In Tanzanian weddings, most of the time, the bride is hidden from the groom for the most part of the ceremony. She will only see her husband at the end of the day. Since the wedding night is the highlight of the bride’s participation in the wedding day, she has to prepare in all the ways she can. The Sumo is the closest friend of the mother of the bride, who remains with the bride at all times before the wedding. The sumo will give the bride a full beauty treatment, attending to the bride’s hair, nails and skin. This includes covering the bride’s body in a thick concoction of lime juice mixed with sugar, as an exfoliant to rid the bride’s skin of all hair (only the hair on her head is permitted) as it is considered an impurity to be anything less than smooth. After this, the bride’s hands and feet are intricately decorated with henna, and the hair on her head is covered in oils and set in twists. The bride’s body is also anointed with perfumed oils and her bridal make-up is heavily applied. She is then adorned with jewels and given her veil, and awaits her groom.
The wedding day preparation for the bride’s body is expected to be excessive. To prepare for this, below are some tips for the bride.
Skin Care. The skin care should begin approximately six months prior to the wedding day. The bride-to-be should visit a dermatologist and get her skin type identified and accordingly choose her treatment and make up style. At this point she will be able to prepare her diet and lifestyle for it to fit her desired skin to show off on her wedding night.
Beauty Treatment. To attain a glowing skin, the bride-to-be should go for regular facial, steam facial is a good option. It enhances the complexion of the bride and also it proves to be relaxing for her.
Pedicure. Not only does pedicure give comfort to the foot but it also adds in confidence and a feeling of elegance. Most women often choose to wear open toed footwear, special attention needs to be given to foot care.
Manicure. A good manicure prevents the hands from getting dry and duly moisturizes it. Getting a regular manicure done gives a healthy and smooth look to the bride’s hands.
Nail Care. Well-polished and shaped nails add spark to the looks of a bride. The color of nail paint should ideally match the wedding dress of the bride.
Eye Care. Many brides find trouble with puffy eyes from either wedding jitters or from pre-wedding stresses. The solution is to cool the surroundings of the eyes. The bride can splash ice cold water onto her face for at least 25 minutes. Or, she can get some cold cucumber and place it on each eye. Others also try eye masks which can be found in the market.
Body Massage. A full-body massage before the wedding day is a delightful way to prepare for the coming day. Massage has a calming and relaxing effect for the bride.