Finding a hairstylist and makeup artist to work with on your wedding day can be tricky. You want to make sure they're experienced, professional and available for your big day. But there are so many different options out there — how do you know who's right for your wedding? Here are a few tips for finding the right wedding day stylists from a professional HMUA:
Do your research
Before you make the decision to book your stylist and makeup artist, you should do some research on them. This can be done in a few different ways:
Check out their portfolio. Do they have a website where they display their work? If so, are there any photos of clients who look like you? If not, ask if other clients have seen their work and if it's something that works for them.
Look at their social media. Do they have an Instagram or Facebook account? What kind of work are they showing? How often do tey post about what services he/she offers or about his/her latest event in the area? Does this all seem legitimate, or does it seem like an amateur operation with nothing happening behind the scenes?
Look at the quality of their work
Once you've narrowed down your search to a few stylists and makeup artists, it's time to see if they're right for your wedding. The best way to do so is by looking at their portfolio. Look at their work and ask yourself: "Does this artist's style match mine?" Is the artist good at doing certain styles of hair? Do they specialize in updos or braids? If you're going for a natural look, does this person do a great job of making that come to life? Does this person do airbrushed foundation or traditional? Both?
Does the makeup artist have a variety of styles that can be applied on different skin types? Are all of her brides' lips redder than yours? Or maybe she does a lot of cat eyes and smokey eyeshadow—and you want something more natural for your big day.
The more variety an artist has in their portfolio, the better!
Find out if they're available on your wedding day
It's important to confirm that your hairstylist and makeup artist are available on your wedding day, as well as the time leading up to it. This includes the make-up preview, which is often scheduled a few weeks to months ahead of time.
It's also worth noting that many stylists have set rates for different services (and most will ask for a deposit), so if you're not sure how many people will be getting their hair and/or makeup done by them or the timing for your wedding day, it's best to ask them about their pricing structure beforehand.
Set up a makeup and hair trial
In order to make sure that you're completely satisfied with your hairstylist and makeup artist, it's a good idea to schedule a trial session. This will help ensure that:
The stylist is available on the day of your wedding.
You feel comfortable with them working on your hair and makeup.
They have a portfolio of their previous work, which you can look through in advance, before deciding whether or not they're right for you.
They have photos of their clients' before-and-afters (and anything else they've done), so that you can see how they turn out under various circumstances—different skin tones, different hair colors/textures/styles, etc.!
Finding the right wedding day stylist will save you time, money and stress.
While it may seem like a simple task to choose your wedding day hairstylist and makeup artist, there are a few things you should know before making your decision.
The first thing you should do is ask yourself what kind of looks you like for your wedding day and in your research stage find artists whose styles align with your style. The last thing you want to do is pick someone who MIGHT be able to do the look you are going for, but they don’t have any kind of examples of styles or looks that are similar.
The stylist you choose should also help make you feel comfortable when you are speaking with them and during your initial conversations and at your trial, you should feel calm and that you are working together to create your wedding day look. Not rushed, harried, or that you are being “talked into” something that you do not want.
You should also make sure that whoever does your hair/makeup holds licenses issued by their state’s Department (or equivalent). You can find out what licenses they hold by simply asking during an initial phone call, email, or meeting.
Conclusion
Now you have a good starting point for the information you need to find your perfect wedding day stylist. If in doubt, ask for recommendations from friends who've used makeup artists and hair stylists before and then do some research on their work. Once you've narrowed down your options, schedule a trial with each one so that they can show off what they can do so there's no surprises on the big day!
Good luck in your stylist search! I offer FREE 10-minute consultations, so please reach out to me to set something up if you like my style! ;-)
Thank you for reading!
Love,
Cristin
