Male Grooming

Most grooms may not like to admit it, but planning and preparation are the key words for that perfect wedding day look.

Experts recommend you start a 'beauty' routine a few months before your wedding, paying particular attention to hair and skin, as this means any unwanted blemishes like flaky skin or split ends can be tided up.

Sticking to a tried and tested or neat and tidy hairstyle is another good option, as you'll feel far more comfortable and confident with a cut that's easy to manage.

Expert advice on men's hair care from Vidal Sassoon suggests that grooms should have their hair cut two weeks before the big day, and then have the neck and hair line trimmed the day before the wedding. Other top tips include:

1. Use hair products you are used to. Just a little hair spray helps to keep everything in place.

2. Colour 'enhancers' are useful at bringing out the natural shine in your hair.

3. If you are wearing a top hat, apply a small amount of gel, which you can later revive by wetting your hands and running your fingers through your hair. Try this out beforehand so you know what you're doing.

The skin also needs continual care several weeks before the wedding, to put a stop to any break-outs of dry or flaky patches. This can be achieved by exfoliating once a week and it's also important to cleanse and moisturise the skin every day too.

However if you feel your skin might 'shine' in the wedding photographs, wear a small amount of transparent powder. You may not like the idea of wearing 'make-up', but it'll work wonders, won't change the colour of your skin, and will simply absorb the excess moisture.

Most brides will want their future husband to be clean-shaven, and one of the best ways to achieve this is to have a proper barber shop shave the day before.

A wet shave is preferable on the morning of the wedding, and a supple face is the ideal surface. Splashing the face with hot water before shaving will help and this will also open the pores. Although, allowing about half an hour after waking up before you shave, also helps the face to relax and makes the job a lot easier.

When the foam has been applied, you should leave it on for about two minutes to let it soak into the pores.

Razors with more than one blade will give you the closest shave, so look out for a dual blade if you want to avoid cuts and bumps.

When shaving, it's important to follow the direction of your beard, so move down your cheeks before attacking the heavier and more stubborn whiskers under your chin.

After shaving, rinse with cold water to help close the pores and then apply a moisturising lotion.

However, the thing that puts a cap on male grooming is teeth care. Getting into a regular routine will give you a winning smile, whatever the day.

* select a firm, nylon-based tooth brush. The head should be no larger than the diameter of a £1 coin. You should try to replace your brush about every two to three months.
* brush every part of the tooth at least once a day (using a fluoride toothpaste): upper, lower, front, back, along the top, even along your tongue.
* consult your dentist if you notice any bleeding.

Flossing is also worth the effort. It removes plaque and food from areas a toothbrush can't reach, and should be part of your dental routine.

So once you've rinsed, moisturised, brushed, flushed and patted dry, you should be well on the way to impressing the bride, your mother and even yourself.