StyleSchool

Any bride-to-be with curly hair knows the amount of work that goes into ensuring each strand has the perfect bounce. And what could be more nerve-wracking than worrying about your curls going limp, frizzy or just plain out-of-control on your big day? Fortunately, Ouidad is giving curly girls around the country the opportunity to air their hair grievances in hopes of winning a makeover!

To enter the Ouidad "If These Curls Could Talk" contest, just head over to ouidad.com where you'll need to upload a picture of your curly mane and tell Ouidad what your curly, wavy or kinky hair would say. The grand prize winner will be named Ouidad Curl Ambassador and win the ultimate curly girl weekend in New York City, where you and a friend will be treated to:

Attention, attention! On May 20, 2009 Kerastase Paris, the renowned luxury hair brand, is holding their Kerastase Paris: Our Treat event. Aficionados of the line can receive complimentary (yes, free!) signature treatments and blow-dry services at participating Consultant Salons.

Kerastase sent out over 140,000 e-vites for the event, which is open to anyone with an invitation. (Go to kerastase-usa.com to get yours.) After you print your invite, all you have to do is make an appointment at one of the salons in your area and select the treatment of your choice.

Kerastase offers tons of services to help get you ready for the big day. Why not indulge in this special offer by getting the Aqua-Oleum treatment—it's great for restoring sheen to dry hair. Or, try the Pixelist treatment which gives colored hair amazing shine. There are even services to treat oily scalps and dandruff, so pick the one that's best for you.

No tricks, just treats. Happy primping!

—Samantha Giordano

Click here for more salon steals in your area!

Great news for waxing virgins: Acorelle, a French beauty brand that uses all organic ingredients, is finally available in the states and their greatest product—easy-to-use wax strips—is perfect for brides.

Here's how they work: the hypo-allergenic and paraben-free wax strips heat up in the palm of your hand. Peel the strip apart (which gives you two strips—double the product!) and apply where hair removal is required. Holding the skin taut, quickly remove the strip. You'll be hairless (with hardly any pain) on your first attempt. And if there’s any residue, use the Azulene Oil, which is included, to rub excess right off.

Just in time for summer, these strips are available exclusively at Bliss ($22-$32; blissworld.com). They’re perfectly portable for quick fixes and gentle enough so they won’t redden or irritate your skin.

—Samantha Giordano

With everything you've got going on—from dress fittings to cake tastings—it's easy to start slacking on some of your routines. But bride beware: if you want your skin to glow on the big day, you must take care of it. Allow us to recommend a few products from Pür Minerals worth putting to use in the weeks preceding your wedding. You'll thank us when you see the radiant results.

—Samantha Giordano

To ensure your lips look perfect for every kiss, your eyes glisten with every flutter and your nails shine with every gesture, look no further than Paul & Joe’s Spring 2009 collection.

Lipstick C (available at Bergdorf Goodman, call 800.558.1855 for locations) is a creamy lip color formulated with white lily extract and orange flower water to provide lasting moisture and shine. It comes in two limited edition shades—Opening Night (a pearly pink) and Backstage (glimmering taupe)—both of which are perfect for brides.

Paul & Joe’s Eye Colors (($20 each; beautyhabit.com), which are specially formulated to keep powder from caking, come in transparent shades that can be layered to create color with depth. My favorite is the swipe-and-go Belle De Jour, a subtle nude with a touch of pink.

Last but not least, the beautifully gilded nail enamels ($14 each; beautyhabit.com) are the perfect opportunity to introduce a bit of color. Soleil or Gilded are great big day shades.

—Samantha Giordano

Chances are you’ve already heard of Bumpits. You know, the product that promises to “take hair from flat to fabulous” in minutes. Leighton Meester’s Gossip Girl hairstylist uses them and Ellen DeGeneres tested them out on Jenna Fischer of The Office.

And we have to admit, we love them, too! Getting height used to require backcombing your hair into oblivion, but Bumpits provides an easier alternative. Here's how they work: 

The plastic inserts are available in four shades to match your hair color and once secured, they remain in place. The kit sells for $19.99 and includes 2 large Bumpits, 2 mini Bumpits (for the perfect front pouf) and 1 Hollywood Bumpit (for extra height). Visit bumpits.com to purchase.

—Samantha Giordano

Yours is a Cinderella story. You’ve got the dress, Prince Charming and a ball to attend. But what tale would be complete without a fairy godmother? That's where makeup artist Kimara Ahnert, owner of the Kimara Ahnert makeup and skincare studio in N.Y.C., comes in. Not only does she offer in-studio trial makeup applications and on location services, she also does a wide range of facial and body treatments to help you “get the glow.” The Eminence Facial ($165) with the Paprika treatment (additional $20), for example, will balance out red spots or blotchiness the day before your wedding without leaving you red and irritated.

Not in New York? You can still experience Kimara’s magic touch. Visit kimaraahnert.com to shop the full line of skincare and beauty products (including the Bridal Beauty Essentials Kit, $185). Even better, the site also has tips to inspire your dream style.

—Samantha Giordano

Like any woman planning a wedding, you probably begrudgingly slum through your nightly beauty regimen. But because we all know getting the best skin for your big day takes a little bit of effort, allow us to recommend Amala’s Jasmine Hydrating Toner ($30 for 50ml). It has hydrating and moisturizing ingredients so it not only functions as a toner, but as a moisturizer (thanks to the Jasmine), too.

Use a cotton pad to smooth the toner over your face and below your chin after cleansing. The refreshing jasmine works double duty by soothing you to sleep and repairing your dull and dehydrated skin.

If you really want to pamper yourself (as you rightfully should), try out the other products in the Amala line sold at Barneys or amalabeauty.com. In addition to being all-natural, Amala also donates 5% of their total profit to the communities where the ingredients are sourced.

—Samantha Giordano

The thought of an unexpected emergency on your wedding day is enough to keep a bride up every night before the big day. You spend months leading up to your "I Dos" preparing yourself for worst case scenarios: nail clippers for a broken nail, check; dryer sheets to prevent static cling, check; extra backs for your earrings, double check!

So you’ve got all your bases covered, but what about your groom? From the same company that brought you the SHEmergency Survival Kit and the Bridessentials Kit, comes The Groom’s Survival Kit. This portable silver trunk is filled with must-have personal care products like floss, boutonniere pins, extra buttons, a styptic pencil, even a stress ball! Just ask him to pick up a few for the groomsmen to have on hand and you’ll both be saved when a bad moment threatens your day.

The SHEmergency Survival Kit ($20), Bridessentials Kit ($25) and The Groom’s Survival Kit ($49) are all available online at msandmrs.com. 

Give your guests charitable favors at your wedding by wrapping up Glowology Believe Honey Bars by Noodle & Boo ($12.50; noodleandboo.com) and placing them in each person’s seat. The luxurious, paraben-free soaps are lightly scented like the old fashioned soaps of the French countryside and have the words "faith," "hope," and "love carved into them.

All profits from these creamy white soaps will go to the Raise Your Hand Campaign, an organization committed to saving children’s lives by developing water purification systems around the world. Drew Barrymore, Mark Wahlberg and Ellen Page are just a few celebrities who support the campaign.

Your guests are sure to love these delicate little soaps, but even more, they’ll love you for giving such a great gift.

—Samantha Giordano