Have you got a dream look for your wedding day? Wondering how you can make that happen when there are so many hair and makeup artists in your town or city to choose from? Moving through the huge list of options for wedding day hair and makeup artists can be a little overwhelming, but we’ve got you!
Here are some tips for choosing a hair and makeup artist that is just right for you:
Start with a realistic budget
Before you start asking around for pricing and quotes it’s a great idea to think about how much you have in the budget for hair and makeup. If you are planning to cover the hair and makeup of those in your wedding party, it’s important to add this to your hair and makeup budget.
Once you have a feeling for your budget it’s time to start getting some quotations.
If you start to see that the cost is going to be a little more than you have budgeted for, you might need to reconsider covering the cost for your whole wedding party. Some couples ask their wedding party to pay half the price of hair and makeup services. Other couples are happy for their bridal party to do their own hair and makeup on the day.
Another option might be to consider heading to a department store or beauty bar for hair and makeup services, rather than having the artists come to you on your wedding day. This might also save a few dollars although it’s sometimes just as cost effective for artists to come to you.
Social media short cuts
We are so lucky that we now live in a world filled with so much social media content. Most hair and makeup artists in your area are likely to have an Insta or Facebook account (and maybe a website) which shows photos of prior work.
It’s definitely worth taking a look at each hair and makeup artist’s social media presence before you reach out for a quotation. Photos they post of prior work will give you a really strong sense for whether their style matches the vibe you are going for on your wedding day.
Reach out to friends and family
Word of mouth is a great way to source hair and makeup artists that might be worth considering for your wedding day. Not only do you want to find someone who does great work, but you also want someone who is going to turn up on time, listen to your feedback and change course with your look if it isn’t exactly what you are after.
If your family and friends don’t know anyone, the next best plan is to read online reviews or ask to speak to a couple of former clients.
Understand any additional charges
When you get quotes for pricing for hair and makeup artists, make sure you check to see if there are any additional charges. Some hair and makeup artists charge to travel to your locations and others have a minimum spend when they come to your home.
Applying fake eyelashes and hair extensions can also incur additional fees.
Have a phone consult
If you know that you are after something very specific, it’s super important to let your hair and makeup artists know. Pointing out photos of their prior work that you like is a great way to let them know exactly what you are after.
A follow up conversation with your hair or makeup artist about exactly what you like about those photos will help further communicate your vision.
Conversations also help you to get a feel for the sort of person your hair and makeup artist is. Afterall, they are going to be preparing you for the most important day of your life – you want to be able to talk with them easily about what you love and what you don’t.
Consider a pre wedding trial
If your wedding budget allows it, it is absolutely recommended that you have a trial for your wedding day hair and makeup. This ensures that your vision is achievable and means you can iron out any kinks or miscommunications.
Many makeup artists and hair stylists will charge slightly less for hair and makeup trials.
It is not always necessary for your bridal party to have a trial as this adds extra cost that you might not have in your budget. However, when you are at your trial, it can be useful to have a conversation about how your wedding party will ideally have their hair and makeup done as well.
Wedding day timeline considerations
Whether you will need more than one hair and makeup artist for your wedding day depends on a few different factors. These include how large your wedding party is, when you want to be ready and whether you are going to hire one person to undertake both hair and makeup services or book an artist for each.
Depending on the styles you are considering, most hair and makeup artists will need a minimum of 45 minutes per client. However, this can grow to 60-90 minutes, so you need to understand the time requirements for each of your artists to properly work out your wedding day beauty and grooming schedule.
Remember that your hair and makeup should be complete before your photographer or videographer arrive at your getting ready location. Most hair and makeup artists will be happy to have a few “mock preparation” photos taken with you and your crew just before they leave if those kinds of photos are important to you to remember your day.
Next Steps
Not sure where to turn next to book your hair stylist or makeup artist for your wedding day? Here’s our ultimate guide to navigate the market and find the ideal fit for you.
Shortlist the best options without stress or anxiety with our comparison table and record key details for your Hair Stylist and Make Up Artist including deposit payments, balance payment dates and more. Use our Beauty and Grooming Timeline template to create a reliable timeline for your wedding day that you can provide to your whole wedding party.
Plan your wedding day like a pro with the Hey Lovers Grooming and Beauty Printables Pack here.