Need simple make-up and hair advice for my daughter's First Communion

[Bake]

My daughter is making her First Communion in 4 weeks and I've just realised all the other mums will be getting professional hair and make up done. I stopped wearing make up years ago and have never been able to do it properly, when I did wear it, it was foundation, mainly to cover my bad skin, and a bit of mascara and eyeshadow, neither of which I think I applied properly. I might wear a different colour eyeshadow in the evening, but otherwise it was same make up for work and a night out. I'm clueless.

I'd like to make an effort on the day. I will see if I can find anyone local who could do my make up, but how does that work? I'm guessing I'd need a trial session before the day to check I'm getting something I like?

If I end up needing to do my own make up, where do I even start with tutorials and buying products etc? It feels like it could get expensive, and I work and look after my kids and elderly parents so I'm time poor too 😥

Is it worth attempting something with my hair myself too? Again I'm useless at that. I have wavy hair and probably look like I've been dragged through a hedge most days.

I'd just like to look half presentable on the day and not let my daughter down.

Are you sure all the other mums will be getting professionals to do their make up?!

Make-up for First Communion?! Surprised to hear this.

Ignore what the others are doing. There is no expectation to wear make-up on an occasion like this. It's not the school prom.

I'm surprised at people having professional makeup done for a 1st communion , but then I am oft surprised 😊

TBH if what you want to do is look your best , and I can understand that . I would book to have your hair done , just a wash and blow dry or whatever suits your hair. Hair I think is much more difficult to do right yourself than makeup.

Other than that I would just go with foundation (you could go to a dept store to get the right colour ) putting it on with a brush I am told makes it look better, Some carefully applied lipstick and a fairly low key lipstick colour. You can practise at home once you've got the products till you think you look like "you".

Anyway - no expert me , but that's my advice for what it's worth
All the best and enjoy the communion. 💐

Admittedly it’s a few years since I went to a 1st communion (we are not catholic) but on the occasions I have been invited, I didn’t notice any mothers being professionally made up. I knew quite a few of them each time we went because my children were friends with those making their first communions.

How old is she? Need that for context.

Make-up is for OP, the mother, not the child.

Lots of mums had professional hair and make up at DS first communion, but by no means all.

if you are starting from scratch I would book for a wash and blow-dry as a PP said and make an appointment at a department store for a make-up consultation the week before. If you ask for a simple look they will help you find all the products and show you how to use them.

What time is the First Communion ceremony OP? Ours was early so I got my hair done the evening before, but you might be able to get an early appointment for a blow dry.
Regarding make-up, the timing is relevant too. Check beauty salons locally for advice, a lot of them do make up.
Hope you have a lovely day.

It’s quite typical round here that mums would get hair and make up done. You don’t have to OP though if it’s not you. If you do want to then I wouldn’t pay for a trial. Be very clear about the look you want though- bring photos. Alternatively if you’re near a department store you could go and get your make up done at a counter and buy the products.

A couple of ideas for where you could go, you can also just walk into Boots, but if you book they will have time to spend with you without being interrupted.

https://trinnylondon.com/uk/appointments

https://m.bobbibrown.co.uk/book-appointment

https://www.boots.com/no7/no7-inspiration-and-advice/no7-book-an-appointment

I can believe this. It's crazy. It's meant to be a symbolic church service, not a fashion show.
OP, buy something that you look nice in, and do your own hair and make up so that you look like you, your daughter's mum supporting her, not someone who has got lost on the way to the Oscars.

OP has clearly said she isn’t confident doing her own hair and make-up. Why are you trying to stress her out by telling her it’s crazy to get help?

You can get a natural looking make-up professionally if you ask for that, it doesn’t need to be over the top.

ETA I don’t know OP’s religious denomination, and that’s relevant, but to me a First Communion isn’t a ‘symbolic’ ceremony.

OP has clearly said she isn’t confident doing her own hair and make-up. Why are you trying to stress her out by telling her it’s crazy to get help?

But they’re going to church! It’s a sacrament, not the Oscars. If she doesn’t wear makeup why on earth would she need a professional makeover for this? Just be tidily dressed. So much pressure!

She wants to look her best as a mark of respect for the occasion. Nothing wrong with that. People generally dress up for church weddings too.

yes people do dress up for weddings, baptisms, and Holy communions, of course they do. But professional hair and makeup is usually the province of the bridal party, everyone else just dresses appropriately for the occasion. For one thing who has time to go into town for a makeup job for a holy communion when the kids have to be got ready and the chances are you’re having all the family round for a bbq or something later in the day. It’s batshit.

@PinkTonic If you’re not used to applying makeup. yet want to do it for the day, getting it done by someone else might actually be the quicker option!
You’re right the timings do have to be taken into account, I also mentioned that upthread.

Most women I know get their hair done for weddings, and most First Communion mums I know do too. Professional makeup isn’t as usual for everybody, but if you’re not used to it, why not? Buying everything she will need would be a waste unless OP plans to start wearing it regularly now.

Apologies for delayed response, I'm in the office today and have been in meetings.

Service is at midday so there should be time in the morning. It's a Catholic service and I agree professional hair and make up seems OTT for the occasion. I put in the OP that "all the other mum's" will be getting it done, but actually it might not be all - there are only 15 kids making it, my niece is one of them and my sister has told me about at least 5 mum's, who are parents from my daughter’s school, who are getting it done professionally. In my panic it feels like it will be everyone else, but you are right, it might not be all of them.

We're in London, so I'll see if I can get something done in a local department store to get an idea of what is possible!

Thanks for the advice about concentrating on my hair, I'll try to get an appointment for that booked ASAP.

If you wouldn’t wear make up to a wedding or birthday party you don’t need to wear it here. But if you’re in a city book a mac make over?

This! Its utter madness to turn what should be a sacramental ceremony into an instagram fest.

I have been to plenty of FHCs and Confirmations and OP’s cohort would be a massive outlier in my experience. People generally dress smartly but not at all OTT or for the red carpet.

Gosh, I’m amazed people get hair and makeup done. I definitely did not do this.

Well, I wanted to look my best for my children’s First Communion but the only photos taken were private ones. They weren’t shared on any social media. I’m not on Instagram. You can prioritise the sacrament and still want to look nice. They’re not mutually exclusive things.

Putting on makeup doesn’t mean you’re preparing as you would for the Oscars or a red carpet! That’s just hyperbole and not very helpful to OP who didn’t actually ask for opinions on whether to wear makeup or not.
She has made the decision that she wants to and was looking for suggestions on how best to achieve that.

Professional hair and makeup are necessary to look nice or to look your best?

Give over. Its just more pressure on women. I wonder how many of the men worried about a pre FHC make over? Note that the OP’s decision was mainly driven by what she thought was an expectation, not her own wishes.

Op of course you want to look groomed and a little special for your dd first communion. Even if you don’t wear makeup regularly it can feel quite special while still feeling normal to spend a little extra effort on your appearance.

get your haircut/ trimmed so it’s fresh. If you can book a blowout or other styling great. Book these appts today.

for a very natural look go to any makeup counter ( I’m in the USA so your UK equivalent) like Sephora or Clinique or ulta and book a makeup application. Tell them you want a simple clean look…no false eyelashes etc.

products to mention;
a tinted face moisturizer like bare
minerals Complexion rescue. Apply with a “beauty blender…a sponge…or a makeup brush.
a modern mascara…not your favorite from 20’yrsa ago. I love L’Oréal voluminous primer and maybelline sky high mascara. Mascaras have changed a lot and there are great drugstore ones to buy. You want a bit of length and some darkening.

a soft blush. Pinky brown or pinky rose. Blusher is applied a bit higher today. Not so much on your smiling apple cheeks but more on a resting face slightly higher than you may find familiar.

a soft lip color also in a pinky brown or pinky rose. These are typically universally flattering and like your own lips but better. Bring this with you to reapply during the day.

give your eyebrows some attention. Either a
bit of enhancement with an eyebrow mascara which is the easiest to apply or just brushing and taming with the same product.
tell the staff exactly what you have told us and they will be thrilled to help you out with reasonably priced reasonably usable products.

iron your daughters dress ahead of it needs ironing and I’ve helped some communicants get ready and I had to trim off little
threads along the hem. Have all her accessories out of the bag and hanging with her dress. This way you can have time to prepare yourself since all her items will be pressed organized and ready to go. Start getting ready earlier than you think

I’ve been to about twenty First Holy Communions including my own and most recently a GC. I’ve never read anything so ridiculous. This isn’t about you. This is your child taking communion for the first time. It’s special and beautiful but absolutely nothing to do with your makeup and hair. Of course you want to look nice, so buy a pretty dress and stick on some mascara.