Minimalism Meets Elegance: The 2025 Bridal Hair and Makeup Trend Forecast

As the new year approaches, the world of bridal beauty is evolving towards a more minimalist approach, symbolizing a greater cultural shift towards authenticity and sustainability. The 2025 trends are all about celebrating natural beauty, with soft, romantic touches taking center stage instead of heavy, dramatic glam. This shift invites brides to showcase their unique features while radiating confidence and an inner glow that feels true to who they are.

Soft Glamour Half-Up Hairstyle - Marc Blondin Photography

Embracing Natural Beauty in Bridal Trends

The trend towards natural wedding hair and makeup is more than just a fleeting moment; it reflects deeper values that many brides are integrating into their wedding plans. The focus on sustainability, authenticity, and personal expression is reshaping how beauty is defined.

Instead of aiming for an unattainable ideal, brides are now encouraged to embrace what makes them uniquely beautiful. In locations known for their progressive approach, such as San Francisco and Sonoma, this trend is particularly pronounced.

For brides in San Francisco, natural wedding hair and makeup can range from soft waves that gently frame the face to delicate updos that highlight intrinsic features without overshadowing them.

The city's inclusive and diverse environment nurtures an era where personal style is celebrated, and individuality is at the forefront of any bridal look.

In Sonoma, known for its breathtaking landscapes and laid-back elegance, natural wedding makeup artists are gaining recognition for their ability to enhance rather than conceal.

Vibrant skin with a hint of blush and a natural lip that whispers romance is the look du jour. This fresh approach allows brides to feel like themselves—only more radiant. Imagine walking down the aisle not merely made-up, but as a confident version of yourself with every highlight and contour echoing simplicity and grace.

Soft Glamour: The Perfect Compromise

Soft glamour wedding makeup represents the ideal balance between classic beauty and modern minimalism. This style transcends the heavy contours and bold hues of more traditional looks in favor of something softer and more timeless. It focuses on enhancing the bride’s natural glow rather than overwhelming it with layers of product.

In San Francisco and Sonoma, soft glamour can be adapted to fit any venue or setting, from chic urban spaces to vintage wineries nestled amongst the vines.

A soft glamour look typically features subtly defined brows, a dewy and luminous base, and a gentle flush of color on the cheeks. Natural hues dominate, allowing the bride's own features to take center stage. The most significant advantage of this approach is its versatility. It can be easily tailored to suit the bride's individual style and complement the nuanced tones of the immediate environment.

San Francisco City Hall Wedding - We the Blackwells Photography

Moreover, finding the right natural wedding makeup artist who can execute this soft glamour look is key. In cities like San Francisco and regions like Sonoma, there are talented artists whose expertise lies in understanding the nuances of this style. They focus on using high-quality products that respect the skin, some of which may have benefits that extend beyond the wedding day.

Tips for Achieving the Soft Glamour Look

1. Start with Skincare

The key to a soft glamour look is a well-prepped canvas. Invest in a quality skincare routine to achieve a healthy, glowing complexion. This foundation starts weeks, if not months, before the big day. Incorporating hydrating serums, gentle exfoliants, and nourishing creams can make a world of difference.

2. Minimal Foundation

Opt for lightweight foundation or a tinted moisturizer. This allows your natural skin to shine through, creating an authentic and breathable look. The goal is to even out tone while maintaining the skin’s natural texture and luminosity. 

3. Subtle Contours

Use cream blushes and highlighters for a dewy finish. Blend products seamlessly to avoid harsh lines, ensuring a fresh, youthful glow that looks great both in photos and in person.

Soft Glamour Makeup

4. Defined yet Soft Eyes

Use neutral shades, and consider a soft eyeliner for added definition. A few coats of natural mascara will enhance your lashes without overdoing it. Remember, the eye's goal is to captivate without being overpowering—it's all about balance.

5. Easy-Breezy Lips

Natural wedding makeup in San Francisco often features a glossy lip or soft matte finish to keep the focus on the eyes and give a romantic touch. Choosing a lip color that mimics your natural lip hue can provide lasting elegance without the need for constant touch-ups.

Bohemian Vibes: Embracing the Boho Aesthetic

The Boho bridal style has carved its place in wedding trends, offering an aesthetic that appeals to free-spirited brides wishing for a laid-back yet polished flair. In San Francisco and Sonoma, boho wedding hair often includes loose braids, floral accessories, and flowing waves that convey effortless beauty.

Bridal hair and makeup artists in the San Francisco Bay Area specialize in crafting these dreamy looks. Whether you envision soft curls adorned with delicate flowers or a relaxed updo with tendrils cascading down, these artists can bring your vision to life.

Their work often involves intricate weaving techniques for braids, the strategic placement of flowers to accentuate instead of overpowering, and the nuanced application of texture-enhancing products to create movement without rigidity.

Styling Your Bohemian Look

1. Textured Waves

Use a salt spray or texture-enhancing product to create those coveted beachy waves. The look should appear natural yet intentional, capturing the spirit of the bohemian aesthetic which values an “undone” beauty.

2. Floral Accents

Incorporate fresh or faux flowers into your hairstyle for an ethereal touch. Flowers can be a delightful addition, adding an organic element that resonates with nature and enhances the boho aesthetic.

3. Keep It Loose

Choose styles that allow for movement—think relaxed braids or half-up styles that won't look stiff in your photos. This approach ensures that your hairstyle can adapt throughout the day, appearing equally stunning from ceremony to reception.

Working with Professionals: Finding Your Perfect Match

Choosing the right bridal hair and makeup artist in San Francisco or Sonoma is crucial in achieving your dream look. Seek professionals who specialize in the styles you desire, ensuring they understand your vision authentically. It's often useful to review portfolios and conduct trials before committing, as this can give you insight into their ability to match your thoughts with results.

When interviewing potential artists, consider asking important questions such as:

- What products do you use?

Brands focusing on natural beauty can significantly affect the outcome, both in the look and the feel of the makeup.

- Can you accommodate my specific needs?

Whether dealing with sensitive skin or aiming for a specific look, ensure your artist can tailor their services to meet your requirements.

- Will you be available on my wedding day?

Stress-test this point to avoid any last-minute surprises, confirming all logistics well in advance.

Making the Trend Yours

As you prepare for your wedding day, embrace the minimalist bridal beauty trend. Whether your nuptials are in San Francisco or the picturesque landscapes of Sonoma, there are endless opportunities to showcase your unique style. The key to a stunning bridal look is confidence; when you feel good in your skin, it reflects in your smile. 

Natural wedding hairstyles and makeup trends in 2025 emphasize authenticity, soft glamour, and bohemian vibes, catering to a wide range of personal styles. Explore these trends, consult with talented professionals, and most importantly, dive into what makes you feel the very best. 

As you step into your new journey, embrace your inner beauty—after all, it's about making memories and feeling incredible on your big day! 

Learn More

ShineForth Weddings offers effortless, natural beauty for brides in the San Francisco Bay Area. Learn more about our soft glamour hair and makeup services and connect with Rebecca on our Weddings page.

---

Prepping for Your Wedding Day

Wedding planning can be stressful, but try to take some time for yourself leading up to the big day. If you're anything like me, you want your wedding day to be perfect down to the tiniest detail. And part of that is feeling and looking your best. Whether you're the bride, a bridesmaid, or the bride's mother, you deserve to be at your most beautiful.

All eyes will be on you as you walk down the aisle looking like a million bucks. But more importantly, you’ll feel confident and beautiful knowing that you took care of yourself in preparation for this very special day. So go ahead and give yourself a little extra love in the weeks leading up to the big day—you deserve it!

Here are some tips on how to prep for your big day.

Hair

First, let's talk hair care. If you're wearing your hair up, you'll want to ensure it's hydrated and healthy. I like to use a product called Nutrafol Women, which is a supplement that helps with hair growth and overall wellness. It works to target the root causes of compromised hair health, including hormone imbalance, stress, poor metabolism, and aging. I’ve been using this supplement for months now, and I can attest to its effectiveness.

Nutrafol Women, $79

I've also found that getting regular trims leading up to the wedding day helps my hair look its best (this is where I come in!). 

Tip: If you color your hair, get a touch-up a few weeks before the big day. However, if you're using supplements for hair growth, take them as directed.

Get That “Lit From Within” Glow

As for skincare, you'll want to start exfoliating and moisturizing regularly. I like to use a gentle exfoliator a few times a week and then follow up with a hydrating mask or serum. 

On the wedding day, I would recommend doing a sheet mask to give your skin some extra love. Ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid can hydrate your skin and make it feel plump and glowy.

One Wedding Cliche To Follow

And finally, be sure to get enough sleep, eat well, and drink plenty of water in the weeks leading up to your wedding. Better yet, incorporate these things early into your routine to build a habit. This will help you feel your best on your big day!

Last But Not Least: Have Fun!

I hope these tips can help you prep for your wedding day. Just remember to relax and enjoy the process. It's a very special day but it’s only the first day of the rest of your lives so don’t stress. Just savor every moment. What matters most is what comes after: working and building each other up as you explore this new chapter.

Do you have any tips on how to prep for your wedding day? Share them in the comments below!

Shop Nutrafol products.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. Please keep in mind that I included this brand and its products because of their quality first and foremost. The buying decision is always yours.

6 Best Bridal Hairstyles for Spring/Summer 2022

We’re back to planning weddings again, so searching for the perfect bridal hair, gown, shoes, and accessories is more crucial than ever. As a hairstylist, I understand how important it is to look and feel your most beautiful on your big day. While I make it a point to consider the bride’s face shape, dress style, and theme, some clients would still request a trending hairstyle—and that’s okay! Every bride deserves their dream wedding hair.

With that said, I took it upon myself to look at this year’s biggest bridal hair trends and pick some of my favorites.

The Undone Updo

With micro-weddings becoming more popular, more brides prefer a ‘messy’ but chic look a la Meghan Markle on her wedding day. It exudes an ethereal vibe perfect for boho brides. This look is done by pinning pretty waves in a low bun and leaving a few strands curled at the front.

Mermaid Waves

Stunning mermaid waves are excellent for laid-back brides who still want a touch of elegance to their look. Glossy and voluminous curls give off an old Hollywood vibe, making it a perfect complement to your glamorous wedding dress. This style is versatile for any neckline, whether it’s a sweetheart, square, strapless, or asymmetrical neckline. I love mermaid waves because you can adorn them with a lovely tiara or a flower crown as a finishing touch!

Elegant Chignon

If you want something elegant yet sweet, opt for a classic chignon. It’s simple but versatile enough to style however you want, whether you like your chignon braided or a little bit relaxed. You can also incorporate unique accessories like flowers or pearl pins to elevate your look.

Long and Volumized Braids

Braids have been a long-running trend in the beauty world, and bridal hairstyles are no exception. There are many ways to wear them, from loose plaits to big fishtail braids. Braids are also fun to accessorize. For example, you can weave in dainty flowers for a unique and romantic look or insert embellished pins, combs, and more.

Half Upstyles

If you are looking for the perfect in-between bridal hairstyle, you can’t go wrong with this one. Kate Middleton wore her hair just like this on her big day. Like mermaid waves, this style suits laid-back brides who still want a polished look. It looks gorgeous with an off-the-shoulder dress or a lace gown. A half upstyle hairdo is also perfect for accessorizing. Think flower inserts or crystal clips to add character.

Natural Curls With Hair Accessories

For ladies with beautiful, textured hair, any hairstyle would look fabulous on you! For instance, a half-up half-down hairstyle is best for a daytime glam look, and then you can let your hair down in the evening for a more relaxed look. For more drama, accessorize with gemstone clips, flower inserts, or a tiara.

Ready to Say “Yes” to the Hair?

After browsing hundreds of hairstyles, it all comes down to what you want for your special day. These trends serve as an inspiration to find your dream hair. Once you find it, we’ll make it happen!

Let’s discuss your hair for your big day! Download our ShineForth Bridal Info and Rates and see how we can work together.

Photos by Bridget McDonald Photography (couple); Photography Maghradze PH (mermaid) and Jonathan Borba (curls) from Pexels; Joeyy Lee (undone updo), Brock Wegner (chignon), Alvin Mahmudov (braids) and Devon Divine (half updo) on Unsplash

Wedding Hairstyling

What I love about wedding hairstyling is that you get to meet wonderful people and be a part of a day to be remembered for a long, long time. I consider it an honor to be a part of the day but to help the bride find a wedding hairstyle that will bring out her regality and compliment her dress and theme for her wedding.

I loved Lindsay from the moment I met her. Ease, grace, and kindness are words I would use to describe her.  I think she looked just beautiful!

Wedding Photo Shoot

Photo shoots are an excellent way for me to exercise my creativity. I love the camaraderie on a shoot, where "the team" is working on a common goal of getting fabulous pictures. The purpose of this shoot was to create a series of bridal looks.

The team consisted of photographer Kristina Varaksina, beautiful designs by Joseph Domingo, Makeup Artist Chloe Rainwater, Model Lindy Castro, and flowers by 7 Victoria Street. Great group of inspired creatives! In bridal looks, detail is everything.

'For this series, I began with the looks that were the softest in texture to allow me to build the hair up with products as the day progressed. This shoot was ALL DAY!

I worked with L'Oreal Professionnel products, beginning with Volumetry and Volume Envy Mousse. Second look, I used some Infinium hairspray.

Third look, more Infinium hair spray, and the use of pins.

Wedding Hairstyle

Styling hair for weddings can be tricky. A bride usually brings in a photo that may or may not look like the same texture as her own. From there, it's my job to recognize her hair texture and be honest about what it will or will not do. Of course, working with a client who respects this honesty is always easier. Managing expectations is part of my job.

I always focus on what I can do. For Candace, who has lots of hair, it was essential to find a way to dress up her hair so that it felt gorgeous and would stay put.! I brushed L'Oreal Professionnel's Mousse Volupt́é into the hair to create a texture of hair that would hold. Then I sprayed Infinium #3 on each section, used a curling rod, and pinned the curls.

I wanted to create an elegant hairstyle that, that night or the next day, could be taken down and have lots of body in the hair.