The Event-Day Emergency Kit: What to Pack for Hair and Makeup Fixes

Something small always goes wrong on a big day: a curl drops, a strap snaps, lipstick disappears into a glass of bubbly. None of it matters if someone has the right tiny fix in a bag. An emergency kit is cheap to put together and turns little disasters into thirty-second jobs. Here is what to pack, grouped so you can find things fast.

Who carries the kit?

The person the day is about should not be carrying anything. Hand the kit to a reliable friend, bridesmaid, parent or planner who will stay close, and make sure they know what is in it. For larger groups, one main kit plus a mini pouch for each person's own lipstick works well. Keep it in a bag with pockets or clear pouches so items can be found without tipping everything out.

Hair fixes

• Bobby pins and hair grips in a colour close to your hair, more than you think you need.
• A travel-size hairspray for flyaways and for re-setting a dropped curl.
• A small comb or tail comb for smoothing and lifting.
• Clear elastics in case an updo needs to become a ponytail.
• A small amount of smoothing balm or serum for frizz in humid weather.

Ask your stylist which products they used so the kit matches. Many stylists are happy to show you how to re-pin their updo if a section loosens.

Makeup touch-ups

• Blotting papers, the single most useful item for shine.
• Pressed powder in your shade with a small puff.
• Lipstick and lip liner used in your look, plus a lip balm.
• Cotton buds for fixing smudged mascara or liner.
• A little concealer for covering redness after tears.
• Lash glue if you are wearing strip lashes.
• Tissues for happy crying and blotting lipstick.

Outfit and comfort

• Safety pins in a few sizes, and a tiny sewing kit with thread in your outfit colour.
• Fashion tape for straps, necklines and hems.
• Blister plasters and flat shoes or foldable slippers for the dance floor.
• Stain-removal wipes or a pen, tested on a hidden bit of fabric beforehand.
• A small lint roller for dark suits and dresses.
• Deodorant, ideally one that doesn't leave white marks.

Personal essentials

• Any medication you or the group need, clearly labelled.
• Water and a small snack, such as a cereal bar. Long days without food lead to headaches.
• A phone charger or power bank.
• Mints, and a small folding fan for hot rooms.
• Glasses or spare contact lenses and solution if you wear them.

The printable checklist

• Bobby pins, clear elastics, mini hairspray, small comb
• Blotting papers, pressed powder, puff
• Lipstick, lip liner, lip balm
• Cotton buds, tissues, small concealer
• Lash glue (if wearing strip lashes)
• Safety pins, mini sewing kit, fashion tape
• Blister plasters, flat shoes or slippers
• Stain-removal wipes, lint roller
• Deodorant, mints, small fan
• Water, snack, medication, power bank

Quick fixes for common mishaps

Mishap	Fast fix
Shiny nose and forehead	Blot first, then press a little powder
Mascara smudge under the eye	Let it dry, then lift with a dry cotton bud
Curl has dropped	Twist it round a finger, pin it for a few minutes, mist with spray
Loose section in an updo	Tuck, then cross two pins in an X to lock it
Strap slipping	Fashion tape or a hidden safety pin
Lipstick has faded	Blot, reline, reapply, blot again
Teary eyes	Tissue corner under the lash line, dab rather than wipe

Packing tips

Pack the kit a day or two before, not on the morning. Decant large products into travel-size containers and check that anything liquid is tightly closed and bagged separately. Heat-sensitive items like lipstick should stay out of direct sun and hot cars. After the event, keep the kit mostly packed: it will be ready for the next party, and your friends will definitely borrow it.

Frequently asked questions

General information only. Patch-test new products and follow your stylist's advice for your own hair and skin.