Choosing your hair & makeup artist

So, are you trying to find the perfect hair & makeup artist for your wedding? It’s a tough one right? Well, this one’s for you! With so much choice and a real variation in pricing and style, sometimes it can be hard to really know which direction to go in.

I have put this blog together to hopefully answer some of your questions and help give you some advice on finding your perfect hair & makeup artist.

I think the key to getting the right fit with your stylist is finding the right “person” for you.

Ultimately you have to have a huge amount of trust in your stylist, so try and pick the one you feel you have a rapport with. For me personally this is such an integral part of my clients’ hair and makeup journey. I want you to feel a million dollars and know you are in very safe hands.

There is so much choice I don’t know where to start?

I hear ya! This is tough, especially when all you see is wave after wave of websites and Instagram accounts, right? My biggest piece of advice is this; after a good browse on the web, pick 4 or 5 websites that really appeal to you and your style. You should be able to get a feel for the style of the makeup artist’s work and, generally, the website should be able to answer the majority of your questions (price, portfolio, areas they cover etc). Read the stylist’s “about me” page. I always think this gives you a snippet into their style and how they work. Is the tone friendly and conversational? Do you feel like you’re getting to know the stylist? If you do, you know you’re heading in the right direction. Once you have picked your favourites it’s time to fire off those emails.

Jess, what is your selling point ?

My selling point is the experience my clients have with me, from the point of booking until the job is done on the day itself. For me, alongside the hair and makeup process, the journey my clients go on is one of the most important processes.

First things first, lets have a phone consultation.

I personally love to start the process with a phone consultation, as I find it’s a much better way to understand what my clients want, what their overall vision is and just to get to know each other a bit. If you have some questions before booking then ask away! The response you get from the artist gives you more answers to the question “is this stylist right for me?”.

The Welcome Pack.

I thought up this little extra in lockdown. I had a lot of very sad brides not knowing when they could have their wedding day so I put together this little pack to give them something to look forward to. This pack is now the welcome pack! Every bride of mine will receive this in the post and the booklet is designed to get your inspiration going and get you thinking about your hair and or makeup trial. I have also put together some interesting skincare advice. So, make a cup of tea, put your feet up and read this cover to cover. This will be the basis of our consultation at the trial.

The Trial

The trial usually takes place in my beautiful new home studio in Whitstable. I wanted a calm and peaceful setting for you to have your trial, and only being a short walk into Whitstable it makes the perfect setting to make a day of it.

My trial sessions last around 4 hours (for both hair and makeup ) and around 2.5 hours for just hair or makeup.

I don’t believe this process should be rushed, so over a cup of tea / coffee or even some bubbles if you wish, we will have a consultation chat before we start any hair or makeup.

I also have some lovely Eden B accessories for you to try at your session if you are undecided on veils etc.

The Wedding Day

By the time the wedding day comes around I will have sent you a pre-wedding day questionnaire to fill out so my team and I know exactly what your bridal party have requested. We will have advised you on how to best prepare for the morning, so it’s time to relax and enjoy the experience. Your wedding day should be seamless and stress-free and this is how my team and I aim to keep it for you. We will have you and your bridal party ready with about an hour to spare before you need to leave. This means you are chilled and not in a rush, you can have that glass of bubbly and have a moment of calm before getting into your dress.

“All I can say is that Jess’s professionalism and lovely nature just put everyone at ease.I’m sad it’s all over but I’m hoping to find another occasion (excuse) to have Jess do my make-up again. What an absolute gem! If you’re mooching over the internet looking for your make-up artist, do yourself a favour, save yourself the stress and just message Jess... you won’t be disappointed!”

Jess, why do you charge what you do?

Bridal hair & makeup Is a bespoke service. When potential clients ask me why I charge what I do, I answer honestly. No, I may not be the cheapest option but I care so much about how you feel on your wedding day, I like to spend the time focusing on you. After all, you deserve it!

The hairstyles my brides generally lean towards at their trials are beautiful, modern, textured and just oh so ‘effortlessly put up’. Well, the reality is they look effortless but there’s a whole lot of prep work in those beautiful hairstyles. To craft those styles takes skill, patience, some seriously good products and time to perfect them. I will never rush you, I will make sure you feel ABSOLUTELY beautiful and you are 100% happy before you step foot out of the door to head down the aisle.

With regards to your makeup, for me my passion is skincare. I spend 20 mins perfecting your skincare and if you want to add a sheet mask into the mix then hell yes you are going to glow glow GLOW! if your skin is right your makeup is going to have the wow factor! I also factor in some facial massage, toning, tailoring a serum to your skin type and then using a luxury moisturiser. Allowing all those beautiful products to melt into the skin before the makeup application is what I believe takes your makeup to the next level.

I also love being around my brides on the morning of their wedding. It is the biggest privilege to get you ready for one of the biggest days of your life! I will never turn up late, looking half asleep or bring in an atmosphere. We will have a fun and chilled morning, with plenty of laughter and chit chat. I am there for you!

Why is there so much variation in price?

This is a bit of a minefield, having planned and budgeted for a wedding myself I 100% feel your stress concerning this one.

So, you have picked out your favourites and you love what you have seen on their website but one is over your budget, one is under your budget and the other is bang on budget, how on earth do you choose?

From the heart, there is a real variation in budgets at the moment. Like all creative jobs, the industry is brimming with “bridal hair & makeup artists”. Check out their credentials. What are their levels of experience like? How long have they been working in this industry? Are they professionally trained? What do their testimonials say about them? If all your seeing is “my hair & makeup stayed all day” you know you onto a winner!

My biggest, BIGGEST piece of advice is to go with your gut instinct when choosing a hair & makeup artist. Book the stylist that you have confidence in. They may prompt another chat about the budget, but if you have seen that amazing hairstyle they create or the makeup look that is going to appeal to your style, book them!! You have the perfect dress, the most amazing hairpiece/veil & a kick-ass photographer, you’re going to be looking at those beautiful photos forever, so invest in yourself and book the hair & makeup artist you trust.