as a staple for the bride - those trips to the salon are all part of the marital rite of passage - so why shouldn't the groom partake in some smoothing, shaping, beautifying rituals of his own? Not only do these treatments provide some rare timeout and relaxation during the days running up to the wedding - this is the ultimate time for you to shine as well, fellas. Why shouldn't you look your dapper and devilishly handsome best? We've taken a look at the top-scoring tips and treatments to ensure you look groomed and gorgeous from head-to-toe.

IN THE HAIR
Whether you're going for a classic morning suit or relaxed and rustic attire, the ultimate accessory for your groomswear is well styled and conditioned hair. "Get your hair cut seven to nine days before the big day to allow time for the hair to settle," advises male grooming specialist Simon Wade of Gershwins Hairdressing (gershwins-hairdressing.com). A quick trim won't cut it: you'll need to prepare your mane for the occasion well in advance. "See your stylist for regular appointments in the run up to the big day," says Simon. "To keep your hair in tip-top condition, have a tea tree hair and scalp treatment during each appointment, which helps to create natural shine". And don't be tempted to experiment with a radical new hairstyle for the wedding: "Stick to a style that you know works well for you and your hair".

FACE IT
During the countdown to your wedding, your skin will be attacked from all sides: the combination of a boozy stag do, last minute planning stress and sleep deprivation is a toxic formula, sapping your skin of its glow - right when you need it most. You'll need a potent remedy to get your complexion wedding-ready.

Secluded skincare sanctuary Aqua (aquaskincare.co.uk) in St Ives is the perfect place for a private spot of pre-wedding preparation. Their Men's City Facial is designed to address common male skincare needs. From brush cleansing, steaming and a fruit acid peel and clay mask through to a deeply hydrating hyaluronic acid masque, this powerful treatment will cleanse, smooth and enrich your skin to ensure an instant glow. Rounded off with a shoulder and scalp massage, it will tease out those pre-wedding tensions to boot.

THE BROW FACTOR
Brow shaping isn't just for the ladies you know. A little sculpting and tweaking can do wonders in framing your face and, let's face it: straggly mutant brow hairs aren't a good look for your wedding day. But you can cast aside those visions of skinny brows. "Brow technicians often make men's brows too shaped and too skinny, which would make most men run a mile. We make them look groomed, but not perfectly shaped," says Abi Smith of Aqua, which offers a HD Brows service for men. "Some men do like a more defined brow similar to the female HD Brow, known as the power brow," she explains. "But, on the whole, our grooms-to-be favour a natural, tidy look".

PEARLY PEGS
If you're self-conscious about your teeth, smile anxiety will be, quite literally, written all over your face in your wedding photos. A tooth whitening treatment is a quick fix to greater smile confidence. The advanced tooth whitening technology at Aqua utilises an oxygen gel shield combined with an LED BB Cool light system, which brightens and lightens the teeth from the core. Forget the Ross from 'Friends' glow - this is about lightening your teeth two to eight shades lighter for a natural look with no peroxide or sensitivity - and the real bonus? The treatment takes just 20 minutes.

If wonky teeth have long marred your self-confidence and you'd love nothing more than to reveal straight, healthy teeth on your wedding day, book a consultation at Pure Dental Health in Truro (puredentalhealth.co.uk). Their Six Month Smiles treatment offers a veritable smile makeover. Utilising barely visible braces to align your teeth, you'll be accessorising your suit with a smouldering smile within six months.

BEARDED WONDER
Beards are all the rage - just look at all those high-profile beard fanciers from Ben Affleck to David Beckham - and there's nothing wrong with rocking a little facial fuzz on your wedding day. However, it's always wise to consult your wife-to-be on your look of choice for the wedding. If you get the green light, ensure you maintain your facial hair well in the run-up to the big day. Current trends reject the overly shaped and sculpted look in favour of a more natural style. Keep your beard even by trimming it weekly with a good beard trimmer and dowse your facial forest in some drops of Mr Natty's Beard Elixir (mrnatty.com) on a regular basis to keep it cleansed, conditioned and glossy for the big day.

HANDS ON
As soon as you take your fiancee's hands in yours to exchange rings, your hands will become the focus of a lot of attention - and photographs. A MAN-icure at Aqua is designed to give a little TLC to hard-working hands. Starting with a cuticle tidy, your nails will be filed and shaped and your hands exfoliated and massaged, leaving them soft, refreshed and ready for their close-up.

BODY DAZZLER
So you've got the sharp suit, the silken skin, the glossy hair - there's just one thing missing: a tan. Make a trip to Aqua for their hot new treatment: the St Tropez tan. "St Tropez works with your natural colouring, so there's no risk of looking 'tangoed'," says Abi. "The new formulated St Tropez tan contains aromaguard, which eliminates the tell-tale self tan aroma" - leaving you sun-kissed and scent-free for your big moment.


GROOMING GREATS
Get wedding-ready with these top products...
1. SkinCeuticals Retexturing Activator available from Aqua aquaskincare.co.uk
2. Mr Natty's Beard Elixir www.mrnatty.com
3. Clinique Anti-Fatigue Cooling Eye Gel www.clinique.co.uk
4. ManCave Moisturiser www.mancaveinc.com
5. Mr Natty's Hair Clay www.mrnatty.com
6. Clinique M Shave Aloe Gel www.clinique.co.uk
7. Spiezia Men's Body Oil www.spieziaorganics.com


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words Rebecca Matthews

Copyright WED magazine 2013